Someone once told me "You can get the highest quality product or the lowest quality product from China, it just depends on how much you want to pay for that quality"

One reason the uk musical instrument industry did so well with amps and effects was national service. Many of the engineers learnt their trade in the REME and so they made ‘military grade’ electrical kit.

“The guitar boys have to pay so much for the guitars they have no money left for a haircut” had me laughing so hard 🤣🤣

Eastman makes a killer guitar. I picked up a T186MX and it is flawless. Plus, it’s a ES style guitar that Gibson doesn’t make (335 carved top). If Gibson were to make a guitar of similar quality, it would be $7k or more where as the T186 was $1600 used after taxes. Crazy good value.

I'd almost guarantee that greenie guitar wouldn't cost nearly as much if it didn't have the Gibson headstock shape. Its marketing magic to excuse that price really.

I worked at the World Music plant in the mid 90's. It was a fantastic experience. The work ethic in South Korea is insane. Same can be said for Cort in Indonesia, very similar in their approach. My job title was NDT Specialist. Some 'Test to destruction' but my field is 'None destructive testing'. Electronics in this case, ie Pick Up's.

Eastman guitars are custom shop quality and made in china. If you dont mind dropping £2k on a chinese made guitar just get one of them.

I was skeptical at first when I looked for my first LP-style guitar in 2018. In a shop, I compared a Gibson LP Standard, a Custom Shop..and then owner handed me an Eastman SB59. At first I did not believe it was a Chinese-made instrument, because up to that point, China meant cheap knock-off to me. The Eastmans, however, are not only on par with Gibson, but in some cases better. Back then I paid 1,500 Euros for mine, and I will never, ever sell it. What a great-sounding, well built guitar!

I own an Eastman hollow body and it's a beautiful instrument. To the point where multiple people in my college music department made the switch as well

Follow up question: so what is the Epiphones factory doing that would make some of their guitars with better specs cost more than double vs those comparable models costing half or more than half? As an example the LP Modern Figured or the ‘59 has as good if not better specs than some similarly spec’ed artist guitars. I realize the artist must get paid, but after that, what is driving the prices up so much farther in the current market? Before the pandemic, artist Epiphones cost $100-$200 more than a similar equivalent. Depending on the model, you’d pay between $699-$849 (as I’m recalling) for an artist guitar. There wasn’t a single Epiphone that cost more than $1000 until the pandemic started. The prices were driven up during the pandemic due to high demand and shortages with labor, parts, raw materials, shipping expenses, etc. Once the pandemic ended, those issues largely became a thing of the past. The prices should have dropped considerably to reflect that, no? I can’t help but feel like Epiphone in particular is taking customers for a ride and are trying to create a market for collectors to make an “investment” just like Gibson. This means musicians can’t afford the instruments we need and want to create music. And because collectors are buying into the hype and are willing to pay a premium, it seems other companies are following suit. My thing is, the quality was already there at much lower prices before the pandemic. To some extent, the quality is still there on some models as long as they aren’t artist models or something new - such as with the aforementioned Epiphone Moderns and ‘59’s. If they can sell those guitars for around $699, then again, why would similarly built guitars from artists costs anything above $1000 at the most?! It’s a really legit question that begs to be explored further. I think this is why most people keep asking about Epiphones in particular. It is clear that no additional time is being invested in making the more expensive artist guitars as compared with the ones costing $499-$899. Generally speaking, they are being made with the same materials and pickups (and surely the few exceptions that might have an added Bigsby or unusual materials are purchased at high volume discounts that don’t quantify those few models to cost double or more). The artists are not being paid more than $200-ish per guitar on average depending on the deal according to media reports and industry experts. The labor in China and Indonesia (where Epiphone acoustic guitars mostly are produced) costs less than Gibson USA workers would be paid. So what gives here? It just doesn’t add up. There’s no reason that I can think of that any Epiphone should cost anything about $899 or so in today’s market given all of the above points. Can you help us understand this a bit more? Likewise, the only factors that should make a Gibson cost more is the labor and some of the materials being better. Are Gibson USA employees actually spending more time to make a Gibson guitar than an Epiphone equivalent? Sometime tells me that Gibson’s media department wants us to think that is the case, but the fact that Epiphones are being made to such a high standard should actually bring the cost of Gibson’s down rather than driving it up. Most people can’t afford a Gibson anymore. I don’t see how that’s a sustainable business model to set the prices so much higher when more profits are made at volume. Business 101 classes teach students than companies earn a better profit margin by setting prices lower and selling more units. I dunno. I think Gibson and even Epiphone will land themselves in financial ruin. I don’t think the current pricing is going to work in the long run for Epiphone and Gibson. They have to be losing a lot of business overall. People are starting to turn to other brands. You can get custom Kiesel USA guitars starting around $1200. You can get a Japanese Vola for around $849. The PRS SE line is mostly around $600-$850 with a few outliers. There are loads of more attainable, quality options out there from any country one would like. Care to dive further in this subject?

