Maybe in the US they're somehow snubbed but here in Europe we do love them. There are quality build guitars from Korea, Indonesia and China. Fear not the Asian made guitars :) I had USA Fender and MIJ Strat and Tele. I preferred the MIJ for for much lower price and quality. The problem with USA made guitars like Gibson, Musicman, PRS... is the high price, I mean come on you can buy a motorbike or car with those prices :)
@@ancientxtitan9313 Prices have gotten crazy here. But so much of it comes down to labor and production costs here unfortunately. Are there European guitars that are universally loved there? I guess Strandberg has really become quite large, but aren't many of those built overseas now too? It's probably too pricey to only build them in Sweden.
I'd have to check where my guitars are made tbh, it's never been a thing, though I've always been on a budget. I'm in my 50's and played since I was 14 and only recently got my first strat mim it's blown my mind how much difference quality makes, I know they get a lot of stick but the resonance tone and way it feels in the fretting hand.. mmwah! Have had Ibanez RG and epiphones which are ok but didn't evoke that feeling and that's what counts! If you can't wait to pick a gat up that'll come through in your playing and what it's all about because that feeling will come through your fingers. I've found Samick Teisco and Vester have some really good guitars but I think it's all in the quality control in the factories because they can be great or a nightmare for cheaper makes, but with some time tlc and elbow grease they can shine too. Cool topic/discussion! Btw I love that first Ibanez you showed and roasted maple neck.. nice!!! I think if I had a 20k guitar but it didn't make me feel like playing it I'd sell it otherwise why bother? $500 guitar you love.. that's priceless.. 👍
I just received a ibanez js140m. It was made 5 months ago and came not only with no flaws it’s set up was still right on. I played it for 2 hours straight. Indonesia. I looove it.
I went through a whole room of guitars recently and the one I wanted most (and walked away with) was an indonesian made PRS. It was the prettiest thing in the room, and it played like a dream too. Indonesia is killing it, right now. I might actually prefer their luthery.
My strandberg Plini model was Indonesian made and is one of the best production guitars I have ever seen , and I spend my days building and repairing guitars. With good materials and parts, good processes in the factory & good QC there is no reason that any country can't make a great guitar.
I find it interesting that people think that guitar companies say to a manufacturer in other countries, make me a guitar. No, they give the manufacturer a spec and the company build the guitar to that spec, if it is crap it is the guitar companies fault not the manufacturer, they will also have quality control to ensure it is to spec.
There are absolutely manufacturers that screw up, regardless of specs. Some of them do it frequently. That's why so many companies sell a ton of B stock.
These manufacturers have to win the contract to do the job as well, That`s done with reputation. They want lucrative contracts from an American company, But an American company is not going to award a build contract so easily.
If a guitar works great and feels great and the finish is stable (and not fugly), I don't care where it was made. My only issue with the guitar in question is that it is incredibly generic looking (aside from the finish). S-type guitars are so prevalent that I barely notice them anymore.
9:30 You have to mention G&L (George Fullerton & Leo Fender), pretty much most inexpensive American made guitars, made by a small team with attention to detail. Even when you order a pickguard from them, they don't just have them made, they make them as you order so even the pickguards are custom made.
I have two Indonesian made Ibby’s. Both are premium. One of them had horrible “fret sprout”, which had to be professionally fixed. Plays good now. The other premium has no problems and plays amazing. BTW, Paul, it was cool to find you on here. You were my guitar teacher more than 20 years ago when Guitar Center on Capital Blvd. was still the Music Loft! You were a great teacher.
Awesome! That was a long time ago, ha! I opened the RMA in 2002 when Guitar Center bought us out, so it had to be before that. I enjoyed my time at the Music Loft though. Lots of great students. Glad you found the channel and thanks for checking it out!
I have owned very few American-built guitars -- one Gibson, one Fender, and one Peavey. All the rest have come from somewhere else, including South Korea, Indonesia, and China. At this very moment, I have several guitars that I wish I could send to myself when I was about maybe 20 years old. They are EASILY the quality of guitars that cost 3, 4 or 5 times as much back in the day. ... And yes, the guitars I'm referring to are imports!
I was in New Orleans years ago, walking around seeing the sights and a old black man was playing a just as old Telstar guitar as old as he was, the steel strings were at least a inch and a quarter off the fret board and he played the blue so well I just stood there in total astonishment at the music coming out of that old piece of junk! I may not of been born with talent, but I sure can hear it.
I recently bought a Fender Professional II and it didn’t have stainless steel frets. It’s a great guitar but other brands have great specs too. Many great guitars coming out of the far east. Offering things that American companies don’t. Great choice.
I think stainless steel frets are a tiny tiny bit overrate. If you are not heavy handed nickel works great, also there is a tonal and feel difference between the two. I do prefer the less glassly feeling of nickel.
I have a made in Indonesia Sire T3. Plays great and it did not cost a hefty amount. I also have a Epiphone ‘59 LP. Came with a hard shell case. Cant beat the price. Bottom line, if a guitar inspires you to pick it up and play, that is the one to own. Doesn’t matter where it’s made.
I had to look up what a Sire is Cory! I had never heard of that. Great prices!! It's funny I almost feel guilty for using my $300 Ibanez over other guitars on recordings but if it sounds amazing, the who cares? For one song I remember I used the $300 Ibanez on one side and the '74 Les Paul on the other. Sounded massive! :)
I have an AZ2404 prestige. Feels amazing, plays amazingly, but I am selling it because I have a USA made custom G&L Comanche which cost me only 1250 brand new and I much prefer the sound and also heritage of the instrument. I also have an Indonesian made Tribute comanche, and it is also super well made, only thing I didn't like was the more glossed neck but I can just sand that up real quick. I also have a PRS se model that feels great, not spending 4000 to 5000 on that. For Japanese RG guitars the difference is the centre part of the neck is quartersawn, though you can get a quartersawn neck from G&L and it only cost $100 to $150 extra.
I had one of those...same coloring and everything...I liked that guitar...not sure why I sold it...probably was one of those "you can't afford both, so if you want THAT, you're going to have to sell THIS to get it"...not sure, but my guess is that whole deal is a plight many musicians deal with...there are a lot of guitars I wish I still had.
