What import brand has the best QC nowadays?

[drache713]

Out of the import guitar lines/manufacturers (LTD, Schecter, Ibanez, Jackson, PRS SE, so on and etc.) who has the best import QC these days in your recent experience?

[Tony]

I've only really bought ibanez the last few times I've bought guitars.

The midrange stuff is pretty solid but can usually do with a bit of attention to the frets.

The premium line is really solid. The first time I've bought a guitar and not had to work on it beyond changing the pickups.

[Mike]

PRS is still quite good. Jackson Indo is hit or miss, the Korean and Mexican guitars (and the Charvels) are rather good. I haven't played one of the Chinese crackles yet

The last cheap line Ibby I played was pretty solid at that point. Schecters I haven't played in a while.

The LTDs I've played (all over 1K) have been pretty great.

[Iron1]

I don’t think I’ve ever played a bad LTD. Can’t say the same for Ibanez, Jackson or Schecter. But the cork-sniffing, boujee ESP owners in the FB group turned me off to ever maining another ESP or LTD.

[Phil]

I don’t think I’ve seen a bad PRS SE, especially considering they use a lot of “PRS-designed” hardware. Normally the hardware is the obvious weak point IMHO, and is a lot more consistently mediocre (whereas you can usually luck out and find some nice pieces of wood fairly easily).

I haven’t played a ton, but I’ve liked every Ibanez Premium I’ve played, too. IMHO they feel close to the Prestiges.

LTD and Schecter stand out to me, too, but I haven’t had
much play time on the newer Indonesian guitars. I played one MII EC-1000 I didn’t think was that great, but every MIK one I’ve played has been fantastic. The 3rd party hardware and pickups are nice, too, because that usually means you’ve got guitar that doesn’t really need any upgrades.

Made in Mexico guitars are just fantastic - I wouldn’t even consider them imports.

[JJ Rodriguez]

People have been saying that Jacksons QC on their imports has been pretty spotty lately, but Coop just snagged an import Jackson (can't remember if it was Korean or Japanese) and it's pretty nice. The price was decent too for coming pre loaded with Fishmans.

[rghoarder]

The Ormsby GTRs are fantastic, but I've played very little from WMI that wasn't good, I'd say the same for any Schecter or LTD coming from there too.

The PRS Indo stuff that I've played has been great, and I've got two solars. One (of the solars) was fantastic out of the box, while the other quite literally had the screw head from the bridge baseplate cracked off and swimming around the box, but that amusing incident aside I don't think many have had issues with their solars.

[Jeff]

IMO, WMI stuff, be it higher end Schecter or LTD, are really solid stuff. PRS SE is still pretty good, but some of their wood choices have been kinda lame, i.e. really unmatched mahogany on a clear finish.

Ibanez is pretty disappointing. You have to get up to a grand to get a decent one, and their use of bullshit woods really sucks.

[Mahler]

How has no one mentioned any of the Yamaha stuff yet? I bought a cheapo RS (Revstar series) and it was wiped the floor with everything in it's range and slightly above. The stuff further on in their series has the same trajectory of increasing quality. Had to sell the RS820 I had, huge seller's remorse on that one.

[Jeff]

How has no one mentioned any of the Yamaha stuff yet? I bought a cheapo RS (Revstar series) and it was wiped the floor with everything in it's range and slightly above. The stuff further on in their series has the same trajectory of increasing quality. Had to sell the RS820 I had, huge seller's remorse on that one.

The Yamaha stuff is supposed to be great, and the two RevStars I’ve seen have been nice. I think the problem is that no one seems to carry them, so very few people have experience with them.

[d8200]

How has no one mentioned any of the Yamaha stuff yet? I bought a cheapo RS (Revstar series) and it was wiped the floor with everything in it's range and slightly above. The stuff further on in their series has the same trajectory of increasing quality. Had to sell the RS820 I had, huge seller's remorse on that one.

Good to hear, I've been eyeing these for a couple of years now. An RS420 looks like a solid alternative to a Studio LP or SG. The 502 with the denim finish would round out the non-metal section of my guitar collection nicely.

[Mike]

People have been saying that Jacksons QC on their imports has been pretty spotty lately, but Coop just snagged an import Jackson (can't remember if it was Korean or Japanese) and it's pretty nice. The price was decent too for coming pre loaded with Fishmans.

Korean. Those are apparently really good, but I haven't played one. The Korean Charvel Angel I played was excellent

[Iron1]

Korean. Those are apparently really good, but I haven't played one. The Korean Charvel Angel I played was excellent

My 2020 H7 is MIK and it’s amazing.

[Budda]

Does fender player series count? My strats felt on par with MIA standards IMO.

[Webdood]

Love my wmi schecter. I was super paranoid buying it without playing it first but could nof have been more happy.

my last 2 squiers were both so good they were eyeopeners. My bass is indo and my cabronita is a chinese made and both hit way above their weight. Ive been playing the cabronita nonstop since I got it.

[d8200]

my last 2 squiers were both so good they were eyeopeners. My bass is indo and my cabronita is a chinese made and both hit way above their weight. Ive been playing the cabronita nonstop since I got it.

I just got an Affinity Series strat (made in China, in seafoam green...the surfiest of colors! :p) to satisfy my surf rock/spaghetti western/occasional twang itch. I'm not a Fender expert, by any means, but I can't fathom how a MIM or MIA can be much better (other than $60 worth of new tuners). For $229, these are a serious score, imho.

[jacksonplayer]

Anything coming out of Korea from WMI is seriously nice, but they're not cheap anymore and I almost don't think of them as "imports" in that sense--sort of like the old Japanese Jacksons.

I'd buy a 1000-series LTD without playing first, just as with Schecters above the Damien series. All the PRS SE series guitars I've played have been great, and I'd buy one online without hesitation.

It's really only Jackson that has disappointed me lately. The JS series is garbage, pure and simple, and the mid- and high-level Indo guitars are hit and miss. Haven't even seen one of the new Korean limited editions, let alone played one. I got too damn many Jacksons already--don't need another one!