Jimo
Tele-Afflicted
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In the 80's the pawn shops were full of them and no one wanted them. Is it a certain year that they changed or did people just discover that were good after all? thanks in advance!------Jimo :?:
In What year did the Japanese Fenders get to be good?
- Thread starter Jimo
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lenny
Banned
i think once people recovered from the shock of fender's being produced in japan, they realized that they did a really nice job.
so i'd say it's perceptions that have changed
so i'd say it's perceptions that have changed
Jack Wells
Doctor of Teleocity
I think guitars from Fender Japan were always good. Read this article.
(link removed)
(link removed)
I agree with lenny....
I can remember how everyone was shocked, and to a certain extent, disheartened when they saw a Fender product, only to see Made/Crafted in Japan. I know I saw several MIJ/CIJ guitars that could have been had dirt cheap, by todays standards.
One I remember vividly, and still kick myself, was a Fender Japan Tele...black, maple board...even then I was totally blown away by the way it played and felt. Of course, being a starving musician at the time, I didn't have the cash for a set of strings, much less another guitar, but I was wishing I had the $150.00 they were asking.
I can remember how everyone was shocked, and to a certain extent, disheartened when they saw a Fender product, only to see Made/Crafted in Japan. I know I saw several MIJ/CIJ guitars that could have been had dirt cheap, by todays standards.
One I remember vividly, and still kick myself, was a Fender Japan Tele...black, maple board...even then I was totally blown away by the way it played and felt. Of course, being a starving musician at the time, I didn't have the cash for a set of strings, much less another guitar, but I was wishing I had the $150.00 they were asking.
lenny
Banned
i just this year picked up a SWEET mij strat made between 84-87, and i got it for a 100 bucks! it had a poor homemade humbucker route in the bridge, and a crappy humbucker. removed it all and installed a compete pickguard assembly from an american deluxe (another 100 bucks) , and i'd put my 200 dollar strat up against any, i love it
scotabilly
Tele-Meister
"Is it a certain year that they changed or did people just discover that were good after all?"
I'd say people were unwilling to give the Fender Japan guitars their due. The "reissue" models were great, and in 1985 when '62 Custom Tele came out, Fender wasn't even making a Tele in US, except for the American '52 RI. I've owned many Japanese Fenders, and saw a slight downturn in quality in the mid to late 90's. Their weak spot has always been ceramic pickups and cheap electronics (mini pots and box switches).
I'd say people were unwilling to give the Fender Japan guitars their due. The "reissue" models were great, and in 1985 when '62 Custom Tele came out, Fender wasn't even making a Tele in US, except for the American '52 RI. I've owned many Japanese Fenders, and saw a slight downturn in quality in the mid to late 90's. Their weak spot has always been ceramic pickups and cheap electronics (mini pots and box switches).
Joel Terry
Poster Extraordinaire
Jimo said:
The first one.
Joel
In the early 80's when they first started they were so much better than the USA Fenders it was no contest.
Nothing has changed USA Fenders still have sloppy workmanship MIJ ones dont plain and simple it will always be like that.
Nothing has changed USA Fenders still have sloppy workmanship MIJ ones dont plain and simple it will always be like that.
I see no downturn. My recent CIJs are better than the early '90s MIJ I have, as well as other earlier MIJs I've played.
Also, the Fender Stratocaster Made In Japan site had this to say:
"They are, however, unofficially exported and, as most are fitted with US made pickups, are to a higher specification than those exported in the 80's and 90's. "
sneakyjapan
Poster Extraordinaire
could be. I buy the models that were designated for the domestic market and being in Japan makes that a whole lot easier. the 80s are by far my favs not including the ExTrads , custom editions or order made models. I also have a few from recent years and they are not in my opinion as well made as the early years. of course, there were many models made back then just as today and I`m referring only to the ones I own, none of which are low end models.
whats the Fender Strat Made in Japan site?
whats the Fender Strat Made in Japan site?
Boo
TDPRI Member
A local shop has a MIJ '97 floral '68 RI and a '99 Ash bodied Am.Std. for the same price. (Both a bit pricey at 950.00 The MIJ is leagues better in fit, finish and playability. I'm not surprised. One of the finest guitars I've ever owned was a 98 ESP vintage plus T (tele). Workmanship was outstanding.
b
b
MarkM
TDPRI Member
Reissues
I own both a '62 Custom Tele RI and the '52 RI and find them to be of very fine quality and workmanship.
I will say I have owned some in the past that were shoddy both US and Japanese made.
What can I say, I like US products......American Cars, American Guitars and American Women!!
I own both a '62 Custom Tele RI and the '52 RI and find them to be of very fine quality and workmanship.
I will say I have owned some in the past that were shoddy both US and Japanese made.
What can I say, I like US products......American Cars, American Guitars and American Women!!
tiktok
Poster Extraordinaire
All guitars become desirable once they're old enough to vote. Remember when 70's Fenders and Gibsons were so poorly regarded they sparked the whole vintage craze?
As I recall, the party line on MIJ Fenders at the time was "Swap the pickups, pots and switch and you're in business".
As I recall, the party line on MIJ Fenders at the time was "Swap the pickups, pots and switch and you're in business".
Mid-eighties?