Passive Aggressive Newsmen talking about Things they don't understand is my favorite Genre

This is a great video, man. From the quick history insight to the points you've made. Yet another reminder why you're one of my favorite KZfaq channels! Cheers 🎸

The thing is, people confuse "quantity over quality" instruments with terrible QC...( which is a thing China is one of the only country in the world equipped for) with quality instruments made with lower wage in China or Mexico. For the later you pay less wage, but you still have to get premium materials, throw away stuffs that don't pass QC, have premium customer service... And this will cost a lot no matter where. That's how you get brands like Eastman that makes premium expensive instrument even if made in China

The problem with Chinese guitars is that the quality range is so big and it’s not easy to know what is what. And since the Chinese brands usually aren’t in the shops “over here” you can’t find out for yourself. It just feels like more of a gamble.

The Eastman guitars are really good for the money. I have a t486 goldburst and if it had Gibson on the headstock it would cost me 3 times as much .if you do a wee video on Eastman and there quality build that would be a great follow-up to this video.

As I almost exclusively play Gibson and Epiphone guitars, I will say the quality at Epiphone has been pretty damn good since 2013. I have a Silverburst Custom pro that feels phenomenal (gutted electronics for actives) and the Purple tiger Extura Prophecy is as well (also gutted electronics because Fishman moderns are ass). And no, ProBuckers are not horrible but Fishman Moderns even on other guitars are not my cup of tea. My Gibson 1983 SG is still an awesome instrument and also gutted electronics because after 40 years they died. I know the value is higher on the Gibson but that’s strictly based on market values. My Epiphone guitars are just as well built.

My opinion is that location does matter, but in a very limited way. There is nothing that makes a guitar made in the US or Korea inherently better than one made in China or India, but what those countries have that others don't is an established skilled work base and supply chains. Both of those are difficult to achieve and take time even under the best circumstances. Any region that has serious investment in guitar building will get there eventually, including *insert bottom barrel guitar maker here*

Excellent video! I have guitars made all over the world as well. All are great guitars! Thanks for this, KDH!

Nice journalizing man. I enjoyed this format you lay out a well documented history!

I own a Chinese air hammer (it's a blacksmithing tool). It's from the Anyang Forging Press corporation, and they are known for making the highest-quality air hammers in the world. Better than those you can find from companies in other countries. It's got a price tag to match, too. Yet surprisingly I think it's still really well-priced for what it is.

in my experience, the build quality of a guitar depends more on the person who put the instrument together than on the country that it is actually made. cheers 🎸🎸

Some of the very first FireFly 335 copies are absolutely master workmanship, replacement pickups is only short cut they took, they knew what they were doing

Honestly the last thing I look at when purchasing a guitar is where it was built. If it looks good, sounds good and plays well with good intonation I’m happy. Doesn’t matter where it’s from, a good guitar is a good guitar

