Does anyone know the real story about where the Pro Series guitars are made? I've read on some Web sites that only the neck of the guitar is made in South
Korea. In contrast, on other Web sites I've seen mentioned that the entire guitar is made overseas and then finished in the U.S. (I'm not quite sure
what "finished" means.) Breedlove's Web site says the guitar is "Made in the U.S.A." Would greatly appreciate anyone's knowledge of
how the Pro Series is really manufactured. Thanks.
0 Kudo
Breedlove Pro Series - Where are they really made?
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 stevezenof |
Breedlove Pro Series - Where are they really made? |
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Parlor
Posts: 11 February 16, 2008 19:23:12 |
Last Edited By: stevezenof November 23, 2008 19:29:41.
Edited 2 times.
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admin BGMF |
#1 | |||
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Administrator
000
Posts: 389 February 16, 2008 20:51:08
Chief cook
and bottlewasher My reality check bounced 
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Now that might just be the question of the year, but I truly doubt if
anyone here at the Forum can definitively answer that. That is something that should probably be directed to the home office at Tumalo. I mean to say that
whatever we would have to say could only really be conjecture as we don't work at Breedlove and just have no way of knowing unless we were told directly by
someone who does, and nobody here is pals with anyone at the Big House that I know of unless there's a mole afoot. So...why not just email them and
ask...then tell us...In the future, I do believe the process will come to complete light within a reasonable period of time as you are one of many who are
wondering. Maybe they are just getting comfortable with what they are doing and how they are doing it, then deciding how they wish for you to absorb it.
Thanks Steve. |
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Bltprf502 |
#2 | |||
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00
Posts: 127 February 16, 2008 22:03:28 |
Actually, I am pretty good buddy's with Dod the head guy at the repair and set up shop. He told me flat out that the boxes (incluing the neck) are made in
Korea. The rough made boxes are then shipped to Tumalo and finished (ie: laquered, abalone, frets etc). So, the base of the guitar, the meat and potatoes are
made in Korea and the finishing and makit it a "guitar" is done in Oregon. I had a Pro Series for a while and took it back. Nice guitar, but not
what I wanted.
Breedlove Revival OMM Deluxe Custom
Santa Cruz OM/PW Santa Crruz VJ Huss & Dalton D-RH Martin D-16 GT Martin 00-18 C Larrivee D-03 MT Larrivee P-03 Walnut Fender Strat 40th Anniversary Edition |
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wheatlands |
USA Made | #3 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 22 February 17, 2008 09:59:05 |
I am a new Breedlove owner. I started with an Atlas AC25SR Plus. I was very happy with it. I decided to move up the the Pro series because it was made in the
USA. I have nothing aganist foreign made products. But since it is my money its my choice how I spend it. Then I read the post about the Pro series body and
neck being made out of the country and then shipped here to be put together. The Breedlove website says that the Pro series is Made in USA. I am tired of
companies streching the truth. I would not consider this as being made in America. I am very happy with the Pro series I have. I like the way it plays, the way
it sounds, and the workmanship. I had tried out many different guitars (Gibson, Taylor, Ibenez, Ovation, Fender, Epiphone, Parkwood, Laguna) before I settled
on the Breedlove. My two other guitars are an in expensive Washburn acoustic, and a Gibson Firebird III which I have owned since it was new. (This should give
you a clue as to my age). I had wanted a Gibson, but after comparing it with the Breedlove, I felt the Breed love sounded better and felt better. I am very
happy with the Breedlove, I just feel that I was misled about where the guitar was made. Does anybody else feel the same way?
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stevezenof |
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Parlor
Posts: 11 February 17, 2008 15:17:38 |
Here's what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has to say about what they consider "Made in the USA."
