Fujigen Guitars. FGN Expert Rise 2020 Model. STAGGERING Quality Guitar Combined With Vintage Tone

[@derekjohnson5720]

Well after buying the FGN J standard Iliad off you in January and having it just over a month. My report on FGN is.......holly f balls they are amazing! I am delighted I never joined the masses and became a Fender guy and chose to be different and go down the FGN route. I still cant believe my guitar was less than £700 the sound, the look, the build, the hardware is flawless. My band mate bought a fender player series telecaster 3 weeks before I got my Iliad, I told him to check out FGN first he didn't listen. When he saw my Iliad he was devastated, his exact words "no f___ing way that was under 7 hundred" she's beautiful. When he had a wee shot he was blown away. I will be visiting your shop in the summer and will be leaving with another fgn for sure!!

[@davem8836]

Interestingly enough, FGN was manufacturing Strats from '84 to '87 called the 'Contemporary Stratocaster' and I have one from '85. Hugely underrated.

[@tylermartin799]

i dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an instagram account..? I stupidly lost my login password. I would appreciate any tips you can give me!

[@maddoxsam9882]

@Tyler Martin instablaster =)

[@tylermartin799]

@Maddox Sam I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff now. Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@tylermartin799]

@Maddox Sam it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my account !

[@fgnguitarsusa1908]

Hey Richard! Thanks so much for the love! Really loving your super genuine response! From us and everyone at FGNGuitarsUSA, Really appreciate this video!

[@barbarella7028]

I have an FGN Tele and have been pondering about my next one... Those frets are just lovely.

[@chrisjs6123]

The finest luthier I have ever known, the guy who fixed my Lowden reckons The Fujigen Guitars are as close to perfection as possible in terms of build quality and fretwork.

[@the_fleeing_dutchman]

Nice demo! I own a 1995 Orville by Gibson Les Paul Custom 57 Reissue, also Fujigen made and it's a stunner!! It is true that at some stage, all high end Ibanez guitars came from that factory, as well. Yours looked and sounded great!! Thanks for sharing

[@JR-to8sn]

I bought my first FGN Iliad J-Standard last summer and I now own four FGN guitars, Two Iliads, Flame Expert and Masterfield. You can argue all you want about Fender, Gibson etc. etc blah blah blah, quality wise FGN are many steps better than either. They use Seymour Duncan pups in most of the guitars and Gotoh hardware and Alpha pots. Even their FGN pups are PAF type and sound fantastic.

[@eddiejr540]

I got a ‘94 mij Strat photo-flame hss and it’s a beast....I love it

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Yep - Fujigen!

[@shaunw9270]

Nice . How has the finish held up ? I haven't seen one since the 90's. I was on a Fender forum a while ago when a young player posted a photo of his Fotoflame Strat that he had recently bought on the cheap somewhere. He had no idea what it was ,and was asking how to repair & refinish the flame maple cap . Several people chipped in, told him it's an actual photo and its peeling off and to clear coat it to stop it peeling more. I wasn't aware that was a thing . Maybe it was a one off, damaged by water or something in storage (?)

[@rockdinosaur666]

@@RichardsGuitarshop Richard, do any/all of the FGN's come with cases? If not, do you sell them separately. That Expert Rise is definitely crying out to me.

[@yz249]

@@rockdinosaur666 the experts all come with a hard case and the "lower end" ones come with a gig bag.

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Total Fuji Gen fan here. I have a Greco strat and les paul from 1979 and 1980. And an e series Squier strat from 85. Just beautiful guitars !!!

[@donciseau]

What a beautiful guitar!

[@derekjohnson5720]

Just watching this again for literally the 100th time. Absolutely love this guitar. I use to dream about owning a Gibson les Paul standard but now I dream about this beautiful beast. Is it true they are not distributing FGN guitars to the UK anymore as that would be a terrible shame?

[@mikebaker7964]

Sounds amazing, dare I ask if they have any options for left handers?

[@darrenrobbins8356]

Would have been good to see the headstock. The camera needed to be pointing further right. It did catch the flame cap though. Very nice. What sort of price and,as usual, I need to ask, what about lh?

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Hi Darren. Link is in the description to all the specification, pictures and price. Its not available as standard but can I believe be made for you if you want a leftie.

[@tonybrooks476]

Not my cup of tea more of a Fender style guitar myself, but man the bridge pick up clean sounded superb.

[@DMSProduktions]

They DO make Fender style guitars too you know!

[@tonybrooks476]

DMSProduktions yes I saw a load at the UK Guitar Show this year.

