Puzzling build differences

[Mike C]

I am puzzled when looking through the specs of the range of guitars, to find that they all refer to the top and back as laminated maple. If there is no difference in the build quality, where does the difference in price originate?
Whether its a Streamliner of White Falcon, they are all laminated maple, is there really thousands of dollars difference in the electronic components?

 

[Rockabilly Newbie]

I’ve pondered this myself. It doesn’t make much sense when it comes to the price differences. You could get an Electromatic and spend some money on upgrades and still be nowhere near the price of a Japanese built pro model. Same wood/chassis? Probably.

 

[G5422T]

I’ve pondered this myself. It doesn’t make much sense when it comes to the price differences. You could get an Electromatic and spend some money on upgrades and still be nowhere near the price of a Japanese built pro model. Same wood/chassis? Probably.

"Same wood/chassis? Probably."

Probably not.

 

[Rockabilly Newbie]

I’d like to know more. I hope there is a difference

 

[audept]

Japanese labor costs. The price of Sushi is going through the roof.

 

[loudnlousy]

Play it and you will realise it immediately.

 

[rake_ether]

Quality of materials, hardware and electronics account for a small amount. Labor costs account for a fair amount as is what the consumer is willing to pay for a particular product (and where it's made).

 

[Stefan87]

I can't tell you difference in construction and wood but I guess it's no different epiphone/squier as they are still mahogany/alder with similar parts but are still 5 times the price.

As loudnlousy said when you play a streamliner/electro against a proline there is a difference, whether the customer can justify it then that's up to them, streamliners/electros like epiphones/squiers are great guitars in their own rights though.

 

[bluenote23]

If there is no difference in the build quality, where does the difference in price originate?

Big difference in build quality.

 

[radd]

I am puzzled when looking through the specs of the range of guitars, to find that they all refer to the top and back as laminated maple. If there is no difference in the build quality, where does the difference in price originate?
Whether it’s a Streamliner of White Falcon, they are all laminated maple, is there really thousands of dollars difference in the electronic components?

The build quality is not just the type of materials. It is the quality of those materials and importantly it is the skill and attention to detail during the build.

The difference between the quality of the build is very apparent between a Japanese ProLine Gretsch and a Chinese Gretsch. the Korean made Gretschs quality of construction is stunning, but it still does not match that of the Japanese Gretschs.

In reality it is hard to find a poorly made Gretsch at any price level, but they are not all the same.

 

[BrianW]

The build quality is not just the type of materials. It is the quality of those materials and importantly it is the skill and attention to detail during the build.

The difference between the quality of the build is very apparent between a Japanese ProLine Gretsch and a Chinese Gretsch. the Korean made Gretschs quality of construction is stunning, but it still does not match that of the Japanese Gretschs.

In reality it is hard to find a poorly made Gretsch at any price level, but they are not all the same.

This.

There is a difference in the build. Worth it? That is up to the individual to calculate, as has been stated.

 

[MrSpock]

As far as I’m aware, there are build differences as well between electromatic and Japanese models. From what I recall, there were differences in perhaps how the neck is attached or constructed and other things to the body that are slipping my mind.

While it’s easy to say, “they look the same but the price is way different so it couldn’t be worth it,” I’m convinced they aren’t just ripping people off nor is the difference just Japanese labor costs. The biggest ways to cut costs are going to be materials (hardware quality and wood quality) and labor. The latter is what I believe constitutes the changes I recall reading about in terms of construction differences. The less time the guitar spends in the hands of a craftsmen, the less it will cost.

Lastly, you can absolutely find some incredible cheap guitars, but if the cost is low the spectrum of quality control will be wider as well. Therefore, if you’re going streamliner or electromatic, I strongly suggest you play the one you want to buy before you buy it. This is still recommended for Japanese variants but the necessity is lower because quality control will be much tighter.

 

[cielski]

Japanese labor costs. The price of Sushi is going through the roof.

Quality of materials, hardware and electronics account for a small amount. Labor costs account for a fair amount as is what the consumer is willing to pay for a particular product (and where it's made).

Compare them to US Custom Shop prices. Labor here isn't cheap compared to Asia.

 

[audept]

Better wait until the White Falcons are made in Bangladesh ..........

 

[G5422T]

Better wait until the White Falcons are made in Bangladesh ..........

That's when I want to see the "Bird" fly away.

