Guitar Players: How much importance do you put in where a guitar is made Re Asia Vs US/mex

It depends on the brand and the factory, but typically, at least with respect to electric guitars:
China < Indonesia < Korea < Mexico/Japan (it really depends on the brand and model as to which country is better) < America

Literally indifferent

I like Japanese made guitars and American made depending on the year.

Depends on the company, factory, and origin
Indonesian guitars are (for the most part) light years ahead of where they were 10 years ago.

Now is a great time to be a guitarist with all the quality options and specs available to all price points.

Out of my guitars my USA Kiesels/Fender and Japanese Ibanez are highest quality, but my Indonesian Ibanez and Mexican Charvel are also very solid. Also recently sold a Korean LTD that I had for years and it was extremely well made.

I don't think USA made justifies the obscene prices on Fender and Gibsons anymore - it's a status symbol

Fender has moved production of Squier Classic Vibe and Affinity lines out of China to Indonesia.
They have increased the body thickness on the Affinity telecasters to full thickness, changed to a string through body design and added the belly contour. It's perfect for upgrading with good pickups and pots. You can have a really great guitar for less than 400 bucks. All of the Indonesian Squier stuff that I have had has been really good, especially on The Standard series Telecasters.

Differences have been blurred over the years, for sure. Play 5 different guitars made in the same factory, you'll notice differences in each. Best Strat I ever had was a 80s Japanese made Squier. My current workhorse is a G&L Tribute Series ASAT Special, made in Indonesia. I've A-B'd it against guitars costing three times as much, and still choose it for what I'm currently doing.

I only play basses with bodies/neck-thrus made from African elephant tusks. Once formed, these pieces are then shipped to Monaco where a luthier spends 3 months adding lightweight aircraft grade aluminum precision tuners and Beryllium frets.

They are then airmailed to The Fret Shack for installation of custom wound Carondelet humbucker pickups.





But really…

I have a couple Indonesia/China made Ibanez and Squire basses ($250 and $800 respectively) that, once plecked and then sent to Fret for final adjustments, are really pretty good playing basses, and well worth the final cost for acquiring, plecking, and final set up by Fret.

I use these mostly for band practices. My go-to when playing live is a Spector Euro-4 LX—it just feels like butta when standing and playing (the curved body back is hard to not like).

Regarding acoustics…my Martin BC-16E full scale acoustic bass is in another league from my medium scale T-Bucket acoustic Fender bass. The Fender plays well (it has been plecked and then sent to Fret for final adjustments), and is my daily “grab a bass and play out back by the fire pit” 4-stringer, however, the Martin is just better in every way— and should be considering it is $1800 more than the Fender. THe sustain on the Martin acoustic goes on forever. The only negative—it is gigantic instrument!—which is why I use the medium scale Fender acoustic much more frequently.

I have a Hofner bass that I am considering using for firewood for the pit (how in the hell does Sir Paul play this damn thing? It feels like a toy with string spacing like a 6-string guitar!—have to use a felt pick, and I hate picks!)

Once I had some time with my Taylor 414, I sold everything but my Gibson J200. I picked up a 214 because I’m too lazy to tune down so I keep that one tuned down. Just my opinion. My friends have taste all over the board. It’s just what you like playing that matters.

American guitars are better.