Admittedly that coulda got stuck in my memory sideways, sorry. I am in no way a China basher. Probably 90% of what’s in my shop is made in China and Taiwan. But I know more intimately music equipment than machine tools and I’m pretty sure matthewsx can back me on this. Years ago a big music store chain had to quit selling Oktava Russian made microphones because they got flooded with Chinese made knockoffs that it took someone very familiar with Oktava to know the real from the fake. Same with Shure SM57 and 58s. Same with D’Addario strings and same with Shubb capo’s.
I happened upon a book Made in China..Poorly. Written by a guy who was a kinda broker between East and West and it was a fascinating behind the scenes look at having things made in China. He might have mentioned that myth in there, dunno. And it’s very apparent they are very motivated to make whatever sells the best. They are very quick learners and are a very old culture who knows all about making deals. I don’t begrudge them making stuff I can afford but I definitely draw the line at patent infringement and total knockoffs that says made in USA, or Russia or wherever. But we are tricked all the time buying a name brand that we grew up with and not until you read the super fine print do you find out it was offshored.
