What guitar makers moved from Korea to China?

[ganzua]

Hi!

I'm trying to find out what guitar makers moved or are gradually moving their production facilities from Korea to China.

Some of them are quite obvious; Tokai, Epiphone, there was a controversial thread about Edwards in this forum, any one else? Do you know the name of these chinese plants? It is said that there are big plants but quite a few.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you know the name of these chinese plants? It is said that there are big plants but quite a few.

Bamboo?

:lol:

Mike

 

[ganzua]

Bamboo?

no, no, the "other plants", factories, producing facilities, workshops, ancient caves...

BTW, give up plants now

 

[leadguitar_323]

I haven't looked through this yet but it is a directory of Chinese guitar making factories.
http://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Guitar.html

I'm not too sure if this site will say which factories make which brands but still it is interesting as there are more than 300 listings.....

Mick

 

[ganzua]

I haven't looked through this yet but it is a directory of Chinese guitar making factories.
http://www.made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Guitar.html

I'm not too sure if this site will say which factories make which brands but still it is interesting as there are more than 300 listings.....

Mick

Thanks a lot for the link, Mick

Paul Reed Smith is made in China?

http://www.made-in-china.com/showroom/126-music/product-detailTeonEHQdTaRp/China-Paul-Reed-Smith-Guitar-Blue-Flamed-Top-.html

I presume these are fakes.

 

[imlikeajungle]

It looks pretty fake

 

[ganzua]

It looks pretty fake

Yep

Anyway; Tokai, Epiphone, Edwards... who else is moving to China? and BTW, what happened with the Tokai Korea factory? is making guitars for any other brand?

 

[Anonymous]

Presumably this is all very bad news for the Korean economy? Or is it only guitar manufacture that's moving to China?

 

[ganzua]

Presumably this is all very bad news for the Korean economy?

I think Korea achieved a gool quality level and that now, the old "Made in Korea" is becoming "Made in China".

Some brands are taking advantage of that by selling the same models that a few years ago were produced in Korea but now are being produced in China with reduced costs and less quality.

I run a blog on guitars and I recently was asked by the Sheraton II. Korean versions of that guitar were good enough for the "buck" but I tried a chinese one and was nothing but regrettable. Chinese versions are cheaper but sometimes they don't worth the money.

I wonder what brands are playing this game.

Or is it only guitar manufacture that's moving to China?

Obviously not. For instance, Steingberg took the straight path to China with Vox. The same did Hofner with two product lines.

I'm not saying that in China they can't make good guitars at all, I'm saying that some well known brands are taking advange of chinese low costs and selling less quality with their logos on the headstocks.

 

[Big Willie Style]

I live in Korea right now and the factory that made Tokai here also make Dillions, Burny, and a few others. Basically if you were to work out a deal with the parent company you could contract this company to make the guitars for you.

The quality here is really hit or miss. I still have a very strong suspicion that a large portion of what would be factory seconds are the ones that go on sale here; the rest being shipped abroad. You can find some great guitars for the money here but you can find lots of firewood too. My first electric was a Washburn Idol that I just can't seem to part with. Great guitar for the cash.

I'm still surprised that Tokai is making all of their acoustics in China now. I found this out last summer when I contacted Yoshi at Guitar Universe to order one. He contacted Tokai and they told him that ALL acoustics are being made abroad. I'm sure the Chinese factories have the capacity to produce good qulaity guitars, but I'm just surprised that Tokai would move production of their high end abroad as well.

Jason

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sure the Chinese factories have the capacity to produce good qulaity guitars, but I'm just surprised that Tokai would move production of their high end abroad as well.

Jason

So am I. Still, if Tokai quality goes downhill, it will make all the older ones more valuable. Which is something, I suppose. :-?

 

[ganzua]

The quality here is really hit or miss.

I totally agree and I always thought that you can go to try korean guitars like Epiphone and find some of them ok and others a piece of crap. However, sometimes there are companies that are aiming for quality, for example Michael Kelly, and that's what you get for the buck.

I'm sure the Chinese factories have the capacity to produce good qulaity

Yep, the problem is not the country itself, it is the parent company that aims for low cost instead of good quality.

Did Washburn moved to China aswell? I want names so I can make a juicy list.

 

[Big Willie Style]

I'm not sure, but next time I go into the guitar shop area, I can ask around to see who is still producing here and who moved to China.

Even Korean companies are moving production to China - Cort moved their entire production, including their newer line of all-solid acoustics (Parkwood).

Speaking of Korean quality, has anyone here ever tried an axe from Swing Guitar Technology? They make basically Fender knock-offs but their mission is to break the low-quality myth about Korean guitars. I've heard nothing but good things about them. I'm itching to try one... they also have a custom shop, which, all things considered, is dirt cheap.

Jason

 

[ganzua]

I'm not sure, but next time I go into the guitar shop area, I can ask around to see who is still producing here and who moved to China.

It will be very interesting!

Even Korean companies are moving production to China - Cort moved their entire production, including their newer line of all-solid acoustics (Parkwood).

We have one more; Tokai Korea moved to China, Tokai all acoustics, Epiphone, Edwards and Cort.

Squier is another clear candidate but not sure.

their mission is to break the low-quality myth about Korean guitars.

I don't believe in this myth. I have a Dearmond m77t and it is one of my favourite guitars. It is not a luxury guitar at all but you get all quality and more for the 400 bucks I paid. I have a Michael Kelly mandolin and it is exactly the same.

I think that quality totally depends on what the parent company is willing to offer.

 

[Big Willie Style]

I don't believe in this myth. I have a Dearmond m77t and it is one of my favourite guitars. It is not a luxury guitar at all but you get all quality and more for the 400 bucks I paid. I have a Michael Kelly mandolin and it is exactly the same.

I think that quality totally depends on what the parent company is willing to offer.

Good point! My lowly Washburn Idol is still one of my favorites. GREAT build quality for the cash. Topped off with a set of '57 classics cheap from eBay and it's sweet.

Jason

 

[RocknBlues]

Speaking of Korean quality, has anyone here ever tried an axe from Swing Guitar Technology? They make basically Fender knock-offs but their mission is to break the low-quality myth about Korean guitars. I've heard nothing but good things about them. I'm itching to try one... they also have a custom shop, which, all things considered, is dirt cheap.

Jason

Youtube has a few videos demoing Swing guitars from Korea, they sound fairly good not sure on a price though.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=f6gFzELonjY

If you use youtubes search engine for swing guitars you get a fair few different demo's.