As of Jan 1 2024 the Mexican government has announced a significant increase in the minimum wage, which is expected to have a ripple effect on various indus...
Cort moved from Korea to Indonesia and as far as I can tell they've been killin' it there. They OEM for a lot of brands, including notably PRS. The stuff they make under their own label is also very good.
Chinese instruments are also not the crap shoot that they used to be. I have a Chinese-made Tagima strat that is one of my favorite guitars I've ever had my hands on, and I recently picked up a no-name plywood acoustic for like $100 (in a store!) that plays great and sounds better than it has a right to. 20 years ago, if you were buying a Chinese Squier you had to try every single one in the store to find the good one, and that just isn't true anymore.
Cort moved from Korea to Indonesia and as far as I can tell they've been killin' it there. They OEM for a lot of brands, including notably PRS. The stuff they make under their own label is also very good.
Chinese instruments are also not the crap shoot that they used to be. I have a Chinese-made Tagima strat that is one of my favorite guitars I've ever had my hands on, and I recently picked up a no-name plywood acoustic for like $100 (in a store!) that plays great and sounds better than it has a right to. 20 years ago, if you were buying a Chinese Squier you had to try every single one in the store to find the good one, and that just isn't true anymore.
We're in a golden age of inexpensive instruments.