Sterling By MM made in China?

[thebisch]

Hi, new here...

Anyway, I have been reading about the new Sterling line. Everything I have read says that they are made in Indonesia. In fact the purple JP50 I played, as well as the Rays and SB14, were all made in Indonesia. Well, since I have an interest in a AX40, I visited my local GC to see if they had any in stock. Nope. The only Sterling guitar they had was a new, flat black JP50. Well, much to my surprise, it was no where near as nice as the purple one (or the basses) I played at another local shop. Then I noticed that the country of origin printing on back of the head stock said Made In China!

So I guess my question is, is the Sterling line moving production to China? I hope not. The JP50 I played tonight I wouldn't buy. It was no where near as nice as the Indonesian stuff IMO.

 

[Slingy]

I think you are mistaken my friend. If you played a purple JP it is most likely a JPX which is made in the USA and costs thousands more than a JP50. I cant speak for the JP50, but I believe thay are made in Indonesia and they havnt made a purple one.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing... now there's a song title if ever I heard one, infact Tower of Power has a song with that very title

I am not confirming these rumours, only Pat Park can, but let me tell you, if that's true, China has a much more technically advanced manufacturing status than Indonesia, some of the best instruments from the "far east" do come from China. A lot of USA guitars big names have their "economy" line instruments built there. I wouldn't worry if that is true. And don't forget Sterling By Music Man are always checked / tested in USA before being sent to the stores for sale.

 

[straycat113]

Well unless something changed I have the December 09 issue of Guitar and Bass Magazine in my hands which has reviews for the Sterling AX40 & JP50, and says the line is built in Indonesia.

 

[Big Poppa]

The Park family owns guitar factories all over Asia....I cannot tell the difference between indonesia and china with their stuff...its where the processes fit best.

 

[patpark]

silo30s and the JP50 Satin Black for GC are made in China. The quality is as good as what we make in Indonesia.

The China made JP50 uses extra jumbo frets, the fret material is actually a harder denser material and does not wear as quickly as the standard fret wire. I actually have a China neck on my personal JP50 now as I prefer larger frets these days.

The rest of the line is made in Indonesia.

 

[beej]

Well there ya go. Pat to the rescue.

 

[Evh_axis_eric]

silo30s and the JP50 Satin Black for GC are made in China. The quality is as good as what we make in Indonesia.

The China made JP50 uses extra jumbo frets, the fret material is actually a harder denser material and does not wear as quickly as the standard fret wire. I actually have a China neck on my personal JP50 now as I prefer larger frets these days.

The rest of the line is made in Indonesia.

Where are the AX 40's made then?

 

[Johnny Alien]

Where are the AX 40's made then?

It sounds to me that anything beyond the two models listed are made in Indonesia. This is an old post so that's assuming that this information is still accurate.

 

[patpark]

Hey Guys,
All Sterling by Music Man instruments are manufactured in Indonesia.

Thanks,
Pat

 

[cramstroker]

So this is my first time here. Posting because I too thought that the line was made exclusively in Indonesia. However, I bought a sub ray 4 that was great, but had a crack in the body. I returned it and exchanged it for another and got the last one in stock. This new one plays even better than the original with the Indonesia stamp, but this new bass is stamped as made in China.

It doesn't bother me at all, and the thing is an absolute steal at the price I payed compared to its performance, but I haven't heard or seen another stamped as made in china since.

Obviously way late to this party, but I got here by searching on this topic so I thought I would throw this out there.

 

[SBMM]

HOLY THREAD REVIVAL!

Yes, we are manufacturing in THREE countries now since the original post was made nearly 7 years ago!

Indonesia for SBMM and SUB, China for SUB, and Korea for SBMM.