Ibanez, Where Are They Made? |
|
|
|
|
Feb 14 2008, 03:37 PM
|
|
QUOTE (Johnny B @ Feb 14 2008, 08:59 AM)  I have a chance to buy a used Ibanez S prestige 4170 from 2007, however the seller tells me it is made in Korea. How is the general quality of these guitars because they are not cheap, considering that they are made in a low cost/low quality country? I thought the Prestige models were all made in Japan. From Wikipedia: QUOTE S - The S models use the "zero resistance" floating tremolo, which enables the strings to stay more in tune. Also available as S Prestige, high-end range which are made in Japan/Korea - S2170, S4170 AB. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ibanez -------------------- Guitars: ESP Semi-Hollow Eclipse, 1984 Ibanez Roadstar RS440, Peavey T-60, Daisy Rock Rock Candy Custom
Amps: Peavey Transformer 112, Epiphone Valve Jr head with custom 2x12 cab Pedals: Boss TU-2, Budda Bud-Wah, Chuck Collins Harmonic Percolator clone |
 |
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 14 2008, 04:05 PM
|
|
All Prestige Ibanezes are made in Japan, by team JCraft, in the Fujien (SP?) factory. Most low end ones are made in Korea, and the beginner one's are made in Indonesia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 14 2008, 04:28 PM
|
|
QUOTE (Johnny B @ Feb 14 2008, 02:59 PM) I have a chance to buy a used Ibanez S prestige 4170 from 2007, however the seller tells me it is made in Korea. How is the general quality of these guitars because they are not cheap, considering that they are made in a low cost/low quality country? I thought the Prestige models were all made in Japan. I do think it's wrong to generally say a certain country is a "low quality country". What gives the quality is how well the production line functions and how skilled the staff is. During the upstart phase, we're talking years, the quality would be dubious when starting up with new personel and new machines but as the years pass the quality will increase. And what you mention with low cost has nothing to do with it really, you can get real cheap stuff at low cost but in asia you can also get the good stuff at low cost so if the same guitar was manufactured in your home country and costed three times more wouldn't vouch for a better quality, only that it's the same but three times more expensive. Since Prestige is rated a bit higher in Korea aswell as it would be in Japan there are certain steps of quality assurance to be fulfilled before it can be called Prestige. These rules are the same I'm sure since noone can really say - Since the koreans can't manage to get the neck straight we strike the part of the Prestige QA. Then there are strategic desicions to mass produce cheap guitars with cheap wood and cheap hardware at as low cost as possible. Think of China today. If someone wanted to produce the Prestige models in China that would be much possible, it's just to provide the machines, skills, knowledge and material. But as you started out, countries gets branded "low cost" and "low quality" countries but it's not always neccessary that "low cost" and "low quantity" goes hand in hand. Though the big money is in selling larger volumes of low cost and as it is right now China does that best. So I would not fear what Ibanez calls a high-end guitar would be low-end just because it says Korea. I don't say that becuase I know their Korean production line is awesome but only because if Ibanez sell these guitars at a high cost not at all in relation to the quality they will soon be going down the slope. And that's no matter where the guitar is made. One problem with asia is the humidity but I'm quite sure that's under control too. -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 15 2008, 12:13 AM
|
|
Well if you can tryout the guitar do it and than judge its quality...Nowadays everything is made in china, Korea Indonesia...It doesn't mean its bad quality.Its more about the product and firm that stands behind it..They all have standards..
-------------------- For GMC support please email support (at) guitarmasterclass.net
Check out my lessons and my instructor board. Check out my beginner guitar lessons course! ; Take a bass course now! |
|
|
|
|
 
|
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
