IMHO, for people who live in nations other than USA, the whole issue of where a guitar is made
might seem unimportant. If a guitar is affordable and well made and sounds fine, what else matters?
For those of us who live in USA, the issue is a political issue, which bears on the very real US problem
of industries leaving our country and rebuilding their production facilities in third world nations where the workers
make diddly-squat. Throwing our people out of work. Telling us we priced ourselves out of the market.
Paying other workers less to do the same job, and make the same product, in the name of profit.
We call it : The Race to the Bottom... where the plant leaves the U.S. to avoid paying Union wages,
and relocates in Japan where the workers make less. Then when Japanese workers become organized and
demand fair pay, the plant moves to Korea, to pay less wages. Throw 'em outa work...
The process repeats itself, and when Korean workers begin to agitate for better wages, the plant relocates
to China where people are more controlled. When corruption issues in China
begin to tap into profits, the plant relocates to Indonesia, to begin again. Each time, the working wage is less.
In a sick way, it's only money talking... People in many nations know how to make good music,
and they know how to make good instruments. The question for a Citizen of the World is: what's best for ME.
I'm no purist... I own a couple of Chi-com made Epiphones, which I like right well. I also own guitars made
in USA by Gibson and Fender and Martin and Mossman... those are my working instruments. I try to keep an
open mind. And of course I like spending diddly-squat to get an excellent guitar.
Do I care if it's made in a sweat shop by uninsured Child labor, or forced labor?
Yes, I do.
As I see it, the major problem with buying Asian made guitars is that it separates the guitar's quality issues from the brand's recognition and reputation. People buy because of
price alone. If I buy a US made Gibson, I get a warranty. I can return the guitar and get
a replacement or a refund. I pay a premium price for all this.
If I buy an Asian made guitar from gawd knows who, I get what they send me, it is what it is. Is that good enough? If not, then fix it.
Many of us feel that if we buy a cheap Epiphone, we can spend the money we didn't spend
on PRICE... to correct its flaws and turn it into a worthwhile instrument. That actually works,
and I have done it. But where does that leave us as a community? I don't know.
