You're entitled to your opinion as I am mine. Lets agree to disagree and move on.



-Based on what evidence?

Based on the evidence that all manufacture is slowly being shited to Asia. They've built cars and TV's better than the west for years now. Their guitars already surpass anything the west builds when viewing items of the same price. Whilst surpassing quality levels, they do it cheaper making more money for western fatcats that own the business's.

The evidence is every other industry.

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No no and no

Asia (or specifically Japan ) has been cranking out superior electronics since like day one.Cars for a number of years.Actually the Japanese have been kicking butt not just to the West, but everyone in the free world with the exclusion of the Koreans as of late.As of right now ,demand for USA strats is up.Many people are still willing to spend the money .Will that continue?Its anyones guess.

You are correct, sir. Neither are Grovers still made in Ohio. Both companies now outsource their production to Korea.

Arjay

I think Sperzel still operates and manufactures in Ohio.

What is really overlooked is that we are the causes of that. Our constantly rising cost of living coupled with wage demands and company owners own ideas as to reasonable profit margin, are all causing it. Our economies have shifted from being production based to us all destined to become middle managment boobies who just pass the buck, rather than produce something.

Asia hasn't forced anything on anyone. The decisions made to shift towards asian production is entirely our own doing. The next time you buy Nike or Converse, your voting for asian production. So where do we end up? Barefooted because we've lost all other options. If we were to buy domestic shoes, we'd be barefooted anyway, cos the owners aren't going to give up their profit margin.

To say a guitar isnt made in wherever because it has a foreign component is askew though. The fact is it has been assembled and put out as a product that supposedly carries a guarantee. Though that guarantee has never existed anyway. It's nothing more than a myth perpetuated to charge more for product.

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I'm a "made in the USA" buyer as much as I can be but what I have noticed over the years is the way people look at you and sneer saying "you paid way too much for something that's no better"...I guess that's the attitude that most people have nowadays and if you try to buy American,you seem to be ridiculed.
Still,I try...it's getting harder all the time.

It's the whole "global economy" thing, Rebel. Courtesy of HAFTA/SHAFTA/NAFTA and the "globalists".

My "Japanese" Honda Pilot came from Alabama but my Fender Strats come from Mexico. No matter.

However, every one of my amps was built in Fullerton, California "back in the day" or La Brea, California for the two re-issues I own.

I guess most people do not realize how many small parts on their "Made In The USA" products are actually made elsewhere.

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Most people like be dont care about the small parts.The Gotoh tuners on my SRV are of very high quality and are period correct.It still is a "made in the USA" guitar IMO.Its like buying a USA made jacket and finding out the buttons came from China.Now if the case or pickups were made in another country , that would be another matter.But thats just my opinion.Honda Accords BTW are made here in Ohio.

Thats exactly it Budglo. To liken a strat build to nothing more than a assembly of parts is a bit insulting to the builders. Theres a lot more to it than just bolting a neck on and throwing a scratchplate at it. A craftsman/woman has spent time ensuring that those components are in exactly the right place. Whether their domestic US or foreign made doesnt change the level of skill thats gone into building the guitar.

By similar token you cant say all the pre 2003 MIM's are actualy MIA's. Sure the body and necks were cut in Corona. The skill in putting them together and getting a good playable instrument at the end happened in Ensenada.

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"Made in USA" "Assembled in USA" mean the same thing.

'Made' or 'Assembled' are the same thing.

"Manufactured in USA from all USA components" I dont see that anywhere on the website for a '57 vintage re-issue, dont you?

Just because your guitar was made or assembled in a factory in corona doesnt mean to say its all American.

I dont see why you discovered a 'Japan' stamp on your tuners why it is a problem. You will find many companies are out-scorcing quality components from asia. Look at the economy. In the future, the vast majority of electronic consumables be it microwaves or guitar amps will be made there. Its already headed that way- and the quality rivals the west.

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Plus its not like Fender USA cut corners to go with Gotoh Tuners, they make some of the most expensive, accurate, and high quality Vintage Repros. Japan workers get paid on just about the same level we do so its not like mexico or China where the workers are getting paid less and are sometimes unskilled. Look at the Prices of Top end Japanese brands like Navigator or Seymour Duncan guitars, they cost as much or more than the "Real Thing." Also trust me they are much better than the Kluson Repros ( I have the Gotohs on My CS 65 and John Mayer Sig). Besides I don't think Fender has ever had a direct hand in Tuners. Fenders for years were equipped with Schallers and as somebody else stated they are German.

The guitars are advertised as Made in America, but legally to have that title only a certain percentage has to be produced here, not 100%. So I don't think it is misleading all to use Japanese tuners, especially when they happen to be the best available.

I don't think its a problem if its only minor parts like the tuners - I think as someone earlier said if you start adding pickups and more major parts such as that it becomes a different story. I just ordered a 62 hot rod american strat and it lists right on the fender specs page that it includes the gotoh tuners.

Niki do you have experience with the hot rod 62? How do you like it?

It doesnt mean the same thing as buying a GM car.Fender I am sure puts all of the hardware out to bid and looks for the best quality for the best price.We dont really know if the 57 strat had foreign pickgard screws or not.It shouldnt matter anyways.Or what about the brass ends of their strings?