I recently bought a Silver Sky SE made in the Cor-tek factory in Indonesia, and it plays way better than the gibson les paul tribute I own. It's great to have a wide selection of factories and brands that are producing high quality instruments

my thing with epiphone and gibson is that they're just price gouging at this point, they haven't been doing anything to improve their QC or justify said price increases, i'd be A-okay with Epiphones going over the $1k mark if they were on the same level as say ltd, but so far I haven't seen that be the case, hopefully that changes

I’ve imported several acoustic Gibson/Guild copies from China recently, built with solid tops and laminated backs and sides, they’re great beaters/campers, especially here in CO where lack of humidity and temp with destroy any “outdoor” instrument. They are more than likely built by a completely automated process over at 8Sounds, and it does a better job than Kay did building laminate acoustics using people. Very soon it won’t be where the instrument was imported from, but whether or not it was built by a human being.

I live in SE Asia and have traveled throughout China many times over the last 4 decades. I really don’t get the quality argument on Chinese products. The factories there are state of the art and the workers are by nature very meticulous. The fact they are cheaper doesn’t make them inferior in quality. I’m a bass player who is fortunate enough to be able to play any kind or brand of instrument I want. Yes I play US made Fenders for the most part. But I also have several foreign made basses that sound and play great and I’d have no issue gigging with them. I own a Korean Jazz Bass copy brand made in Indonesia that is absolutely a dream to play. Musicians get too easily hung up on brands. Good playability and sound is what it is. Check out the Korean Swing brand Jazz bass Shockingly good for about a $300 price point. Just remember your iPhone is made in China!

KDH remains one of the most reasonable, objective thinkers and possibly the most charismatic and llistenable talker discussing guitars on YT. Finding a channel like this is the proverbial diamond in a pigsty.

If it says Eastman on the headstock it is most likely worth it.

Epiphone guitars are manufactured in China, and some of the upper mid to high range stuff the brand offers is pretty much on par with Gibson, some may say in some circumstances being superior considering the price they go for (except the recent signature models as those overpriced)

The fave of all my electrics is a St. Blues 61 South made in Korea. It actually doesn't have perfect fit and finish (this was made before the CNC revolution took over offshore guitar production), but it's a mojo-filled, absolutely fantastic guitar, and incredibly versatile. I've lots of others, and use them all for recording, but this is the one I keep coming back to as my main performing axe.

Always great videos chief. All the best eh! 🇨🇦🌎🌍🌏👍

One of my best/favourite guitars is a Korean made Fender TC90. The thing is rock solid. Apart from the weight, my PRS S2 is right in the same range of quality. This makes me wonder how much time is being spent on the Greeny LP.

You should take a look at Dingwall Basses. Made in China but finished in Canada, they start over 2k but they’re pretty legendary for quality control

I have a Dingwall. Made in China, QC and setup in Canada. Worth every penny

Gibson's semi-hollowbodies like the ES-335 and ES-339 have tops and backs constructed of layers (either 3 or 4) of maple veneer. My understanding is that the veneers are assembled in successive cross-grain layers with the top layer having its grain longitudinal to the length of the guitar. The tops and backs are approximately 1/4" in thickness after layup.

Ive got a 2009 MIC Ibanez ORM1 and its one of the best feeling and sounding guitars Ive ever owned, and quote me if Im wrong, but the ORM1 went new for $600+ when it came out in 2008. So Chinese made products have definitely over the years increased in price, but also in quality as well. Look at KZ in ear monitors for example, basically blows all popular and more expensive brands out of the water at a 1/4 of the price.

Firefly still selling for super cheap with amazing awesome upgrades like roasted maple necks, great sounding pickups, bone nut, locking tuners and amazing beautiful color options.

Wow, internet recognition!! Thanks for tackling the topic, my man! 🍻

When I was a kid "made in Japan" meant is was cheap, now "made in Japan" means I probably can't afford it

Brandon Ellis signature Kelly was my first China-made guitar. The thing is great! Shortly after I bought a mid-range Alvarez. Also made in China. If you didn't see the 'Made in China' on the headstock, you'd never guess it.

