Fujigen Tele from Yokohama - Howdy

Hi Gents and Gals,
This is my first post on this site and I hope it is a truly good place to be. I do like sharing info and knowledge, praising the good guitars and enjoying it all.
One thing I want to know off the bat is how welcome non-Fender Tele's are around these bits ? You see, I was wanting something a bit unique and being in Japan working, I started shopping these parts. So along comes this info that Fujigen made licensed Fender guitars some years back and they make their own namesake guitars today. Over in these parts they are very well respected, hence Fenders decision to utilize them. If I remember the story, when Fender made the factory change and was out of production in California, the Fujigen factory made all the guitars for USA sales.

I toured the factory one fine Saturday afternoon with my eyes open for the Tele. One thing leads to another and I am shown a lot of 7. I get to pick the one that strikes my fancy; it is sent to the Tokyo custom shop for final setup and I go snag it a week later.
Fine guitar it is. Lacquer body, cool grained ash, maple neck with rosewood, SD pups, CTS pots and orange drop cap. 4 way switch, Gotoh and Wilkinson hardware. It has that unique Circle Fretting System and compound radius fretboard. It rings and sings. Fit and finish is pure Japanese.
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http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/markcus58/Tokai_upgrade038-1.jpg
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http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/markcus58/Fujigen_nctl20017-1.jpg

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So how welcome are these superb Tele foreigners around the good ole USA ?
Don't be bashfull, I actually live in Texas and will be back soon.

Fujigen guitars are wonderful!

Welcome mate. I'm a proud MIJ 52RI owner, so I'm rather partial to Japanese Teles and Strats.

Welcome!

This is the right place for you. Though this is 98 % Telecaster (all kinds of Telecaster, including Fender :wink:), people here will appreciate any good guitar.

Welcome to TDPRI. All style and makes of Tele's are welcome.

welcome!

man, that's a gorgeous git!

checked out the "circle fretting system" on google. interesting concept. based on your experience, does it make any significant difference compared to ye olde standard straight frets?

Score!!:mrgreen:

With a first post like that, you'd better stick around :smile:

Welcome to a good place to be!

Welcome to the TDPRI! You did the right thing to register - good to have you with us.

Congratulations - beautiful Telecaster you've got there!

Enjoy! :smile:

Welcome, and very nice find!

Welcome! I spent a lot of time in that factory over the years. They build some great guitars!

Would love a pic of the headstock!

Would love a pic of the headstock!

Here ya go. Can't say the headstock jumps out a grabs ya,,, so I have plans to do some tinkering with the decals. I have a custom designer making me some to help identify it as a Tele. Should be pretty cool (Fender script of course).

http://i624.photobucket.com/albums/tt326/markcus58/Fujigen_nctl20062.jpg

One of the few things I did not care for was mixing of nickel and chrome hardware on the body and headstock. So I am going to swap the tuners for those new Tonepros Kluson vintage in chrome and swap on a chrome string tree too. It'll be sparkling then.

checked out the "circle fretting system" on google. interesting concept. based on your experience, does it make any significant difference compared to ye olde standard straight frets?

This system is has a small effect (that my lack of skill cannot utilize). Fujigen in their effort to improve the product and offer something unique have implemented it. There are a few other makes coming from the factory that use it too (not Ibanez though)

While on the factory tour the guide noted Fujigen is planning to start marketing in the UK soon. Shucks, I even got a catalog printed in English,,maybe one of the first. If that business goes well they will move onto the US market. They will not sell the Tele and Strat guitars though cuz they don't want the issues with Fender.

thanks for sharing your experience re: the circle fretting system.

enjoy playing that gorgeous guitar!