Is Fernandes a reliable name?

agent2x4 · April 28th, 2005, 05:18 PM

A Fernandes bass in the paper here, emg active pups, for a hundred bucks...but I know zero about the brand.

Any advice?

RevMike · April 28th, 2005, 05:21 PM

They made some really nice copies years ago. Could be a good deal.

timgreene · April 28th, 2005, 05:22 PM

It will be gone, before you get the answer to your question. Yes.

agent2x4 · April 28th, 2005, 05:26 PM

Just seems like a hundred bucks is cheap...at any rate, I called and am going to check it out after work.

J-man · April 28th, 2005, 05:26 PM

Yep Fernandes make great stuff!

stantheman · April 28th, 2005, 09:18 PM

Don't fall into "The Name Trap" or "The Status Trap". 8)

ramblinmike · April 29th, 2005, 03:02 AM

they make amazing stuff. especially if its one of their japanese non-import models.

ge_trojan · April 29th, 2005, 08:26 AM

I have two of their Tele's, they are very nice.

George

trag-o-caster · April 29th, 2005, 08:57 AM

If it's MIJ, it'll be a STEAL at $100.

My main #1 guitar was a Ferdie Tele copy that I still have, although it's not currently usable. After a PU makeover, and changing the pots and switch, I preferred it to my friends "real" Fenders. I paid $250 for it used back in 97 I think it was. It was retired after I got a 52 RI.

There are some Asian made Fernandes that I can't really comment on. I've seen them, they look cheaper, but I've never played them.

ye olde fretmonkey · April 29th, 2005, 09:44 AM

I had a Korean Fernandes Strat that I could never warm up to.

Big difference in their MIK and MIJ models, though.

Raymond · April 29th, 2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ye olde fretmonkey

Big difference in their MIK and MIJ models, though.

That's the key! That's why we get sometimes conflicting reviews... In my opinion, only the MIJ models are good.

sneakyjapan · April 29th, 2005, 10:31 AM

I own two of their 80s made The Function strats... real good quality parts, wood and workmanship. I also have an Akira Wada P-Project strat made in the Fernandes Japanese custom shop...again, top of the line and exceptional quality.

ALM · April 29th, 2005, 11:45 AM

Many years ago I owned and gigged a Fernandes Telecaster. It was a great guitar which paid for itself many times over.

SteveY · April 29th, 2005, 02:22 PM

I have an old Fernandes 24 fret neck I keep around because it's very vintage Fender feeling.
It will find its way onto a guitar this year I think.

I always thought Fernandes was who made Japanese Strats for a while?

ye olde fretmonkey · April 29th, 2005, 02:31 PM

Nope, I thought that was Tokai but I could be wrong.

J-man · April 29th, 2005, 03:19 PM

I'm just confused at one of their older strat copies, other than the logo, it WAS a Fender, same headstock shape, it even had the little "original contour body" thing on the end of the headstock! :?

Dave W · April 29th, 2005, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-man

I'm just confused at one of their older strat copies, other than the logo, it WAS a Fender, same headstock shape, it even had the little "original contour body" thing on the end of the headstock! :?

I read that in the early 1980s US Customs seized a shipment of those exact (illegal) copies, and the headstocks were later sawn off.

Like most companies, Fernandes makes guitars in several price ranges. They're typically better than average for each price range. I recently played one of their $200 Chinese-made J Bass copies. Well, it's no $1000 bass but I was impressed at the value for a starter bass.

J-man · April 29th, 2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave W

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-man

I'm just confused at one of their older strat copies, other than the logo, it WAS a Fender, same headstock shape, it even had the little "original contour body" thing on the end of the headstock! :?

I read that in the early 1980s US Customs seized a shipment of those exact (illegal) copies, and the headstocks were later sawn off.

Lol, my guitar teacher has one. I'll tell him what could've been its fate when I see him next! :D

April 28th, 2005, 05:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
agent2x4 Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WI Posts: 615	Is Fernandes a reliable name? A Fernandes bass in the paper here, emg active pups, for a hundred bucks...but I know zero about the brand. Any advice?

April 28th, 2005, 05:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
timgreene Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 1,257 10 Photos	It will be gone, before you get the answer to your question. Yes. __________________ opinions expressed are the view of the author, and are not necesarily correct.

April 28th, 2005, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 20 Posts: 6,256 9 Photos	Yep Fernandes make great stuff! __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." - Tom Waits

April 28th, 2005, 09:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
stantheman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: White Mountains Posts: 5,006	Don't fall into "The Name Trap" or "The Status Trap". 8) __________________ Somebody Loan Me A Dime

April 29th, 2005, 08:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
trag-o-caster Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Flushing, Michigan Posts: 4,557	If it's MIJ, it'll be a STEAL at $100. My main #1 guitar was a Ferdie Tele copy that I still have, although it's not currently usable. After a PU makeover, and changing the pots and switch, I preferred it to my friends "real" Fenders. I paid $250 for it used back in 97 I think it was. It was retired after I got a 52 RI. There are some Asian made Fernandes that I can't really comment on. I've seen them, they look cheaper, but I've never played them. __________________ Timothy Jon Lamb

April 28th, 2005, 05:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
RevMike Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 1,059	They made some really nice copies years ago. Could be a good deal.

April 28th, 2005, 05:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
agent2x4 Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: WI Posts: 615	Just seems like a hundred bucks is cheap...at any rate, I called and am going to check it out after work.

April 29th, 2005, 03:02 AM	#7 (permalink)
ramblinmike Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Long Island NY Age: 23 Posts: 924	they make amazing stuff. especially if its one of their japanese non-import models.

April 29th, 2005, 08:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
ge_trojan TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waynesboro, Virginia Posts: 40	I have two of their Tele's, they are very nice. George

April 29th, 2005, 09:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
ye olde fretmonkey Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin Posts: 3,353	I had a Korean Fernandes Strat that I could never warm up to. Big difference in their MIK and MIJ models, though. __________________ Just 'cause that's the way things are, that never did make it right.

April 29th, 2005, 10:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
sneakyjapan Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nippon Posts: 2,471 3 Photos	I own two of their 80s made The Function strats... real good quality parts, wood and workmanship. I also have an Akira Wada P-Project strat made in the Fernandes Japanese custom shop...again, top of the line and exceptional quality. __________________ quasi mojo

April 29th, 2005, 11:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
ALM NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 9	Many years ago I owned and gigged a Fernandes Telecaster. It was a great guitar which paid for itself many times over.

April 29th, 2005, 02:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
SteveY Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Age: 58 Posts: 1,422	I have an old Fernandes 24 fret neck I keep around because it's very vintage Fender feeling. It will find its way onto a guitar this year I think. I always thought Fernandes was who made Japanese Strats for a while?

April 29th, 2005, 02:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
ye olde fretmonkey Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin Posts: 3,353	Nope, I thought that was Tokai but I could be wrong. __________________ Just 'cause that's the way things are, that never did make it right.

April 29th, 2005, 03:19 PM	#16 (permalink)
J-man Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Wales/Scarborough Age: 20 Posts: 6,256 9 Photos	I'm just confused at one of their older strat copies, other than the logo, it WAS a Fender, same headstock shape, it even had the little "original contour body" thing on the end of the headstock! :? __________________ Write a wise saying and your name will live forever. - Unknown "The large print giveth and the small print taketh away." - Tom Waits