Fire video as always. Thank you for the content :)

An interesting thing I think has been contributing in the last decade: 3D printing. Guitars don't use many 3D printed parts, but they do use CNC machines, which use a lot of similar technology, just inverted. (Printing is additive manufacturing where you put it together, CNC is subtractive where you remove material) In the last decade or so, some key patents on 3D printing technologies expired, which is why they became a much more common piece of consumer tech than they were in, say, 2003. With that huge uptick in activity and interest came significant improvements in the quality/precision/reliability/etc. of the technology, and with how much crossover there is between 3D printing and CNC, a lot of it crossed over for more reliable, precise, quality automated manufacturing. The result is cheap instruments have gotten a lot better because the manufacturing process has become much more refined.

I’ve an Eastman sb55dc/v with a Throbak P90. Worth every penny.

Love you channel, but constructive feedback: try and lock your camera exposure so it's not constantly shifting brighter and darker throughout the video while you move

In my opinion, it isn't completely a matter of just quality. If you end up with a great playing and sounding MIC, MII, MIK guitar...great! But the resale value for imports will always be trash compared to MIA, MIJ, MI EU instruments. Granted, some players truly don't care about resale value but as someone who's traded, bought and sold many guitars in this gear journey of mine I end up gravitating towards things I know keep their value or sometimes even increase in value. This also depends on your local gear markets which differs greatly per country, but I just think it's a big factor.

Cheers for the wake up call. Really dig your approach to the topic. The community is getting better though. Omg remember forums in the early 2000s “Mesa Boogie recto, Emg, Gibson” nothing else. I may of owned those at that time too 😅

Eastman guitars are chinese, they are in the mid to higher price range (say €1200,- to €2200,-) and their guitars are exceptional! Their acoustics blow any Martin or Taylor that goes for the same price out the water.

I own an Epi Ghost horse made in China. It's in my top 5 favorites, and I own 27 guitars, several of which are premium guitars from USA and Japan.

I find it amusing how things move in cycles. At one time Japanese made guitars were seen as the lower end of the market and progressively became premium and now some of the once 'cheapie' Japanese brands are collectable. You can find similar things with used Squiers, Epiphones etc. promoting Korean, Indonesian made instruments as superior to where they are made currently.

I had a Shine (Saein) bass - they were a Chinese company/factory making stuff for big brands. The bass cost me 80 quid on high street back in 2004. It sounded just as good as a 160 quid entry level big brand bass.

Good video. I like the look of Eastman guitars. They seem to be excellent value and I may well pick one up (and buy it) at some point.

i have some eastman guitar and they are great guitars, but i've noticed since they have become more popular the prices have gone up, but i would still buy eastman over gibson anyday,

Some people gave Jackson grief over their latest pro plus series being made in China. Sure, it's more expensive than what you would expect from a made in China guitar, but those things are specked out with all the features you would expect from a top notch guitar. Beautiful finishes, too. I really want to at least try one.

I bought an Epiphone 59 Les Paul standard, after an extra $200 for a new nut and a little fret work I now have a guitar that sounds fantastic and plays just as well. The price was $999 with a case but I got it on sale for $750 at Guitar Center during their black Friday sale.

I've got a Martin HD-28 (USA), Fender CD140S (China), and a (no-name) Brook S25G cutaway (China). The Martin definitely has that Martin feel, but the Fender and Brook both have great qualities, and I play them all regularly. The Martin is distinct, clear, and big sounding, and it definitely encourages you to keep playing. The Fender is airier, crisper, and is my go-to if I want to just grab a guitar and play for an hour. The Brook is boomy, holds tune quite well, is extremely overbuilt, and a great campfire sing-a-long or travel guitar. I enjoy all of those, and I'm pretty sure I could use that Brook as a hammer and it would be fine.

if you want a REAL made in America Gibson you want a Heritage guitar!!!!!!

