You know it´s 2010, right? Your overconfidence in the quality of American products seem a little arrogant, not to say ignorant. Japan is high-tech, advanced, post-industrialized society and their products are indeed comparable with those from the new world. Just compare the quality of DW pedals with TAMA´s for instance. I´ve never heard of a TAMA footboard breaking or the footplate hinge getting bent, whereas on DW these issues are common. I´m not sayng Japanese products -or Chinese- are better than American -or European-, I´m merely saying you can´t, and shouldn´t, make such generalizations.
The DW footboard and footplate hinge that you are referring to that break, are you talking about the real american's one or the import one, since 2001 all dw hardware is republic of china not american,I have a dw 5000 pedal that has not laid down once for 14 years, i have first generation speed kings that work perfectly, my slingerland HH pedal works perfectly these two american examples i just used as examples are over 50 years old,Import gear will never have the status or resale value of the real american products, and there are 2 simple reasons for that, our hero's used and endorsed them, and they are and where better made, period, and I sincerely will take and wear the title of vintage snob,the only off shore drums i have ever played are Sonor since they are the oldest operating drum manfacture on the planet, and no other thank you,I'm very proud to be american and very proud of our products,