I've kept a list of the guitars I've owned. That list is WAY too long, ha. And I think I have around 10 guitars/basses right now so it's frightening how many I've sold off over the years!
I bought the same guitar used. The pick ups are very versatile although not my favorite of the guitars I have. However it has the best feeling neck. Very stable and stays in tune. Great content. Thanks. I think it's important to be open minded about country of manufacture.
Agreed - it's a great neck and super stable! If I don't like the neck on a guitar, then I don't like the entire guitar no matter what the rest is like. Yes, the tuning on this one is excellent as well.
If anyone wants a made in the USA custom shop quality guitar made by a small team, just buy a G&L guitar. For those that also care about history there is the added bonus of G&L being Leo Fender's final company and final say on a lot of his guitars over the years. You can often get a USA made custom shop quality guitar made by them for between 1200 and 2400. I really do not think there is a better company when it comes to price to quality comparison. Then there is also the fact that their Tribute models made in Indonesia are well priced and if you are opting for their MFD pickups, you are getting the same pickups that are made in America.
I own a standard RG and a Japanese made Prestige RG. I play the Indonesian one a lot more than I do the Japanese one. I do admit it's more of a spec preference than anything else, but if my standard wasn't just as good as the Prestige, I would definitely gravitate towards the Japanese made one more.
There's just alot of people online saying Indonesian guitars have alot of qc issues so maybe it makes some people hesitant to buy some. I bought a q series made in Indonesia and it plays great
I have a Schecter Banshee Extreme in black cherry burst with mahogany body and a Floyd Rose Special ( which now i have problem with the high E saddle bolt to lock the string in place, it is stripped and will not lock the string in place) and a what looks like a real quilt maple top made in Indonesia i bought in 2018 and cost me only around $400 after trading one other cheap Mitchell i bought for around $199 or less, i forget. Aside of the Floyd Rose issue, it is a great playing guitar!
I think your guitar looks beautiful! It reminds me of a beautiful 80s retro day. I have a Ibanez Japan 550 Genesis, Korean rg220b and a Indonesian rg421rw. I play the Korean and Indonesian one more then my Japanese one. I love them all but idk 🤷♂️
@PaulWarrenMusic Right! Me too! On the channel " TheGuitarGeek, Ibanez just don't know when to stop" omg... you have to check it out if you haven't seen. I would go broke so fast lol
If we're talking 20 years or 15 years ago. I totally agree that the quality for Indo, China or Korea are not that par with USA or Japan. The technology now and machinery is different plus the QC and R&D for most brands really did upgraded. Like for Ibanez, PRS or even Fender's outside US and Japan are really well made. Guitars from those countries today is not a problem to me. Of course there will always be biased for USA & Japan made ones. But AFAIK Indo and even China made ones are insanely good.
There's literally NOTHING wrong with that guitar. Although after buying one myself, I must say, that neck shape isn't for me. It's not "rounded enough" for my hands. But Ibanez is still HOME to me after all these years. Very fond of the Prestige line. Holy crap are they great....
Philip McKnight recently stated that USA made guitars are some of the least consistent made instruments apart from China. Indonesia, Korea & Japan are the most consistent by far. China kind of makes sense because they’re usually the cheapest, but the fact that you can pay $3000 for a USA made guitar and STILL end up with a lemon puts me off. I’ll stick with Japanese and Korean made guitars for the sheer quality and consistency of them.
I grew up with gibsons,fenders,G&Ls, and martins. My Dad is a musician. I only play ibanez electrics. I prefer them over any of the american electrics I’ve played. I do how ever still prefer martin acoustics.
I have guitars made in US, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia. I don't think country of origin matters, but I will say: (anecdotally) my Indonesian Ibanez RG gave me the most problems. The maple neck wasn't fully dried, it shrunk, it warped a little, and needed its fret sprout addressed three different times as the wood dried. After that, I noticed roasted maple became popular -which would take care of the problem I had. That said, that Indonesian Ibanez RG was perfect initially. It's paint, fit and finish were all on point. I don't at all think Indonesian guitars are of poor quality, I think I just got a guitar rushed out of the factory. I will also say my '98 Ibanez Artist Prestige made in Japan is ridiculously awesome, my Korean guitars are the most guitar for the least money, and my Gibson CS R9 plays, feels, and sounds as good as it should for its seemingly outrageous price of $4800 used. I've learned guitars are very individual, and the country they were made doesn't correlate to quality, but to some extent: you get what you pay for, with diminishing returns on the high end.
Agreed. Guitars are VERY individual. I've played RGs that were amazing and RGs that were just awful, to use Ibanez as an example. My Suhr Modern is one of those guitars that I'm happy I spent the money on. It's just magical and keeps you going back to play it. Certain guitars have that "it" factor but it's hard to define what it is. :)
Awesome! I've been wanting to try a Charvel for a long time. The next time I visit Sweetwater I'm going to seek those out and see how they feel in my hands.
I own guitars from a few countries Jackson DKMG - Japan Epiphone 59 Les Paul faded - China Godin (Session) Strat style - Canada Sire T7 - Indonesia Orangewood Mason acoustic- china Best 2 quality wise are the Godin and Sire no question. Jackson is good but got it used so can’t say how it was new. Epiphone is ok, fret ends a little sharp but decent besides that. The orangewood plays good and looks pretty good but has a couple flaws, wasn’t finished great where the neck meets the body (was a little rough like it wasn’t finished sanded).
Guitars built outside of the US are just as good, if not better, than typical guitars built in the US. I wouldn't compare US custom shop guitars to an off the rack Indonesian guitar, but comparing typical Fender or Gibson to Indonesian instruments (which are much cheaper) the build quality is better in Indonesia. But since we're on the topic, have you played an Eastman guitar lately (chinese made instrument)? They are incredible.
I haven't played a new Fender or Gibson in a while but I should just to see what the quality is like right now. It's true, you can't really compare Anderson or Suhr to production models because they are more custom shop than not. I guess I was thinking more of Fender, PRS, Musicman and companies in America that produce a lot of guitars like they do. I haven't tried Eastman or even seen one. Are they Chinese owned or is it a bigger guitar company from elsewhere that just builds them there?
