Fender Made In Japan - A Brief History

A Brief History of the story behind Fender and its decision to begin manufacturing guitars in Japan during the 1980's.
We travel back in time and examine why this decision was made and discuss the impact on the Fender Brand, it's legacy and the guitar world today.
Additional Resources that may interest you
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/ @fivewattworld
0:00 My Inspiration to Research the topic of Japanese Fender Guitars
0:57 My Collection of Japanese Guitars
1:58 The Origins of Fender USA
2:09 The First Successful Electric Guitar - The Telecaster
2:34 The World's First Electric Bass and Bass Amp
2:54 The Stratocaster is Born
3:18 Enter the Jazz Master & Jaguar
3:22 The Sale of Fender to CBS
3:51 The Shift from Hand Made in Small Quantities to Mass Production
4:10 Designs Changes By CBS Not Favored
4:34 Increased Competition
4:41 The Shred Movement Opposes the Traditional Strat & Tele
5:42 Despite This the Fender Brand Endures
5:56 Guitar Companies Offer More Choices & Import Brands Take A Bite out of Fenders Sales
6:17 Japanese Luthiers Make Quality Products
6:47 1981 CBS Tries To Compete So Moves Production To Japan
7:42 Why Japan?
8:14 1982 Fender Checks out the First Guitars Made In Japan The JV Line
9:48 The First Squier Guitars Export to The UK
10:00 1982 Squire Guitars for Japan SST Series
10:21 1983 Squier Goes to America & CST Models For Japan
11:00 CBS Sells Fender for Less than They Paid In 1965
11:20 1985 Fender Squier Made In Korea
11:35 1985 Corna California
11:45 1986 Japan Custom Shop
12:06 Order Made Guitars
12:14 Dyna Gakki Crafted In Japan Versus Made In Japan
12:55 2015 Fender Takes Over Japan Production
13:00 2022 JV Modified Line Introduced
13:16 Fender's Move To Japan Changed the Path of Fender
14:20 I can't cover all the guitars
14:53 To Learn More Check Out Mike & Mike's Guitar Barn & 5 Watt World
15:22 Special Thanks to Jegg & Grant
15:30 The Guitar That Started This Project
15:56 What have we here?

[@americannobody651]

Fender Japan has amazing craftsmanship... I have a 1993 Floyd Rose Stratocaster(my first electric guitar), A 2018 Richie Kotzen signature Telecaster(I would put it against any custom shop Tele) , and a 1985 E serial Strat that someone scalloped the rosewood neck on (Yngwie style) then it was left in a basement that flooded. Water logged thrown in the trash...a friend of mine found it, thought I could use it for parts... I put a set of Jimmy Vaughan Tex-Mex pickups in it, plus new wiring and pots... Orange drop .047... Middle pickup, no tone control... Oh the sounds I can get out of it are soul shivering.

[@HektorBandimar]

I have a Japanese Fender Strat squier series built 1996, it's a great guitar. It has a Fender logo on the Machine head and a tiny round decal that reads squier series.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

That’s awesome. 🎸🤘

[@kevinedgeman4259]

I owned a 1987 sunburst Stratocaster made in Japan. It had a factory locking bridge and nut. The nut was not very efficient so I had a Floyd Rose locking nut installed and it was like a rock. I recorded an album with that guitar and played countless gigs with it. I let it go after installing a set of EMG SA pickups..wish I still had it.

[@Mandobird1]

I have a 94/95 Telecaster Std, built by Fujigen. It's a top loader, and is fitted with Gotoh tuners and saddles as standard. The neck is amazing.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Oh I LOVE top loader Teles. So slinky! Thanks for sharing!!

[@johnweiler3700]

The guitar at the end is definitely a Contemporary Stratocaster. I have a black one with a rosewood fretboard. It’s from ‘86. It may well be my favorite guitar. It’s certainly the one I tend to reach for.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

I think you’re right though it’s weird that the serial isn’t like the others. Hope to get a chance to dig into it at some point. Thanks for watching and for commenting. Cheers

[@jeffagoddard]

Great video! I love Japanese guitars 😀

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Thanks for contributing yours to the video. Can’t wait to learn more about it.

[@thomasrevere7916]

I actually prefer Japanese strats. I have two and they're fantastic.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Yeah they are really great. I'm keeping my eye out for an older ST62.

[@Nothing51337]

I own an 1985 telecaster custom mij it’s a great guitar

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

They sure are. I’m in the hunt for an ST62.

[@stewartwallace711]

I have a candy apple red strat MIJ 2005, a serial number check found it was made at the Fujigen factory. Beautiful workmanship 60's reissue, I adore this Strat. So if you're not sure about MIJ Fenders, just do it, you will not be disappointed, and you'll own a guitar you will cherrish.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Thanks for watching the video Stewart. Love those Candy Apple strats. 60’s reissue is one I’d love to own someday. Cheers!

[@hugojavieravola5445]

Hola Lucas. Soy Hugo desde Argentina. Muchas gracias por este video y por la información. Te mando un saludo muy grande.!!!!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Thank you Hugo from Argentina! I'm happy to meet you.

[@JazzStrat781]

They are truly awesome guitars 👍🎸 I've never owned a bad one!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Thanks for watching and commenting. I agree with you. Great guitars. I would love to add to my collection. Cheers !

[@Hammerman48]

Fender Japan guitars have always been great. I currently own 2 Fender Japan Telecasters and have previously owned a Fender Japan Strat. You can’t go wrong with them….they easily match USA Fenders. I own a Fender USA Vintage series Strat and it’s no better than any Fender Japan Strat I’ve owned or played.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

They really are excellent guitars.

[@myronthurman4097]

I had a 1986 strat mij with kalher whammy mable fret board bought new at american music great guitar candy apple red I have a1983 tele with a b bender mij black white pickguard 😊😊😊😊😊😊❤

[@CardStar-games]

Hi

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

What's up buddy!

[@slowlane2518]

You're too young to remember the many years after WW2 when Japan was rebuilding itself and were manufacturing sup0er cheap stuff...including guitars. I bought my first two inexpensive crappy guitars made there. They looked good, but were virtually unusable. Perfect for a dumb kid learning to play that had no money...like me. This was before they acquired precision tooling and started making really excellent guitars like Takamines. With precision tooling, even China can make a decent cheap guitar.

[@frankvella6159]

Why are they so heavy 😩 😫 the Stratocaster weight is outrageous, heavy 😳

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

This one I have here is very light. My 1977 however is a boat anchor. For me, I prefer the Alder body versions. Light weight and very resonant. I don’t like basswood as a tone wood and they do use that in the lower end models. Not sure why yours is heavy.