I just bought a GK Backline 600 bass amp - made in China and it looks really well made.
What did bother me was when I bought a new fishing rod last Winter - a Fenwick USA (that's the company's name) and the rod I got had a Made in China sticker on it. I called and complained - only because I think it is reasonable if a company with USA in it's title is selling foreign made stuff it should say so. It's a great rod, in any case, but I felt it was deceptive advertising.
There was a thread on another forum where a guy posted a phtot of a box in which a used guitar was shipped to him.
I printed a copy and have it on my bulletin board here, but the thread got yanked for some reason I missed.
The box had the following printed on it (laid out as though it could be a snazzy post ironic iron-on t-shirt slogan):
CF Martin & Co.®
EST. 1833
AMERICA'S GUITAR®
MADE IN MEXICO
If a company so well know for it's craftsmanship is gonna register a phrase like "America's Guitar," someone in the operation should have seen to it that "MADE IN MEXICO" ought to be stamped at least a couple of inches away.
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
Wow, this thread kinda took a turn...
For those of us that can't (or in my case just plain shouldn't) use a soldering iron to build a kit, what would be a good alternative to the PRRI for about the same money?
A DRRI!
Just teasing. That's a good question, though. Madmark just got a hand-wired BFPR repro for, what he said, was about the same as the current PCB PRRI.
Weber's 6A14 kit is $550, and I bet for less than $349 in labor you could find someone to build it for you.
"...pray do not imagine that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field;
that, of course, they are many in number; or that, after all, they are other than the little,
shriveled, meagre, hopping, though loud and troublesome, insects of the hour."
-Edmund Burke
The shop where I dealt with a really good amp tech closed last year.
Now, hypothetically, I wouldn't know where to take, say, a SFPR, locally, to be gone through and freshened up.
Aside from that store, I have no idea where to find the guy.
So a ReIssue would be of interest to someone in my boat.
For my "needs" (and I use that term very loosely)
"Well, I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused..."
Elvis Costello
An original (real) Princeton Reverb. Early silverface.Originally Posted by djinn1973
Another good point.
"...pray do not imagine that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field;
that, of course, they are many in number; or that, after all, they are other than the little,
shriveled, meagre, hopping, though loud and troublesome, insects of the hour."
-Edmund Burke
I had mine built for around the price of a kit and I got to pick out the speaker and the guy is in MA.
If you can get a hold of Troy T - he knows his stuff with tube amps.The shop where I dealt with a really good amp tech closed last year.
Now, hypothetically, I wouldn't know where to take, say, a SFPR, locally, to be gone through and freshened up.
Aside from that store, I have no idea where to find the guy.
So a ReIssue would be of interest to someone in my boat.
For my "needs" (and I use that term very loosely)
FWIW, I can pretty much guarantee that there are parts in that amp that were not made in the USA...
I think that's not a bad suggestion, actually.
I'm waiting until they start printing little flags on the components.
Then the more nationalistic resistors and capacitors can duke it out.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
Heh!
Which kind of goes to the issue I was starting this over...only a $50 difference between the two currently.
"...pray do not imagine that those who make the noise are the only inhabitants of the field;
that, of course, they are many in number; or that, after all, they are other than the little,
shriveled, meagre, hopping, though loud and troublesome, insects of the hour."
-Edmund Burke
Maybe we could divide them by channels. You could have a footswitch with stomp buttons that say "Chinese-Made" and "U.S.-made." Or "Furrin" and "This Channel Don't Run."
I guess if Fender really does plan for everyone to price the PRRI at $900 going forward, they're counting on people wanting it instead of the DRRI because it's better suited to certain situations -- or, better still for Fender, in addition to the DRRI.
"I haven't slept for ten days...because that would be too long." -- Mitch Hedberg
I'm wondering if there are any parts made in the USA. I'm pretty sure Marsh's Faceplates and chassis are offshore, which probably accounts for having Fenders name on them.
Yup, the only parts in my amps that are US made are the speakers (all of them) a couple of transformers and all the tubes except the GZ34s.
I have zero problem with where any of my stuff comes from, if it sounds good then it is good.
Tommy.
AMEN!
Good call, Joe!
And... Tommy.
Good is good.
Finally...someone who knows something about economics. Excellent point.The falling dollar is actually good for whatever US manufacturing is left. It makes US-made goods less expensive on the global marketplace.