I have a T486 and had/sold a SB59 GoldTop....excellent value! The rest of your comment is also spot on....my CS Tele is in a league of it's own...but my LSL TBone and Saticoy (s) sound/play as nice....and my CV50, HB, AIO teles all compete well once set up to perfection and outfitted with Lollar/Fralin/Suhr/McNelly/NoCasters. All have their place....
In my experience whatever you find that feels good to play is what should work. Yes I have expensive guitars. And I also have a Behringer that I bought used for $50 that feels better to play than those other guitars. The extra frills you're getting on a more expensive axe are just upgrades you wouldn't have on something less expensive. You gotta start withbthe bare bones. The body and the neck. Then just go from there.
I don't care where it's made. I have multiple guitars with stainless steel frets, all foreign made, and only one cost more than $200 brand new. It's practically standard on a Firefly guitar now, but Eart was my first. Roasted maple necks are usually used on them too, at least all of them I have purchased. They also all have rounded ball end frets. The normal problems with the cheaper made guitars are TERRIBLE strings, microphonic pickups (which are becoming less of a problem), the dime size pots (which are really as subjective as tonewood 😅😂), and maybe sharp frets if they aren't stainless. Oh, and occasionally unlevel frets. Out of all of those, the most expensive fixes are pickups and the fret leveling... but compared to paying a grand or more, and still having some of those issues? Not even close to a problem. I went to Guitar Center recently, because I do buy PRS SE guitars there occasionally if I see one I like. Because of the new leadership, the super high end and expensive Fender and Les Paul guitars were now in reach to play... I did, because I wanted to see for myself if the quality really was better. Did I get a vibe or MOJO? Was there something more comfortable when I play them? It was a resounding NO! They had gritty frets, sharp edges, and didn't have the over seas shipping acclimation excuse for fret sprout that foreign made guitars do, but these guitars that cost thousands have the same issues. I have bought over 30 guitars that were all made overseas and only had to take ONE to a luthier because I needed fret sprout fixed. I know how to do it myself now, but I have never needed to. I understand people wanting to have pride in American made... I just wish that American manufacturers would have the same pride in what they are making... and not be so greedy about it. God bless America; and America, stop expecting it without trying to earn some.
I don't care where a guitar is made. Among all those guitars that Ibanez AZ242F looks great and sounds amazing. My best playing and sounding guitar is a Squier Tele CV.
yup, 15 or 20 years ago... it was a lot different. It could go either way. The guitars coming from South Korea are awesome now lol Besides the U.S and Japan... those are my favorite nowadays.
I've played quite a few of the AZ's and they are right up there with Suhr and other high end strats imo. That said, I still don't care for them. I prefer the Fujigen RG's or ESP Eclipse. I also have a few Ibanez Premium 927's that I paid under 1k for and they are terrific guitars. I don't like them as much as my Prestige and J. Custom models though.
Got me first Ibanez, an RGRT 421. Neck thru for $450 as a demo. Its tuning stability is better than my PRS SE which was almost double the price! Ppl need to end the cork sniffing, gear snobbery
In this day and age there’s no need to spend an arm and a leg for a guitar. It doesn’t even have to be made in the USA. Years ago it was different but not anymore.
Its a Cort, I love Cort guitars! My first guitars, back in the 80s were Corts. At the moment I have a PRS SE a Laguna and a Squire that are all excellent guitars and are all Corts made in Indonesia. I love that Ibanez, but I don't love the finish.
Serious question, why the stigma with guitars? How many people drive a vehicle NOT made in the USA. we put the lives of ourselves-family in the hands of car Manufacturers made in multiple countries! So why guitars?
If you love it, great! But Indonesian Ibanez guitars have NO RE-SALE VALUE. If you got it for $750, you will be lucky to get $500 for it-that's just the way the Ibanez market is :/
Simple: there is enough stuff already made by the people looking to destroy us that we can’t avoid easily. When it comes to stuff I care about and when there are alternatives then I don’t buy Chinese or Indonesian and such. I’d rather pass than buy a guitar like that. There is always an alternative from the US or Europe - chances are they are significantly better also. I’m ok with stuff from Japan.
Stainless steel frets, Seymour Duncans, multi colour finish, nice logo and looks boutique. I remember recently everyone wanted USA made and Japanese were seen as cheapie. Nowadays the Japan made stuff is coveted as very well made. I think some racial bias comes into it, and Marshall has made some good amps outside England that people won't ever try, like the solid state MG30 DFX. The internet has a sort of 'gear consensus.'
I love the colors but I can understand why it doesn't sell. Guitar manufacturers will tell you that you build what sells and that's black and white guitars. Red might come in 3rd place. :)
@@PaulWarrenMusic It's crazy how people are so concerned on where a guitar is made these days. They think that Asians don't know how to screw in screws or something. They automatically think because it is less expensive it isn't any good. That might have been true in the past but there are a lot of great guitars coming out of Asia these days. Americans need to start thinking about how American companies are price gouging. There is no way a Gibson should cost $4,000.00.
Unpopular opinion: tone wood on a solid body doesn’t EXCEPT basswood actually sounds better than everything else and does matter. It’s got a mellow tone. Pretty woods are usually not good sounding tbh too hard and tiny
@ that is your opinion and not founded in facts. Figure out how a solid body electric guitar and follow the signal chain then justify to yourself that the body wood made a difference and if so….how? I don’t have to dispute ignorance especially when you already made up your mind. Spoiler….magnets don’t process sound waves and tone is a function of sound.
@@bluwng hey moron the signal chain starts with a string which vibrates air. What that string is connected to absolutely unequivocally colors the frequency and resonance. Pickups do “process” sound waves but that’s irrelevant because it doesn’t even matter, all a pickup has to do is transmit sound waves it doesn’t have to process them. However active pickups do have a pre amp gain stage that intensifies the signal thereby coloring it in comparison to passive pickups which is the same thing as processing something in an analog way. Pickups are also not just magnets they’re wound magnets which essentially makes them inverted AC generators. If you turn a pickup inside out and spin it around its axis you get what we call an alternator or an electro motor.
