brad4d8 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 A poster on a jazz guitar forum quotes a Gibson dealer as saying that Gibson's archtop bodies are now made by Samick in China and shipped to the US for assembly so that they can say made in USA. He also said that Gibson now uses only synthetic fingerboards and inlay material in order to avoid any more CITES trouble. It all seems a bit fishy to me, anybody have any definitive info? Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 . AFAIK Gibson does use some synthetic fingerboard and inlay material, check the online spec sheets for details on any particular model. Gibson is also using alternative woods for the fingerboards on some models, as well as laminated rosewood fretboards. The China bodies story may be true for some Epiphone models, but AFAIK not true for Gibson guitars. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Most likely, a "nasty rumor!" But, NOTHING would surprise me, anymore. All I can say is, for the money Gibson charges, for their products, they BETTER NOT BE "Made In China," in any form! If I want that, I can get a very nice Epiphone. This is NOT a dis, on Chinese quality, or workmanship. They are (obviously) quite capable, and talented. But, Gibson has always been "Made In USA," and, for what they charge, they should be! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 A poster on a jazz guitar forum quotes a Gibson dealer as saying that Gibson's archtop bodies are now made by Samick in China and shipped to the US for assembly so that they can say made in USA. He also said that Gibson now uses only synthetic fingerboards and inlay material in order to avoid any more CITES trouble. It all seems a bit fishy to me, anybody have any definitive info? Brad Not even close to being true. We could go on and on about all of the different inlay materiels, fretbaord materiels, etc.... But to have a real discussion about it, it has to be based on real knowledge. Who ever this guy is who made these statements does NOT have any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincentw Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 China? really? Y'all should go tour the Memphis factory for a little breath of sawdusty air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malchik Posted April 9, 2012 Share Posted April 9, 2012 A poster on a jazz guitar forum quotes a Gibson dealer as saying that Gibson's archtop bodies are now made by Samick in China and shipped to the US for assembly so that they can say made in USA. He also said that Gibson now uses only synthetic fingerboards and inlay material in order to avoid any more CITES trouble. It all seems a bit fishy to me, anybody have any definitive info? Brad Gibson is shipping over rosewood veneer just so they can laminate it together to make a finger board in America. They could have India ship over completed, one piece rosewood blanks, but they refused and are taking extra steps to finish the fingerboards in their American factories. I highly doubt Gibson would be doing this. I don't believe a lot of their metal hardware is machined in America, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 The fingerboards on the Midtown Guitars are a phenolic plastic. It says so in the specifications. A dealer that sells a line of guitars that competes directly with GIbson told me the same thing about parts built in Asia. I didn't think much of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 The fingerboards on the Midtown Guitars are a phenolic plastic. It says so in the specifications. A dealer that sells a line of guitars that competes directly with GIbson told me the same thing about parts built in Asia. I didn't think much of it. That dealer is lying. Simple as that. I don't mean exaggerating or embellishing, just straight up lying through his teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted April 10, 2012 Share Posted April 10, 2012 The fingerboards on the Midtown Guitars are a phenolic plastic. It says so in the specifications. It is richlite, that is true, but it isn't 'phenolic plastic'. That is not true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACollector Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Is anyone responding here a Gibson employee? (perhaps VincentW). It would be nice to hear the answer straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. The question is: Do any of the following archtops have their bodies made, wholly or partially, in China - Wes, L5, LeGrand, Super 400, Citation? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Is anyone responding here a Gibson employee? (perhaps VincentW). It would be nice to hear the answer straight from the horse's mouth so to speak. The question is: Do any of the following archtops have their bodies made, wholly or partially, in China - Wes, L5, LeGrand, Super 400, Citation? Thanks! I am not an employee, no affiliation. But that is the thing, I can tell you for sure NO. No Gibson body is partially made in China. I can say that because it is one of those common knowledge things. Gibson is very public about where they are made, and give tours of their factories. I might not expect the average guy plucked off the street to know. But you can be sure anyone who knows even a little about guitars would. You can be sure, if it is a dealer, they would know as well. They couldn't be a dealer of any brand and not know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 The fingerboards on the Midtown Guitars are a phenolic plastic. It says so in the specifications. