Fender Japan Confusion - MIJ - old or new?

Yeah I noticed this just recently... Wonder why they done that?

 

They probably ran out of C's in their Letraset alphabets...

 

Here's the new serial number list that hasn't been updated on Fender USA's website yet

(Japanese)
http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/faq/serial.htm

(translated)
http://translate.google.com/transla...org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=DSg&newwindow=1

The only MIJ I see stamped on new Fender Japan guitars here are on their top of the line models such as the DMC VSP (lacquer) series. I haven't seen Made In Japan stamped on any regular models just the lacquer series.

 

I stand corrected. Thank you.

 

I thought the older ones were stamped, "crafted in Japan" and the newer ones were stamped "Made in Japan". I believe this is the case, but I maybe guessing at best.

 

Yes, It seems that all the new Fender Japan are back to MIJ. I owned a Jazzmaster from 2008 that had an MIJ serial (T + 6 digits).

Edit: I just checked the neck auctions by Reliablefender. The change apparently happened last year: The 2007 neck are CIJ, the 2008 are MIJ.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/The-STR...w=neck+japan&LH_TitleDesc=1&submit=Rechercher

 

Yeah this is frustrating, they've been doing it for a while now. I've seen the new pink paisley guitars in both "MIJ" and "CIJ". These Japanese Fenders are hard enough to date already, some impossible, like my older "MIJ" paisley tele with no serial number anywhere on the thing other than the "A" stamped bridge plate which is useless for dating a guitar, checked in the neck pocket and the butt of the neck with no pencil date either. Guess we'll never know on some of these.

 

I think the new "Made In Japan" is in a different font than the old "Made In Japan". If someone with a newer one would post a closeup, we could make a comparison.

 

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. The new paisley strat I bought was a "CIJ" and some of them may even be in different fonts.

 

Corporate stupidity never fails to amaze me

 

Found a picture of a new MIJ Paisley on the Elderly website. As you can see the new "MADE IN JAPAN" is in a bolder font. The top picture is one of my older MIJs.

......

 

Yes, it is frustrating to try and date the Japanese model sometimes. They always want to just cuddle (just kidding). I actually prefer the build quality and sound of the older "CIJs".

 

I see your point Jack and I agree it looks more square and bold. The problem will be all of the idiots selling these on ebay and trying to explain it to some of them hehe.

 

Then top that off with the A serial and they all think they have a mint new 85 MIJ tele LOL.

 

Yeah that's what I'm saying. It's already bad enough how so many people will put a "CIJ" with an "A" number and say it's a 1985 model, heck some will even tell you they bought their 1985 CIJ in the summer of 1985, "I remember it like it was yesterday" they say, hehe. When in fact they remember it so well because it was new in 1998...if they even bought it new.