Truth about Fender Japan

[stratfender1234]

hello everyone!
I keep reading about comments on Fender Japan with most people saying the 80's production till 2000 was great and than this and that ...
Well I have been living in Asia 12 years, tried sooo many Japanese Fenders that is almost impossible to list and owned:
Telecaster 50s
Telecaster Thinline 72 (still have, and I also had in the past the mexican)
Stratocaster Traditional 50s
Stratocaster Heritage 50s
https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/fender/...t/2020_madeinjapan_heritage_50s_stratocaster/
During these years when I tried and owned Japanese ones, I also had mexican and american ones (American Strat standard and American Special).
So few of my findings:
1 - American strat do not always have the same level of finishing and details as japanese.
For example the American Special strat bridge I had was not grounded, while all japanese were.
2 - It's true that some Japanese strat use a weird wood (Basswood), but the truth is it sounds unbelievably good! True also that is's a bit soft and easier to ding.
I sold my Stratocaster Traditional 50s because of that ding and I regret it every single day.
The level of consistency of Fender japan quality and finish is UNBELIEVABLE! It is impossible to find flows or corners cut (which i did find on the american special).
I had mexican and Japanese of the same exact model and I can tell that as much as the mexican was ok guitar, the japanese version was definitely another league. whoever says different never tried the japanese and out side to side the same model
For me the essence of fender japan is: perfect craftmanship, amazing tones, particular versions and finishes that are not available in other countries for about 40 to 50% of the equivalent american version.
One important downside, the entry level come with a terrible gigbag!
guys I go often to Japan (not this year yet!) if you are curious about a particular model let me know!
Cheers

Ps
I'm attaching few pics of the traditional 50s, white blonde, with gold hardware and pickguard and a couple of videos (apologise I'm just an ok player) of both the traditional 50s and the heritage 50s (available only in Japan).

You stated in your post that you were possibly able to get Stratocasters that are made in Japan. Have you ever came across the 2013 model Fender Japan Dragon Stratocaster ST62-SPL
Let me know if you have any success.

 

[combatguitar]

Could not agree more. I’m in my mid seventies. I owned my first Strat in 1961 or 62. Sunburst,maple neck,tweed case ,everything off the shelf. If I recall the retail was $330. with case.
In 1985 I bought my first two Japanese Fenders. I’ve written about this before on this forum.
An E series Strat,and P bass 57/62 ( 57 maple neck,62 body I think is how they were marketed, honestly can’t recall exactly as the markings on both are impossible to decipher on the Strat. It is E series followed by number 9.
DO NOT BELIEVE THE FIRST DIGIT IS THE YEAR MADE !
It’s an early E series as I bought it in 1985 in the USA .
I’ve got the receipt when I had it setup prior to the mods ,that was 1988. Point being I did my homework after the past couple or five years. As you all know Fender shipped all their machinery to Japan in 83-84 while their new factory was being built.
they also sent “stuff” that was just lying around. In other words you may have gotten a 1950s maple neck or a 62 body that the Japanese finished off. Unlikely but possible. The machinery is what’s important .
The electronics on some of the early JVs were hit or miss.
One Strat I had had CTS pots as example, while others had very small pots. One in particular sounded like an early 50s Strat,even had a three way toggle. Fender was getting rid of everything they could to keep up with demand in the USA. Fender will not reply in respect to the question “ Were some Fenders sold in the USA in early to mid 1980s sold with made in USA on headstock made in Japan ? “
I would suggest if you’re a serious player —not a “ collector “ looking to make money on vintage Fenders — that you give a serious look into E series Fenders from mid 1980s. I maintain if you didn’t know some were made in Japan, you would think you were buying a vintage pre CBS Fender. I sold all my USA made Fenders. If you think Fender Japan models at this moment are cheap, take a look on say Reverb. Telecasters on parity or close to it to USA made Teles. Custom shop or ExTrad Japan Strats price right up there ,and I would bet my life they’re better than USA Fenders. As mentioned I’ve spent a lot of time researching Fender Japan, and Fender USA V Japan. If you have any questions of what I found out please ask.The only thing you may want to change ,not always but often are the pots,cal,pups . But as you can buy vintage replicas of all prewired it might cost you $500. Prewired Pots-cap for Strat ( Bourne or CTS . I prefer Bourne, but Fender uses CTS ) cost around $60-75. at most. Pups not scatter wound , but specs like vintage $300. from Fender. Switch craft 3 or 5 way $15. May cost $100. to have installed if you don’t feel comfortable . The Grotha ( sp ) tuners are better than Delux,and are standard on Japanese Fenders.
Go for the 57 maple neck in 62 body ,best of both worlds . IMO ... View attachment 473217 View attachment 473218 View attachment 473220 View attachment 473221 View attachment 473222 View attachment 473223 View attachment 473217 View attachment 473218

Good post and confirms what two long time Strat collectors told me about Japanese Strats from the 80s having US made necks and other parts on them.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

Good post and confirms what two long time Strat collectors told me about Japanese Strats from the 80s having US made necks and other parts on them.

Watch out for confirmation bias in the misinformation age.

 

[Exhead]

I have a 2018 FSR XII Olympic White and you feel the quality when you pick it up. It was/is perfect in every way right out of the box. Just an astoundingly well built guitar.

 

[Will Lefeurve]

Yes.. I'll give MIJ a thumbs up. I've had several over the years and the build quality has always been excellent.