@@bluwng no it’s not an opinion it’s a fact. The signal chain starts with a nickel or steel string moving a medium called air that’s what a sound wave is. What that string is attached to colors(perturbs) the resonance and frequency of the field of the PICKUP not just a magnet but a wound magnet, which is essentially an inverted AC generator. If you take a pickup and turn it inside out then spin it around a conductors axis you get what we call an electro motor. The pickup doesn’t have to process the sound although it does vary depending on the field of the pickup filtering the signal. You don’t know anything about what the entire signal chain is doing and judging by your comment you have no understanding of what a signal is.
I buy kits off AMAZON & E-BAY for less then $200.00 and their are made over seas , with just a little tender loving care i can have a top price guitar for lees then $150.00 with new pick ups , good strings and good wiring . to me the high price guitars are just high because of 3 things only that you pay high price for and those are the ( PICKUPS ) the ( WIRING ) & the ( COLOR ) that's all .
Guitar "enthusiasts" and "aficionados" are more apt to speak from their brainwashed mind than their experience. No one plays every single guitar they say is "trash", and chances are they aren't going to pick up one any time in the future anyways.....I have 16 guitars and basses, and not one of them is over $1000 (well, the time and partscaster parts do add up) since I build my own, and upgrade cheaper models. I think the quality of these boutique Les Paul guitars, and signature guitars has gone down so much now that I refuse to give those companys my money.
It is way, way too cool of a color. Most guitarists are so afraid they won't get other's approval they will buy , boring shoes, boring clothes and a boring color guitar. Few will have the self confidence for that finish. They will buy brown shoes and a 1960s looking sunburst. They will then basically stare at their shoes while playing, even on stage. They will have the dancing skills and ' moves' of a clam. Welcome to reality....
@@PaulWarrenMusic me too. I was missing Dean Brown and his ' moves' on stage. Your guitar reminded me of what a bunch of nerds we can all be sometimes, with our vintage looking this and that. Great lookin' guitar. Hoshino rocks! I hope you can find some matching shoes
Do what you want. If you are not hurting anyone, screw whatever people say 😊 it’s a beautiful looking guitar and if you enjoy playing it, what else matters? This guitar is about fashion not music. Don’t understand why you would make a video about fashion and not music 🤷🏽 if you enjoy playing a $2 guitar made of plastic and built in Burkina Faso 🇧🇫…just play ❤
The comical irony is that PRS can put out a made in Indonesia or China SE, of lesser quality & features, make it a ‘signature’ model …& all the fan boyz will praise & swear that its the game changing next best thing, since …eternity. I’m 54, have traveled the 🌎 & owned a number of both 🇺🇸 & Mexican made strats & Asian guitars. Honest ‘eval’? Every (made in China/Indonesia) Yamaha, Ibanez (& more recently, LTD) that I’ve owned, with the exception of one (which was defective), outclassed just about all my 🇺🇸 axes …in terms of consistent build quality, stability, dependability, reliability, playability & value for 💰 What you observed is a similar reaction to what Western luxury auto makers & automotive journalist shills had, when Lexus, Acura & Infiniti threw their vastly better, yet much less expensive ‘hat’ in the ring: Shock, anger, insecurity …& 🍑-hurt ‘supremacist’ feelings. Enjoy your AZ. It’s beautiful. Recommended one for my friend, who bought it brand new, sight unseen …& can’t seem to stop playing it.
Besides it looking like it belongs in a Winger video in 1989? I kid. To each his own... Indonesia isn't the reason. It's a "shredder" dude guitar. Not the style these days... or since.
Have you seen my other guitars? :) Now those are shredder guitars, ha! This Ibanez makes me think of Tom Quayle and fusion players. Thicker neck. Not so pointy headstock. But yeah - bright colors which I love! :)
I definitely see how it seems that way but maybe I've just read too many comments about Ibanez that aren't built in Japan. There seems to have been a huge bias against the ones that aren't built there. I was guilty of it too but no longer! :)
What are your thoughts on guitars built outside of the USA? Are you of the opinion they just aren't built very well or do you give them a chance?
Maybe in the US they're somehow snubbed but here in Europe we do love them. There are quality build guitars from Korea, Indonesia and China. Fear not the Asian made guitars :) I had USA Fender and MIJ Strat and Tele. I preferred the MIJ for for much lower price and quality. The problem with USA made guitars like Gibson, Musicman, PRS... is the high price, I mean come on you can buy a motorbike or car with those prices :)
Ibanez has now released an affordable AZ I can't wait to try one out.
@@ancientxtitan9313 Prices have gotten crazy here. But so much of it comes down to labor and production costs here unfortunately. Are there European guitars that are universally loved there? I guess Strandberg has really become quite large, but aren't many of those built overseas now too? It's probably too pricey to only build them in Sweden.
@@ancientxtitan9313 I'm SUPER impressed with it. I think you'll dig 'em!
I'd have to check where my guitars are made tbh, it's never been a thing, though I've always been on a budget. I'm in my 50's and played since I was 14 and only recently got my first strat mim it's blown my mind how much difference quality makes, I know they get a lot of stick but the resonance tone and way it feels in the fretting hand.. mmwah! Have had Ibanez RG and epiphones which are ok but didn't evoke that feeling and that's what counts! If you can't wait to pick a gat up that'll come through in your playing and what it's all about because that feeling will come through your fingers. I've found Samick Teisco and Vester have some really good guitars but I think it's all in the quality control in the factories because they can be great or a nightmare for cheaper makes, but with some time tlc and elbow grease they can shine too. Cool topic/discussion! Btw I love that first Ibanez you showed and roasted maple neck.. nice!!! I think if I had a 20k guitar but it didn't make me feel like playing it I'd sell it otherwise why bother? $500 guitar you love.. that's priceless.. 👍
I just received a ibanez js140m. It was made 5 months ago and came not only with no flaws it’s set up was still right on. I played it for 2 hours straight. Indonesia. I looove it.
I went through a whole room of guitars recently and the one I wanted most (and walked away with) was an indonesian made PRS. It was the prettiest thing in the room, and it played like a dream too. Indonesia is killing it, right now. I might actually prefer their luthery.
This axe makes me want to check out lots more Ibanez and Solar too!
