Why doesn't Fender.com tell customers where the guitar was manufactured?

[wyclif]

I've noticed before that the Fender.com site, despite offering detailed specs, fails to indicate the country where specific guitars are manufactured.

Of course, if you look at the model photos of the back of headstock very closely, you can see whether it is stamped "USA", "Mexico", etc.

Why doesn't Fender simply put the country of manufacture on the spec sheet?

 

[Reedo]

I agree, a simple MIA, or MIM would suffice.

 

[Stingfan73]

Amen. Agree 1000%

 

[troy2003]

And it is getting harder because some MIM guitar prices are approaching MIA prices at times.

 

[Reedo]

Andbitnis getting harder because some MIM guitar prices are approaching MIA prices at times.

That's very true, especially here in the UK.

 

[Tel E Twister]

And it is getting harder because some MIM guitar prices are approaching MIA prices at times.

Demand goes up->price goes up.
Who keeps buying all these MIMs...

 

[PixMix]

I find it easy enough to spot the back or front of the headstock that contains that info. I think it's their deliberate strategy to make it not too big of a deal so we don't further exaggerate differences between models and series that are made in different countries.

 

[bparnell57]

I ask myself the same question with about every single guitar listed on Reverb... Just put it in the details!

 

[troy2003]

Now some of their amps in my opinion, are skirting the country of origin deal. Some labels just say "a product of FMIC". Not a huge deal but why not just say what country it made made in?

 

[jvin248]

They price the location, so why not show it? I'd also suggest they mark their import manufacturing plant by facility with clear serial number formats that they provide cross references for. There will definitely be a frenzy of collecting guitars from certain factories and that will directly cause the other factories to up their quality game.

Look at how some employee signature marks have been identified by buyers and nearly turned a few of them into mini-celebrities (Abigail wound pickups and the guy that routed a lot of Fender bodies R- or F- or something). Marketing department gold in that where they seem to instead spend their time selling the merits of tone wood. Any company can buy tone wood. Only that one company has 'Abigail' as their craftsperson.

 

[flyingbanana]

Such is the entrance of the earth into the new universe market.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Lots of non USA parts in the USA models. Lots of non MIM parts in the MIM models.

I think they differentiate enough for those who care. I have a lot of other products on my "to buy" list and I can't buy them because the vendor (and even the manufacturing source) refuses to disclose where it is coming from. Right now. Because it could change tomorrow. Or it theoretically could be coming from two sources at the same time.

I was happy with Lowe's because a huge percentage of their Kobalt line was not from that country I don't buy from. But they quit that supplier and now almost every tool in the store is from the place I won't buy from. They didn't advertise the change - pretty obvious why they didn't. But at least I can tell where it is from. Lots of stuff the businesses up and down the line go way out of their way to keep the source entirely concealed.

 

[Radspin]

Boris, your post reminds me of a question I've thought about lately...what parts on MIA guitars are not made in the US? Also, what about Gibson guitars (although I'm more of a Fender guy). I don't think it would be a deal-breaker for me but I'd certainly be a little disappointed to find out that, for example, a tailpiece was a cheap crappy part made overseas.

 

[neckradius]

Ok, I'll bite. Who cares what country its made in?

And here's a hint- for the guitars, if it doesn't have "American" in the name, e.g., American Standard, American Elite, American Vintage Re-issue, it isn't made in the USA.

 

[sjruvolo]

Fender does tell their customers when the guitar is made in the U.S.A. ie; American Vintage, American Standard, American Special, American Deluxe, American Elite etc.

 

[Ripradiant]

I'm gonna take a guess and say that Fender is selective about advertising country of origin because of public perceptions around "quality." Also public relations reasons (domestic vs foreign etc) but ultimately Fender is a company interested in maximizing $$ so its all about enhancing sales.

 

[Torz Johnson]

Boris, your post reminds me of a question I've thought about lately...what parts on MIA guitars are not made in the US? Also, what about Gibson guitars (although I'm more of a Fender guy). I don't think it would be a deal-breaker for me but I'd certainly be a little disappointed to find out that, for example, a tailpiece was a cheap crappy part made overseas.

I wouldn't worry too much unless you can actually see a drop in quality. Most overseas manufacturers are capable of building excellent stuff if required - see the Classic Series / Classic Players. They can also turn out cheap crap if that's the price point they're contracted to build for.

I have a Spyderco pocket knife with a titanium frame and some kind of high-end super steel. It's made in Taiwan and the darned thing is like the Ferrari of the pocket knife world.

 

[Syrinx]

I agree they are not hiding anything. Country of origin isnt an advertising advantage so they dont include it in text. However on their website there is the foto mentioned above of back of headstock where those who care can find out. Tech has lessened the issue on both sides of the purchase-CNC makes for better guitars regardless of origin,and the internet lets you find out what weaknesses there may be in electronics.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Boris, your post reminds me of a question I've thought about lately...what parts on MIA guitars are not made in the US? Also, what about Gibson guitars (although I'm more of a Fender guy). I don't think it would be a deal-breaker for me but I'd certainly be a little disappointed to find out that, for example, a tailpiece was a cheap crappy part made overseas.

I try not to dig too deep into this. Those CTS pots, for example, could be from a number of places. The tuning machines. Who besides Hipshot even makes tuning machines in the USA right now? Not any of the American Special Strat bridges come from the USA but the answer as to the Tele could be different.

I buy 6-32 18-8 stainless screws in bulk and I can't control whether they're Taiwan (usually) or someplace else. The American Vintage Tele line is filled with these. The "rules" as to how much non USA componentry you can have in a Made in USA product for sale keeps changing and so a lot of outfits just say "Made in USA of foreign and domestic source pieces parts" which tells you nothing.

California was gonna promulgate some local rules that products there had to be assembled of USA parts - then the story faded away. This is a moving target - I'm not prepared to say for sure what the answer to your question is.

 

[colchar]

I am far more concerned with the lousy descriptions of the necks than I am with where something was made. For example, the Classic '50s and Classic '60s have different necks but Fender lists them both as being 'C' necks. That is of no help at all and it is especially frustrating when those models are so rare in stores.