[@larsheuker]

I have one of the late 70s artist models, its heavy asf resonant and amazing to play. Im now in the market for a strat style fujigen, wish they made more superstratty types but i could settle for an elan expert

[@bridge500t]

FGN makes absolutely killer guitars! I'm seriously thinking of selling my Gibson LP for an LS30.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

I have 3 in stock. Got them in just as the old uk distributor closed up but there is a new distributor sorted!! Yehaa !

[@jerryhollis8155]

Richard, have you heard of the Shijie Guitar company from CHina? It's the STE - STD if you are interested in looking.. I have not played one, but another guitar chap on youtube compares it to SUHR and it is about $750.. EXNI Guitars.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Jerry Hollis very much so and would like to sell them. Put a good word in for me!!!

[@rockdinosaur666]

I sent a query a while back to Shijie as some of their higher end superstrats are stunning. However, the post and packaging cost ($150) was prohibitive. I couldn't find a UK seller but if there was I'd be buying one right away.

[@patrickduguay8]

do the make them left handed?

[@davidgordon7673]

Between this FGN and an Eastman SB59, which would you choose?

[@Furtheronmusic]

An old friend of mine had one of those 80s Ibanez Artists. I'm with you absolutely stunning. I have a Squier JV Strat I bought about that time. I'll never part with that guitar. It's a lifer. The JV series were definitely Fuigen made.

[@sparkymark6064]

I was looking at this one on your site today. It’s one of the nicest looking guitars I’ve seen. Love a double cut away. Must resist.

[@Stikibits]

Far better than just about every Gibson out there.

[@pierheadjump]

Thanks Richard. ⚓️

[@MrTimThunder]

Hi Richard. How would you describe the size/feel of the neck compared to an LP Standard 50's?

[@Skijumptoes]

Any idea what strings are on it? Sounds great and thanks for a great presentation of it. As a Fender man this really turns my head.

[@johngreene6014]

My old Westone spectrum fx was made by Matsmoku in matsmoto city and thay are lovley guitars

[@AvantaSensei]

Gorgeous guitar

[@bruceburton3515]

I have a Fujigen 90's Fender Stratocaster and an Ibanez LesPual Custom from the late 1970's that I think was also made by them.

[@NathanLemmon]

Can’t show the headstock?

[@ludwigklingelhofer8482]

I was a fool and sold my Ibanez Artist. This guitar was great and from 1981.

[@GingerLeftyGuitar]

These look amazing. Will lefties ever happen do you think?

[@brianrocks7277]

Great review, I am a fan of Japanese guitars too. Any chance of a peek at an Expert series Flame please??

[@divingslotcarsmusicandstuf9619]

Interesting video thanks. I have a lovely 1990 Fender 'Pro Feel' Strat that was made in the Fuijgen factory (btw it's pronounced with a hard 'g' sound as in 'golf''), a guitar I will never willingly part with!

[@johnnyhighwater9781]

I think that's the first time I've seen that kind of string through/tailpiece combination. Sounded fantastic! Stunning axe!!

[@eddiejr540]

John Flood ....I noticed the same thing...what’s up with that???

[@johnfisher7757]

That made my day - lovely guitar! Thank you :)

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Thats really kind. Glad you like it!

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

The FGB LP's are stellar! Much cheaper and better made then the Gibson's and the tone is awesome!

[@bridge500t]

I've got 2 of them, a NCLS10 Gold top and a NCLC20 E and both are phenomenal guitars.

[@PixieintheMainframe]

Tried to call in on Saturday, but I couldn't find you - Whereabouts is the showroom? I walked from the station up and round the road and then down to the McDonalds/bathroom shop.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Ohhhhhhhhhh I am SO SO Sorry. We dont have a sign yet!!!! I always say.... Opposite the Train station car park. If you go to the very end of the car park - look across the road - you will see our large window on the first floor. Its a domed window - can't miss it. Thats me!

[@IndigoJo]

Do these guys make acoustics? I wonder what the outcome would have been if a certain prestigious guitar company in Europe had commissioned them to make their sub-£1K range of guitars named after a pop star.

[@shaunw9270]

Very nice . Yes in the early 80's Fender was purchased from CBS by a group of management led by Bill Schultz. The deal didn't include the Fullerton factory or any other buildings there. Initially they were going to use the Tarrada factory to build Fenders in Japan while the Corona factory was being set up. I can't remember the full story but they ended up going to Fujigen Gakki (as they were called at the time) . A friend of the family has a Squier JV 60's Strat from 1982 , my brother owns an '83 SQ series Squier which is basically a 70's Strat and another friend of mine owns a mid 80's Fender Rosewood Tele . All those made by Fujigen & still play beautifully after all these years.