More details can be found on the FTC's Web site at Complying with the Made In the USA Standard What is the standard for a product to be called Made in USA without qualification?For a product to be called Made in USA, or claimed to be of domestic origin without qualifications or limits on the claim, the product must be "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. The term "United States," as referred to in the Enforcement Policy Statement, includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories and possessions. What does "all or virtually all" mean?"All or virtually all" means that all significant parts and processing that go into the product must be of U.S. origin. That is, the product should contain no - or negligible - foreign content. What substantiation is required for a Made in USA claim?When a manufacturer or marketer makes an unqualified claim that a product is Made in USA, it should have - and rely on - a "reasonable basis" to support the claim at the time it is made. This means a manufacturer or marketer needs competent and reliable evidence to back up the claim that its product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S. What factors does the Commission consider to determine whether a product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S.?The product's final assembly or processing must take place in the U.S. The Commission then considers other factors, including how much of the product's total manufacturing costs can be assigned to U.S. parts and processing, and how far removed any foreign content is from the finished product...
Last Edited By: stevezenof November 23, 2008 19:33:21.
Edited 1 time.
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MandoSquirrel |
#5 | |||
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Concert
Posts: 1739 February 17, 2008 16:14:04
Mandolin
moderator
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stevezenof wrote: So, does this mean that an instrument made mostly of imported woods does NOT qualify? Rules out most instruments!
Of course, it then says : " What factors does the Commission consider to determine whether a product is "all or virtually all" made in the U.S.? The product's final assembly or processing must take place in the U.S. The Commission then considers other factors, including how much of the product's total manufacturing costs can be assigned to U.S. parts and processing, and how far removed any foreign content is from the finished product..." Sufficient mud for Government Bureaucracy?
Mandolins;
Breedlove Quartz KO(sold! awaiting delivery of Cascade!  ); Victoria,
B&J New York ; cheap Romanian Mandola; Flatiron by Gibson pancake(currently untunable, after "repair"attempt ).
Guitar: Guild D-25NT. |
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wheatlands |
Very confusing | #6 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 22 February 17, 2008 16:30:05 |
This whole issue is very interesting and very confusing. After reading the definition of Made in theUSA, it appears that it is up to each and every company to
decide as to how they want to market their product. I am a simple guy. If something says that it is made in the USA, I assume that it is. I understand that
some parts may come from out of the country. Such as the woods used. I went back to the Breedlove website and read the descriptions of the Pro Series. It leads
you to believe that the whole guitar is made in the USA alongside the other models. Unlike the Atlas series that says it is made in Korea. If I would have
known that the Pro series was not made in the USA I would have probably went up to the Performance series. So now I have to decide if I want keep the guitar I
have, take it back and upgrade to the Performance series, or go to a different brand. I have to say that I am very happy with the Pro series. However, I am not
happy with the way Breedlove goes out of its way to say the the Pro series is made in the USA using custom shop procedures and processes. Breedlove just went
down a notch in my eyes.
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powerandwisdom |
#7 | |||
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Gatekeeper Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2369 February 17, 2008 21:36:17
Guitar & Technique
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wheatlands wrote: I also don't know the answer to this question, but I agree with Jeff - the best thing to do here is contact Breedlove. wheatlands, Although I understand your point, this is still just conjecture until you actually ask Breedlove this question. Why not give them a call for a definitive
answer? This could be a good thing for you (real answers), and also Breedlove (direct consumer feedback).
Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a
fire. -William Butler Yeats
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ragtime man |
#8 | |||
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Concert
Posts: 1949 February 17, 2008 22:06:17
Northwest Lounge
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powerandwisdom wrote: I agree the best would be to contact Breedlove and ask where the various parts are made. Then we all would know.
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wheatlands |
Made in the USA | #9 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 22 February 18, 2008 06:07:47 |
I will be calling Breedlove today. I will post the reply.
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powerandwisdom |
#10 | |||
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Gatekeeper Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2369 February 18, 2008 09:05:54
Guitar & Technique
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Looking forward to your report.
Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a
fire. -William Butler Yeats
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wheatlands |
Made in the USA | #11 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 22 February 18, 2008 10:30:54 |
 Just got off the phone with Breedlove. The neck and body are indeed
made in Korea. The tech that I talked to said that all the finish work, such as setting the neck, installing the frets, sanding, setting up the guitar is done
at the factory. He also went on to say that they had quite a bit of discussion about marketing it as Made in the USA. They felt that because of all the work
that was done in the factory by their techs who are working alongside the custom line, it should be billed as Made in the USA. They wanted their people to be
recognized as the people who brought the guitar to life. I for one, and very satisified with his answer. For all they do to put the guitar together and set it
up, I feel that it is Made in the USA. Just for the record, I never had any issues with the sound, feel or quality of the guitar. I have been playing it all
weekend and enjoying it very much. As a matter of fact, I had to work Saturday, and couldn't wait to get off work and start playing. I hope this answers
everybodys questions. It did mine.
