I just tried a Player II Modified P for the magazine. The headstock reads 'Made in Ensenada' which of course is a city in Mexico. I don't want it to be too political, but is it?
We can talk of MIE bassses now
Not sure, but I think it has something to do with a California law that's stricter about meeting Made In USA standards than federal law. For example, the MusicMan headstock now says "California tradition since 1974" b/c under California law it doesn't qualify as Made In USA.
My guess is that Fender can't use Made In USA any more, so they've decided not to use Made In Mexico either.
Agreed - most likely a labeling technicality. Ensenada is a ways south of Tijuana, but a fairly northerly city in Mexico.
So certain products can't be Made in USA anymore if a certain amount of foreign parts is used?
Boeing aircraft are full of bootleg Chinese components but are still considered American made, right?
Quote from: Chris P. on May 16, 2025, 02:02:50 AMSo certain products can't be Made in USA anymore if a certain amount of foreign parts is used?
The Federal Trade Commission has had a Made In USA standard for many years. It allows a little wiggle room.
The newer California law is stricter. Read the Labeling Requirements paragraph here: https://www.trade.gov/made-usa-faqs
My guess is it has less to do with the California law and more to do with marketing nuance. To my ear, Ensenada almost sounds like a city in California. Along those lines, Allparts has added Nagano to their "Made in Japan" sticker.
(https://www.lowecustomguitars.com/wp-content/gallery/Image-Hosting/900JZROB65-6.jpeg)
Well, among those who pay attention, MIJ is A Good Thing.
I'm wondering if marketers have determined that city of origin has more cachet than country of origin. I suspect it does.
My guess is based on the explanation Sterling Ball posted at the EB/MM forums back when the California law was new, after forum members noticed the change.
I always put Made in Velp on the Brooks basses that I build.
I find it quite silly to see Made in *place name* on products.
Velp is a tiny little village that is completely swallowed by the city of Arnhem.
So I put it on my headstocks as a joke. Every now and then people wonder what the **** is Velp? :mrgreen:
Makes me chuckle when I see that. ;D
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-1-2-head-back-1500_orig.jpg)
Quote from: Basvarken on May 18, 2025, 04:17:04 AMI always put Made in Velp on the Brooks basses that I build.
I find it quite silly to see Made in *place name* on products.
Velp is a tiny little village that is completely swallowed by the city of Arnhem.
So I put it on my headstocks as a joke. Every now and then people wonder what the **** is Velp? :mrgreen:
Makes me chuckle when I see that. ;D
(https://www.brooksbassguitars.com/uploads/1/3/3/7/13376708/brooks-1-2-head-back-1500_orig.jpg)
Put 'made on Urk' just to add to the confusion.
Haha! Yeah that would be hilarious :toast:
A lot of the Mexican switch had to do with spraying finished in the 70's. exico was not as heavily regulated as S. California and builder had yet to discover Velp.
Quote from: Rob on June 05, 2025, 10:00:33 AMA lot of the Mexican switch had to do with spraying finished in the 70's. exico was not as heavily regulated as S. California and builder had yet to discover Velp.
I briefly owned what I think was called a California P Bass Special. It was a P body with a gold anodized pickguard and a J neck (maple with black dots) and a J pup at the bridge. My understanding was that they were made in the US, but painted in Mexico. I think it was a 90s or possibly early 2000s build.
Quote from: gearHed289 on June 06, 2025, 07:57:48 AMI briefly owned what I think was called a California P Bass Special. It was a P body with a gold anodized pickguard and a J neck (maple with black dots) and a J pup at the bridge. My understanding was that they were made in the US, but painted in Mexico. I think it was a 90s or possibly early 2000s build.
Was it seafoam green? I remember these announced with much fanfare as a Guitar Centre exclusive, complete with block inlays and active electronics? They casually turned up in the UK and seemed to stay on the racks in the shops for a while. I still see used ones turning up on Facebook.
Quote from: gearHed289 on June 06, 2025, 07:57:48 AMI briefly owned what I think was called a California P Bass Special. It was a P body with a gold anodized pickguard and a J neck (maple with black dots) and a J pup at the bridge. My understanding was that they were made in the US, but painted in Mexico. I think it was a 90s or possibly early 2000s build.
In that era, the bodies were made here, complete but unfinished. Painted in Mexico then (IIRC) the hardware and electronics were added.
IIRC the California P Bass Specials were made briefly in 1997-1998. And yes, like Dave said they were painted in Mexico but all other parts were U.S specs. The Hot Rodded Series P-bass (essentially a U.S Precision with added J-pickup) seemed to replace the California P Bass Special in 1999.
Quote from: Alanko on June 06, 2025, 08:07:09 AMWas it seafoam green? I remember these announced with much fanfare as a Guitar Centre exclusive, complete with block inlays and active electronics? They casually turned up in the UK and seemed to stay on the racks in the shops for a while. I still see used ones turning up on Facebook.
No, it was black with dot inlays and passive electronics. I bought it from somebody here or at the Pit, I don't recall who. He thought it was sunburst, which is what I wanted, but when I opened the case, there was a black bass in there, so off it went. :o
The new Laura Lee Jazz Bass is nice: white/cream DiMarzio's, double stack controls and chrome covers. And it has Made in Mexico on the headstock.... ???
Quote from: Chris P. on June 11, 2025, 02:22:32 AMThe new Laura Lee Jazz Bass is nice: white/cream DiMarzio's, double stack controls and chrome covers. And it has Made in Mexico on the headstock.... ???
It's a Fender copy of an SX bass!
Quote from: Alanko on June 11, 2025, 02:55:20 AMIt's a Fender copy of an SX bass!
Yeah, that's so ironic!
Ah, I didn't know about California having its own label of origin laws.
The US federal system for determining where an imported product is "made" is weirder and more interesting than I would have guessed. I heard this podcast recently, it was all news to me: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/07/1249592921/tariff-customs-made-in-america-china-france
Complying with the Made in USA Standard (https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-made-usa-standard)