China factories?

[Gmountain]

I've read and I don't know whether or not it's true, that there are are only a limited number of guitar factories in China and that each of them makes guitars for lots of brands. It's probably likely, since other companies do the same.

Any input? Anyone know any of the Chinese factories, where they are and what lines they make?

[SFCRetired]

I think that's true for most things made anywhere. Like faucets for example, they build for more than one brand, to the specs of the distributers.

[Bikewer]

I know it's true for bicycles; seems likely. However, these sorts of industrial operations make items to specifications. That is, the parent company will send the exact specifications to the factory, which will manufacture the items to those specs.
Normally, there will be company representatives on hand to monitor the process and examine the finished product to make sure it conforms to what the parent company wants.

A lot of different companies have their low and medium grade items manufactured in this way, and the "top of the line" items manufactured here or in some other more-skilled labor market.

[Gmountain]

I know it's common. I was more interested in finding out the main factories and what lines are made were.

[Wasper]

Originally Posted by Bikewer

A lot of different companies have their low and medium grade items manufactured in this way, and the "top of the line" items manufactured here or in some other more-skilled labor market.

To even try to suggest that the Chinese labor market is "less-skilled" than other parts of the world is, frankly, laughable.

It is not the labor force, or it's skill. It is the mega corporations that determine the quality, or lack there of, of the products they produce. There are some very nice, quality instruments made in China.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

I believe the Mexican factories for Taylor, Fender, and Martin are dedicated factories, making only products for those companies.

[00-28]

Originally Posted by Wasper

To even try to suggest that the Chinese labor market is "less-skilled" than other parts of the world is, frankly, laughable.

It is not the labor force, or it's skill. It is the mega corporations that determine the quality, or lack there of, of the products they produce. There are some very nice, quality instruments made in China.

No one has made that suggestion yet. Lets not jump the gun. .......Mike

[matt986]

Eastman has its own factory.

[teleamp]

There are US made products that are made at specialized assembly plants... Matchless amps use to be wired up at a US company that specialized in hand wiring electronic equipment. Mojotone makes speaker cabinets and enclosure for many amp brands. Ceriatone builds amps for many makers.

Many guitar companies use ghostbuilders for specialize guitars...

Martin guitars uses Mo-Mex in Mexico, Lots of diapers and such are made by a specialty pant in Waco, TX.

The sodas/pops are bottled by many different bottling companies and on and on...

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by SFCRetired

I think that's true for most things made anywhere. Like faucets for example, they build for more than one brand, to the specs of the distributers.

I remember reading Stefan Grossman say he was once amazed to discover that D'Addario made strings for a number of other makers, all with different and well-known names.

[Smitty70]

Originally Posted by Bikewer

I know it's true for bicycles; seems likely. However, these sorts of industrial operations make items to specifications. That is, the parent company will send the exact specifications to the factory, which will manufacture the items to those specs.
Normally, there will be company representatives on hand to monitor the process and examine the finished product to make sure it conforms to what the parent company wants.

A lot of different companies have their low and medium grade items manufactured in this way, and the "top of the line" items manufactured here or in some other more-skilled labor market.

Sort of like the Lumber liquidators products I assume

[Riverwolf]

A friends dad worked in a auto battery factory. All exactly the same guts.
Next 3000 are going to NAPPA, next 5000 are Sears, 7500 going to Walmart...
But I thought we were talking guitars

[pbla4024]

Originally Posted by Gmountain

I've read and I don't know whether or not it's true, that there are are only a limited number of guitar factories in China and that each of them makes guitars for lots of brands. It's probably likely, since other companies do the same.

Any input? Anyone know any of the Chinese factories, where they are and what lines they make?

Two biggest guitar factories in the world are South Korean Samick and Cort and they are making a lot of guitars for other brands.

[DesertTwang]

Which is exactly why I don't buy Asian guitars.

[Hobo_King]

There are likely several hundred guitar factories in Chinaat any given time. They come and go, the better ones have been in business for a years and are typically owned by Korean or Taiwanese that moved production to the mainland. the better ones tend to specialize in acoustic or electric or bluegrass instruments rather than trying to do everything. I've been to roughly two dozen of various quality. Some now set up booths at the CA NAMM show. A lot have been going to the Frankfurt show for years. Eastman, Music Link/AXL (Loar & Recording King), Samick, Cort, Epiphone own their own dedicated factories. The rest build for a number of brands around the world as well as doing their own factory brands. It's not uncommon to walk the floor at one and see a rack of guitars with a mixed bag of brand names. the same model of guitar could be sourced from several factories at the same time since demand on the model could be more than what any single factory can produce in a year. That can often be the source of inconsistent quality from one guitar to the next in the same model. Most of the factories are in two regions, southern China where Taiwanese developed factories started, and the northern Qingdao area where Korean factories first developed. It's typical as workers, managers etc.. become experience in one factory to leave and start their own, so more factories owned directly by Chinese have sprung up in those areas as well.