fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
- Joined
- May 3, 2007
- Messages
- 24,795
- Reaction score
- 8,928
- Location
- Central Virginia, USA
- Guild Total
- 5
In a discussion over here that eventually made its way to the history of the New Hartford GSR electrics, it is said that
Now why would anyone want to do that? It would break the internet if we could not longer make sweeping generalizations about factories being better or worse than other factories and applying the generalizations to specific instruments. Imagine the angst people would have when they could no longer figure out what part of their guitar was made where and when?
Seriously, is this a good idea?
I'm thinking probably. Building the bodies and necks can be highly automated and as long as the builder can meet minimum specs it makes sense to build them at the cheapest location. It is probable that the origin could not be determined just by inspecting the white wood body. Finishing them in the US for (primarily) the US market makes sense. It is easier to react to the market because things like the color/finish or even pickups don't have to be decided until a couple of weeks before the guitar is shipped to a dealer, compared to months before in order to allow for overseas shipping. To the extent that Cordoba's QA/QC can be improved by a final inspection in the US (and the capability to "redo" locally if necessary) this scheme provides for that.
In the specific case of Cordoba the transparency about what is made where would be an excellent policy.
At my part-time Job at a guitar store here in Antwerp, Belgium, where I live, I spent a good hour and a half talking to Cordoba's CEO about a month ago. I was impressed with the guy, very interesting, nice man, very civilized and intelligent. He seemed genuinely interested in my thoughts and observations about Guild guitars too.
Anyway, one of the many things that came up in conversation was a possible future "Korean whitewood finished in the USA" thing. It's one of the things they seem to be very tentatively thinking of, not any time soon if ever, but they're entertaining the thought among other things. And I was assured that IF it ever happens under Cordoba ownership, there will be full 100% transparency on what was made where, and they would under no circumstance be sold as "made in the USA" period. Which I thought was pretty cool. Carry on.
Now why would anyone want to do that? It would break the internet if we could not longer make sweeping generalizations about factories being better or worse than other factories and applying the generalizations to specific instruments. Imagine the angst people would have when they could no longer figure out what part of their guitar was made where and when?
Seriously, is this a good idea?
I'm thinking probably. Building the bodies and necks can be highly automated and as long as the builder can meet minimum specs it makes sense to build them at the cheapest location. It is probable that the origin could not be determined just by inspecting the white wood body. Finishing them in the US for (primarily) the US market makes sense. It is easier to react to the market because things like the color/finish or even pickups don't have to be decided until a couple of weeks before the guitar is shipped to a dealer, compared to months before in order to allow for overseas shipping. To the extent that Cordoba's QA/QC can be improved by a final inspection in the US (and the capability to "redo" locally if necessary) this scheme provides for that.
In the specific case of Cordoba the transparency about what is made where would be an excellent policy.