I'm wondering if there is any consensus here on the quality of Japanese instruments.
I have 4 Gibson instruments. The years of manufacture are 1966, 1977 (roughly), 1996, and 2013. The first two are very nice. The second two...the lacquer looks like I put it on with a spray can. One has an extra piece of mother of pearl next to an inlay. They play just fine, but the Chinese Epiphone I bought in 2010 seems to have better QC.
I have three Japanese electrics. One is an old Matsumoku Burny Les Paul. The other two are History (Fujigen) guitars. Everything is perfect, except, oddly, the hole for the end peg on the Burny is slightly off. The electronics the History guitars came with are nothing to write home about, but that stuff is easy to replace.
I really want to get a top-quality semihollow, but I am tired of disappointing Gibsons. I am thinking about ordering a Seventy Seven (made in Nagano) instead.
People say the Japanese are as good as any woodworkers anywhere. Is it really true?