Guitars Brands, Who Makes Who? 

Updated version of this video Guitars Brands, Who Makes Who? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jUTLoRknIyc.html

you can apply this to all lawn equipment and household appliances and pretty much everything. good job with this video

Outsource for cheap parts, but STILL sell your guitars at a premium price with junk parts. Same in the auto industry.

It's pretty sad that soooo many comments are focusing on the spelling. The information in this video is incredibly valuable in explaining how guitars get down to a price point. Shoppers beware. As Phillip's own branding name suggests, Know Your Gear. Amazing work there mate 👍

Great job describing the guitar industry's current mess. I hate to see any popular brand name diminished by sketchy outsourcing and licensing deals. It's ironic that the big boys like Gibson moan about knockoffs from China hurting their brand while they are doing the same thing to themselves by outsourcing.

Samick is a South Korean company. They have a factory in Indonesia but the founder Lee Hyo Ik is Korean and the companies headquarters is in Eumseong County, South Korea.

If he made a list long enough, he would create a full circle

Phil, can you revisit this video in 2019? I'm not sure much has changed, but I noticed there are a ton of new brands popping up and I've heard some news around manufacturing moving locations. My first guitar was a Squier affinity that I eventually replaced all the parts on. All the way down to the frets. I eventually moved all of those parts (except the frets) to a MIM Strat, and I've also done the same thing on the Fender basses that I've owned. When I was doing some work on friends' instruments, more expensive guitars that came with branded components, I noticed the parts didn't feel like quite the same quality as the "real" aftermarket parts I'd used myself. I didn't really understand why I until I found out that many of these companies were rebranding cheaper components for the OEM parts.

Great episode Phillip. As a seasoned senior guitar player, performer, writer, teacher, for over 50 years, I've watched the deception develop through very shady marketing schemes. I grew up in Costa mesa California.(1959) I would ride my bike to the original Fender facility in Fullerton. I bought my first strat from Sightsinger music, one of the first fender dealers in Santa Ana Ca. I saw the outsourcing in progress for decades. I spent hours (if not the entire day) playing Fenders and Gibsons of every model. By 1986 I saw, heard and touch how guitars became fake, and now it's worse. I get upset that I sold an early 70's Les paul delux, and a 64 telecaster. Why? I got sucked in that the guitars of the late 80's were better. They weren't. We've been cleverly decieved through deceptive marketing. And now we're scrambling to buy the vintage era to replace the crap we traded in. The crap we wish we never got rid of. Louie Shelton has a YT video talking about selling his 50's telecaster and getting a reissue. He said it was a big mistake. CBS who bought fender destroyed the real magic. I kick myself in the a$$ for selling my 64 telecaster. American manufacturing sold out to the all mighty dollar. Aka: Greed Kurtiss (citizen joe)

Wow, I learned more about business in the 17 minutes of your video than I ever knew. Again. Thank you.

This was very interesting! I did not know how that worked at all! Thanks!

Good lesson. I really like going into the music stores and trying to find used Japanese made guitars from the 80’s and 90’s. The quality is often quite evident. I think anyone interested in buying quality should first focus on used guitars. There are literally millions of them.

I’m working hard starting my own business, this information was invaluable! I would just like to take the time to say thank you very much for taking the time to put this online.

Having only just discovered your channel, I can honestly say I have learnt more in a week about guitars, amps & guitar manufacturing than I had in the previous 36 years of playing, thank you for this. Excellent stuff. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

Actually Samick is a Korean company, who originally manufactured in Korea, but then opened up a factory in Indonesia. This is a great explaination as to how the guitar "brands" are more or less a mix and match between who builds what. When I owned my store, I carried the "name brands", but also carried off brands like Samick' house brand Greg Bennett, and S101 the house brand for Sejung out of China, (who also built a bunch of brands including Ibanez, Squire, Epiphone, etc... at the time). The house brands were as good or better then some of the name brands for 1/3 or 1/2 the price. My word of advise is to always try out a guitar first, because even within brands and even model, you will find jems and dogs. Sit down in an actual store, try out a bunch. You will know "the guitar" when you find it, regardless of what's on the headstock. Then buy that one! Don't try ordering the same one on line to save a few hundred dollars, as chances are the guitar you get will not perform like the one you tried.

Fantastic!!! Thanks for this massive clarity! Keep rockin Phillip! You bring much quality to the RU-vid guitar landscape!

