How big is the EB MM company?

spkirby

Well-known member
Just would be interested in knowing how many people work for EBMM, how many people actually build the guitars and how many guitars of each type they turn out each year? Give me stats please!!! ;)
 
I don't know how many employees they have working on the instrument building for sure (for some reason the number 35 keeps popping in my head, but I can't confirm that) but the last numbers I have for production are that the factory produces in the neighborhood of 940 guitars and basses per month... The Fender Corona, California plant produces in excess of 300 guitars a DAY... which is probably why you have to go to the Fender Custom Shop to get a consistent fit and finish quality on a par with most Music Man guitars...
 
300 a day? 940 a month? That's chickenfeed compared to some numbers I just found this week about Samick's Korean factory!

Get a load of these stats, taken from www.mcguitar.com/ElectricGuitars.htm

"Samick is the largest guitar maker in the world. They make 60 guitars per minute, 720 per hour, 1,380,000 per year, and 4000 different models under 400 different brand names. That's over half of all guitars made each year!"

Whoa! :eek:

All the more reasons to love my new (well, technically used) acquisition from San Luis Obispo by way of Boston.... :)

Disclaimer: I do own a couple of Korean made guitars and have tried plenty more in recent years, probably all from the Samick factory. Not bad for what they are considering the numbers above, and their quality is definitely improved over what they were years ago, but I'll take my simple Axis Sport anyday over them if I ever had to whittle down the collection. Just might have to do that if this jones for an MM90/trem Albert Lee keeps up...:D
 
I do tend to like the smaller manufacturer's guitars a bit more than the mainstream ones. Mostly because I like the original looks and they tend to have a little more craftmanship.

At the same time, I think with the technology out today, you can make a pretty consistant guitar with mass assembly as well. I have played some Mexican Strats that were very nice.
 
If you buy a Korean made guitar odds are it is made by samick.
I can't think of any other Korean manufacturer of guitars.
One thing I like about the Samick website is that is has video going over the key features and benifits of each guitar which I think is good.
Wouldn't mind seeing video of the products that EB has and perhaps demo the product (seeing the signiture players playing their guitar) which Samick does not have.
 
pack-rat said:
If you buy a Korean made guitar odds are it is made by samick.
I can't think of any other Korean manufacturer of guitars.
Cort is another huge guitar maker based in Korea... I think that Samick's production numbers are slightly skewed to make them look more important in the market than they actually are (the number of guitar MADE each year is kinda vague to begin with, since a great many companies don't give out actual production totals), but there's no doubt that they are the world's largest single guitar factory. Cort is no slouch either, however, also building for a wide range of brand names, and I think guitars coming from that factory tend to be a little better in the fit and finish department than most of what's churning out of Samick... Then there's the "World Musical Instrument Company" (or something like that) - the factory that pumps out PRS's Korean line... Then there are a large number of "cottage industries" and small factories throughout Korea that build components and entire guitars for these larger companies - in short, guitar making is a HUGE industry in Korea.
 
All this talk about Korea and no mention of CHICK COREA?

He's got a new ELEKTRIK BAND album coming out soon.

KEITH
 
The signature players do demo the MM guitars...in fact last november I was at a clinic held by Albert Lee. All in a small guitar shop in Oxford UK...he can sure play guitar....and talk! ;)
 
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