Made in USA

[Texsunburst59]

Out of the 54 guitars in my collection only 5 are MIJ, one MIK, and the rest were all USA made guitars.

I prefer USA made instruments for my acoustic and electric guitars and basses.

[89bruin]

I was a USA only guy for years (Martin, Fender & McInturff) but more recently I’ve found that the imports appeal to me more due to their “knee in the curve” value. Overall, the Indonesian & Asian guitars I own and have auditioned have been very capable and well-built instruments. Sure there may be some lesser quality components in some cases but not enough to justify the order-of-magnitude price difference for the US made offerings.

[kayakman]

I had (1) guitar made in Japan in the 50 years of playing,it was a Yamaha acoustic,not bad.

[ghostnote]

I don't care where a guitar is from, as long as it's a good one. I will never be a guitar snob.
I have guitars from many different countries.
My best guitars are USA-made. I love them.
My best Korean, Mexican, and Chinese guitars are excellent, both in sound and construction. I love them.
My other far-East guitars sound good (or I wouldn't have bought 'em), but are more sloppily made. They need some work to be decent players, but all of the potential is there. I like them.
And of course, there are caveats. For example, one of my USA-made Les Pauls frustrates me no end. I just cannot make myself like it, whereas my other, cheaper USA LP is fantastic. But looking on the bright side, I now have an excuse to free up some money by selling the one I don't like.

[captain_jack]

Originally Posted by ghostnote

I don't care where a guitar is from, as long as it's a good one. I will never be a guitar snob.

Being a guitar snob and being a nationalist are not mutually exclusive

[s2y]

I'll put my Ibanez against most Fenders and Gibsons when it comes to low action and overall QC. I think Japanese production guitars can give US production guitars a run for the money.

As far as US guitars go, Taylor probably has the best QC. Say what you will about the tone, they run a tight ship.

That being said, a skilled luthier is always best, especially when you can get something 100% tailored to your specs.

[Ray175]

I buy all my guitars based on quality of build, sound and ease of playing. I have a US 1961 ES175D, a 1961 strat and 2 Martins. Of the other instruments 5 are MIJ Ibanez. A 1986 MIJ Charvel 4, a Japanese Peavy, a Chinese Gretsch a German Höfner violin bass, and a Japanese Ibanez mandolin make up the rest of the collection. My amps have been UK (Vox) and US (Fender) for the last 50 years.
I’m in discussion with a Chinese luthier for the construction of a custom built mandolin with 20 year old sitka top, mahogany back and sides and wider neck at half the price I would pay in Europe for a masterbuilt instrument.
Quality knows no nationality!

[KevWind]

I don't have all that many guitars 3 Acoustics and 2 Electrics .
All happen to be US mfg. by circumstance of ( I liked, I bought ) not a pre conceived condition .....

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by kayakman

Do you folks only buy American made guitars,or do you find Korean made or Japenese just as good?ie Gretsch.

I've bought and played 17 guitars built in various Asian countries over the past 10 years or so. Most of them I've sold to fund higher-end guitars that are made in the USA. In general, no, Korean or Japanese built guitars are not "just as good." I've kept a couple Chinese-made Epiphone electrics, but I don't play them much.

[MIGAS79]

My current guitars happen to all be American but it isn’t a must. Good is good no matter where it’s built.

[Glennwillow]

I own a USA made Gibson ES-335, Gibson Les Paul Standard, Fender American Strat+, Fender American Professional II, and a USA Rickenbacker 360-12.

I also own a USA made Carvin electric bass.

But I also own an Eastman AR910CE archtop made in China and a Fender Telecaster made in Mexico with USA pickups and electronics. Both of these two guitars are excellent! And, I am strongly tempted to buy one of the newer Gretsch Electromatic 5420TG guitars, made, I think, in Korea.

As others have noted, good is good.

- Glenn

[roylor4]

I don't discriminate. If a guitar plays good and sounds good, I keep it, and i don't care what it's point of origin is.

[alnico5]

I like to buy USA made guitars to support USA workers. My Carvins, Taylor, and American Standard Telecaster* are USA of course. My La Patrie is made in Canada.

I do not suggest that other countries are not full of good guitar makers. My $187 Harley Benton LP DC JR came from Indonesia via Germany and I am fully OK with it.

It is not discrimination, it is supporting USA workers.

*The control panel has a sticker, "assembled in Mexico". Made in USA is what the mfg can get away with.

[perttime]

Originally Posted by alnico5

I like to buy USA made guitars to support USA workers. ...

That is really the only reason, unless you are going Custom, and want to work with somebody who is on the same continent.

A Chinese craftsman excels at making copies. Some companies have got great results from giving far eastern builders hands-on training to show them the things that really matter on a guitar.

......
I do have a US acoustic and a US made hardtail Stratocaster. And I've never set foot in USA. Just.... they were the only things I could find, when looking for what I was looking for.

[Aspiring]

My Yamaha SA2200 MIJ was a fantastic instrument and played and sounded great with a very high level of finish.

The only reason I sold it and went to a Collings was that it was the Yamaha was too heavy for me and caused neck pain.

But at this point all of my main electrics are now made in usa (Collings, Tom Anderson and Jackson)