I read a post that said the SE is made in Indonesia by the Cort guitar company and shipped to PRS for setup and inspection. I just bought one from Sweetwater and they sent me pics of the guitar. It clearly says China on it, not Indonesia. So, what is the truth? Now I’m worried about the quality of the guitar. I wonder who is supervising the builds. I hope I’m not sorry about it because I was thinking of getting the Cort.
Wakester
Re Member
If you bought an acoustic, or a Hollow Body SE, the are legitimately made in China. The build quality is well beyond above par for any other guitars made there.
rcsrich
Commonwealth Stooge
China has been producing guitars longer than Indonesia for western companies IIRC. I wouldn’t see it as lower quality.
deathworlder
; )
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2023
- Messages
- 946
Tell me you bought a SE Hollowbody without telling me you bought a SE Hollowbody.
Good to know and good to hear.
Dirty_Boogie
Still got the ol' tagger on it
Fully agree with this. Both my SE Hollowbody II and my Angelus A50E acoustic are Chinese-built. I’d take one of these any day over an Indonesian-made SE.
Big Owl
Tone is everything
I really don't like that any American companies sell out for the sake of higher profits. Friedman amps has now done this as well. So I guess I am actually glad to see that someone is cutting into the profits of these rich guys who cut American workers out.
Sorry PRS, I really enjoy my McCarty, but had it been made in China, I would not own it. It's just a matter of principal for me.
You all.can.buy what you like and I don't hate you for it. Not too pleased that our government has allowed this to continue for so long. And it's is so sad that you almost can't buy any electronics that are not made in China. Why are we supporting China guys and gals ?
Sorry PRS, I really enjoy my McCarty, but had it been made in China, I would not own it. It's just a matter of principal for me.
You all.can.buy what you like and I don't hate you for it. Not too pleased that our government has allowed this to continue for so long. And it's is so sad that you almost can't buy any electronics that are not made in China. Why are we supporting China guys and gals ?
I understand your position and agree. I'm also a proud American.
But...
Is it "higher profits" or is it the only way to compete? If your competitor can make a widget for 30% less than you can because he went offshore, do you proudly close your doors and leave the marketplace 1 less American company to buy from, or do you try to blend a mix of high quality, high cost with less labor, less cost offerings? PRSH has said that the SE line is about all that kept them afloat during some of the down turns in the economy. Would you rather they go out of business than use an offshore company? Because that was the choice.
You can't buy American electronics because no American company can pay the higher labor cost, higher taxes, higher insurance cost, higher overhead, and higher regulations compliance, and make a profit. They have all done what you are crying about. They proudly closed their doors and went out of business.
Dirty_Boogie
Still got the ol' tagger on it
And let’s not forget… Americans’ insatiable desire for never-ending purchases of inexpensive consumer products. If the level of consumerism went down, and we were satisfied with owning just one item of high quality, we’d likely have a different situation here. But I digress…
Big Owl
Tone is everything
Very interesting points there AP, most of this I already had some sense of. As an old guy, I lived when it was all just beginning to happen. There were BUY American slogans. Sadly, I recall a friend telling me of how his uncle paid him to place Made in America stickers over the Made in China ones. Greed is really a sickness. But, I did not consider that a company like PRS might have failed otherwise. That would have been a shame. I love my McCarty.
I guess I prefer Gibsons approach of giving the imports another name altogether, like Epiphone. A company they bought to compete I guess.
Thanks for the thoughts. Enlightening !
I guess I prefer Gibsons approach of giving the imports another name altogether, like Epiphone. A company they bought to compete I guess.
Thanks for the thoughts. Enlightening !
Your welcome!
May I respond to your added thoughts? Your friend's uncle was wrong and should not have deceived his customers, but are you sure it was greed at his foundation? It may have been, I don't know the guy. But it may also have been that he knew he couldn't compete because of all of the above, and so he cheated instead of trying harder and taking the high road, (thanks PRSH). Greed or deceit, neither one is commendable, but they are different.
As for the Epiphone branding, PRS also rebrands the lower cost line. The "SE" guitars. He left the PRS name on it because he wanted the factory to know he was willing to put his name on the line. He made them put their name on it for the same reason. They didn't believe him at first when he told them to put their name on the back. He wanted them to know they also had skin in the game. So it was actually a risk to him more than hiding the fact that he went offshore. That is why he pays for American labor to inspect every guitar that comes from offshore for quality before it gets shipped out. I don't think Gibson does that...
D
Deleted member 47113
Guest
Have you priced a new Core McCarty? PRS offering an import line is more about availability of a quality product at all price points.
I was at my local GC last week and they had the top end SE hollowbody on the wall. I was blown away by the fit and finish. It was also a $1500 import guitar. The new satin series Ce SE can be had for sub $500 and it's a perfectly playable instrument.
I was at my local GC last week and they had the top end SE hollowbody on the wall. I was blown away by the fit and finish. It was also a $1500 import guitar. The new satin series Ce SE can be had for sub $500 and it's a perfectly playable instrument.
I think that’s all a very generous, company-friendly take on things. Rather revisionist, really.
There is a pretty good reason why the SEs went from being distanced by PRS to embraced: Money. One can only imagine the arguments about the SEs amongst the partners that own and control PRS over the years, but the results show in how the line was so distanced from the US line and now nearly completely apes the US line. It’s been a visible transition over a couple of decades.
It’ll be an interesting history to read, if anyone ever writes it. Provided, of course, that they can get the honest thoughts of the participants rather than the sanitized and crafted marketing story.
I do wonder how much longer PRS will produce mainline guitars in Maryland. They’ve foreshadowed that evolution with the amps. My guess is another decade.
veinbuster
Zombie Three, DFZ
I think PRS will produce guitars in Maryland as long as there is demand for them. There has been a demand for the top of the line for a very long time and I don’t see that ending.
Big Owl
Tone is everything
Thanks for the thoughts yall.
I hope PRS stays in business in Maryland. Top of the line PRS is beyond my financial grasp. As Big Owl, I kinda covet those Owls in Flight models they made, but out of reach for this Owl. I'm not sure how much better it could get than my McCarty 594. What an sweet guitar.
Thanks Paul & crew !
I hope PRS stays in business in Maryland. Top of the line PRS is beyond my financial grasp. As Big Owl, I kinda covet those Owls in Flight models they made, but out of reach for this Owl. I'm not sure how much better it could get than my McCarty 594. What an sweet guitar.
Thanks Paul & crew !
"Company friendly" ... absolutely. "Revisionist" ... not at all. I've heard Paul say that the Asian manufacturers couldn't believe he wanted them to put their name on it. They were used to USA companies hiding the manufacturer.
Sure they went offshore for money. That's the reason everyone, in every industry, goes offshore. But money for profit's sake, or money to stay competitive? That is the question. My take on it is they did it to stay competitive. Now I believe they could have stayed in business as a small custom shop builder, but they wouldn't have made nearly as big a move into the retail market without a budget line, and you can't make a budget line without budget labor.
I do agree with you, that the core production might eventually leave Maryland. I just depends on whether or not we keep buying expensive guitars. That decision will likely come after Paul retires, if he ever does.
