What Made in America Means To Us - America at 250 Years

I wasn't born in America. I chose to be here and have been for the past 15 years.

I grew up around musical instruments, and a romantic idea of a land far away that I longed to see. Everything from America was new and exciting and I believed, then as now, that there was something different about products that carried three simple words:

Made in USA. 

This weekend, this country celebrates its 250th birthday, and despite being a proud US Citizen, it feels rather ironic that as a Brit, I should be writing this post. But here we are!

As we approach this milestone anniversary of this incredible country and as someone fortunate enough to work where I do, I find myself reflecting on what it really means to be an American manufacturer. 

The European Perception of Made in America

I didn't end up here by accident. America captured my heart from a very young age, and part of me thinks I was always destined to be here at some point. Everything from music to sports (go Bulls!) to movies lured me in with promises of freedom, adventure, pride, and patriotism. And of course, Maverick and Iceman!

Not too long after college, I started working for the European division of a major American guitar brand. This was my gateway into this industry that I have called home for two decades. Within the extensive catalog of guitars and amplifiers available to our customers, the American-made models were always regarded as the Holy Grail. If it didn't say "Made in USA" somewhere on it, it just wasn't the genuine article. A real American-made model was the pinnacle of owning a guitar or a bass. 

Like many musicians, I owned several instruments built in Mexico, or China, or Indonesia, presumably by people who may or may not have known anything about guitars. And then the day came when I could afford to buy my first American-made instrument - a 2009 electric bass that is sitting beside my desk as I write this. It was a profoundly proud moment; I had made it! I was now the owner of a bona fide American-made musical instrument, and I treasured that moment just as much as I treasured each show I played with it. I have since acquired several others, but this is the one I will never sell. 

Moving Across The Pond

Shortly after arriving in the US, I was fortunate enough to meet Jamie Deering, and later Janet Deering, who offered me a position with the Deering Banjo Company. This was the best of both worlds. I was able to continue working in an industry that I loved, for a small, passionate, family-owned business. More importantly, I gained something I'd never had before: the opportunity to see, every day, what goes into building an instrument, and how countless small decisions can ultimately shape someone's life. 

You see, this industry is different than many.

The products that we create and build become intrinsically woven into people's lives.

Yes, we build musical instruments.

But more than that, I think we build possibilities.

The banjo that we carefully craft from wood and metal and ship to a customer today, will in a week be someone's first lesson. In a year, maybe it's being played at a jam session. A couple of years later, maybe it's on a stage or being recorded in a studio. 50 years down the line, maybe it's being passed down to someone's grandchild. There is truly a magical feeling when you think about those touch points and how the products that we make play such significant roles in our people's stories. 

But that still doesn't answer the question...

Why America?

The easier path would be to move production overseas, as so many companies have done in pursuit of larger margins.

We haven't.

Not because it's the most profitable decision, but because we believe it's the right one.

So why do we? 

Why Manufacture in the US?

Knowledge

Well, as I sit here and reflect, perhaps most importantly, the reason we manufacture in America is that this is more than just a place where things are made. It is where knowledge lives. Knowledge to know when a piece of maple isn't to a high enough standard, or to recognize that a certain machine needs calibrating, or that a tone ring isn't sitting quite right, and the ability to understand why, or maybe the ability to jump in the car and visit one of our suppliers face to face. 

Local Economy

We create local jobs. A lot of our team has been with us a long time. 30 years in some cases. Many have families. Others are in that exciting part of life where they are trying to figure out what the future looks like after high school or college. We know the names of each person here. They are not just a number with a clock in card. We celebrate their achievements. We get to meet their newborns, and we get to see them grow. 

Local Suppliers

The same philosophy extends beyond our own walls. And wherever possible, we source not only from the US, but from smaller businesses within California and even locally in San Diego, instead of sending money overseas. This, in turn, helps strengthen a community of people who still believe quality matters. 

Collaboration & Problem Solving

We have the ability to group together quickly, whenever needed. If an issue comes up, there is an ability for the right people to get together in the same room, often at the source. No Zoom calls overseas, or emailed photos or days of delays caused by global time differences. Just discussions and solutions. Being made in America allows us to identify issues firsthand and resolve them quickly in minutes hours, and days, rather than weeks or months. 

Summing Up

In short, building here keeps our craftspeople close to our products. It allows us to collaborate, solve problems quickly, support our local suppliers, and stand behind every instrument that bears our name. Those things don't appear on a balance sheet quite as neatly as lower manufacturing costs, but to us they are every bit as valuable.

And for me, what I saw as a label on a product isn't simply a label after all.

It's a commitment.

A commitment to craftsmanship over convenience.

To quality over shortcuts.

Despite so much American manufacturing now overseas purely for the sake of profit margins, there is still an inherent pride in owning and playing an instrument that is made in America, by American hands.

Put simply, being close to the people who make our banjos allows us to make better banjos, and we look forward to doing so for a long time to come. 

Happy Birthday, America!