We can thank our leadership for making us an attractive third-world manufacturing country.
Yummo!
My Gear:
Gibson SG
James Burton Tele (standard---not the flaming one)
Guild Bluegrass Jubilee w/DTar
Kap'n 5E3
Marsh 5F11
Kap'n is gooood, Kap'n is wiiiiise!Finally...someone who knows something about economics. Excellent point.
Actually, I remember hearing a quote - "what does it take for two economists to agree?" Answer? "A miracle."
Although I happen to agree with Kap'n on this point - I remember from my global politics courses (and from reading USN&WR in the barber shop) that the global economy is so complex nowadays that there are any number of results that can follow from a certain stimulus - say, like the economic stim package. They hope that we'll spend it on luxury items but most of us will use it to pay bills or buy necessities...
"I'm gonna find myself a girl
that can show me what laughter means
And we'll fill in the missing colors
In each other's paint-by-number dreams..."
It is very complex. While US labor, and US sourced raw materials are less expensive on the global market, oil is priced in dollars, and as such, energy becomes a larger and larger proportion of the cost of manufacturing in the US. (Raw plastic pellet stock are also priced in USD). The EU and other currencies that are stronger vs. the dollar are somewhat shielded from this.
One of the big problems with the 'economic stimulus' package is most of those nifty luxury items folks are putting off buying, like consumer electronics, are all made in Asia, so you're essentially getting an advance on future taxes to ship money overseas. Sounds like a great plan to me.
OTOH, fortunately, lots and lots of folks are using those $ to try to catch up on bills, buy food, etc. Money that stays in the country.
Me, I hired a friend of mine to do some home improvements, and kept my money as local as possible. Seeing as it's an advance on future taxes anyway.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
Yeah! Like JBL speakers. Or Merc-Mag trannies. Or a set of Fralins. Or......whoops!
I guess you meant them other necessities.
The way I see it, my ES package is being spent right now, on ridiculously high gas prices.
The notion that I'm getting "free money" in the mail is an illusion.
What was this thread about?
Oh, yeah...if I see a BF or SF Princeton I'll pick it up in a heartbeat if the price is right. A new one...meh.
The latest government cheese? I won't state my politics, but I took mine and bought a lawn. And some amp parts and pieces for the 5E3 build, in the USA. Every weak dollar stayed right here.
"but I took mine and bought a lawn."
A lawn?!?!?
You mean like......astroturf? A marijuana farm?
Hepp us out here (enquirin' minds an' all).
I once built a bass stack and covered it in blue astroturf.
Hey, I was 14!
Was that some sort of hill music statement?
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
No..."but I took mine and bought a lawn."
A lawn?!?!?
You mean like......astroturf? A marijuana farm?
Hepp us out here (enquirin' minds an' all).
Had sod installed in the front.
I've been battling for years trying to get grass (or weeds, or anything...) to grow there.
So I gave up and handed it over to the pro's.
Sod? I actually lay lawns for a living at the moment but I've no idea what that is.
Tommy.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
Gotcha, just turf.
Come on, look it up, ya lazy sod!
Sod is expensive, but it's the way to go if you want a complete lawn right now...or if you've got spots where seeds (or even plugs) just aren't taking hold. You just roll it out like strips of carpet and water it.
I once went to a sod farm and saw how they use a special machine to cut it and roll it up. It just moves along in a straight line, slicing up a row of grass, complete with a layer of the soil underneath. Cool....
"I haven't slept for ten days...because that would be too long." -- Mitch Hedberg
It takes special soil to run a sod farm. It's big in Wisconsin, and the aforementioned Batavia, NY.
Several guitars in different colors
Things to make them fuzzy
Things to make them louder
orange picks
Hey, I just got in from laying a lawn for a family friend!
Amerika rots......
....uh, i mean, ROCKS!
Imanidiot.
Putting down a wee bit o' the auld sod?
When I first read your post, I thought it said "laying on a lawn with a family friend" or "laying a family friend on a lawn." A bit of situational dyslexia there...
"I'm gonna find myself a girl
that can show me what laughter means
And we'll fill in the missing colors
In each other's paint-by-number dreams..."
Well, I've always wanted a Fender PR, but no way am I paying $900 for a board wired, 15 watt, reissue.
Perhaps with the faultering economy and tight pocket books the price will eventually come down, but until then Fender can have em?
Is Fender now being run by an OIl CEO? sheesh.......
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