Made In PRC guitars and gears, really okay?

Some of us found this out and start saying things, some stay quiet. Well, let’s start with the abbreviation first. P.R.C stands for People’s Republic of China, so Made In PRC means those guitars and amps are made in China. Yes, all the famous guitars and amps brands those have this label are making their products in china. we could be surprised by it,but it’s a common industry’s strategy called overseas production.

made in PRC taiwan china (3)

How can this even happens? surely we can imagine the almost same thing happen to fast food brand. they have recipes and patents, so they can sell the fast food to all over the world in fresh condition and precise product quality. but what happened to guitars and amps? they are not FOOD! guitars and amps are supposed to be someone’s lifestyle!… correct.. so is food. food is lifestyle.

made in PRC taiwan china (2)

It is likely emotional rather than rational. Of course we want the real taste of American built guitars such like fender or orange amps made in U.K. we feel that our love and loyalty is completely betrayed by the brands just by seeing “Made In P.R.C.” label behind our gears. Unfortunately it affects us in guitars deals subjectively.  No, it is not wrong thing to feel like that, but let’s make wide searches and get a bigger vision about this Made In P.R.C. stuff.

 

In the last decade, China becomes a huge source of industry. China has materials, tools, workshop and workers to do things with minimum running costs, while in USA and Europe, those elements are getting expensive. With rapid technology shared worldwide like now, china takes this opportunity into maximum efficiency and high target in quality competitions. there’s nothing wrong about it besides the living wage issues in china. they are just developing rapidly, that’s all. and if we believe that science belongs to the world, this is not anybody’s fault. But exactly that’s the main reason. the world balance is changing its weight. Now, guitars and amps from china are coming to houses and stages all over the world.

made in PRC taiwan china (1)

Enough about industry and world economy. Let’s talk about the product quality. Personally, my gears are almost all Made In PRC. my Gretsch G5236 is made in China, my Orange amps TT15JR is made in P.R.C., I have Boss GT-8 made in Taiwan and more of this kind of stuff.  I don’t really care about the differences between china or Taiwan or somewhere between both (sorry. it feels like they change names into taiwan, china, PRC as marketing strategy to boost sales. 😀 )  but i do have my attentions in Korean’s made such like My Fender SE Telecaster Spalted Maple (great guitar). I don’t have USA guitars, yet, since i have few disappointment on Fender Stratocaster Highway One made in USA. so far, my empress multidrive pedal (hand-made in Canada) and Celestion G12EVH (made in U.K) satisfy me. and so the Made In PRC. I love how they sound.

made in PRC taiwan china (4)

yup. just like that, i picked my own gears and i love them because i know how they sound. I don’t really care about where it’s made, but i really DO despise counterfeits. faking people’s name and get money because of it means take away someone’s salary and discredit the hardwork and quality. The ironic thing is, China has this counterfeit issue, too. big one.

I really do hope people stop making counterfeits and start their own brands. i present my big RESPECT to anybody who do that

Black Friday – Cyber Monday Guitar Deals Hunting

At the end of the year, this will be the best time for you to buy a new guitar, add some pedals to your rig, and maybe some bad ass dog-barking amps to guard your back on stages. The online guitar shops offer great Cyber Monday deals and you know what? The black Friday deals starts now. It’s time for your to get your saving and make the best guitar deals. Here tips for you to get the best of it. (if you are new to guitar stuff and want to get the best deal for your first guitar, go here)

first, list your guitar needs in priority and make them in hierarchy. This is very important considering there will be a lot of deals-off and discounts those distracts you in completing your needs. Make your list clean and minimal. I’d prefer to divide my list into primary and secondary, for example here are my lists:

primary needs:
– A 1×12 cabinet + head > brand: Ibanez TSA15H Tube Screamer 15W Tube Guitar amp  + TSA 112 Cabinet
– Pickups > brand: Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates
– Guitar strings > brand: elixir

Ibanez TSA15H Tube Screamer 15W Tube Guitar amp  + TSA 112 Cabinet
Ibanez TSA15H + TSA 112 C
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates
Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates
Elixir - Nanoweb - Eletric Guitar Strings - Light 0.10 - 0.46
Elixir – Nanoweb – Light 0.10 – 0.46

secondary needs:
– Guitar strap
– guitar hard case for les paul guitar model
– mono-jack cable > brand: unspecified
– A NEW GUITAR. (it’s a heartbreaking to put this on secondary list, but I guess everyone is understand)
– A NEW PEDAL. (here comes the second regret)

PRS SE
PRS SE guitars
ibanez ts9 pedal
ibanez ts9 tube screamer overdrive pedal

Well, I shouldn’t add more stuff here, because I know I can’t get them all in this end of year’s deals. But,… Brand names will help us to make standards for product quality. It is necessary for you if you just can’t find them on this End of year’s sale while you need them at most. Try to get other products with similar capability with good endurance.

Then i stick to my list while go to the second step, and that’s,

finding available coupon codes on online guitar shop sites. If you get a good deals with coupons for your first list, this will help you a lot in fulfilling your secondary list.

the third step is hard. go online and get price comparisons. Here you will need your lists to be printed and stick them on your face. You will meet many guitar deal-offs those will distract you out from your lists. you don’t wanna end up buying stuff you don’t actually need for now,right? save your budget by keep sticking on the lists. ( here’s the idea about this. “product knowledge is very important for guitar learning process”. you need to know every detail about the sound you want, and the quality of products which you learned will help you a lot about that)

well, it’s easier to say than to be done, but i hope this article helps you. happy black Friday and Cyber Monday guitar deals hunting.