@ I was unaware of Solar and now I am looking at their site lol
I have done the exact same thing and walked away with an Indonesian guitar more than once. They make great guitars.
I don't care where it was made. If it looks good to you, sounds good to you, and plays good to you, then it IS good!
I agree! Thanks for watching!
My strandberg Plini model was Indonesian made and is one of the best production guitars I have ever seen , and I spend my days building and repairing guitars.
With good materials and parts, good processes in the factory & good QC there is no reason that any country can't make a great guitar.
I want to try one of those out but I haven't had the chance yet!! They look fun though. :)
I find it interesting that people think that guitar companies say to a manufacturer in other countries, make me a guitar. No, they give the manufacturer a spec and the company build the guitar to that spec, if it is crap it is the guitar companies fault not the manufacturer, they will also have quality control to ensure it is to spec.
There are absolutely manufacturers that screw up, regardless of specs. Some of them do it frequently. That's why so many companies sell a ton of B stock.
@@SpookyApparition Correct but no different to any company. There are always seconds to be had.
These manufacturers have to win the contract to do the job as well, That`s done with reputation. They want lucrative contracts from an American company, But an American company is not going to award a build contract so easily.
@@twiggyb67 yup, you can't get that authentic neck snap on a Gibson Les Paul unless it's made in the USA. 👍
If a guitar works great and feels great and the finish is stable (and not fugly), I don't care where it was made.
My only issue with the guitar in question is that it is incredibly generic looking (aside from the finish). S-type guitars are so prevalent that I barely notice them anymore.
9:30 You have to mention G&L (George Fullerton & Leo Fender), pretty much most inexpensive American made guitars, made by a small team with attention to detail. Even when you order a pickguard from them, they don't just have them made, they make them as you order so even the pickguards are custom made.
I have two Indonesian made Ibby’s. Both are premium. One of them had horrible “fret sprout”, which had to be professionally fixed. Plays good now. The other premium has no problems and plays amazing.
BTW, Paul, it was cool to find you on here. You were my guitar teacher more than 20 years ago when Guitar Center on Capital Blvd. was still the Music Loft! You were a great teacher.
Awesome! That was a long time ago, ha! I opened the RMA in 2002 when Guitar Center bought us out, so it had to be before that. I enjoyed my time at the Music Loft though. Lots of great students. Glad you found the channel and thanks for checking it out!
I have 3 Core PRS a Korean Schecter, Indonesian Standberg, Korean Ibanez, USA & Canadian Acoustics. All are great guitars.
I have owned very few American-built guitars -- one Gibson, one Fender, and one Peavey. All the rest have come from somewhere else, including South Korea, Indonesia, and China. At this very moment, I have several guitars that I wish I could send to myself when I was about maybe 20 years old. They are EASILY the quality of guitars that cost 3, 4 or 5 times as much back in the day. ... And yes, the guitars I'm referring to are imports!
I was in New Orleans years ago, walking around seeing the sights and a old black man was playing a just as old Telstar guitar as old as he was, the steel strings were at least a inch and a quarter off the fret board and he played the blue so well I just stood there in total astonishment at the music coming out of that old piece of junk! I may not of been born with talent, but I sure can hear it.
I recently bought a Fender Professional II and it didn’t have stainless steel frets. It’s a great guitar but other brands have great specs too. Many great guitars coming out of the far east. Offering things that American companies don’t. Great choice.
I think stainless steel frets are a tiny tiny bit overrate. If you are not heavy handed nickel works great, also there is a tonal and feel difference between the two. I do prefer the less glassly feeling of nickel.
Eddie VanHalen was half Indonesian no joke I have 14 guitars one is Indonesian and it's great.
I have a made in Indonesia Sire T3. Plays great and it did not cost a hefty amount. I also have a Epiphone ‘59 LP. Came with a hard shell case. Cant beat the price. Bottom line, if a guitar inspires you to pick it up and play, that is the one to own. Doesn’t matter where it’s made.
I had to look up what a Sire is Cory! I had never heard of that. Great prices!! It's funny I almost feel guilty for using my $300 Ibanez over other guitars on recordings but if it sounds amazing, the who cares? For one song I remember I used the $300 Ibanez on one side and the '74 Les Paul on the other. Sounded massive! :)
I have an AZ2404 prestige. Feels amazing, plays amazingly, but I am selling it because I have a USA made custom G&L Comanche which cost me only 1250 brand new and I much prefer the sound and also heritage of the instrument. I also have an Indonesian made Tribute comanche, and it is also super well made, only thing I didn't like was the more glossed neck but I can just sand that up real quick. I also have a PRS se model that feels great, not spending 4000 to 5000 on that. For Japanese RG guitars the difference is the centre part of the neck is quartersawn, though you can get a quartersawn neck from G&L and it only cost $100 to $150 extra.
My Ibanez accoustic and bass were made in Indonesia. My Epiphone Les Paul was made in China.
What is your opinion on the quality of the Chinese built Epiphone?
I had one of those...same coloring and everything...I liked that guitar...not sure why I sold it...probably was one of those "you can't afford both, so if you want THAT, you're going to have to sell THIS to get it"...not sure, but my guess is that whole deal is a plight many musicians deal with...there are a lot of guitars I wish I still had.
I've kept a list of the guitars I've owned. That list is WAY too long, ha. And I think I have around 10 guitars/basses right now so it's frightening how many I've sold off over the years!
I bought the same guitar used. The pick ups are very versatile although not my favorite of the guitars I have. However it has the best feeling neck. Very stable and stays in tune. Great content. Thanks. I think it's important to be open minded about country of manufacture.
Agreed - it's a great neck and super stable! If I don't like the neck on a guitar, then I don't like the entire guitar no matter what the rest is like. Yes, the tuning on this one is excellent as well.
If anyone wants a made in the USA custom shop quality guitar made by a small team, just buy a G&L guitar. For those that also care about history there is the added bonus of G&L being Leo Fender's final company and final say on a lot of his guitars over the years. You can often get a USA made custom shop quality guitar made by them for between 1200 and 2400. I really do not think there is a better company when it comes to price to quality comparison. Then there is also the fact that their Tribute models made in Indonesia are well priced and if you are opting for their MFD pickups, you are getting the same pickups that are made in America.