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Richlite is made from recycled paper and phenolic resin, and is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council because it comes from renewable wood resources. I'm not saying it's akin to ebony, but it's definitely not plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACollector Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 I am not an employee, no affiliation. But that is the thing, I can tell you for sure NO. No Gibson body is partially made in China. I can say that because it is one of those common knowledge things. Gibson is very public about where they are made, and give tours of their factories. I might not expect the average guy plucked off the street to know. But you can be sure anyone who knows even a little about guitars would. You can be sure, if it is a dealer, they would know as well. They couldn't be a dealer of any brand and not know. The rumor is supposedly attributed to the owner of Wolfe Guitars, according to the original online poster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 The rumor is supposedly attributed to the owner of Wolfe Guitars, according to the original online poster. Doesn't really mean much unless he actually posted it or said it. The thing is, the statement is a lie to begin with. So it is just as possible whoever is saying it is lying about who said it. It could even be an attempt to make him look bad by someone else. It really is a STUPID thing to say or post, whoever said it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 A poster on a jazz guitar forum quotes a Gibson dealer as saying that Gibson's archtop bodies are now made by Samick in China and shipped to the US for assembly so that they can say made in USA. He also said that Gibson now uses only synthetic fingerboards and inlay material in order to avoid any more CITES trouble. It all seems a bit fishy to me, anybody have any definitive info? Brad A little misleading, but here is the board and thread, refuted by other forum members. Jazz Guitar Forum, Gibson Archtop Bodies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfox14 Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Funny how weird rumors like this get started. Then everyone's reaction is what? no way! can't be! The day they stop making Gibson guitars in the USA will be a very sad day indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayyj Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Ironic that the term for the likely cause of rumours like this is Chinese whispers... In any case, aren't Samick a Korean manufacturer, not Chinese? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad4d8 Posted April 11, 2012 Author Share Posted April 11, 2012 Ironic that the term for the likely cause of rumours like this is Chinese whispers... In any case, aren't Samick a Korean manufacturer, not Chinese? Korean company with factories (or sub-contrators) in China, AFAIK. Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Always rather enjoyed a nice "Chinese body"...their beautiful faces, too. (Maggie Cheung) (ZiYi Zhang) CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted April 12, 2012 Share Posted April 12, 2012 LOCK AND LOW!! (Asian dialect for Rock and Roll) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmarkus Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I've been to all the Gibson factories, and I've been to 2 of the Samick factories, and I can categorically state that Gibson bodies are most definitely NOT made in China. Epiphone, yes, and there is a difference. This is why the internet is seriously flawed, and why the American love of "free speech" needs to be tempered with responsiibility. I would love to see Gibson take this further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc3c46 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Always rather enjoyed a nice "Chinese body"...their beautiful faces, too. (Maggie Cheung) (ZiYi Zhang) CB Now this is top quality! Custom Shop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boca Bob Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I just got back (May 5, 2012) from Wolfe guitars in Jupiter, Florida. Yes, it's true. They told me that Gibson bodies are made in China and shipped over here and assembled so the Gibson factory can claim "Made In USA." I can't believe it - I'm a huge Gibby fan. But that's what he said, black and white. I'd hate to think that my new ES345 that I paid all that friggin money for was half made in China. Wow, that would be worse than the Norlin years. If that's true, and word gets out, Gibson will lose a billion customers. I don't believe it 'cause nobody could be that stupid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brantobrien Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 China? really? Y'all should go tour the Memphis factory for a little breath of sawdusty air. EXACTLY!!!!! Gibson puts a ton of time into keeping their brand USA built. They already have excellent instruments under other brand names being manufactured in Asia that are marketed and priced accordingly (and some of them aren't cheap!!!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny W. Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I just got back (May 5, 2012) from Wolfe guitars in Jupiter, Florida. Yes, it's true. They told me that Gibson bodies are made in China and shipped over here and assembled so the Gibson factory can claim "Made In USA." I can't believe it - I'm a huge Gibby fan. But that's what he said, black and white. I'd hate to think that my new ES345 that I paid all that friggin money for was half made in China. Wow, that would be worse than the Norlin years. If that's true, and word gets out, Gibson will lose a billion customers. I don't believe it 'cause nobody could be that stupid! Those guys hate Gibson and enjoy spreading BS about them. Don't believe anything they tell you on the subject. Danny W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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