I was in the market for an all solid, grand auditorium acoustic about 8 months ago. I ended up landing on an Eastman 622ce-Koa which is made in Beijing, and it blew every Taylor I compared it to out of the water. Obviously some personal preference involved, but the craftsmanship is nothing short of incredible, with intricate headstock/fingerboard inlays, a strip of maple down the back with a seam you can hardly tell is there, and a solid setup out of the box. No complaints from me

Learned quite a bit from this video, cheers mate!

My BMG Arielle is from World Musical Instrument Co. in Korea and it’s my favorite guitar to play. 🥹

I've got 2 guitars from chiina. Both Eastman, a PCH1 and a T386. Great guitars and worth every penny. The PCH1 was €450 and the T386 €1150. A non China guitar with the same quality would cost you at least 50% more.

I have owned American, German, Korean, Indonesian and Israeli made basses and yet my Chinese Dingwall NG3 is still my best one

My Chinese Epiphone Firebird is awesome. I did have to do some fret polishing first.

My first real player was a S101 tele style guitar i bought when i was a late teenager in the late 2000s. I could afford it and it looked cool. I've had lots lf general maintenance and work on it over the years and it's one solid guitar. Just need to finally upgrade the pickups... Similar modern other models that are super cheap are Inyen Vina (IYV). CNC built factory guitars. I've got three and i love em. My PRS clone is solid. I tried a few real ones out and realized mine felt better to play. I've always been pretty "cheap" with my guitars. Just never had a lot of money to throw at them. So I've come to appreciate the better quality budget guitars and give them some TLC to make them play and feel like theyre worth a lot more. Anyways, I really enjoyed this video!

Also take into account Mustaine, Hetfield, Dimebag, Paul Stanley etc. have all rocked Korean imports live - it gave them a lot of credence among those paying attention to the country of manufacture. More interestingly, Weezer’s guitarist Rivers Cuomo recently played a Jackson RR24 Crackle live - that’s a Chinese made import (but with higher specs of the Pro line). Honestly a lot of the bad press for Chinese or even Indonesian guitarists comes from their overall cheaper specs and woods, and the few absolute lemons that have passed inspection. I’ve been fortunate to own many imports over the years and all of them were top notch quality wise.

Korea is the new Japan, for sure. I love Schecter guitars, and the Korean ones are amazing. But they have become rather expensive. Indonesia is the new Korea. The PRS Se lineup is proof of that. Those are amazing guitars. There are some "boutique" Chinese companies. Which is wild. Like Shieji. A guitar is a guitar. Quality is what matters.

My Epiphone Rumble Kat bass is an amazing bass. It looks and sounds great

The issue comparing a Japanese or Korean made guitar to a modern Chinese guitar is chinas production quality hasn’t really increased.

Well this video felt like a best of, of things I have already heard on this channel.

Epiphone didn't start out as a budget brand of guitar, people seem to forget that. They're simply inching their way back up. Les Paul made The Log in the Epiphone factory and later attached an Epiphone body onto it

Paid £1000 for my eastman acoustic e6d tc, worth every penny

“Epiphone will always be Gibson’s older brother, and its history is perhaps the most interesting of any guitar brand”: Celebrating 150 years of Epiphone

The quality of Chinese guitars has gone up astronomically in the last 15-20 years. Even compared to what was avaliable from China when I started playing in the mid 2000s when they were considered bad quality they have really become on average very good recently, especially in the last 10 years. I would put a 200$ guitar from China today at or above a 500$ guitar from 15 years ago. Pickup quality can vary and tuners are generally shit, but if you're willing to put a little more money and time into a cheaper Chinese guitar you will have something that you can gig with.

When I started in the late 90s, early 2000s, your no name strat was $99 and a basic beginner electric around $200. At $300-400 you could get an intermediate instrument, like an Epi Les Paul standard. And the thing is, the entry level market is still very affordable despite 20 years of inflation everywhere else. So $600 to $1000 for a Chinese instrument is not unreasonable if it is basically great quality.