 

[65club]

Is there really a difference in a Ferrari and a Honda? They’re all just metal, glass, plastic and rubber, right? But I’ve seen a documentary where the guy who puts the doors on whatever Ferrari model it was said it doesn’t matter if it takes him 10 minutes or an hour that seam has to be PERFECT.

Obviously I’m being facetious but the same applies to guitars.

 

[Curt]

5 piece laminated top vs. 3 ply is a big difference which you can't "change out". If you're happy with the sound of the less expensive guitars then it's a perfect guitar but by the time you replace the pickups, pots, switches, nut, tuners, Bigsby, wires and bridge you are close to a proline.

 

[hcsterg]

I am puzzled when looking through the specs of the range of guitars, to find that they all refer to the top and back as laminated maple. If there is no difference in the build quality, where does the difference in price originate?
Whether its a Streamliner of White Falcon, they are all laminated maple, is there really thousands of dollars difference in the electronic components?

Yes, it's puzzling, that's true @Mike C !

Having a herd of 24 guitars at all prices, I can't even give a definitive answer on that subject other than "IMHO, there's no real rules", I must confess...

All of my 24 guitars plays fine, with a good tone and comfort, but I did what was required to make it so - OK ? This being a costy guitar or a cheap one - I insist on this !

After that, comparing guitars resembles comparing cars, comparing watches, comparing... Etc... I know, this is not very helpful, but I'll relate a personal experience to illustrate this :

In 2012, I bought a nice brand new Fender US Standard Stratocaster FAT50 LH for circa 1500 euros IIRC :

OK - So I decided on the spot to also buy a leftover, unplayed Squier Standard Strat LH 2nd hand from 2005, for 140 Euros, just to make a comparison :

Obviously, AS IS :

- the brand new Fender needed a bit of setup to suit my needs : string gauge change, adjustments of the tremolo, etc... Nothing surprising.
- the leftover Squier was simply unplayable : corroded strings, setup way lost, etc... Nothing surprising too.

So I decided to upgrade the Squier to make it the spare of the Fender - a challenge ! Here's the result :

The goal was to put the two instruments on the same footing, same level : setup, playability, hardware, electronics, wiring, strings, etc...

Surprise : the Squier outclassed the Fender... What the Heck ? The Squier was resonant, vibrant, sensitive, lively. The Fender was good, but rather thin, without character.

OK - all things equal otherwise, I swapped the two loaded pickguard between the two guitars in order to see if "the tone follows the pickguard or stays in the wood".

Verdict = the tone stayed in the wood... The Squier still sounded better than the Fender, the pickguard swap made no significant difference.

As I wrote at the bottom of the picture above : The Fender is now long time sold... The Squier is still there... Way better.

Puzzling ? Yes, but true !



Now you understand why I wrote : "IMHO, there's no real rules"...

But it's me, OK ?

A+!

 

[JohnnyLaw]

Before I owned a Gretsch, I played a Bunch of Streamliners and Electromatics.
The store had one Proline. I played it next to my top two picks from the whole pile.
Honestly, it wasn’t even close. The Proline was more sonorous, alive, responsive, open, etc. Unplugged first, then through a clean Princeton.
I really liked the Electromatics. The Proline is here with me.

 

[Stingray70]

Before I owned a Gretsch, I played a Bunch of Streamliners and Electromatics.
The store had one Proline. I played it next to my top two picks from the whole pile.
Honestly, it wasn’t even close. The Proline was more sonorous, alive, responsive, open, etc. Unplugged first, then through a clean Princeton.
I really liked the Electromatics. The Proline is here with me.

It's the same when you play a Gibson 335 and an Epiphone 335. If you haven't played for very long you might not notice the difference. But, for anyone that has played for a while it"s usually pretty easy to tell the difference.

What exactly the difference IS might be hard to say with out knowing exactly how each are built but that there IS a difference isn't. Some of it may be in the finish, the hardware, the pickups, the wood, the build quality or all the above but whatever it is it is there. IT IS NOT PLACEBO EFFECT as many who can't or don't want to tell the difference sometimes claim.

It's not that I don't like my Streamliners, Electromatics and Epiphone 335 (after lots of work), I do. But there is a difference. Each player just needs to decide if the difference is worth it. If they can't tell then it isn't. If they play in a band their audience probably won't know the difference either. But they themselves probably will....

One more thing, Gretsch/Fender (Gibson for the 335) knows what the difference is and they are NOT going to build a $500 guitar that sounds like a $3000 guitar and sell it for $500.....