Duesenberg Starplayer TV: Where's It Made? - The Gear Page

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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Duesenberg Starplayer TV: Where's it made?

• Thread starter SinglecutGuy
• Start date Sep 18, 2012
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SinglecutGuy

Member

Joined Jan 25, 2011 Messages 4,146 Reaction score 4,395 Heard some conflicting stories as to where they're made. The last time I played one...I could've sworn it felt like it was Korean made. However I've been told Germany, and then some gray area. Who knows the scoop? F

foundandlost

Member

Joined Jun 4, 2012 Messages 85 Reaction score 87 You felt it was made in Korea? Really? As far as I know, they're assembled in Germany using parts from mostly Korea, but also Italy and the US. And it really is not all that important to me where they come from, since the build quality is top notch.

SinglecutGuy

Member

Joined Jan 25, 2011 Messages 4,146 Reaction score 4,395

foundandlost said: And it really is not all that important to me where they come from, since the build quality is top notch. Click to expand...

Good for you. It is for me...hence why I asked.

AustinIsPresent

Strange Library Records

Joined Nov 7, 2008 Messages 1,903 Reaction score 2,027 Location Northampton, MA Built in Germany. Parts of several sources including German, US, Italian, and Korean.

sleep

Member

Joined Feb 8, 2012 Messages 3,772 Reaction score 4,971 Location Hobbs End The country of origin question is an issue for me as well, but mainly because they are misleading (or at least not very forthcoming) about where their guitars are made. I'd expect a "made in Korea and set up in Germany" type blurb on web page, but I've never seen it. It makes me not trust them. Reverend has country of origin plainly stated on their "about me" page. Add to that the prices are much higher for Duesenbergs than for similar Korean guitars and it makes me wonder what you're really getting.

SinglecutGuy

Member

Joined Jan 25, 2011 Messages 4,146 Reaction score 4,395

nkjanssen said: I used to own one. I loved it, but I swear it felt like it was made in Uganda, except for the pickups which sounded like they were made in Venezuela. And that was all very strange because I don't think there is actually any connection at all between Deusenberg and either Venezuela or Uganda. It was the damndest thing. Click to expand...

Some of us who are in the business, can get a good idea where a guitar is made by playing it. Some of us can't. When you buy, sell, trade, own, distribute, and represent a lot of guitars, you tend to get a feel for these things. Obviously I must be onto something because "Korea" keeps popping up under the supposed source of either the parts or build. I have a problem when a name brand plays semantics to hide the true origin of their products. I have a bigger problem paying higher prices for those products based on the shroud of the origin.

IPLAYLOUD

Member

Joined Jun 5, 2006 Messages 5,095 Reaction score 2,740 Location Long Island NY Mirr Music in Korea. Excellent factory making great guitars. 9

99884

Guest

Joined Jun 10, 2011 Messages 2,621 Reaction score 458

SinglecutGuy said: Heard some conflicting stories as to where they're made. The last time I played one...I could've sworn it felt like it was Korean made. However I've been told Germany, and then some gray area. Who knows the scoop? Click to expand...

As many have stated, they're assembled in Germany, parts sourced from various locations. I've always understood that the wood is cut in Korea. I've played a few Duesenbergs, owned a Starplayer briefly as well, and they never felt right to me. It's probably just personal preference, but the guitar felt plastic to me. The sound was good enough, and it was a well built guitar, but I just couldn't get past how it felt in my hands. I've felt the same way about plenty of Gibsons too, so it probably has nothing to do with the country of origin. The bottom line for me was that Duesenberg makes very nice guitars, but nothing deserving of the pricetag they carry. They're good, but they're not that good.

SinglecutGuy

Member

Joined Jan 25, 2011 Messages 4,146 Reaction score 4,395

BedroomRockStar01 said: As many have stated, they're assembled in Germany, parts sourced from various locations. I've always understood that the wood is cut in Korea. I've played a few Duesenbergs, owned a Starplayer briefly as well, and they never felt right to me. It's probably just personal preference, but the guitar felt plastic to me. The sound was good enough, and it was a well built guitar, but I just couldn't get past how it felt in my hands. I've felt the same way about plenty of Gibsons too, so it probably has nothing to do with the country of origin. The bottom line for me was that Duesenberg makes very nice guitars, but nothing deserving of the pricetag they carry. They're good, but they're not that good. Click to expand...

