T42, The electronics market follows a pattern, not just electronics but acoustic instruments too..40 years ago, USA was the world best in electronics [development and quality]..China , Japan, and Korea were looked down upon..Quality was not great and in most cases poor..
In the Musical instruments field, electronics wise, mid 70's the Japanese started to overtake the USA in development, quality and cost...As we are here today..Japan rules this Market..

Guitars , same thing, the USA still makes the best guitars, but for the money, Japan is superior..

In the mid 80's the guitar market after USA and Japan..the quality was not there in Korean and China products...

Currently the Korean market has made great strides in quality instruments[maybe where Japan was 25 years ago]..China is not in the same quality production right now..they are pretty much a low cost market, sacrificing quality...

You will see China develop as Japan did first, and Korea later...

You can also see this product development and quality growth with products from Italy and Mexico..

Once the major manufacturers get past making cheap products for the sake of being cheap, and incorporate quality[with a higher price] you can see the reputation change..

Big companies have always produced instruments in these lower pay scale countries, for lower first instrument products, but they all have one thing in common...poor quality..

There are some exceptions, when a Fender, Mackie etc company set minimum standards that assure some products are made with better quality...

So basically what I am saying Japan is right there with the USA now, Korean is a few steps behind and China will be coming up quickly...

Just be smart consumers and don't just shop price...look at the negatives too when you shop..

That is the end of International marketing 101..