Will all Fenders be made in Mexico someday?

[relic54]

About a year ago, I was reading on the net...a guy...supposedly a Fender specialist...said that all Fenders would be made in Mexico someday. What do you pickers out there think of that?

[Joe_Steeler]

Strong possibility.
We are becoming more and more a service type of market and sending the manufacturing to places where wages, environmental regulations, healthcare and construction costs for infrastructure are far more appealing than state side.

Some countries have zero land and property taxes and low tariffs for import and export through their ports.

[sqadan]

I hope not... we need to maintain a manufacturing base in this country.

[Bill S.]

If they use the USA-spec'd materials and electronic components the guitars should be identical. Unless the quality standard specs were changed along with the reduction in hourly pay. As it is now, there's not that great a distance between the two manufacturing facilities.

It's unfortunate that American companies cross our borders to gluttonize with more profits.

B.

[JELLIS]

Yes, California will, once again, be part of Mexico.
The City of Corona will keep it's name, and Fendero will remain in Corona.

[AaeCee]

No.

[benjammin420]

Originally Posted by Bill S.

If they use the USA-spec'd materials and electronic components the guitars should be identical. Unless the quality standard specs were changed along with the reduction in hourly pay.

B.

If the quality was there, I wouldnt care if they were built in Botswana

[Phoebe]

Originally Posted by relic54

About a year ago, I was reading on the net...a guy...supposedly a Fender specialist...said that all Fenders would be made in Mexico someday. What do you pickers out there think of that?

Doubtful.

We guitar players are rooted in the traditions and development of our craft. We love great old guitars made in Kalamazoo and tube amps from across the pond. But only if they were produced during the correct period.

Not meaning offense to anyone, I think of "Made in Mexico" as being less than the best. Note that I didn't say "not acceptable" or "not good", but less.

I think serious guitar buyers won't accept Mexican-made electric guitars as being in the same category as American guitars for a long time. Fender can't afford to loose us. Volume will go down and prices will go up, but stateside made guitars ain't going away during the next 50 years or so.

Peace,

Classical and/or "Spanish Guitars" are a totally different subject.

[nmiller]

There will always be people willing to pay for an American-made Fender, though eventually they may only be obscenely wealthy people.

[Stringz]

Yes, just as soon as Mexico annexes the United States (which should be any day now).

[The Last Rebel]

Originally Posted by relic54

About a year ago, I was reading on the net...a guy...supposedly a Fender specialist...said that all Fenders would be made in Mexico someday. What do you pickers out there think of that?

Stop there, if it's a guy on the net claiming to be a specialist it's actually a fat dude living with his mom taking a break from WOW.

[boogieplaya]

If businesses continue to be forced, i.e.(taxed) out of the U.S then yes. As a US citizen that part bothers me, but as a guitarist i could care less as i think US made guitars and imports are indistinguishable (in a lot of cases) as far as quality goes.

[Jahn]

usa ones will always be made.

[angelo]

Originally Posted by nmiller

There will always be people willing to pay for an American-made Fender, though eventually they may only be obscenely wealthy people.

I agree - except for the obscenely wealthy part.
More and more % of their guitars are imports.


Let me ask you this: Can you imagine a day where all Fenders other than the custom shop ones are made in a different country?

[bmetelits]

The U.S. will be Mexican before 2025.