This was my feeling as well.

sleep

Member

Joined Feb 8, 2012 Messages 3,772 Reaction score 4,971 Location Hobbs End

nkjanssen said: This has been hashed out here in at least a dozen different threads. The bottom line for me was that I absolutely loved my Starplayer. At the time I tried it, I had no idea where it was made and so approached it with no preconceived notions at all. I hadn't even really read much if anything about them here or elsewhere. It was just a great, great guitar. I got one used at a decent price and for me it was a tremendous value given how much I enjoyed it. Click to expand...

To be clear, I have no issue with Korean guitars. I have an issue with a company who's not forthcoming with that info, that's all, and who implies that the guitar is German made. It seems less than completely honest, and makes me wonder what else they might not be telling the customer. The fact that dozens of these threads exist is evidence that the company is not being clear about the country of origin; the only reason they would do that is to justify the high prices.

Mudder

Senior Member

Joined Aug 31, 2006 Messages 5,258 Reaction score 5,418 Location St Helens, Or We're talking about a $1700 guitar here, I'd like to know exactly what I'm getting. Made in Korea or just parts sourced? It's an important distinction in a case like this.

petty1818

Member

Joined Apr 30, 2012 Messages 5,217 Reaction score 3,989 Location Toronto You should have just contacted Duesenberg in the first place. I called Duesenberg USA and asked about the whole Korean made thing and the guy on the phone assured me that they are German made. He basically told me not to believe the rumours online and I honestly believe him. I have no doubt that some of the parts might come from Korea, Japan, USA, Italy etc. but who really cares? I feel like we are living in a society where we have to find something wrong with everything. When Duesenbergs first became popular everyone was raving about the quality. Then someone started the Korean rumour and everyone seems to think that they are garbage. It's laughable that you can actually tell if a guitar is Korean made just by the feel. I have played custom shop Fenders and higher end Gibsons that have tons of imperfections or just feel crappy and these are made in the US. The fact is that Duesenbergs are very well made and the ones that I have tried have kicked ass. I would much rather drop three grand on one of their models then on a higher end Gibson. On a side note, I don't agree that the number of threads on this subject means that the company is lying. It simply means that rumours can spread like wildfire. As mentioned, people just want to find something wrong with everything. B

bluesguitar1972

Member

Joined Jul 17, 2011 Messages 40 Reaction score 14 Location PEI, Canada

nkjanssen said: From their website... "Components of our instruments are manufactured by leading industry companies around the world but we don’t outsource the assembly, the conditioning with the PLEK-machine or the final setup. That’s still done at our Duesenberg headquarters in Hannover by qualified luthiers." That doesn't seem deceptive to me. It's clear that the component parts are not manufactured in Germany, but that the assembly is done there. In the threads I've read, I don't think anyone has suggested that is untrue. I guess I've also lost track of who supposedly makes crap products. I guess Korea's on that list? Is Japan still on it? I thought they were both pretty industrialized, technologically advanced and knowledge-based countries with high standards of living somewhat akin to, say, the United States or Germany. Click to expand...

I just got my Duesenberg Fullerton TV (basically the double cut version) today - I've had numerous Les Pauls (currently 3), US Fenders and a host of other oddball guitars. I've no problem saying this guitar is phenomenal in all categories: build, tone and playability. I received the same answer about where they're built. They even make their own tuning keys and bridges, which is not something very many guitar companies do (and really NO OTHER that I can currently think of). Even their cases are a notch above anything I've got from Gibson (though I do like the Gibson cases). If you're questioning the quality of these Guitars, don't. If you've played one and question it... you've either got super expensive tastes or don't know what the hell you're talking about. Obviously, they're not for everyone (what guitar is?) but they a high quality instrument no question. C

colinesquire

Member

Joined Jul 19, 2009 Messages 1,120 Reaction score 285 For some reason this never seems to get cleared up. It's a $1700 made in Korea guitar.

