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| Where In The World... |
But in 1965 when I was learning to play guitar, all of the most reputable instruments were manufactured in the United States.
In 1965 a brand-new Fender Stratocaster or a Precision Bass, hand built in Fullerton California, had a retail price of $279 plus the cost of the case. A Telecaster retailed for slightly more than $200.
The 1960 retail price for a Gibson Melody Maker was only $99.50 for a single pickup model to $135.00 for the twin pickup version, which included a soft case.
A Gibson ES-335, with a deluxe case, sold for $267.50 plus $47.50 for a case in 1958
If you were around in 1958, a Gold Top Les Paul had a retail price of $247.50.
However, we must consider the average annual income in 1960 was $5,000 when comparing prices to today.
Back in 1969 Gibson decided to use the Epiphone brand name on guitars they manufactured in Japan. Fender followed suit in 1982 when the company inked a deal with the FujiGen Gakki company.
At this same time Fender built “Fender” guitars for the Japanese market, and Squier guitars as a US budget brand.
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| '87 Squier |
By 1987 Fender was having the Squier line built in South Korea.
Which brings us to this year, 2026. So where in the world my guitar was manufactured.
Even if it was made in the USA, many guitars, especially electric guitars and basses, cannot legally include the wording, "Made in the USA", since parts and pickups may be imported.
Every current US manufacturer has set up factories outside of the country that turn out wonderful instruments, because not all players can afford a new Martin, Taylor, Gibson, or Fender instrument built in the USA retailing for $7,000 plus.
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| Fender Player II Jazzmaster |
To confuse the buyer, they put names to their products “Player II” or “Road Series”.
So here is a breakdown for different companies.
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| American Professional Classic |
Fender builds high-end models, including American Professional, American Vintage II, and Custom Shop instruments at their plant in Corona, California.
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| Fender Made in Mexico |
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| Fender Flagship Store Tokyo |
Fender's budget line of guitars, Squier, was originally built in Japan until 1987 was manufacturing was moved to Korea at the Samick factory. As early as 1994 and into the early 2000's Fender moved Squier builds to China.
Currently Squier guitars are built by the Cor-Tek factory in Indonesia, where the higher end Squiers are built, or the Yako factory in China.
The Squier Affinity is the lowest cost model,
The Classic Vibe is a step up, while the Custom or Limited Edition are the most expensive. Prices range from $150 to $650.
Most all Fender acoustic guitars are built in Indonesia or China with the exception of the Acoustasonic series. The Standard series is built in Indonesia, the Player series is built in Ensenada, Mexico, and the top of the line American series is built in the United States.
Gibson players have an easier definition of where their instrument was built.
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| Gibson - The Girls of Kalamazoo |
The Kalamazoo plant kept going for a few years as a custom-instrument shop but was closed in 1984
Gibson-brand guitars were being made at two facilities, depending on the type of guitar.
Electric guitars such as the Gibson Les Paul, Gibson ES-335, and the Gibson SG are made in Nashville, Tennessee.
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| Gibson - Nashville Tennessee |
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| Gibson - Bozeman Montana |
Epiphone guitars are primarily manufactured in their own dedicated factory in Qingdao, China, which has been operational since 2004.
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| Epiphone - Qingdoa China |
The Qingdao Factory (China) is where the majority of Epiphone electric and acoustic guitars are built here.
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| Epiphone Acoustics |
Epiphone also uses the Cor Tek factory in Indonesia where they produce some upper-tier acoustic models and certain "Inspired by Gibson" models.
All historical production done In the past, were made in Japan (Elitist series), and in Korea at the Samick factory.
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| C.F. Martin Factory |
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| Martin Factory Mexico |
As of today the CF Martin Mexican factory builds the X series Martin guitars, the Martin Road series, and some of the Mahogany 15 series guitars: the D-15E and the OO0-15E. C.F. Martin states their objective is to build a guitar to fit everyone's budget. Martin does not manufacture guitars in Asian countries.
Taylor Guitars has a similar strategy as C.F. Martin. Their US factory is in El Cajon, California. This is where the build the companies more expensive guitars.
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| Taylor Guitars - Mexico |
The PRS Guitar company, Paul Reed Smith, began in 1985 when it's founder began making guitars by hand for some famous clientele.
Smith's first models were expensive, but in 1988 a more affordable option was offered.
The company is located in Stevensville Maryland.
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| Cor-Tek Factory Indonesia |
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| Gretsch Streamliners |
Gretsch guitars entered into a partnership with the Fender Musical Instrument Company in 2002. This allowed the company support to offer Gretsch guitars to consumers after a long hiatus.
While mid-range Electromatic models are now made in China at the Yako plant. The entry-level Streamliner models are produced in Indonesia and China.
In 2014 Fender sold off Guild to the Cordoba Music Group. Some Guild production was done in the USA, with lower end production outsourced.
Other Guild lines are produced overseas: the Westerly Collection is made in China. Newark St. electric models are made in South Korea, Indonesia, and China.
All but a few Gretsch Custom Shop models are made in the USA.
The more high end consumer models are primarily manufactured in Japan at factories like Terada, FujiGen, and Dyna Gakki .
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| Gretsch White Falcon |
While mid-range Electromatic models are now made in China at the Yako plant. The entry-level Streamliner models are produced in Indonesia and China.
Guild Guitars got their start in Manhattan when Alfred Dronge hired out-of-work Epiphone craftsmen. Mr. Dronge was a fan of Jazz music and hired workers that had spent years building Jazz guitars.
This was also in the midst of the Folk Era and the workers kept busy building a series of Dreadnaught style guitars to compete with Martin.
One of their more famous and popular guitars was the F512 Jumbo 12 string guitars. By 1966 the company was sold to Avnet and moved to a facility in Westerly, Rhode Island. During this period, Guild produced some wonderful electric guitars.
In 2001 Guild Guitars were acquired by the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation and the Westerly facility was shuttered.
By 2008 Fender had acquired Kaman Music Corporation (Ovation) and moved Guild production to New Hartford, Connecticut.
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| 2015 Guild |
In 2014 Fender sold off Guild to the Cordoba Music Group. Some Guild production was done in the USA, with lower end production outsourced.
Then in 2023 Yamaha Guitar Corporation acquired Cordoba and began production of Guild Guitars.
Guild USA acoustic guitars are manufactured in Oxnard, California, where the company established its factory in 2014-2015 after being acquired by Cordoba Music Group (now part of Yamaha).
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| Guild Westerly Collection |
Other Guild lines are produced overseas: the Westerly Collection is made in China. Newark St. electric models are made in South Korea, Indonesia, and China.
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| Play It Loud And Proud! |
©UniqueGuitar Publications (text only) 2026
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