Well... Here in Australia a les paul standard is about $5k now. If you bargained before covid you could get a new standard under $3k. Epiphones nearly cost that much here now. But i bought a new chinese Epiphone Firebird for around $1250 AUD and its brilliant. Couldn't be happier. Fair to say only dentists are buying Gibson now more than ever. They're more like an LV handbag now...

Also, a big game changer is the advent of the CNC machine. Quality can be more consistent.

My Dingwall NG-3 was pretty expensive and is predominately made in China although setup and certain things are finished in Canada. I look for tuning stability, playability, fit and finish, and overall quality and its second to none.

That is a BRILLIANT news item on Burns!

Thank you for explaining basic engineering costs to the world.

The first solid body mass production electric. There were other solid body electrics before that, the Les Paul, Bigsby.

Eastman had a high end shop that churns out top shelf instruments

7:42 thank you, some people just dont get it. Some will think guitars from any country besides e.g the US are bad, which ofcause is wrong

A couple of the Squier Vista series from the late 1990s were made in China. Just as good as any modern high spec Indonesian guitar. My problem with modern low spec Chinese guitars is the really thick poly necks and the weighty bodies. High spec Chinese guitars (i have only actually played Eastman) are very good quality.

I have two Firefly guitars. A small upgrade or two and they're great instruments.

The Indonesian Kramer Baretta is a sub $300 guitar and has earned a great reputation.

I have a Chinese made version of a Gibson J45. All solid wood. Nitro finish. It's a really high quality acoustic guitar. Acoustics are harder to make because one can't hide the imperfections with... 'noise'! It's not only a beautifully made guitar, it has a wonderful vintage sound and the dynamics of the thing are to die for.

The reason I think China, in particular, has more of an issue, in the minds of buyers anyway when it comes to high priced guitars, is the sheer number of guitars (especially cheap and cheap knockoffs) coming out of there. That combined with a few generations worth of the “Made in China”=Crap dogma in the Western countries. Leading to almost anything with that stamp to instant devaluation. Especially in the secondary market. I don’t even see much hope in the “cult favorite” area of the market besides the Hello Kitty strat, and that isn’t even because it’s an actual jewel of a guitar. Until an artist can really push a Chinese model or a Chinese manufacturer can either produce a new style/model guitar that becomes viral or just ups their fit and finish game to a supreme level, the buyer index will remain on the low end. Although with how trends and news travels nowadays that CAN happen quickly and seemingly “over night”.

Great video, again 👍

I have guitars that are made in, Korea , Indonesia , China and i had also made in USA. I sold my Gibson Les Paul Standard to buy my Ibanez AR725 VLS . Definitely i will buy another Gibson Les Paul Standard , but i would never sell my Ibanez AR725 VLS Long time ago that i have learned that not every guitar that is made in USA means the best quality instrument in the world for the price , is all just false marketing and in many cases is a real scam game .

Vietnam is upcoming too. Iyv guitars makes a lot of oem guitars for brands

You get the odd dud with the classic vibes, but the Cort and Sammick squiers are generally incredible quality for the money now.

Brian May Guitars was the first time I tried an expensive instrument that was made 'overseas' - I think it was Korea. This was many years ago, and I can't remember the exact figures, but it was 2 or 3 times the price of an Epiphone at that time. The feel and build were as good as anything, and I thought it was a great idea. Instead of PRS's S2 approach, which takes cheap hardware and uses USA labor, why not take quality parts and craftsmanship overseas? Labor is much cheaper, so they can spend as much time on a guitar as Fender or Gibson and still come out way cheaper. I don't understand the notion that only an American can build a quality product. China built a wall around their country when Western civilizations were still living in huts.

I care about the time spent on my guitars. I also expect that they are made from the best wood possible.