[@johngreene6014]

My old Westone spectrum fx was made by Matsumoku in matsumoto city

[@JohnuSmithu]

FGN has always made great guitars. It's better than made in the USA

[@keitaidenwaki]

So cool

[@MrSkunk1964]

to be fair it should sound and play like a dream for £1700. it is a gorgeous tone indeed. Trouble is Thomann have slashed £500 off most Gibson range now. I looking at the gold P90 from FGN but the Gibson Goldtop P90 is !1500 at Thomann and £1000 for the FGN. Choices eh .

[@raymondvaughan6262]

Nice guitar looks like ibanez ar series guitars 🎸

[@baronvonchickenpants6564]

I had a Washburn falcon in the late eighties, that was fantastic quality Made in Japan I think, really regret selling it

[@eyedunno8462]

Show the headstock!

[@jurgenkunz730]

Sagmeister Signature Model? Michael asked probably for special pus. He prefered slightly overwound Gibson Standardpus in his guitar. Peter Coura did this work in the 80s.

[@davidharvey8812]

Sounds lovely 😏

[@Nikoo033]

That guitar looks and sounds awesome. Love the unique shape and the access/comfort cuts. Richard, I think there’s a stereo issue with this video though. Can only hear the right channel.

[@steveroberts]

That has got to be one of the most beautiful guitars I've seen. Sounds great as well. Price is about £2k less than either Gibson or Fender would put out of that quality. Thanks Richard

[@talkychris]

Wow. What a tough decision to make. That FGN, a Gibson Les Paul Classic, Eastman or Maybach. Initially I was swaying to LP, then I heard amazing things about Eastman and saw a comparison video where the Eastman build quality put Gibson to shame. Maybach are amazing, but I don't want a pre-aged artificial finish. I want my £2000 new guitar to look flawless and not like someone in the factory has taken a screwdriver to it. I like flamed maple tops and I like satin finishes. I think this FGN might be my new guitar.

[@larsheuker]

Defenitly get this one, i just got a fujigen expert elan and any of the expert series feel like custom made instruments

[@acemodean]

I also regret selling my ibanez artist and that was 30 years ago.

[@garypenton1583]

The G in Fujigen is pronounced like generator, not gasoline.

[@donciseau]

You play the guitar beautiful as well!

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Thats really kind of you. After 25 years of running my business I am very VERY rusty!!

[@loyolaschool]

I wish you had spent more time actually playing all over the fretboard. Just my $0.02

[@bensavage4575]

You play great blues btw ;)

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Very kind! Thank you

[@davemis40]

Only getting sound from one speaker on this video, and sound quality is not great too .. come on Richard get it together.

[@phenixreturns]

bad:( try the stereo mode next time :))

[@stephenkrus]

🖒

[@sarmoung]

Nice instrument but it’s pronounced Fuji-Gen and not Fuji-Jen. Hard g like grandma, grape nuts, gonads or even guitar...

[@DMSProduktions]

Fujigen not fujigen!

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

lol?

[@DMSProduktions]

@@RichardsGuitarshop If you like! It is Fuji Gen not Fujijen. (Otherwise it would have the latter spelling!)

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

@@DMSProduktions So following your logic - is it Fujigen as you originally pointed out or FujiGen (which you havent yet mentioned) or Fuji Gen? Really? We are having this conversation? lol

[@DMSProduktions]

@@RichardsGuitarshop Well, lest this antipodean teach an Englishman how to speak Japanese! LOL!

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

@@DMSProduktions Hi. OK in all seriousness.... So what I presume you are saying is "I am from Japan and you have misinterpreted the name of the company" Am I correct? In which case this is my perfect time to learn.... However you - yourself have typed it two different ways and I have literally no idea what I have said wrong. My understanding is its Fujigen which is what i called it from the outset (I didnt capitalize the title - sorry). Oh hang on..... now I understand!!!!!!!!!! I have mi spelled it somewhere? i used the j twice? Where did I do this? No.... now I am reading your original comment an I wrote it correctly?!?!?!?! omg I am going nuts. You have in fact changes the spelling several times in your replies! So if you are japanese and trying to teach an Englishman? hmmmm..... Come on.... this is fun but I need to know what the actual mistake was!

[@bensavage4575]

Too much like PRS... wHAT is it about prs? Lol I hate them. >.< sounds amazing tho.