Yet another informative and interesting video. Dude, you know your stuff. You are also providing an amazing service to the folks that are just starting to get into high end instruments and gear. You are letting them know what to look for. Thanks for being a good guy!

I work in a store myself about the same size as yours. I'm gonna look out for the things you mentioned about components especially. Thank you for the knowledge.

Wow. Amazing. This is some awesome insight. Thanks for this vid.

Great explanation of the process. Love your channel! I’ve found great info here as I try to educate myself more about the guitars I love.

I keep coming back to this video as it keeps me aware of the environment we are dealing in. I have probably watched this at least once a year since it was uploaded. Excellent.

Been binge watching all of your videos and I can't tell you thanks enough. Entertaining and informative.

Wow!!! Eye-opening for sure. Thank you, this knowledge is invaluable.

Dude, this is crazy good quality. I had absolutely no idea of most of the things you are talking about. So much knowledge. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed. Cheers

Thank you so much for the sharing your knowledge! Excellent, extemporaneous presentation!

Bravo man! Another great video. As always, thank you!

As far as i know samick is Korean brand. Founded at Korea, still running by Korean. they just have factories in Indonesia

Great info, really like the casual, straightforward delivery.

ive always seen a huge rave with schecter guitars and impressive specifications but everytime ive played one... something always felt or sounded off and this just confirms it, thank you for taking the time out to make the video XD

It's very evident that you " know your gear ". Awesome video Phil..thanks for posting.

Phillip McKnight really puts the "Know your gear" into Know Your Gear! Thanks for another great video.

Thank you for this valuable information. I hadn't quite put my finger on it, but now I now for sure. Keep em coming.

Great info & lecture Philip. Thanks for helping us. KNOW OUR GEAR !

Phil adds another layer of knowledge to being a well rounded musician.

Thank you for this video, very informative! Lots of insight into the state of the guitar industry.

Thanks for taking the time to make this video, good info!

Phil you have the best show/channel period. No BS and super informative. I always learn a heap of things from your shows. Bravo mam.

thank you for this video. The second half was a revelation. Knowledge is power, and buyers will decide.. so we need to inform !!

This guy is an encyclopedia for anything with guitar's, loving this channel, would love to visit the store 👍✌️

Thank you very much. This has taught me a lot, I really appreciate you taking your time to share that with us.

awesome video man!! i had been curious about this so nice to have it succinctly explained!

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT VIDEO! THANK YOU!

Great video! Its an eye opener!

Thank you for sharing your knowledge in a relaxed thorough manner. This information is great to have. Keep 'em coming.

smart man phil you know your stuff i thank you for some information i learned from you to get the parts to bring to a great guitar repair guy here in town to eventually work on my guitars

I bought one of the PRS SE's, the Custom 24 (2017). The first thing I did was replace the tuners with higher end Schallers, Switchcraft 'pots, switch and output jack' and replaced PU's with Bare Knuckles. The guitar sounds great now. I did all that and the guitar was still under $1000. I know this was an old video, but very informative. Love your videos.

I go back and reference this video often when I'm researching a particular instrument. The game is constantly changing. Models that were made by WMIC when this video posted now have Indonesia stamped on the back of the headstock :( Perhaps you could update this every once in a while? Either way, thank you for the great information you post!

Thank you Philip, this video is really informative! Love your channel!

Very enlightening Phillip. Thank you bro!

Phillip, this was very enlightening and very much appreciated - thanks for taking the time to share your considerable knowledge to help us understand what we might be getting when we buy guitars or parts. And it's so impressive that you used no cue cards - and don't listen to the spellcheckers out there - this was an outstanding video!

I'm a bit late to this one but this really reinforces my belief that you find something you're comfortable with and enjoy and don't necessarily go for the big name

Had to re-watch this video. Great information. Thanks for sharing

Wow Phil...very interesting video. Thank you for the “schooling” on Know Your Gear!

Finally a brilliant expose of what's really going on in the musical instrument industry. Thank You!!!

I own a Samick Avion Av-1 and it is one of my favorite guitars that I have ever owned. Great for the price, at least in my experience.

Thanks for explaining that, great video!! You really know your stuff! I have been learning a lot with your videos! Great insider info👍🏻🎶😎

This is insanely insightful. Really appreciate it!

