Funny how people complain about the price of everything and then complain when something's made outside the U.S. They just don't get it.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 14 June 2005 at 02:17 PM.]

I agree about folks that complain about the price, then complain about imported proucts. I'm aware of many of the reasons USA-made products cost more, so I don't whine, I just pay more to get American-made (if there's a choice) and end up with a smaller pile of "stuff" in the long run, but that's probably a good thing. I ain't got room for the "stuff" I have.

Jody -

Iffin' you say it's sweet'n hot, then no one can doubt it. You are "Mr" Fender Authority. I gotta' remind myself occasionally that Fender ain't Leo anymore, and gas ain't two bits a gallon. But I still ain't ready for a Chinese Fender in my pile.

"I like Moo Goo Gai Pan and Egg Foo Yung
Break out the Soy Sauce and bring me some"

(Copyright 2005 - Uncle Stick Music - BMI)

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MSA Classic 12, Peavey Delta Blues, Proco Rat, Robert Randolph - Shubb bars

quote:

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what is going to happen to the American economy when EVERYTHING is being made in China?

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Look around your house, read where everything's made, including checking the labels in all your clothes and you'll have your answer.

Not that all this China-bashing is anywhere near the topic.

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 14 June 2005 at 09:56 PM.]

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It ain't got that FEELIN' if it ain't got that STEELIN'!

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55" Fender Stringmaster T8, 54" Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators

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55' Fender Stringmaster T8, 54' Fender Champion, Carter D-10, two Oahu laps, two National laps, and two Resonators

The folks who brought you the firecracker and sticky rice, just don't have the "soul".

I currently own 3 different Chinese made instruments and they are all incredibly built and sound wonderful.

1. An Epiphone Masterbuilt DR-500M. http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=221&CollectionID=15
I bought this for my son a few months ago. All solid wood. Plays and sounds like a dream. $499 with Hard shell case.

2. GoldTone Mahogony Dobro. $525. I'm pretty sure this is Chinese built. If not, mea culpa.

3. Bushman Jenny Concert Ukulele. $199. All solid mahogony. Beats ukuleles five times the price in tone, materials and playability. http://www.jumpingflea.com/productdetail/~Model/BU7C~/d.html

Also look at Eastman Guitars. These Chinese made archtop Jazz guitars are... again awesome.
http://www.eastmanstrings.com/eastmanguitars/home/home.html

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 15 June 2005 at 08:47 AM.]

I think you are paying a premium price for the Fender name on the headstock.

Tell me this... Is there really that much difference between a Fender Standard Stratocaster for $369 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/511275/

and a Fender Custom Shop 50th Anniversary Strat $3780.00 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/511381/

Take that for what it was, a Frontline hit piece on Wal-Mart. I'm no apologist for 'em (I almost never shop there, I prefer Mom and Pop when I can) and agree that they have some unappealing practices, but they're not the 'Big Evil' that some make 'em out to be.
I thought it was interesting that one of the 'US' factorys that closed becasue of the Chinese competition was French owned. Obviously it was cheaper for the French to pay Americans to do the work than to keep it in France. Wasn't to many years ago that cheap US labor 'ruined' the European markets the same way the Pacific Rim is 'ruining' ours.
The bottom line is that it's us that Wal-Mart is serving. If we didn't shop there, if we insisted on US-made goods (and were willing to pay for them) then that's what Wal-Mart would sell.

Back to lap steels. That's a market I'd love to serve, I have all sorts of sketches and ideas for steels, but with the still-decent prices on great sounding vintage units and the high cost of top quality parts it's tough to put together a really well done steel and sell it for a competetive price. Chinese made Fenders ain't gonna make it easy, but that's OK, it's all about what the customer wants.

Jim...It was ABOUT Wal*Mart.

I am not questioning the quality of Chinese products...I have found them to be excellent in every way. My concern is the future of the US industry as it gradually slips into the abyss while China emerges as the new industrial leader of products.

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 15 June 2005 at 02:28 PM.]

I understand your concerns, George, and those of others with similar thinking, but isn't it really already too late to be worrying about this? What will happen to the U.S. economy? It's already happened.

All electronics have been made in Japan, then moved to China, for many years. Buy an RCA, Zenith, Magnavox or other good ol' American brand TV, radio, VCR, DVD, whatever.... and look on the back. Made in China. The more expensive ones are made in Japan. Our Ford, GMC and Chrysler vehicles might be actually built in Canada or Mexico and contain parts made just about anywhere. I'm not saying it wouldn't be nice to have more stuff made at home in the U.S.A. Some great things are still built in the U.S. Sorry if my 2 cents worth here isn't good news, but it seems to me that if you look around, the "what will happen" question has been answered years ago.

Much of the design of these made-elsewhere products is done in the U.S. by Americans, so the industry is still alive and well. They've moved the manufacturing to China and Korea for the cheap labor and lax environmental controls.

The U.S. has historically been the innovator, and the rest of the world, especially Japanese and Chinese companies then take that innovation and mass-produce it and mass-distribute the product at a cheaper price, and we Americans buy it because the quality is good and the price is cheap which enables many of us to have the product who couldn't otherwise afford it.

Isn't that it in a nutshell?

[This message was edited by Jim Phelps on 15 June 2005 at 04:04 PM.]

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars