|
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | I've been looking at picking up a small student size guitar to start teaching my kids chords. I'm looking of course at the Trekker, but also at the Taylor Baby and Martin LXM.
The three models are similar in price. I thought all other things being equal (or close), I would go with the one made in the USA. Now I find they are all made in foriegn countries.
Lately I find myself caring a lot more whether or not something is made in the USA. It just seems that at the rate things are going the only thing left for us to manufacture in this country will be bad Hollywood movies and gangsta-rap.
I worry about my kids and future generations, where will they work? What jobs will be available? Just curious what the rest of you think about this. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Cheap guitars haven't been made in this country for decades. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | I want what I want and I don't give a damn where it's made. I haven't owned an American made TV, automobile, camera, or computer in a heck of a long time. Probably never will.
I love USA Ovation guitars because they are the best O's that you can get. If the tables were turned and they only made the cheap plywood and plastic shit here and the good O's came from China, I'd be a huge Chinese fan.
Back to your search for a small guitar, I'm a big fan of the Taylor. Great guitar for the money. Of the three it's the only one that really does sound like a bigger guitar.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | My feeling is "all things being equal", or at least close, I should choose the made in USA product.
I guess in the case of these smaller inexpensive guitars I have settle for foriegn made. When purchasing some things (electronics, clothing, etc.) you really dont have a choice.
But with some things, there are still made in the USA options (autos, guitars). Seems like when we have a choice we should choose made in USA. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | When did Taylor start making guitars outside of the US? I had a '97 Taylor Baby that was made in California. I thought all Taylors were made there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | The Taylor is US made. All the more reason to buy it vs. a plastic import. Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | I just learned that Taylor Baby and Big Baby are now made south of the border in Mexico. Apparently they moved operations there this summer. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I always looked at El Cajon as being the equivalent of "south of the border" anyway. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 375
Location: Rocky River, Ohio | brian is right, but there are many usa made baby's still in stock at most retailers..
the 3 on the wall at my local guitar center are still usa made...
if made in the usa is important and the baby is your choice for a travel guitar, you must act quickly, my guess would be that at the end of the holiday season, they will be tough to find, unless you look into used models..
ernie |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Somehow Mexico isn't the same as the orient, neither is Canada. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | I just picked up a trekker for my youngest. Sounds decent. Nice travel guitar. Don't have to worry about banging up my Elite or Adamas. PLUS, it is an Ovation. Gotta start the kids out right.
Can't comment on the Taylor. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | The fact of the matter is the the profits derived from producing guitars overseas, is so great, that the manufacturers, are willing to put their name on these guitars. They do so with out any reservations or disclaimers. Guitar companies, like most businesses, have to turn a profit. In certain circles, guitars are widgets. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | When I was searching for a travel guitar, I had to choose between the baby taylor or the martin lxm. Both guitars were made in Mexico; they were similarly priced and sounded very nice. The T's made of solid wood (spruce top I believe), while the M's made ouf of composite materials (high pressure laminate, stratabond neck and micarta bridge and fingerboard). The action on the T was lower and easier to play, while the M was just the opposite. I would've gone for the T, but there's something about it's brightness, that did not appeal to me. In the end, I chose the LXM. A guitar that size "can" be annoyingly bright, so I guess the M's lows somewhat balances it. I had mine set up with the store's tech to lower the action and it uses light gauge strings (12-54), and it's been playing great since.
Honestly, should I choose a guitar with a balanced bright sound, I'd grab an Ovation in a heartbeat. I didn't even know that Ovation made the trekker when I bought the LXM, but at least I'm happy with it. So IMHO, you can't go wrong with either T Baby or little M. if the guitar's going to be strictly for the children, I'd grab the Taylor for its playability and low action.
Good luck. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | I decided on the Martin LXM, picked this up yesterday:
Oddly enough, it is almost %100 synthetic materials (Formica, Micarta) but sounds better than the solid spruce topped Baby Taylors, Ibanez, or Yamahas. It looks like you could drive nails with it and it wouldnt chip....perfect for kids.
And I have to say, it's a kickin little guitar, surprising bass for the small size body. It's not a dreadnaught but seems to have everything you need in a travel guitar, sound, size, durability.
But alas...Made in Mexico. Well like CWK2 said, made in Mexico is better than made in China. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | I just got this month's Car and Driver. There's a comparison test of a Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata.
The only car NOT made in the USA is the Ford! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I struggle with this stuff all the time. not sure how I feel about it except to note that if my phone and computer were made in the usa they would cost a mint |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 176
| I was made in England. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Mitchrx, the Fusion was DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED in the U.S., the others were NOT.
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Rumor has it I was made in a '54 Chevy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by Old Applause Owner:
Mitchrx, the Fusion was DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED in the U.S., the others were NOT.
Roger I don't want to get into an argument about this, but the platform for the Fusion comes from the Mazda 6. The name of the car, Fusion, is in recongnition of that. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Globalization is good and so is national pride. I want my guitars made in the USA, consumer electronics made in Asia and my automobiles made in Europe. Spread the love. Dave
PS - I understand that most materials for breast implants are manufactured in the USA. That's good. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Right.
