THANKS BP for making an AMERICAN Product!

[Astrofreq]

I just wanted to give a formal thank you to BP for providing us with guitars MADE IN THE USA! That is such a rare find for anything these days, since everything is imported. I know it costs more to build in the US instead of importing everything, but it is so good for our country.

just an idea. You should have an ad campaign stressing that. Then, maybe other non-EB users might be persuaded to come to EB.

 

[MusicManJP6]

+1!!!! Can't beat good old American made guitars! I could do without American made automobiles though. FORD = FOUND ON ROAD DEAD. I have one for PONTIAC, but it is not appropriate... Haha.

Thanks BP! Both my JPs are phenomenal guitars in every aspect!

 

[Norrin Radd]

I thought FORD was an acronym for "Fix Or Repair Daily"???

 

[dmullen]

Alright, alright...I can understand some of the negativity towards Ford but I have and am still enjoying the legacy of the Mustang. The wife has a 2008 GT convertible on the way that is sweet. There are always exceptions!

 

[roburado]

How about this one? FORD backwards: Driver Returns On Foot.

 

[Axilla]

Although I'm also a huge fan of German engineering and craftsmanship (and that's not only cars ) I absolutely agree that American made guitars - especially EBMM - are quite unparalleled and unlike anything else I've played before.
Yes, MADE IN THE U.S.A. (especially in SLOville) with pride is quite a sign for quality that should be stressed !

Thanks BP & everybody at EBMM for making this happen !

 

[paranoid70]

There is still quite a bit of manufacturing done in the USA. Alot of the cheap, junk stuff or the stuff that is built at 1,000,000 units per hour is often assembled overseas. Hand crafted or very technically challenging type of work is often still done here. Hopefully it will continue.

I think with the eventual rise in labor costs in countries like China and the rise in shipping and fuel costs, many companies will take a hard look at moving their manufacturing off shore. It makes alot of sense to built your product where your customer base is. That is exactly why Toyota has a few assembly plants here in the US.

Maybe I am overly optimistic, but I think we can still make good products here for a good value. It all comes down to how well the company is ran, and how well the management provides the workers the tools they need to do their job correctly.

 

[beej]

It makes alot of sense to built your product where your customer base is.

Not necessarily, it's usually much cheaper to build products where the production (labour etc.) costs are the lowest, or where you're close to the supply chain.

I'm a firm believer that the market gets it right in the long run. Without going into a long ramble ... where it's cheaper to make widgets off-shore, it's usually in a company's best interest to do so.

That said, I'm ecstatic when a company has the smarts and determination to make a quality product in the US (or Canada, in my case) and the business sense to make a profit at it.

 

[MusicManJP6]

I thought FORD was an acronym for "Fix Or Repair Daily"???

FORD backwards: Driver Returns On Foot.

Haha. Good ones! And JEEP = Just Empty Every Pocket .

Seriously though, even USA made str@ts and my old USA made strat copy Peavey are solid guitars. There seems to be some correlation b/w the US and the quality of guitars we build here.

There are always exceptions like dmullen stated! I think the new mustangs look marvelous with an Eleanor body kit!

 

[dmullen]

I agree with you on the Jeep thing...that's why I sold mine....drained my pockets every time I got in it. The Eleanor/Cervani stuff is nice.

Back to the topic...I live close to a HUGE Nissan plant which has had it's ups and downs over the years, both sides blaming one another for some early problems...paranoid70 & beej's comments all have some merit in my opinion. But...I'm over my head with this stuff so I will just shut up!

 

[peltierzoo]

Seriously though, even USA made str@ts and my old USA made strat copy Peavey are solid guitars. There seems to be some correlation b/w the US and the quality of guitars we build here.

Yes, there are always exceptions to the made in USA Fender rule....in fact I think the above quote is the exception.

I am so grateful I came across and had the opportunity to purchase an EBMM. Yes, it is way above my head right now and way too expensive. I was just in awe taking this thing apart just to marvel at the details!