Many years ago a friend of mine said the Japanese can copy an existing product, and not only improve its quality, but add to the design too.. so true.. and they're pretty damn good at designing/producing their own stuff as well..

 

[PlayerOne]

The great QC did not stop at 2000. I currently have a 2004 Aerodyne Strat and a 2007 Jazzmaster among my collection, and both are incredible guitars. And I agree that the basswood body on that Strat has been a very pleasent surprise.
I would put my CIJ model's quality equal to any of my American Vintage, or CS, models.
What they should cost is anybody's guess.

 

[Cerb]

My Greco Strat is amazeballs!

 

[FiloStrat]

I got many!
A 50s telecaster from about 2010
A new thinking 72 with hambucker
A Strat 50s with a beautiful see through off white paint and gold hardware (basswood body)
2 Japan heritage Strat (Japanese version of the American vintage).
Most of them where awesome guitars, the best sounding (weirdly enough, opposite of what people usually say) was the Strat with the basswood body.
Had 2 bad surprises:
- A small chip on the telecaster thinline showed that what I though was a see through paint to show the wood grain was a plastic coating on top of a layer of grey plastering (or kind of) on the wood …
- the second Japanese heritage Strat I bought (the body was a beauty!) had the rosewood fretboard slightly damaged on the side of the low E and the screw holes not holding the bridge …
The result is now I’m not buying anything online anymore!
Cheers

I have a 2018 FSR XII Olympic White and you feel the quality when you pick it up. It was/is perfect in every way right out of the box. Just an astoundingly well built guitar.

 

[Guithartic]

Hello and welcome

Nice to hear someone who has so much experience with Japanese Fenders. I own a 95-96 Japanese Tele, and its great. They do some really interesting stuff there. And i could imagine that the quality control is very consistent in Japan. I sometimes dream of moving to Japan. And definitely wanna visit again. Maybe i'll pick up a guitar.

Visit the Fender retail store when you’re there, although it’ll probably be full of American- and Mexican-made guitars.

 

[Quikstyl]

hello everyone!
I keep reading about comments on Fender Japan with most people saying the 80's production till 2000 was great and than this and that ...
Well I have been living in Asia 12 years, tried sooo many Japanese Fenders that is almost impossible to list and owned:
Telecaster 50s
Telecaster Thinline 72 (still have, and I also had in the past the mexican)
Stratocaster Traditional 50s
Stratocaster Heritage 50s
https://www.ishibashi.co.jp/fender/...t/2020_madeinjapan_heritage_50s_stratocaster/
During these years when I tried and owned Japanese ones, I also had mexican and american ones (American Strat standard and American Special).
So few of my findings:
1 - American strat do not always have the same level of finishing and details as japanese.
For example the American Special strat bridge I had was not grounded, while all japanese were.
2 - It's true that some Japanese strat use a weird wood (Basswood), but the truth is it sounds unbelievably good! True also that is's a bit soft and easier to ding.
I sold my Stratocaster Traditional 50s because of that ding and I regret it every single day.
The level of consistency of Fender japan quality and finish is UNBELIEVABLE! It is impossible to find flows or corners cut (which i did find on the american special).
I had mexican and Japanese of the same exact model and I can tell that as much as the mexican was ok guitar, the japanese version was definitely another league. whoever says different never tried the japanese and out side to side the same model
For me the essence of fender japan is: perfect craftmanship, amazing tones, particular versions and finishes that are not available in other countries for about 40 to 50% of the equivalent american version.
One important downside, the entry level come with a terrible gigbag!
guys I go often to Japan (not this year yet!) if you are curious about a particular model let me know!
Cheers

Ps
I'm attaching few pics of the traditional 50s, white blonde, with gold hardware and pickguard and a couple of videos (apologise I'm just an ok player) of both the traditional 50s and the heritage 50s (available only in Japan).

Yeah, but mine are made in the U.S.A.

 

[Synapse2k]

I have an exclusive classic 50s Strat and tele. Both are awesome guitars. One thing that throws me off on them is the two should have the exact same neck profile (“slim c”) but the Strat’s is extremely chunky. So there is some level of variance within the same spec. Unlike the US stuff, there’s no specific measurement for the neck profile.

 

[YohanTheMan]

Visit the Fender retail store when you’re there, although it’ll probably be full of American- and Mexican-made guitars.

Yes, i definitely will. I'll try to visit the already existing Fender store, plus the big one opening this summer. There's a street in Tokyo full of music/instrument stores. It's guitar heaven there. Most Fender MIJ stuff is reserved for the domestic market, and never gets exported, so i suspect most stores carrying Fender's will have MIJ guitars.

 

[stratman323]

My Greco Strat is amazeballs!

Amazeballs?

Really?

 

[Cerb]

Amazeballs?

Really?

Absolutamundo!

 

[stratman323]

Absolutamundo!

Sweden clearly ain't what it used to be...

 

[Bazz Jass]

Amazeballs?

Really?

Is that like bodacious?

 

[stratman323]

Is that like bodacious?

I'd prefer Bodiddleyacious.

 

[Bazz Jass]

I'd prefer Bodiddleyacious.

Hmmm. Not registering in my grammar check??

 

[stratman323]

Hmmm. Not registering in my grammar check??

Poor taste is no excuse for poor grammar.

 

[Bazz Jass]

Poor taste is no excuse for poor grammar.

I'd hardly consider a Bo Diddley reference as being in poor taste.

You see my dilemma....