Are the japanese Jackson guitars discontinued in Europe?

[MetalHeadMat]

Brb gotta puke.

[chushinfan]

Gents, I spoke to Miyazawa-san recently and the factory will not open again. It breaks my heart to know the factory is closed. I truly enjoyed going there and enjoying the company of Miyazawa-san and his gracious staff.
The sad fact is, he never made a lot of money doing this. His pricing to FMIC several years ago was LOWER than Korean pricing. He just wanted to make a living. This is when times were good and he could not keep up with demand. Even then, he was squeezed. He made very little profit on some models...

As the yen got stronger, prices got higher. Those costs were not passed on or were not recognized by FMIC. Ultimatly, someone made a decision to move the goods elsewhere. He refused to sign a contract, so there was not contact that expired...just a slow demise.

He lost 40% to currency in just a few years (110-75). Noone was going to pay 50% more for his products. I am aware FMIC put other products there to try to keep him afloat, but fighting currency was a losing battle.

A very kind man who grew up in his father's company now has to look for a job at age 60.

There are capable factories in China that can get the job done. They tend to be bigger, so some of the "magic" may be lost that was infused in each piece. Almost nothing comes to the US from Japan for FMIC, save for a precious few units of Gretsch. That is a factory that has been destined to close for years...but somehow they keep the doors open.

Cort's Korean factories suffered much of the same fate. To stay competitive, costs needed to go down. When they kept rising, sales slowed, volume slowed and they closed the doors. They were visionary enough to open factroies in China and Indonesia, so they simply moved skills to other countries.

I do not know what will happen to Pro Series...I have some suspicion...just not sure if corporate FMIC will now water down the brand making rash decisions based on margin first. Likely, though.

[MetalHeadMat]

To keep your high end alive, you'll need cheap low end to give exposure and revenue

I bought my first Jackson because I couldn't afford a USA model, and I figured the Japanese models would carry on the basics of the Jackson tradition, and I was wrong. They were dead on.

I remember playing my Jackson or Charvel and looking up at the numerous pictures of USA Jackson's on my wall, thinking and hoping one day one of those will be mine. Ever since I got my Jackson, I always wanted a USA one, and a Jackson will be my first USA guitar. I started out on one of those low end models, and dream of getting one of the higher end ones. Trans blue SL1 Maybe I'll spring for a custom shop and get a Schaller tremolo and no middle pickup.

I went way off topic, but regardless you need low end guitars to give exposure and bring curiosity: "If my low end model plays so great, I wonder what a USA will play like?"

[Nightbat]

What is better, sell a few less guitars at a higher price and keep your brand reputation....or devalue your brand and knock out a load of cheapos to bring in the massives, whilst devaluing your brand.

From a busines PoV I would choose the latter
To keep your high end alive, you'll need cheap low end to give exposure and revenue

Hey, just look at how many 'exotic' carmanufacturers went under/were bought up because they had no constant sales
The company I work for also makes it's money from the "dollar-items" and not the 'grandeur' products that are also in our catalog

I think we should just relax and wait it out. Jackson needs a mid range line of guitars, they can't survive by just having the X series and the USA select series and they probably know that to. What I would like to see is the pro line beeing made in Korea at a cheaper price or in Mexio but that's only if they cant continue the Japanese production.

While Mexico/Korea already are at prices Japanese were a few years ago?

[Defees]

it's like saying that Volkswagen would suddenly stop making the Golf ... I mean... all good, but atleast offer us the scirocco for the same price :-)

[SimonEriksson]

I think we should just relax and wait it out. Jackson needs a mid range line of guitars, they can't survive by just having the X series and the USA select series and they probably know that to. What I would like to see is the pro line beeing made in Korea at a cheaper price or in Mexio but that's only if they cant continue the Japanese production.

[ginsambo]

Right forget us lot. What pisses me off the most is that countries like the UK and the USA, right now really need some GDP in the face of massive ever increasing daily debt, not home grown orders which don't create any real wealth. In emerging....emerged former 3rd world economies like China, western brandnames are highly valued. Go down the most expensive parts of London and its Chinese and Russians in the shops, not Americans or Europeans, who currently are piss poor ande shop at Aldi or Wallmart. people in these countries, well the ones that could afford a guitar at any rate, WILL pay top dollar for a USA. What is better, sell a few less guitars at a higher price and keep your brand reputation....or devalue your brand and knock out a load of cheapos to bring in the massives, whilst devaluing your brand such that the types who could afford them back in China will simply now just buy a legal knock off copy for a tenth of the price or go secondhand.

Whilst I respect Fender for introducing Jackson guitars, especially with floyds and binding, to the masses, the way they have done it is all wrong IMO. It wouyld serve the economy and shareholders better if they were made in the USA. Although I doubt the executive bonus pot would be as large though, whihc is the botom line these days.

[Force]

What ever they do, they need to do it soon.

The world needs a decent axe at a reasonable price just like the Japanese were making.

[BenoA]

If the Pro Mods were reintroduced and made in the USA at a street price of 1200.00 would they sell? FMIC seems to be able to make Fender strats in the USA and sell them for $1200.00 it could happen.

Don't they have a basic strat US made at around 900$ too? My memory may be playing tricks on me...

I think it would be possible to have a decent US made model around 1000-1200$...

[elrrek]

I'm having to stop myself from running out and buying one right now. I'm hoping that they perhaps switch production of the Pro Mods to Mexico, I'd happily buy one then. I'm not too hot on buying a Chinese Charvel, I'd be more inclined to buy an Indian Jackson, but they don't make Pro Mods there

1st world problems, it's embarrassing.

[straycat]

I bought my first run USA 08 2H for $1050.00 when they came out.I normally don't buy new guitars.
I think if they priced them close to that they would sell.

[Predator1]

If the Pro Mods were reintroduced and made in the USA at a street price of 1200.00 would they sell? FMIC seems to be able to make Fender strats in the USA and sell them for $1200.00 it could happen.

[elrrek]

I spoke with one of my favourite guitar shops in the UK about this and after they phoned the UK Fender distributor they (the Fender distributor) said that the Charvel Pro Mod was no longer available on their ordering system.

[SLY]

Great news!

[SimonEriksson]

The SL3MG soloist is back on their website as well. Thomann is relisting some of the MIJ Jackson guitars again, the RR5FR and RR5T. -