BTW: who is BP?

 

[JohnnyD19]

In this day and age when most people cant agree on most things i believe that everyone on this board will agree that you BP make the best guitars on the planet and that our previous guitars are inadequate to the musicman guitars.

 

[Big Poppa]

we are dinosaurs....people vote with their dollars and most of the time price is morte important than quality...THank My dad for creating SLinky's it enabled us to have the business cushion to persevere.

 

[Ripper]

You know what, BP? When I visited CA last December, there's something I knew I gotto bring back with me - the Y2D. I think this shows how good your products really are. Keep up the good work and all the creativity - EBMM rules.

 

[Dead-Eye]

Although I'm also a huge fan of German engineering and craftsmanship (and that's not only cars ) I absolutely agree that American made guitars - especially EBMM - are quite unparalleled and unlike anything else I've played before.

Are they? I mean, EBMM are better, of course. But others? I don't think a Fender is automatically better made than a Framus or maybe a Duesenberg.

Generally I don't buy products based on where they were made. But I do take it into account if it's relevant - after all, Made in China on a guitar usually translates into "Don't touch"

I drive a French car...

 

[brentrocks]

i am so glad that EBMM doesnt have an import line like some companies....it just shows how strong they are and that they dont need to lower themselves to that "cheap" level

 

[morsecode]

A 'cheap line', whether import or not and whether owned by company or under license by the company (OLP for example), I think are an important and effective marketing tool in enabling people to start playing guitar affordably. As they become better players and more certain that they want to buy a more expensive guitar they may be more apt to look at the better quality and more expensive lines.

 

[Pablo]

I know I'm treading on foreign ground here - so I'll do my best to tread carefully. First of all: I really love Ernie Ball products, they are indeed of very high quality. I support the company and spread the word wherever and whenever I get the chance, as I really believe in both the products and the ethos the Ball family has brought to the industry. Yet, I'm sure that even BP will have a hard time saying that his guitars are of higher quality than... say, Vigier guitars or the Ibanez J-Customs - he'll probably say what I'd say: they're all great, but are simply different beasts. Quality remains quality, regardless of where it is produced!

As a matter of fact, (sadly) it is my experience that most American products are of decidedly poor quality, compared to European or Japanese products in the same price bracket. One very big reason why the American economy is in trouble, is because you simply can't sell your products abroad. Even with the extremely weak dollar (making US made products affordable in other countries), Europeans simply won't buy e.g. the piss poor American cars (and we've only seen a fraction of the acronyms out there). Why? Well, the quality simply isn't there! I still think Fender's QC stinks compared to Ibanez'... and Gibson makes Fender seem like... well, MusicMan Try comparing Fenders and Gibsons to European and Japanese guitars of the same price. Again: the quality simply isn't there.

In conclusion I'd like to thank the SLO dwellers - not for what you are (Americans), but for what you continue to do... Produce great products and giving the best cusomer service I've ever encountered.

Cheers

Eske

 

[fbecir]

You should have an ad campaign stressing that. Then, maybe other non-EB users might be persuaded to come to EB.

A few years ago, an American brand was advertising with "Made in USA" and "Support our Troops" and so on ... one model was called "The Patriot" if I remember well.
Now most of their guitars are in made in Asia. It seems it's not easy to compete with the Asian workforce. Especially now : some very nice axes are produced in Asia.
That's the same with all the manufactured products. I believe that in a few years all the cars will be produced in China or in India.

 

[brentrocks]

A 'cheap line', whether import or not and whether owned by company or under license by the company (OLP for example), I think are an important and effective marketing tool in enabling people to start playing guitar affordably. As they become better players and more certain that they want to buy a more expensive guitar they may be more apt to look at the better quality and more expensive lines.

i get your meaning by that....i guess i never thought of OLP as an EBMM spinoff...but i guess it depends on how you look at it....anyway, good point.