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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. |
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Location: Tennessee | Cheap guitars haven't been made in this country for decades. |
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Posts: 6194
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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | The Taylor is US made. All the more reason to buy it vs. a plastic import. Dave |
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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. |
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Location: SoCal | I always looked at El Cajon as being the equivalent of "south of the border" anyway. |
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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 |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Somehow Mexico isn't the same as the orient, neither is Canada. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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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 |
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| I was made in England. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | Mitchrx, the Fusion was DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED in the U.S., the others were NOT.
Roger |
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Location: Tennessee | Rumor has it I was made in a '54 Chevy. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Location: NJ | Right.
F@ck Stem Cell Research
We need strppers with bigger cans!!
It's the American Way. |
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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. |
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Posts: 6194
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? |
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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 |
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Made in USA......NOT!
