I know that everything is made in third world sweat shops these days but how many American companies still make guitars here besides Fender and Gibson of course. Not that it really matters just curious. I know Fender makes some of the Jacksons now in California but it seems like every guitar I pick up says "crafted in Mozambique" or something on it.

Hi turrican: most companies follow the Fender scheme of building their upper end models at home and their cheaper lines in the Far East. By no means are those places necessarily "sweat shops" these days, by the way. Some very good plants exist in places like Korea and China with skilled, respected workers.

Anyhow, some famous brands built in the US include: PRS, Parker, Martin, Taylor, Hamer - and many more smaller ones too numerous to name.

Don't worry: if nationality matters to you it is possible to find product from most places of your choice.

Cheers - C

Thanks for the response. Nationality doesnt matter to me so much. When I buy an item like a guitar I like to think the people making it were skilled and able to put food on the table and a roof over their heads as a result of their efforts.

Good - me too.

Fender don't own facilities in China (last I heard, anyhow), renting space in other people's factories for their Chinese Squier line. And if I remember right their Korean models come from the Cort factory (a huge and modern outfit) - is that right?

However, others do have wholly owned plants in China and elsewhere. Yamaha for example have a large and growing operation in China; I have seen video and magazine articles about the inside of that factory and it is a very first-world setup. Plenty of skill and facilities going on there.

Those workers are paid wages that are a fraction of what someone gets in a Western country - but by local standards they are high and those employees are doing well. Nice homes, nice lives - I've never heard anything but good about how Yamaha treats its employees worldwide, and I expect the same will be true of the other major brands.

And of course (South) Korea has long since ceased being a "third world" country. Good lives lived there.

However. It can be a different matter entirely for the people building the ultra-cheap fake brand guitars, which is another excellent reason not to buy them.

I think we should take this sort of thing very seriously, so I'm glad to hear what you say.

Cheers - C

Check this out.
http://cortaction.wordpress.com/about/

I've read tons of articles on the Cort mass firing and even some on poor working conditions at the factory. Be sure to read the whole thing especially the workers stories.
http://cortaction.wordpress.com/

Ernie ball music mans are still american made, so are G and Ls.

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Rated "M" for meaty.

Again not saying that just making it here makes it better. I know quality control in Mexico ( I live very close to Mexico and have first hand experience) is typically very poor and usually factories where the workers are treated poorly like at Cort put out an inferior product.

Is Dr. Martens and Fred Perry still made in the UK?

Of note is the fact that a good deal of the hardware on MOST American made instruments are NOT American made as well.

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You dig?

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Keep on Truckin, Going full speed ahead down the highway to hades.

[

See Ceri's comments. What's the general inventory base of the vendors you frequent? Perhaps that's effecting what you get your hands on readily.

Additionally, many vendors keep the high end gear near the ceiling or behind a counter available on request This to keep them out of the hands of the malevolent weekend headbanger ball types. They tire of self-styled Vai, Satriani, Malmsteen wannabees showing off, noodling Paganini Caprices on a $5K Custom Shop axe.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

ditto

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Heritage guitars (started by former Gibson employees) manufacture top quality hollow/semi body guitars here in the states (either Kentucky or Virginia if memory serves).

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

I was appalled when I viewed the video about the plight of the Cort factory workers and I was extremely dismayed when Fender merely said it would "investigate" when the evidence of Cort's human rights transgressions is overwhelming.I think that Leo Fender also would be highly disgusted if he knew that the company that bears his name would enter into a trade agreement with a company with such a blatent disregard of it's workers while reaping billions and billions of profits.Fender should do the honorable thing and suspend all ties with these despots until the workers are reinstated and given a decent wage and safe working conditions free from verbal and sexual harassment.I urge forum members who find this situation offensive to email Fender and let the powers that be your displeasure.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

You might sent this on in revised form as a 'letter to the editor' of every major guitar publication you subscribe to, if any. Suggest you leave 'the company' out of it, and just mention Cort. That's enought to shine the light.

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"Another day in paradise!"