Why is it USA guitars....

John_A

In some genres, I.e. metal the Japanese brands are the go to choice, ESP or Ibanez

Sassafras

When I'm playing blindfolded, I find it almost impossible to narrow down a guitar's country of origin.

EricTheWeary

Sassafras said:

When I'm playing blindfolded, I find it almost impossible to narrow down a guitar's country of origin.

It does raise the question how often do you play the guitar blindfolded? 

blobb

p90fool said:

Just up the road though is Rob Williams, who makes the best made guitars I've ever played, so the real answer is the best guitars are actually made in Wales. 

... and Tony Revell.

SouthpawMark

EricTheWeary said:

Sassafras said:

When I'm playing blindfolded, I find it almost impossible to narrow down a guitar's country of origin.

It does raise the question how often do you play the guitar blindfolded? 

Only when he’s harnessing his inner Rob Chapman? 

Sassafras

EricTheWeary said:

Sassafras said:

When I'm playing blindfolded, I find it almost impossible to narrow down a guitar's country of origin.

It does raise the question how often do you play the guitar blindfolded? 

Sorry, I meant blind drunk.

sawyer

Because it usually what we've seen our hero's play when we first come to guitar. Me for example-I have a Gibson Honey Burst Standard. The reason? Slash/Gary Moore and Billie Gibbons. My Gibson Juiors? Greenday. 90's  Charvel? Which is actuall mij -all the rock bands I grew up listening too and going to see.

KrisGee

Simply because...

thegummy

sawyer said:

Because it usually what we've seen our hero's play when we first come to guitar. Me for example-I have a Gibson Honey Burst Standard. The reason? Slash/Gary Moore and Billie Gibbons. My Gibson Juiors? Greenday. 90's  Charvel? Which is actuall mij -all the rock bands I grew up listening too and going to see.

Can see why companies pay for endorsement deals

Parker

One could argue the same about amplification and the UK....Marshall, Vox, Orange, Hiwatt etc. (All started life as a Fender circuit of course....!) 

Skipped

Reputation. Which is justified.

The early Japanese guitars were budget. And the first high end Japanese guitars were inspired by the USA guitars. Reputation which is real (for example the word of mouth chatter about 50s Les Pauls in the early sixties) sticks around for a long time. 

But now it is different. You can buy a superb, high end guitar that is built in Croydon.

Guitars built in Mexico are often stunning and are great value for money.

And lets's just be a bit careful when we are universally lauding american guitar builders.

Adolph Rickenbacker. Was he an American builder?

Friedrich Gretsch. Are you sure he was an American musical instrument builder?