I own a standard RG and a Japanese made Prestige RG. I play the Indonesian one a lot more than I do the Japanese one. I do admit it's more of a spec preference than anything else, but if my standard wasn't just as good as the Prestige, I would definitely gravitate towards the Japanese made one more.
There's just alot of people online saying Indonesian guitars have alot of qc issues so maybe it makes some people hesitant to buy some. I bought a q series made in Indonesia and it plays great
I have a Schecter Banshee Extreme in black cherry burst with mahogany body and a Floyd Rose Special ( which now i have problem with the high E saddle bolt to lock the string in place, it is stripped and will not lock the string in place) and a what looks like a real quilt maple top made in Indonesia i bought in 2018 and cost me only around $400 after trading one other cheap Mitchell i bought for around $199 or less, i forget. Aside of the Floyd Rose issue, it is a great playing guitar!
I think your guitar looks beautiful!
It reminds me of a beautiful 80s retro day.
I have a Ibanez Japan 550 Genesis, Korean rg220b and a Indonesian rg421rw. I play the Korean and Indonesian one more then my Japanese one. I love them all but idk 🤷♂️
If I had zero self control and unlimited income, I would have a crazy amount of Ibanez RGs. :)
@PaulWarrenMusic Right! Me too!
On the channel " TheGuitarGeek, Ibanez just don't know when to stop" omg... you have to check it out if you haven't seen. I would go broke so fast lol
If we're talking 20 years or 15 years ago. I totally agree that the quality for Indo, China or Korea are not that par with USA or Japan. The technology now and machinery is different plus the QC and R&D for most brands really did upgraded. Like for Ibanez, PRS or even Fender's outside US and Japan are really well made. Guitars from those countries today is not a problem to me. Of course there will always be biased for USA & Japan made ones. But AFAIK Indo and even China made ones are insanely good.
There's literally NOTHING wrong with that guitar.
Although after buying one myself, I must say, that neck shape isn't for me. It's not "rounded enough" for my hands.
But Ibanez is still HOME to me after all these years. Very fond of the Prestige line. Holy crap are they great....
Philip McKnight recently stated that USA made guitars are some of the least consistent made instruments apart from China.
Indonesia, Korea & Japan are the most consistent by far.
China kind of makes sense because they’re usually the cheapest, but the fact that you can pay $3000 for a USA made guitar and STILL end up with a lemon puts me off. I’ll stick with Japanese and Korean made guitars for the sheer quality and consistency of them.
I grew up with gibsons,fenders,G&Ls, and martins. My Dad is a musician. I only play ibanez electrics. I prefer them over any of the american electrics I’ve played. I do how ever still prefer martin acoustics.
It looks great with the colors that you picked in the fade
I love my 2013 Ibanez Universe Premium. I take a lot of shit for it but I absolutely love it and I play it constantly.
I have guitars made in US, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and Indonesia. I don't think country of origin matters, but I will say: (anecdotally) my Indonesian Ibanez RG gave me the most problems. The maple neck wasn't fully dried, it shrunk, it warped a little, and needed its fret sprout addressed three different times as the wood dried. After that, I noticed roasted maple became popular -which would take care of the problem I had. That said, that Indonesian Ibanez RG was perfect initially. It's paint, fit and finish were all on point. I don't at all think Indonesian guitars are of poor quality, I think I just got a guitar rushed out of the factory.
I will also say my '98 Ibanez Artist Prestige made in Japan is ridiculously awesome, my Korean guitars are the most guitar for the least money, and my Gibson CS R9 plays, feels, and sounds as good as it should for its seemingly outrageous price of $4800 used. I've learned guitars are very individual, and the country they were made doesn't correlate to quality, but to some extent: you get what you pay for, with diminishing returns on the high end.
Agreed. Guitars are VERY individual. I've played RGs that were amazing and RGs that were just awful, to use Ibanez as an example. My Suhr Modern is one of those guitars that I'm happy I spent the money on. It's just magical and keeps you going back to play it. Certain guitars have that "it" factor but it's hard to define what it is. :)
I have a LTD made in Indonesia and it’s awesome!!!!!! Plays just as well as my made in Japan ESP!
Bought a MIM Charvel Pro Mod a few months back - great specs, features and price. Awesome player that’s supplanted my USA Strat…
Awesome! I've been wanting to try a Charvel for a long time. The next time I visit Sweetwater I'm going to seek those out and see how they feel in my hands.
What does that have to do with anything
I own guitars from a few countries
Jackson DKMG - Japan
Epiphone 59 Les Paul faded - China
Godin (Session) Strat style - Canada
Sire T7 - Indonesia
Orangewood Mason acoustic- china
Best 2 quality wise are the Godin and Sire no question. Jackson is good but got it used so can’t say how it was new. Epiphone is ok, fret ends a little sharp but decent besides that. The orangewood plays good and looks pretty good but has a couple flaws, wasn’t finished great where the neck meets the body (was a little rough like it wasn’t finished sanded).
I had a really nice Godin for years but I unfortunately let that go. Now I miss it. :)
Anyone who says they hear their maple top is kidding themselves. Love your guitar. I have several Korean ( world music) made guitars that are amazing.
Guitars built outside of the US are just as good, if not better, than typical guitars built in the US. I wouldn't compare US custom shop guitars to an off the rack Indonesian guitar, but comparing typical Fender or Gibson to Indonesian instruments (which are much cheaper) the build quality is better in Indonesia. But since we're on the topic, have you played an Eastman guitar lately (chinese made instrument)? They are incredible.
I haven't played a new Fender or Gibson in a while but I should just to see what the quality is like right now. It's true, you can't really compare Anderson or Suhr to production models because they are more custom shop than not. I guess I was thinking more of Fender, PRS, Musicman and companies in America that produce a lot of guitars like they do. I haven't tried Eastman or even seen one. Are they Chinese owned or is it a bigger guitar company from elsewhere that just builds them there?
I have a T486 and had/sold a SB59 GoldTop....excellent value! The rest of your comment is also spot on....my CS Tele is in a league of it's own...but my LSL TBone and Saticoy (s) sound/play as nice....and my CV50, HB, AIO teles all compete well once set up to perfection and outfitted with Lollar/Fralin/Suhr/McNelly/NoCasters. All have their place....