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powerandwisdom |
#12 | |||
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Gatekeeper Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2369 February 18, 2008 11:20:22
Guitar & Technique
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wheatland,
Thanks for the report, and I am glad your questions were answered to your satisfaction. And most of all, enjoy that guitar of yours!! Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a
fire. -William Butler Yeats
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ragtime man |
#13 | |||
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Concert
Posts: 1949 February 18, 2008 18:14:33
Northwest Lounge
moderator
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Well now we all know for sure. However, to me the most important point in your response is that you couldn't wait to get home so you could play your new
guitar. That says it all to me.
ragtime man |
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mbenigni |
#14 | |||
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Parlor
Posts: 20 February 19, 2008 08:54:57 |
I was a little disappointed when I got the news about this not being a 100% USA guitar, but frankly the concern passed. What's important - and what I
imagine settled the marketing decision at Breedlove - is that their Oregon luthiers have the last word as to when/ whether a guitar is ready to ship. If a box
arrives from Korea and isn't up to their standards, they have the opportunity to make it so, or reject it - and this also happens to be their opportunity
to defend their valuable reputation.
After playing and listening to this guitar for about a month, I'll even go so far as to say I'm glad I didn't know about the Korean manufacture up front. It probably would have dissuaded me from purchasing (I had it in my head that I didn't want an import) and I couldn't have found a better instrument for the money. (That's just for my own purposes though, I can certainly see the argument that the marketing is a little shady.) |
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Ramfan1960 |
That's a load off of my mind | #15 | ||
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Parlor
Posts: 5 February 19, 2008 12:00:40 |
I was a little concerned about the origins of the Pro Series when I saw this post.
 I too saw Made in USA at the website. But I am happy with what I've seen and heard with Breedlove and am looking forward to getting my very
own Pro C25/CR home later this year.
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powerandwisdom |
#16 | |||
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Gatekeeper Slope Shoulder
Posts: 2369 February 19, 2008 17:05:38
Guitar & Technique
moderator
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However, to me the most important point in your response is that you couldn't wait to get home so you could play your new guitar.I agree completely. Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a
fire. -William Butler Yeats
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ragtime man |
#17 | |||
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Concert
Posts: 1949 February 19, 2008 20:33:40
Northwest Lounge
moderator
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It is certainly getting more and more difficult to buy an "all made" anything in the good ol' USA. I was reading either in The Fretboard Journal
or the latest Acoustic Guitar Mag. that it used to be difficulty to get a decent guitar for 200 or 250 dollars. Now there are guitars that don't sound or
play bad for that kind of money. So many companies are sending stuff overseas because of the cost of labor I would guess.
ragtime man |
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RGG Music |
#18 | |||
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Parlor
Posts: 57 February 20, 2008 10:19:40 |
It's a tough situation. You can find a decent import for $300, but the same guitar would cost $2500 if it were built in the US. Many people WANT to buy
American-made guitars but just can't afford them. These days we have to weigh our political views along with our financial situation into the decision of
which guitar to buy.
Hopefully someday the playing field will be leveled. Dave |
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admin BGMF |
#19 | |||
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Administrator
000
Posts: 389 February 20, 2008 16:12:05
Chief cook
and bottlewasher My reality check bounced
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stevezenof wrote: Thanks for this Steve, good work! |
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MandoSquirrel |
#20 | |||
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Concert
Posts: 1739 February 20, 2008 21:42:17
Mandolin
moderator
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On the "Let's Talk Guild" forum, there's a guy who lives in Vietnam, & he raves about the custom builds & repairs he can get at a
fraction of US prices.
Mandolins;
Breedlove Quartz KO(sold! awaiting delivery of Cascade! ); Victoria,
B&J New York ; cheap Romanian Mandola; Flatiron by Gibson pancake(currently untunable, after "repair"attempt ).
Guitar: Guild D-25NT. |
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