I have a MIJ 62 reissue(1986) and a (1985) Tokai AST-62. While I'm no expert on guitar specs I know what quality, construction and attension to detail is in a guitar. These have both. The pickups however were replaced, Van Zandts in the MIJ and Lawerance's in the Tokai. Not that the stock pickups didn't sound good, it just took the guitars tone to a different level. It just seems that the 80's ones are more consistant. I bought the MIJ back in 1998 for $275 and the Tokai in 2004 for $275. Now, what I don't understand is why the MIJ prices escalate yet Tokai's can still be had for under $300? I mean, I tore the Tokai apart and couldn't find any flaws. I think I'll be hunting for a Tokai Tele before the word gets out!
I have a MIJ 62 reissue(1986) and a (1985) Tokai AST-62. While I'm no expert on guitar specs I know what quality, construction and attension to detail is in a guitar. These have both. The pickups however were replaced, Van Zandts in the MIJ and Lawerance's in the Tokai. Not that the stock pickups didn't sound good, it just took the guitars tone to a different level. It just seems that the 80's ones are more consistant. I bought the MIJ back in 1998 for $275 and the Tokai in 2004 for $275. Now, what I don't understand is why the MIJ prices escalate yet Tokai's can still be had for under $300? I mean, I tore the Tokai apart and couldn't find any flaws. I think I'll be hunting for a Tokai Tele before the word gets out!
Jimo
Tele-Afflicted
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62 RI ESP Strat Traditional
This is BY FAR the best quality of all my strats including the American Fenders-----I put Van Zandts in it as well. It is a Japanese but I don't know what year. cheers!--JIMO
This is BY FAR the best quality of all my strats including the American Fenders-----I put Van Zandts in it as well. It is a Japanese but I don't know what year. cheers!--JIMO
Tele-Whacker
Tele-Meister
Japanese Guitars....
I have posted in earlier threads about my MIJ Squire Tele,
and I love that guitar! It is a 1984. I have heard from some of the "Experts" that the early to mid 80's Fender Japan guitars were being built with TOP NOTCH components, and were closer the the origional specs, than anything Fender America had done since CBS took over.
For one thing, I have heard that they were using CURED WOOD, and had matched the hardwear nearly exactly.
I also had a Yamaha accoustic (Flattop) made back in the 60's, or early 70's, and I only wish I would have known what I had at the time. It was everything I ever wanted in an accoustic, except not being made in America.
I worked in a Music store In new Mexico, for a winter and we sold "IBANEZ" and the workmanship was excelent. That was also back in the 80's.
So in answer to your question, Japan has been making top quality Guitars for MANY YEARS.
I have posted in earlier threads about my MIJ Squire Tele,
and I love that guitar! It is a 1984. I have heard from some of the "Experts" that the early to mid 80's Fender Japan guitars were being built with TOP NOTCH components, and were closer the the origional specs, than anything Fender America had done since CBS took over.
For one thing, I have heard that they were using CURED WOOD, and had matched the hardwear nearly exactly.
I also had a Yamaha accoustic (Flattop) made back in the 60's, or early 70's, and I only wish I would have known what I had at the time. It was everything I ever wanted in an accoustic, except not being made in America.
I worked in a Music store In new Mexico, for a winter and we sold "IBANEZ" and the workmanship was excelent. That was also back in the 80's.
So in answer to your question, Japan has been making top quality Guitars for MANY YEARS.
tiktok
Poster Extraordinaire
Re: Japanese Guitars....
Weren't the MIJ reissues basswood instead of ash/alder?
Tele-Whacker said:
Weren't the MIJ reissues basswood instead of ash/alder?
JohnnyAtomic
Tele-Afflicted
Re: Japanese Guitars....
i actually PREFER basswood. light weight, resonant, sounds like a buck owens record, what else could you want????
tiktok said:
i actually PREFER basswood. light weight, resonant, sounds like a buck owens record, what else could you want????
Re: Mid-eighties?
Tokais are now made in Korea now, that's why the price hasn't escalated like Japanese made guitars.
I know Gibson and Rickenbacker have taken legal action against Tokai for trademark infingement.
Sarge said:
Tokais are now made in Korea now, that's why the price hasn't escalated like Japanese made guitars.
I know Gibson and Rickenbacker have taken legal action against Tokai for trademark infingement.
sneakyjapan
Poster Extraordinaire
some Tokais are MIK, some are still MIJ.
I`ve read that FJ was using basswood on their export models which may be true because all my FJs are domestic models, as far as I know and purchased here in japan. there is only one of my FJs I`m not sure of the body wood, thats the strat with the tele neck, all others are either ash, sen or alder. all my 80s FJs came stock with full size pots and steel switches and some with US p`ups. I`m lucky to have found some real nice examples of Fender Japans early years, the earliest of mine is a June 1982 JV strat. I am always looking for more fine guitars from that time, and that includes the Grecos, Tokais, Burnys ESPs etc.
I`ve read that FJ was using basswood on their export models which may be true because all my FJs are domestic models, as far as I know and purchased here in japan. there is only one of my FJs I`m not sure of the body wood, thats the strat with the tele neck, all others are either ash, sen or alder. all my 80s FJs came stock with full size pots and steel switches and some with US p`ups. I`m lucky to have found some real nice examples of Fender Japans early years, the earliest of mine is a June 1982 JV strat. I am always looking for more fine guitars from that time, and that includes the Grecos, Tokais, Burnys ESPs etc.
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