First, I seem to recall that the woods and parts made elsewhere were at least sourced by American buyers so in the specific case of Chinese made Guilds I don't think the quality of the raw material is a factor as much as the cost of it is a factor. Wood may be coming from the same source with top grades being shipped to New Hartford and lesser grades being shipped to China. The decision to do that is because one guitar is to be sold at a lower price point than the other and not because of where the guitar is made.
Fender is trying to make a profit and they are trying to make a product that they can stand behind in terms of quality and sell at a particular price point. Given price and quality points they make some guitars in China, some in Mexico and some in the U.S.
We are on different pages. I am trying desperately to keep this focused on guitars. Your generalizations about Chinese products, profits and motivations may, or may not, be true, but they are general enough to belong on a political board and not on this Guild board. I'm trying to throw you (and this thread) a lifeline but if there is nothing to say that is specific about guitars made in China then perhaps it is as good a time as any to move on. :wink: