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Old 11-13-2006, 09:49 AM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Hi 007...
Potential to build great guitars is not in question - world class guitars are hand built everywhere by luthiers.

As to midline guitars, so far Martin, Taylor, and Gibson seem to be historically geared, mechanically tooled, and worker supplied to produce higher quality instruments en masse. Knowing consumers want solid high grade tone wood, reliable construction, and a good service department (guitars all need work when played often and for extended periods - like decades).

When it comes to the low end consumer guitars - which are quite playable and actually remarkable instruments these days - the Asians sure seem to have the market established there. There is probably as much money - if not more - to be made in the introductory guitar market because of the speed of production combined with cheap labor.

Many folks who think think they might want to learn guitar are more inclined to spend Walmart, Target, or Costco prices for their kid's first Asian rig than music store prices of ''nearly a grand'' found in a lot of shops.

And, I am seeing a lot more music stores, pawn shops and online music suppliers advertising the under a couple C note prices for kits - a guitar, case and amp - not stamped ''Made in America.'' They always had them, but now they are promoting them (well of course they are - it's nearly Christmas).
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Last edited by ljguitar; 11-13-2006 at 09:57 AM. Reason: more info pertaining to the original thought of the thread...
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