This is why i love your content. I live in Chile, and (i know the issue it's not exclusive to my country, but the community as a whole) more than often i heat how you shouldn't invest time in cheap asian made guitars if they ate not japanese or korean. I always came to defend low quality asian guitars, because if the base instrument (neck and body) were good, you could always set it up and upgrade them to be better instruments. I mainly play 2 Ltds Made in Indonesia. I modded them to be my own instruments, and i love them. Also, a lot of my friends like them because i always set them up, had replace the electronics and hardware for good quality ones, and also messed with the finish of the neck to my liking. Now i bought a Freeman (generic chinese) les paul with a basswood body and a maple set neck. I have plan on stripp the original paint, stain it red, french polish with shellac and put some nice hardware and electronics as a project just to prove my point that a good guitar just needs good hardware, wood and finish to be great. That takes time, and some people may say that it would be better if i make the guitar from scratch (wich also i plan to do in the future) or i if i bought and already nice guitar. But i literally bought the chinese lp for less than $40 usd, the materials that i'm gonna use for the finish are really cheap (but nice. I made some cutting boards and coffee tables with them and are really good) and the hardware would cost me like 20% of what would cost mw to buy a guitar with the same hardware. Stop being geat snobs and better understand your instruments capabilities. Nice guitars are, obviously nice, but moding is a really cool Journey that leaves you with a nice guitar for less money.

Not to quibble, but at [10:03] the picture of the Fender Bassman is not correct. What Jim Marshall copied was the 5F6A circuit found in the late 50's tweed bassmans, the most awesome-sounding amps ever made.

I picked up the Adam Jolnes Epi, I shuddered at the price, but can find no flaws compared to anything else, plays very well..no regrets, but it was a stretch to cough that up though.

Very fair and well thought out Stance. In the world of electronics china has become increasingly good at its craft so they have become more expensive to acquire so it makes sense the same happens in the world of guitars

Do we have any information about which guitar factories are unionised? This is really basic information that I wish was more easily available for the customer.

I think there are another couple of reasons to consider. Back in the 1990s, Japan aped American music considerably. We all know the phenomenon of that glam rock or metal band that were huge in the USA until they weren't. Then as if by magic, their popularity soared in Japan and it became a huge market for them. This is even recognised in the Spinal Tap movie. From that, there was some pretty awesome Japanese guitarists that came through the ether. The guitar became synonymous with Japanese culture and thus the demand for good guitars became pretty widespread domestically. The same happened in Indonesia for sure and even as far as India (need I mention Bloodywood for example?) While they aren't at the level of Japan yet in terms of guitar popularity, it's certainly on the way. I have a few CDs that have come out of Indonesia and OK I consider them more in their punk and grindcore phase, but guitarists nonetheless. China, well, yes if you Google there are some fine Chinese guitarists, but I don't get the impression at least that the guitar is as synonymous with Chinese culture domestically compared to Japan. The other thing is wood and availability. Like it or not, wood plays an important factor. Take swamp ash for example, there's tonnes of it in the Southwest USA and even branching South from that. It's very available and it is a really good wood to use for an electric guitar. On a more modern note, I have guitars made with rosewood fingerboards, some using Brazilian rosewood, some using Indian. Personally I feel a difference bigtime. Notably, Brazilian rosewood feels a lot slicker and smoother than Indian rosewood. The point I'm driving at is nobody in their right mind would ship unfinished wood half way around the world to be made into a guitar fretboard somewhere else and then have it shipped back. They are going to use woods that are cheaper and more available domestically. OK yes, Brazilian rosewood is a protected species today, but that aside there are certain woods in the world that are way more suitable for guitar building than others. There's nothing inherently wrong with Indian rosewood, but to outright claim there is not difference is just not true at all. There are similar differences in mahogany too and it's all down to the environment in which the tree is physically grown in terms of ambient temperature, humidity, etc, all of that informs how a tree physically and naturally grows. And some traits are more desirable than others. While your point in time taken to construct instruments is very valid, another core point is where the wood is sourced from and frankly domestic demand. If the people playing your instruments are from your country and they turn around to say, "Hey, this isn't good enough!" then manufacturers are more likely to listen. The spoils of that if you will can in turn create better instruments that we then import.

Tested roundabout 10 acoustic guitars, most of the the standard companies, but the only one that haunts and tells me "buy me" since then is a Chinese guitar from Blueridge ...