What's with the World Music factory these days?

[napalmdeath]

I'm finding alot of the higher end ESP's , Schecters, and even PRS has been moving to Indonesia. I've yet to own an Indonesian guitar, (owned 4), that wasn't riddled with bad fret work, finish flaws, and poor QC. So, why's everyone shifting away from South Korea, where some of the finest imports have been made?

 

[messenger]

I'm finding alot of the higher end ESP's , Schecters, and even PRS has been moving to Indonesia. I've yet to own an Indonesian guitar, (owned 4), that wasn't riddled with bad fret work, finish flaws, and poor QC. So, why's everyone shifting away from South Korea, where some of the finest imports have been made?

I can only assume it’s cheaper labour

 

[Pushead]

The senior VP of ESP USA chirped in on their forum a few months ago and said it was a way to maintain the cost level of the instruments. The Korean factory was getting too pricey. While I have no practical experience with the Indonesian 1000 level LTD guitars, I have read more complaints about the Indonesian guitars than I've seen about the equivalent Korean guitars. Again, just internet rumblings, and that's what the internet does best; claiming the older stuff was better.

 

[Zado]

It' s essentially what Pushead said. Costs with MIK instruments has increased more and more, and margins have gone down the bath tube, so only higher import productions are still made in Korea. Two choices then:

1)Move the mid-low end imports to another place, hoping they will become the new Korea (which has sort of become the new Japan)

Or

2) Raise the prices. Which leads to less and less people buying them

 

[Rex Rocker]

The senior VP of ESP USA chirped in on their forum a few months ago and said it was a way to maintain the cost level of the instruments. The Korean factory was getting too pricey. While I have no practical experience with the Indonesian 1000 level LTD guitars, I have read more complaints about the Indonesian guitars than I've seen about the equivalent Korean guitars. Again, just internet rumblings, and that's what the internet does best; claiming the older stuff was better.

The 1000 series is now Indonesian?! :'(

 

[skullfxr]

The MIK LTD's are immensely better than the Indo models. At the moment I don't think I own any Indo made guitars. I am pretty much all USA or MIJ. I have two really nicely made MIK Fender Showmasters though.

 

[napalmdeath]

The senior VP of ESP USA chirped in on their forum a few months ago and said it was a way to maintain the cost level of the instruments. The Korean factory was getting too pricey. While I have no practical experience with the Indonesian 1000 level LTD guitars, I have read more complaints about the Indonesian guitars than I've seen about the equivalent Korean guitars. Again, just internet rumblings, and that's what the internet does best; claiming the older stuff was better.

The 1000 series is now Indonesian?! :'(

The EC-1000's, and MH-1000's have shifted there, yes.

 

[WashburnX50]

The senior VP of ESP USA chirped in on their forum a few months ago and said it was a way to maintain the cost level of the instruments. The Korean factory was getting too pricey. While I have no practical experience with the Indonesian 1000 level LTD guitars, I have read more complaints about the Indonesian guitars than I've seen about the equivalent Korean guitars. Again, just internet rumblings, and that's what the internet does best; claiming the older stuff was better.

The 1000 series is now Indonesian?! :'(

The EC-1000's, and MH-1000's have shifted there, yes.

Well shit... Guess I'll find em used then. Played some indo guitars. Haven't been overly impressed yet. All my Korean guitars have been pretty much fantastic out of the box. Only a few required minor tweaks, mostly intonation and personal preference kind of things though.

 

[ClintN667]

My Solar guitars are Indo made and they are pretty good. I think it just comes down to how much they are willing to invest in QC

 

[stratjacket]

I guess it’s inevitable as the cost of living and modernization increases. Makes sense that Korea would have better facilities, resources and quality of labor after all these years of investment but it makes it harder for them to compete with cheap labor elsewhere. I guess the question would be which direction will Korean built guitars go, will they try to compete with Indonesian guitars or Japan/USA built guitars.

 

[godgrinder]

A lot of the newer MIK guitars are $1500+, I'd rather just buy used USA stuff at that price...

 

[vultures]

A lot of the newer MIK guitars are $1500+, I'd rather just buy used USA stuff at that price...

What really blows is Ibanez is pumping out their Premium line guitars for around $1500 as well. They've got some cool specs like locking tuners or sometimes stainless steel frets, luminlay side dots... but they're Indonesian guitars

 

[Pushead]

https://www.espguitars.com/forums/1...tic-ec-1000-what-does-the-serial-say-about-it

There's a reply from Jeff M, the VP, a few posts into the thread.

 

[nightlight]

I had a Korea-made ESP Jeff Hanneman Eclipse. It wasn't too shabby, though I gave it to my brother.

I think as time goes by, the Indonesian guitars' quality will also go up. It takes time to build up these competencies.

 

[napalmdeath]

I've owned three Indonesian guitars that were absolute junk. Terrible fret work, blems, flaws, broken parts, and for some reason, all had Floyd Rose issues.

 

[Pushead]

I've owned three Indonesian guitars that were absolute junk. Terrible fret work, blems, flaws, broken parts, and for some reason, all had Floyd Rose issues.

But at what price range? (when new)

There may be some issues with the higher dollar range Indo guitars, but I suspect any factory can make better guitars if you throw enough money into it. I expect a $200 made in China guitar to be garbage, but I would expect a $1000 guitar from China to be as good as a $1000 guitar from Korea.

I had a LTD 401 Baritone from China that was a surprisingly better guitar than I was expecting.