Guitarworks

Member

Joined Oct 8, 2007 Messages 17,297 Reaction score 25,652 Location Wisconsin pffft. Mike Campbell's Duesenberg probably wasn't made in Korea. G

Geek USA

Member

Joined Jun 7, 2010 Messages 663 Reaction score 7

nkjanssen said: From their website... "Components of our instruments are manufactured by leading industry companies around the world but we don’t outsource the assembly, the conditioning with the PLEK-machine or the final setup. That’s still done at our Duesenberg headquarters in Hannover by qualified luthiers." That doesn't seem deceptive to me. It's clear that the component parts are not manufactured in Germany, but that the assembly is done there. In the threads I've read, I don't think anyone has suggested that is untrue. I guess I've also lost track of who supposedly makes crap products. I guess Korea's on that list? Is Japan still on it? I thought they were both pretty industrialized, technologically advanced and knowledge-based countries with high standards of living somewhat akin to, say, the United States or Germany. Click to expand...

I'm glad someone on this website has a logical head on their shoulders. B

bluesguitar1972

Member

Joined Jul 17, 2011 Messages 40 Reaction score 14 Location PEI, Canada

colinesquire said: For some reason this never seems to get cleared up. It's a $1700 made in Korea guitar. Click to expand...

If you read the site, or contact them it's pretty easy to clear up... if you make sweeping inaccurate statements on a forum then I suppose not. Read through the previous comments - some explanation there.

IPLAYLOUD

Member

Joined Jun 5, 2006 Messages 5,095 Reaction score 2,740 Location Long Island NY If "final assembly" is here, I would think that the finished guitar (set-neck painted with frets), including paint, is from Korea...and the electronics installed and set-up are in Germany.

cookedbutok

Member

Joined Sep 21, 2011 Messages 968 Reaction score 61 Location Dallas, TX I emailed them once to ask them this very question. They told what everyone is saying, "made" in Germany, with parts sourced from Korea, US, etc. I replied and asked what exactly what "made" in Germany and what part of the fabrication and supply of the wood comes from Korea. They never replied to my second email. My point being, if all the wood is cut and fabricated in Korea, they ship it to Germany and they slap hardware on it and set it up, is that made in Germany? People say, "well, it's just the wood". I mean, News flash!: Guitars are made of wood! I mean, body and neck, the whole deal. It's wood! The care and attention that goes into the cutting and fabrication of the wood is one the most important, if not the most important part of building a guitar. Let me put it this way: If someone accidentally shipped a Korean Gretsch or Epiphone "husk" to Duesenberg and they put their stuff on it, would it be German made? I honestly have no problem with Duesenberg's I've played a few and I thought they were fine guitars. Whether or not people overpay is not or me to decide. In the end, any guitar is only worth one value: Whatever someone is willing to pay. What I do have a problem with is mislabeling a production process to profit off of it. If that is what is happening, it's disappointing.

mcdes

Member of no importance

Joined Oct 9, 2007 Messages 7,545 Reaction score 100 Location New Zealand

cookedbutok said: I emailed them once to ask them this very question. They told what everyone is saying, "made" in Germany, with parts sourced from Korea, US, etc. I replied and asked what exactly what "made" in Germany and what part of the fabrication and supply of the wood comes from Korea. They never replied to my second email. My point being, if all the wood is cut and fabricated in Korea, they ship it to Germany and they slap hardware on it and set it up, is that made in Germany? People say, "well, it's just the wood". I mean, News flash!: Guitars are made of wood! I mean, body and neck, the whole deal. It's wood! The care and attention that goes into the cutting and fabrication of the wood is one the most important, if not the most important part of building a guitar. Let me put it this way: If someone accidentally shipped a Korean Gretsch or Epiphone "husk" to Duesenberg and they put their stuff on it, would it be German made? I honestly have no problem with Duesenberg's I've played a few and I thought they were fine guitars. Whether or not people overpay is not or me to decide. In the end, any guitar is only worth one value: Whatever someone is willing to pay. What I do have a problem with is mislabeling a production process to profit off of it. If that is what is happening, it's disappointing. Click to expand...

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