Thanks for the info - clearly presented - things aren't what they used to be - quality bows to the new king, Quantity!

This is amazing, this is literally me trying to explain hockey gear especially the goalie mask builder(s)

Wow Phil. You never cease to amaze me with your knowledge. Thank you

that was very informative, you did great, i feel i have learned something so that i know what to look for when buying a guitar

You should do an update to this now that it’s been 5 years. I’m guessing things have changed with supply chain disruptions.

Wow- Great Lecture. Too bad you can't trust a name brand to deliver a quality product anymore. You are an effective teacher. THANKS!!!

By far one of the BEST videos on the algorithm of musical products. Phil, keep up the good work...

VERY fascinating and enlightening! Thanks for posting!

Atleast, Duncan Design is a visible thing. I haven't come across a Tone Pros bridge or Grover Tuner saying MIA or MIC or MIK. In fact, the Tone Pros I've seen is made by Gotoh which is MIJ which I'd prefer over the other 3

Damn, you are crazy knowledgeable. How do you even find this information? I would think these big companies would try to hide everything.

this is very valuable information....at least to me. So i greatly appreciate the time you took in making this video as well as sharing this information.

this is the video that made me a subscriber... and i had watched a few previous vids, i was digging your channel pretty well, but this closed the deal... it's about the fifth time i've watched it because i show it to everyone and i open it to grab the link and just sit there and watch the whole thing over again... great info, great channel, best of luck, see you again soon!

I experienced this issue when a "Grover tuner" broke on my ESP LTD bass guitar. ESP LTD did not supply replacement parts...[real] Grovers were ridiculously expensive {almost the expense of the guitar} and did not have the specific color in stock because it was a "special run"....finally bought a whole set of knockoffs off Amazon for $35

Your knowledge is mind boggling. Thank you

Very interesting and educational. Its really opened my eyes. Thank you

Thank you this was a great explanation I just learned a lot..I had no idea how that all worked..I'm the wiser now.. awesome Phillip you rock!!!!

This is brilliant. It goes some way to explaining why a guitar I built from parts I sourced from China, with the main aim of spending as little as possible, allowed me to build a guitar that's as good as my Mexican and close to my US built fenders

That explains my observations of instrument quality over the years. I've noticed the materials have changed, usually for the worse.

Great video! I learn something from you every time!

I watched the whole video, very informative thank you!

So what it basically comes down to is: it doesn't matter, it's all made in China or Korea anyway, they just stamp different labels on it. This is probably why some of those Chinese made guitars (like SX, or Jay Turser), are so good for their price, it's basically the same guys that make "brand" guitars doing something "on the side" as well, under a different name.

In the '90s, WMIC made an amazing guitar for Yamaha. The quality was competitive with MIJ guitars that went for 1000USD more.

Phil you are the man I am a beginner who has learned so much from watching your videos. I just wanted to say Thank You and keep up the excellent work

Very informative! You answered ALOT of questions I’ve been having!…Thanks

Well if you made them and they made you, who picked up the bill and who paid who? Who turned the screw?

Old vid but still very enlightening. Thanks for this vid!

Hey Man , thanks for the information, it really helped me understand a lot, I love you channel and I get information I trust.. Great Job ..! Joe

I have the feeling WMIC also makes D'Angelico tbh, theyre high quality as hell

stop complaining about his spelling and listen...you may actually learn something...

Very interesting video! It's very comforting to understand where our equipment comes from.

DUDE!!! Your knowledge is crazy amazing... Thank you for this video

I give you a lot of credit for this video. You hafto sell guitars for a living and I can tell your fed up with the price compared to the quality

I outsource my air guitars to _DUNLOP_ or sometimes WILSON

Thank you for the interesting and informative video. Just subscribed.

Thanks for the info! Keep up the good work.

Who Made Who - great AC/DC song!

Oh jeez. It kills me when I see missed opportunities like this one. You could have named this Who Made Who.

Thanks for explaining. I have suspected this for a while so it is good to know.

Great informative Video Thanks so Much Phil!

So I've been staring at the Grovers on my Schecter guitar for 5 minutes now trying to figure out if they are quality or not..

That was great! I recommend Schecter guitars to all my students. I own a few, and they are the most bang for the buck I've found on the current market of guitars under a grand.

Thanks so much for the education - very cool to learn all this.

This was great info!!! Thank you very much!