In my experience whatever you find that feels good to play is what should work. Yes I have expensive guitars. And I also have a Behringer that I bought used for $50 that feels better to play than those other guitars. The extra frills you're getting on a more expensive axe are just upgrades you wouldn't have on something less expensive. You gotta start withbthe bare bones. The body and the neck. Then just go from there.
all guitars sound different. play ten Squiers youll find a usa strat in there. why is the usa standard no longer a thing?
I have 2 Schecter’s that are great and they were built in Indonesia. Some of the best necks I have played. Only my Fender GT-11 neck feels better.
Very nice! Yes, Schecter does make some really nice guitars!
I don't care where it's made. I have multiple guitars with stainless steel frets, all foreign made, and only one cost more than $200 brand new. It's practically standard on a Firefly guitar now, but Eart was my first. Roasted maple necks are usually used on them too, at least all of them I have purchased. They also all have rounded ball end frets. The normal problems with the cheaper made guitars are TERRIBLE strings, microphonic pickups (which are becoming less of a problem), the dime size pots (which are really as subjective as tonewood 😅😂), and maybe sharp frets if they aren't stainless. Oh, and occasionally unlevel frets. Out of all of those, the most expensive fixes are pickups and the fret leveling... but compared to paying a grand or more, and still having some of those issues? Not even close to a problem.
I went to Guitar Center recently, because I do buy PRS SE guitars there occasionally if I see one I like. Because of the new leadership, the super high end and expensive Fender and Les Paul guitars were now in reach to play... I did, because I wanted to see for myself if the quality really was better. Did I get a vibe or MOJO? Was there something more comfortable when I play them? It was a resounding NO! They had gritty frets, sharp edges, and didn't have the over seas shipping acclimation excuse for fret sprout that foreign made guitars do, but these guitars that cost thousands have the same issues. I have bought over 30 guitars that were all made overseas and only had to take ONE to a luthier because I needed fret sprout fixed. I know how to do it myself now, but I have never needed to.
I understand people wanting to have pride in American made... I just wish that American manufacturers would have the same pride in what they are making... and not be so greedy about it.
God bless America; and America, stop expecting it without trying to earn some.
I don't care where a guitar is made. Among all those guitars that Ibanez AZ242F looks great and sounds amazing. My best playing and sounding guitar is a Squier Tele CV.
yup, 15 or 20 years ago... it was a lot different. It could go either way. The guitars coming from South Korea are awesome now lol Besides the U.S and Japan... those are my favorite nowadays.
I've played quite a few of the AZ's and they are right up there with Suhr and other high end strats imo. That said, I still don't care for them. I prefer the Fujigen RG's or ESP Eclipse.
I also have a few Ibanez Premium 927's that I paid under 1k for and they are terrific guitars. I don't like them as much as my Prestige and J. Custom models though.
Got me first Ibanez, an RGRT 421. Neck thru for $450 as a demo. Its tuning stability is better than my PRS SE which was almost double the price! Ppl need to end the cork sniffing, gear snobbery
What Ibanez model is this the AZ what?
It’s the AZ242F in Tequila Sunrise.
AZ Premium
The early runs of all 🎸 in indo was a nightmare but they have much improved
In this day and age there’s no need to spend an arm and a leg for a guitar. It doesn’t even have to be made in the USA. Years ago it was different but not anymore.
Ibanez is IMHO some of the cutting edge of Hot Rod Shredding especially MIJ !
Its a Cort, I love Cort guitars! My first guitars, back in the 80s were Corts. At the moment I have a PRS SE a Laguna and a Squire that are all excellent guitars and are all Corts made in Indonesia. I love that Ibanez, but I don't love the finish.
Paul I have a Sire L7 on the way. I'll find out😊
Cool! Today is the first I'm hearing of this line! Hope it's great for you!
Serious question, why the stigma with guitars? How many people drive a vehicle NOT made in the USA. we put the lives of ourselves-family in the hands of car Manufacturers made in multiple countries! So why guitars?
The moral of the story is - expensive guitars are much, much better.
If you love it, great! But Indonesian Ibanez guitars have NO RE-SALE VALUE. If you got it for $750, you will be lucky to get $500 for it-that's just the way the Ibanez market is :/
Its the headstock shape, I have no idea why ibanez changed their epic headstocks to the poopy lokking one they have now.
Simple: there is enough stuff already made by the people looking to destroy us that we can’t avoid easily. When it comes to stuff I care about and when there are alternatives then I don’t buy Chinese or Indonesian and such. I’d rather pass than buy a guitar like that. There is always an alternative from the US or Europe - chances are they are significantly better also. I’m ok with stuff from Japan.
Stainless steel frets, Seymour Duncans, multi colour finish, nice logo and looks boutique. I remember recently everyone wanted USA made and Japanese were seen as cheapie. Nowadays the Japan made stuff is coveted as very well made. I think some racial bias comes into it, and Marshall has made some good amps outside England that people won't ever try, like the solid state MG30 DFX. The internet has a sort of 'gear consensus.'
Well Ibanez are 99.7 overseas only LACS are USA
Never heard anyone say AZ we’re trash maybe I’m out of the loop but those are classics based off the Andy Timmons model from the 90s
Its clickbait title. Ibanez way more popular in Asian countries. For them, its domestic brand.
All my guitars are made in either Indonesia or China - can't afford the expensive USA/Japan stuff.
If it plays and sounds great, that's what matters! :)
Love the AZ models.
I do too now! I'm really impressed with them.
I don't hate the guitar but just the color.
I love the colors but I can understand why it doesn't sell. Guitar manufacturers will tell you that you build what sells and that's black and white guitars. Red might come in 3rd place. :)
@@PaulWarrenMusic It's crazy how people are so concerned on where a guitar is made these days. They think that Asians don't know how to screw in screws or something. They automatically think because it is less expensive it isn't any good. That might have been true in the past but there are a lot of great guitars coming out of Asia these days. Americans need to start thinking about how American companies are price gouging. There is no way a Gibson should cost $4,000.00.
