Learn Something Everyday

[West R Lee]

We often complain about where our Guilds are built and I know that Guild has started building some models in Mexico recently, but was floored to see what I saw today.

I'm getting ready to sell a couple and didn't have a box to ship them in, so I went by the area Taylor dealer and they were kind enough to give me a couple of boxes....they also gave Mrs. West a cool guitar strap.

Anyway, when I got home, I inspected the boxes closely. These were boxes the Taylor 210 and 214 were shipped in. "Made in Mexico" in bold letters on both boxes. :shock:

I guess Guild ain't the only one building cheap models.

West

 

[jazzmang]

Aren't the Baby Taylors and the similar mini Martins (or whatever its called) made in Mexico as well?


You know the funny thing is that I think most people are becoming more OK with things being made in Mexico, while things made in China/Korea/Taiwan are still met with pretty strong opposition, most of the time.

Just an observation...

 

[West R Lee]

Not sure Jazzy. I'm curious as to which Taylor series is the lower end built in the USA....anyone know? I guess I thought all Taylors were built in the US.

West

 

[killdeer43]

Are you sure it wasn't just the boxes that were "Hecho in Mexico" West? :lol:

Just wondering,
Joe

 

[dreadnut]

good point there kd43

 

[West R Lee]

Are you sure it wasn't just the boxes that were "Hecho in Mexico" West? :lol:

Just wondering,
Joe

Could have been! :wink:

West

 

[Ian]

Hi Guys,

All the 100 and 200 series Taylors are now made in Mexico. Not sure when production was moved there, but certainly the quality of the guitars I have seen is well up to Taylor US standards. Funnily enough I dont have the same problem with this or Korean made Breedloves as I do with the chinese GAD line. Maybe it's that the Taylors, Martins and Breedloves aren't pretending to be something that they aren't ?

 

[pickoid]

Taylor has been making cases, Baby Taylors and Big Babys in Mexico for a long time. 100 and 200 series guitars are made there too. No secret or anything.

 

[West R Lee]

I guess I don't see the difference between that and A GAD.........in fact, the GAD seems more on the up and up to me. Don't the 200 series Taylors have the same Taylor name on the headstock? At least Guild refers to the GAD line as GAD....."Guild Acoustic Design", do the 200 series Taylors say "Made in Mexico" on the soundhole tag? They might, but I don't see a big difference between what Taylor's doing and what Guild had done.

West

 

[6L6]

In 2003 I bought my grandson a Taylor 214.

Well, OK... I bought it so I'd have something to play to him when I visited! He's turning 6 now and doing quite well for a little tyke. And, as the owner of four different high end Taylors over the years, I am here to tell ya that this 214 sounds better than ANY of the high end ones. In fact, every Taylor 214 I've played sounds really good.

I didn't know it was made in Mexico, but that would not have stopped me from buying it when I did. Taylor214's are a great value for the $'s.

6

'03 Taylor 214
'74 D-40
'06 D-40BJ
'06 D-55
'06 F-412
'98 Collings D-1
'98 Martin D-45V
'09 Martin D-35 Custom

 

[West R Lee]

Hey 6, I've played a 410 quite a bit and it was a good sounding dread, we're just talking about marketing...and/or "perceived" marketing deception. They are also beautiful guitars, no argueing that point. I also like the unintrusive "Expression System"......doesn't take much away from the looks....fairly natural looking.

West

 

[killdeer43]

OK, but what about those boxes? :lol:

Joe

*Huskies just scored!!

 

[West R Lee]

OK, but what about those boxes? :lol:

Joe

*Huskies just scored!!

Made in Mexico :wink:

West

 

[killdeer43]

OK, but what about those boxes? :lol:

Joe

*Huskies just scored!!

Made in Mexico :wink:

West

Do they have the distinctive aroma of tortillas? :lol:

Joe

 

[West R Lee]

OK, but what about those boxes? :lol:

Joe

*Huskies just scored!!

Made in Mexico :wink:

West

Do they have the distinctive aroma of tortillas? :lol:

Joe

Among other things........................the Oaxacan smell was quite distinctive.

West

 

[killdeer43]

Uh-oh, different kind of GAS altogether! :wink:

Joe

 

[cjd-player]

but I don't see a big difference between what Taylor's doing and what Guild had done.

West

Taylor has their own factory in Mexico. They started it to build cases there years ago. It was expanded to build the Baby Taylors and the low-end acoustics to make room for the electric guitar production in the El Cajon factory. If I'm not mistaken, it's not that many miles from El Cajon, California to Encendina (sp?) Mexico. There just happens to be an international boarder between. :mrgreen:

I'm not anti-GAD, but the big diference between what Fender did and what Taylor did is that the factory in Mexico is Taylor's own factory. The guitars are made by Taylor employees. They just happen to be Mexican.
The GADs are built in a Chinese factory that also makes other low-end acoustics for other manufacturers. Fender buys the GADs from a separate Chinese manufacturer; not their own employees. Fender could switch to a different Chinese manufacturer to lower costs, and few would know. The guitars would still be GADs.

 

[West R Lee]

[quote="West R Lee":35q2rqob] but I don't see a big difference between what Taylor's doing and what Guild had done.

West

Taylor has their own factory in Mexico. They started it to build cases there years ago. It was expanded to build the Baby Taylors and the low-end acoustics to make room for the electric guitar production in the El Cajon factory. If I'm not mistaken, it's not that many miles from El Cajon, California to Encendina (sp?) Mexico. There just happens to be an international boarder between. :mrgreen:

I'm not anti-GAD, but the big diference between what Fender did and what Taylor did is that the factory in Mexico is Taylor's own factory. The guitars are made by Taylor employees. They just happen to be Mexican.
The GADs are built in a Chinese factory that also makes other low-end acoustics for other manufacturers. Fender buys the GADs from a separate Chinese manufacturer; not their own employees. Fender could switch to a different Chinese manufacturer to lower costs, and few would know. The guitars would still be GADs.[/quote:35q2rqob]

Thank you for that explanation Carl. Do the low end Taylors say "Made in Mexico" on the tag....just curious?

West

 

[jazzmang]

If I recall correctly, the Baby Taylor I saw did say Made in Mexico on the inner label, so I'd assume they all would.

 

[cjd-player]

Do the low end Taylors say "Made in Mexico" on the tag....just curious?

West

I have to confess that I do not know. I've played a few in stores, even reset the neck on a friend's 214 after his 1-yr-old sat on it, but I never looked for that on the label.

My guess is that they do.