As of 2012 Taylor Guitars had more than 700 employees in two factories: one in El Cajon, California, and the other in nearby Tecate, Mexico, where the company makes their lower-priced models and guitar cases. I’ve been playing guitar for over 10 years now, and I’m a total nerd when it comes to gear. As a result, the quality of these guitars is on par with the best of the best guitars (even American made guitars), despite the fact that Eastman guitars are made in China. G&B heads into Mexico to see the state-of-the-art factory in which Taylor’s affordable new Academy Series models are manufactured. Finally, in 2004, Epiphone guitars started exclusively being made in China due to the cheaper costs to mass produce. Guitars sometimes require a neck angle realignment (neck reset). Either way, Japanese and American made guitars are definitely the countries that make the best guitars out there and are a clear cut above the rest. Work flows between both Taylor factories in the US and Mexico, but the demarcation line tends to be that the instruments with solid backs and sides are made in El Cajon and the laminates in Tecate. The higher end ESP LTD guitars, such as the ESP LTD EC-1000 is made in South Korea. To this day, American made guitars are seen as the best of the best in terms of quality. PRS S2 guitars are made in the United States in Maryland. They’re roughly 40 miles from one another.Anything that’s a 200 series or lower (so that’s the 100 series, GS Minis, Baby range and Academies) are made in the Mexican factory. While Malcolm doesn’t play on the new album, his musical ideas are still present. In addition, with their rise in popularity, Taylor Guitars released a line of more affordable guitars. The end result is not only functional and comfortable, but reveals its component parts and structure in an elegant, understated manner, much like an Eames chair. So while they are not quite as high quality as their American made guitars, they are still considered high end guitars as far as overseas import guitars are concerned. American made guitars are usually hand made, so you can expect to pay a much higher price for these. These are all American made guitars, meaning the are the best of the best in terms of quality. Oops, looks like you forgot something. In the final part of his intro to country guitar, Nashville sessioneer David Henricksson puts it all together with a pair of solos to master. If you’ve ever been in the market for a guitar, you probably noticed that different models vary significantly in price. When the owner of the shop decided to move on, the duo bought the place and Taylor Guitars was born. The Taylor Guitars acoustic line is organized by series. [13] The entry-level 100 and 200 series use an externally similar system known as ES-T, which uses a single under-saddle pickup and no soundboard transducers. Also, many counterfeit Taylor guitars have been found to be made from illegally obtained wood and second-rate materials, include faulty electronics, made with toxic and hazardous chemicals, and even manufactured in factories violating fair labor practices. A great incentive to pick up your guitar! With Indonesian guitars, you’ll usually find that there are some quality control issues from model to model. Taylor Days Sale – Free Baby Taylor & 36 Months 0% Finance Available! While Fender is an American company, only their top of the line guitars are made in the United States. These are the top of the line Ibanez guitars are comparable to any American made guitar from the likes of Gibson, Fender, and PRS. These guitars typically fall in the $500 range and are meant for intermediate level players. In terms of where Jackson Guitars are made, it really depends on the model of guitar. The company was originally founded in Brooklyn, NY. Overall, Chinese guitars are seen as the lowest quality among the overseas manufacturers (but not always the case). The Ibanez Prestige and J Custom line of guitars are still made in Japan. The 600, 800 and 900 Series Taylors feature a thinner 3.5mm gloss finish meaning that the guitar sounds a little livelier and more resonant. [14] For those too far away to visit the factory, Premier Guitars published a four-part tour of the Taylor Factory, narrated by Bob Taylor in 2008. Taylor recovered some oak from shipping pallets found at the factory for the Pallet Guitar's back and sides and used a nondescript 2x4 for the dreadnought's top. In terms of quality, Indonesian-made guitars tend to be slightly lower than that of Korean made guitars. The November 2020 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! I’ve been playing guitar for over 10 years now, and I’m a total nerd when it comes to gear. For left-handed players, all models are available in a left-handed configuration at no additional charge, except most Builder's Edition models. However, that’s not to say these guitars are bad by any means. When Taylor moved some of their guitar production to Mexico (where Taylor has been making guitar cases), a few of the employees that were making guitars in El Cajon began making then in Tecate. There are more wood combinations to choose from in the USA lineup of Taylors, meaning you can really nail the sound you’re after or pick a wood with a dazzling finish – Koa being a huge hit for Taylor on this front. They also have several subsidiaries that make guitars in other locations, such as South Korea and Indonesia. Your email address will not be published. In early 2011, the company opened a Taylor distribution warehouse in the Netherlands to serve the European market. They have the same build quality, woods, hardware, and pickups. They originally only specialized in creating replacement parts for guitars before they created their own line of guitars a decade later. PRS Core – The PRS Core line of guitars are all made in the United States in Maryland. Here’s our pick of 20 awe-inspiring moments from the career of one of the instrument’s true legends. We’re seeing more and more US-built Taylors now with V-Class bracing. Fender guitars are currently made primarily in America and Mexico. By 1974, Taylor and Kurt Listug were laboring over instruments in the back of a small guitar store in Southern California. The Definitive Guide to Buying an Acoustic Guitar. The guitar that brought them to fame is none other than the Fender Stratocaster. Mexican Vs American Fender Stratocaster: What’s the Difference. The only exception would be PRS Custom Shop guitars, which are also made in America. While they are in the ESP affordable line of guitars they are usually quite comparable to the real thing. Taylor Guitars: Mexican vs US Built - What Are The Differences? In 1968, two Dylan collaborators and a future Laurel Canyon superstar were at a loose end, so they booked some studio time in LA and improvised a freewheeling blues-jazz blueprint for the supergroup-on-record concept. The PRS SE Standard guitars are made in Indonesia. Epiphone is the most well known brand that is owned by Gibson. What Countries are Guitar Manufactured In? In short, most of the top guitar brands are made in the United States (North America), Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, China, and Mexico.