Tone wood on a solid body is just…….. to avoid argument people should just study fundamental physics.
Unpopular opinion: tone wood on a solid body doesn’t EXCEPT basswood actually sounds better than everything else and does matter. It’s got a mellow tone. Pretty woods are usually not good sounding tbh too hard and tiny
@ that is your opinion and not founded in facts. Figure out how a solid body electric guitar and follow the signal chain then justify to yourself that the body wood made a difference and if so….how? I don’t have to dispute ignorance especially when you already made up your mind. Spoiler….magnets don’t process sound waves and tone is a function of sound.
@@bluwng hey moron the signal chain starts with a string which vibrates air. What that string is connected to absolutely unequivocally colors the frequency and resonance. Pickups do “process” sound waves but that’s irrelevant because it doesn’t even matter, all a pickup has to do is transmit sound waves it doesn’t have to process them.
However active pickups do have a pre amp gain stage that intensifies the signal thereby coloring it in comparison to passive pickups which is the same thing as processing something in an analog way.
Pickups are also not just magnets they’re wound magnets which essentially makes them inverted AC generators. If you turn a pickup inside out and spin it around its axis you get what we call an alternator or an electro motor.
@@bluwng no it’s not an opinion it’s a fact. The signal chain starts with a nickel or steel string moving a medium called air that’s what a sound wave is. What that string is attached to colors(perturbs) the resonance and frequency of the field of the PICKUP not just a magnet but a wound magnet, which is essentially an inverted AC generator. If you take a pickup and turn it inside out then spin it around a conductors axis you get what we call an electro motor.
The pickup doesn’t have to process the sound although it does vary depending on the field of the pickup filtering the signal.
You don’t know anything about what the entire signal chain is doing and judging by your comment you have no understanding of what a signal is.
I buy kits off AMAZON & E-BAY for less then $200.00 and their are made over seas , with just a little tender loving care i can have a top price guitar for lees then $150.00 with new pick ups , good strings and good wiring . to me the high price guitars are just high because of 3 things only that you pay high price for and those are the ( PICKUPS ) the ( WIRING ) & the ( COLOR ) that's all .
🤣
I find USA/MIJ/MIM better than Indo/China but they do cost more. I try to avoid China.
Guitar "enthusiasts" and "aficionados" are more apt to speak from their brainwashed mind than their experience. No one plays every single guitar they say is "trash", and chances are they aren't going to pick up one any time in the future anyways.....I have 16 guitars and basses, and not one of them is over $1000 (well, the time and partscaster parts do add up) since I build my own, and upgrade cheaper models. I think the quality of these boutique Les Paul guitars, and signature guitars has gone down so much now that I refuse to give those companys my money.
I have 5 Ibanez guitars they are my favorite brand they beat Gibson and fender easily they have great sounding budget guitar the Best
It is way, way too cool of a color.
Most guitarists are so afraid they won't get other's approval they will buy , boring shoes, boring clothes and a boring color guitar.
Few will have the self confidence for that finish.
They will buy brown shoes and a 1960s looking sunburst.
They will then basically stare at their shoes while playing, even on stage.
They will have the dancing skills and ' moves' of a clam.
Welcome to reality....
Ha ha! I love obnoxiously bright colors and I'm sure I'll get more in the future. :)
@@PaulWarrenMusic me too. I was missing Dean Brown and his ' moves' on stage. Your guitar reminded me of what a bunch of nerds we can all be sometimes, with our vintage looking this and that.
Great lookin' guitar. Hoshino rocks! I hope you can find some matching shoes
That's a fantastic guitar.
Thanks! I agree! It's really well built.
Do what you want. If you are not hurting anyone, screw whatever people say 😊 it’s a beautiful looking guitar and if you enjoy playing it, what else matters? This guitar is about fashion not music. Don’t understand why you would make a video about fashion and not music 🤷🏽 if you enjoy playing a $2 guitar made of plastic and built in Burkina Faso 🇧🇫…just play ❤
I think it looks rad
The comical irony is that PRS can put out a made in Indonesia or China SE, of lesser quality & features, make it a ‘signature’ model …& all the fan boyz will praise & swear that its the game changing next best thing, since …eternity.
I’m 54, have traveled the 🌎 & owned a number of both 🇺🇸 & Mexican made strats & Asian guitars. Honest ‘eval’? Every (made in China/Indonesia) Yamaha, Ibanez (& more recently, LTD) that I’ve owned, with the exception of one (which was defective), outclassed just about all my 🇺🇸 axes …in terms of consistent build quality, stability, dependability, reliability, playability & value for 💰
What you observed is a similar reaction to what Western luxury auto makers & automotive journalist shills had, when Lexus, Acura & Infiniti threw their vastly better, yet much less expensive ‘hat’ in the ring: Shock, anger, insecurity …& 🍑-hurt ‘supremacist’ feelings.
Enjoy your AZ. It’s beautiful. Recommended one for my friend, who bought it brand new, sight unseen …& can’t seem to stop playing it.
Besides it looking like it belongs in a Winger video in 1989? I kid. To each his own... Indonesia isn't the reason. It's a "shredder" dude guitar. Not the style these days... or since.
Have you seen my other guitars? :) Now those are shredder guitars, ha! This Ibanez makes me think of Tom Quayle and fusion players. Thicker neck. Not so pointy headstock. But yeah - bright colors which I love! :)
What sort of crazy person has a problem with an Ibanez AZ!?!?
rather have Indonesian made axes as opposed to China
no pick up covers? not interested.
With all due respect, this title is so clickbait. Haven't seen much people complaining about those Ibanez guitars.
I definitely see how it seems that way but maybe I've just read too many comments about Ibanez that aren't built in Japan. There seems to have been a huge bias against the ones that aren't built there. I was guilty of it too but no longer! :)
I have a bunch of great guitars made in indo
it looks coolio
That’s a great guitar
Is this a show an̈d tell video.
Ha! It ended up that way. I just sat down to talk and ended up grabbing guitars here and there. :)
Who cares if people don’t like your guitar?
Ed loved Basswood. So does Via.
Me too it is the best but people don’t like it because it’s not pretty. Korina is the worst tonally