F@ck Stem Cell Research
We need strppers with bigger cans!!
It's the American Way. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | Ya gotta give Cliff credit. He's really knows how to sensitively pitch hot button topics in a concensus building manner. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by cliff:
Right.
F@ck Stem Cell Research
We need strppers with bigger cans!!
It's the American Way. You gots a problem wit dat ???
Btw, God spoke to W and told him no more stem cell research. He's just following orders. Don't we all? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Mitchrx, the platform is a Mazda 6, but the design and engineering for the Fusion was done in the U.S. Trust me on this one. I know.
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | OK Roger, I just noticed where you live. ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | And he works for (ahem) . . . . . . . Ford. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Cliff, how did you guess????? :D
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . Like Cliff says, it's a gift (curse). . ." |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Old Applause Owner:
Cliff, how did you guess????? :D
Roger Perhaps he read this... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 146
Location: Ct./ USA | http://www.cigarboxguitar.com/ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Gee, I thought the above link would take you to the website for Estaban's American Legacy guitars....that's what they sound like......
Roger |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1
Location: Northern Ohio | here's my 2 cents on the "made in USA" subject. USA is the the richest country on the planet with the highest rate of poverty also. Only 3 percent of our population owns 80 percent of our wealth. It has been this way for almost 200 years. The wealthy create jobs not the poor and unemployed. Its the wealthy's responsibility to pay us well enough to be able to afford their expensive products,otherwise they're cutting their own necks. If I haven't lost you yet-heres's my point. The same american company that made my USA ovation has a Korean and tiawan division. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. If ovation could make their necks out of fish scales, and not lower their price, they would. and you'd never know it untill your check cleared and your left hand smelled like Bouncing Betty. Don't get me wrong though, if I'm lucky enough to live 80+ years, I hope to be playing a USA ovation for as many of those years as possible. Jobs aren't going to sustain this great country, good moral values, compassion, and honesty is the root of what makes anything that is worth a shit. OK I'm done. OVATION ROCKS !!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | with the highest rate of poverty also I would contest that statement if by "rate" you mean percentage.
Sorry to disagree with your first post.
Since that was your first post, and in case you have not been lurking, we touch on worldly events but try not to make them into a focal point.
Welcome to the OFC.
What guitar do you play? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Hey FC, interesting post. You make it sound like 97% of us live in poverty..... while it's true that between my wife, my kids, and Uncle Sam, very little is left for the guitar fund, I wouldn't say that I live in poverty. And I know I'm not in that 3%.
Sounds like your a left leaning union member Democrat. Please post more as it's very entertaining. Don't take this the wrong way. Some of my best friends are LLUMD's. Well, actually none of them are. But it sounded good and P.C..
And if you should decide to post about gutars, that would be welcome as well. What guitars do you play? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
July 2002
Posts: 1900
| ...I remember when O's were all US made and had 5-piece necks....sigh.... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I heard someone refer to one of my partners as a "pot-licking Democrat". I asked him if that meant he was a pot-licking Republican, but he didn't answer me. FC sounds a lot like my daughter. I think she's a little left of the Democratic Party. We have a lot of Republicans here whose right wing broke off and floated farther right. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | I'm actually very libertarian and was registered as such for a while, but you lose your vote in the primaries when you do that. So I went with the major party most closely aligned with my philosophies. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | I vote for whoever is lying the lest. Sometimes it's hard because they lie very well.
Pauly |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15678
Location: SoCal | Pauly, that's similar to me, here in CA, voting for propositions --- they gotta make a case for me to vote yes, otherwise it's an automatic no. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't usually vote for anybody. I just vote against somebody. Most times I wish I could vote against all of them. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I'm sick and tired of hearing things
From uptight-short-sighted-narrow minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
I've had enough of reading things
By neurotic-psychotic-pig headed politicians
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
No short haired-yellow bellied son of tricky dicky
Is gonna mother hubbard soft soap me with just a pocketful of hope
Money for dope
Money for rope
-- John Lennon
The more things change, the more they stay the same. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 1116
Location: Keller, TX | Basically, nowadays it always comes down to the choice between the evil of two lessers. :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | And thd evilist lesser seems to always win. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Successful politicians are a bunch of self-serving elitists, always have been, and will be. They are cut from the same cloth, and all belong to the same club. Rank has its' privileges. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | And the evilist lesser seems to always win. No kidding Bill ... you should see what gets elected here in California. On the other hand, we do have the best representatives money can buy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Count me as one of the believers that the best choose not to run for a number of reasons - there's not enough money in it, you constantly have the press in your shorts, you have to play "the political game", etc. All we get are politicians who "want to be President". If you're that bright and ambitious, you're making millions a year as CEO somewhere.
Don't get me wrong, it's the best system on the planet - it's just not perfect either. It is nice, however, to be able to voice that and discuss it. |
|
| |
Made in USA......NOT!