52 posts
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Post by simontemplar on Mar 3, 2020 16:54:57 GMT
A skilled workman (or woman or attack helicopter) is just that, although I suppose pay might be a factor in the quality of their work. It’s something that always amused me about those coveted early Fenders, as I understand they were made by cheap Mexican labour. Although I could be perpetuating a lie. What about a woman flying that attack chopper?!
I would say the thing to keep in mind about Mexican made Fenders is that way more people in Mexico play the guitar- something like 1 in 5. Now that isn't scientific even though I trust Phil McKnight's opinion. That said, I'd rather have a player building guitars than a non player.
I think I'm necro posting here, but the attack chopper thing cracked me up.
Cheers! ST
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2020 11:39:12 GMT
I have a fairly recent SC-550 (bought in february) which has the "new" features (reddish jatoba fretboard, Roswell pickups) but yet it says "made in China". Did Harley Benton shift the production back? Or do their guitars get made in several different locations/factories?
Not that it bothers me. I don't care who makes my guitar as long as it plays well :-) But I find it confusing.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 5, 2020 11:46:17 GMT
I have a fairly recent SC-550 (bought in february) which has the "new" features (reddish jatoba fretboard, Roswell pickups) but yet it says "made in China". Did Harley Benton shift the production back? Or do their guitars get made in several different locations/factories?
Not that it bothers me. I don't care who makes my guitar as long as it plays well :-) But I find it confusing. They do shift things around as capacities demand. I hate to bust myths (well, no, not really) but there is no country on earth when things get done better or worse than everywhere else. Quality is a price decision.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 5, 2020 12:04:23 GMT
A skilled workman (or woman or attack helicopter) is just that, although I suppose pay might be a factor in the quality of their work. It’s something that always amused me about those coveted early Fenders, as I understand they were made by cheap Mexican labour. Although I could be perpetuating a lie. I would say the thing to keep in mind about Mexican made Fenders is that way more people in Mexico play the guitar- something like 1 in 5. Now that isn't scientific even though I trust Phil McKnight's opinion. That said, I'd rather have a player building guitars than a non player. Pay is everything in the quality of someone's work. If you ask someone to work faster so more products come out of the door at a lower unit price, steps will be shortened or left out. As to someone building a guitar, better ask who cuts the pieces, who drills the holes, who tightens the screws, who selects the parts or who does the soldering because they're all different people. There's the old joke about the sergeant asking in the ranks who knows music. The four he picks are then sent to carry the piano upstairs. And yes, Fender guitars were designed to be built by unqualified people. That's why they were at the lower end of the price range. By the late 50s, a Telecaster would cost around $200, a Jazz Bass $300 and a Gibson Byrdland $600 while the simplistic Les Paul Junior sold for $120.
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Post by hallon on Mar 9, 2020 9:42:24 GMT
It's funny how it goes. First of all Japanese was seen as rubbish, then South Korea, then China, now it's Vietnam's turn. Japanese is now pretty much seen as a badge of quality. South Korea seems to be. Perhaps now China is too? Won't be long till we all want Vietnamese. Yup that is how it is.
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Post by hallon on Mar 9, 2020 9:46:30 GMT
This could be a piece of art ! Just a title missing, something like : "Gibson, by Strandberg" "Gibson, where price & quality meets" Ouch!!
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Post by k2347 on Mar 11, 2020 1:56:14 GMT
I have a fairly recent SC-550 (bought in february) which has the "new" features (reddish jatoba fretboard, Roswell pickups) but yet it says "made in China". Did Harley Benton shift the production back? Or do their guitars get made in several different locations/factories?
Not that it bothers me. I don't care who makes my guitar as long as it plays well :-) But I find it confusing. They do shift things around as capacities demand. I hate to bust myths (well, no, not really) but there is no country on earth when things get done better or worse than everywhere else. Quality is a price decision. I beg to differ here.My Harley Benton SC-Custom FR VB was made in vietnam and came with the original Floyd Rose 1000,Grover tuners and recessed knobs with coil tap per Thomanns site.Go on youtube and you will see that the china versions came with garbage Floyd Rose specials,non-recessed knobs and generic tuners.Thomanns factories and product descriptions are all false!Here is one of the poor people who got duped on this guitar by Thomann:
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 11, 2020 2:55:28 GMT
They do shift things around as capacities demand. I hate to bust myths (well, no, not really) but there is no country on earth when things get done better or worse than everywhere else. Quality is a price decision. I beg to differ here.My Harley Benton SC-Custom FR VB was made in vietnam and came with the original Floyd Rose 1000,Grover tuners and recessed knobs with coil tap per Thomanns site.Go on youtube and you will see that the china versions came with garbage Floyd Rose specials,non-recessed knobs and generic tuners.Thomanns factories and product descriptions are all false!Here is one of the poor people who got duped on this guitar by Thomann: I'm still buying them used on ebay. I tell myself they've had proper customer quality control at least, even though I have no certainty the customer in question was qualified to do so. No, I just get them cheaper that way but I have been happy so far. This SC-Custom was a fake, not a quality issue. Someone was cheating and it was a clear return case at first sight.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 11, 2020 5:09:11 GMT
They fixed it.This is a more recent video from October 2019: What remains is the ever confirmed situation that quality control is outsourced to the customer. I suppose QC on Harley Benton is left to the supplier, which explains how some funny fingerboards were sent to customer or, in this case of a cheating one, how a product could stray away from its own description. Thomann react to returns, things get fixed but to an overseas buyer this is a risk I would be wary of taking myself. I guess I'll go buy another one on ebay now, to wash out the bad taste. Yes, I'm only looking for excuses
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Post by johnnyo on Mar 11, 2020 6:19:22 GMT
Post deleted and member banned. I thought you were banned!?
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boris
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by boris on Mar 11, 2020 12:52:18 GMT
Post deleted and member banned. I thought you were banned!? I think he's only a flamer. Sad.
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Mar 11, 2020 13:15:42 GMT
One of the nice things about a forum is the chance it gives for everyone to show their true selves. If you're ignorant, a bully, open-minded, helpful, unhelpful, approachable, unapproachable, foolish, naive, learned, inquisitive, it soon shows. Just like real life really!
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52 posts
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Post by simontemplar on Mar 11, 2020 14:14:29 GMT
I thought you were banned!? I think he's only a flamer. Sad. I never understood wasting the energy just to be negative. I just can't be bothered to act like that. I mean, being where I'm from, I don't love that manufacturing jobs got outsourced to China, but that's an economic argument.
Anyway, I agree with you. It is sad.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Mar 11, 2020 14:29:16 GMT
I think he's only a flamer. Sad. I never understood wasting the energy just to be negative. I just can't be bothered to act like that. I can't be bothered discussing other people on a public forum. An even worst waste of time. I'm here to discuss Harley Benton guitars and related subjects. I won't give a toss what John1234 thinks of Jim5678.
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