FGN Expert Flame in Vintage Violin

[@etibkel]

A few weeks ago I tried this guitar in a local music store. Among many guitars of others brands (Schecter, Ibanez, Vintage, PRS, Sire) it was a uniqe one. It is a fantastic piece of wood. Unfortunately it is quite expensive, otherwise I would have bought it immediatly. Looks nice, sounds great, good to play with it. Dream guitar for me.

[@MattsGAP]

I was lucky to get mine for a very discounted price. They have shot up now, hardly surprising at the moment! Thanks for watching

[@bmac5085]

I have 2 fgn guitars, and looking for another. Definitely the best value for money out there considering their quality. They have been under the radar for a long time but are now more widely available as some of the big guitar stores in the UK are now selling them. Good video 👍

[@MattsGAP]

Yeah, I heard about them when Hp42 did a review, since then things have improved in the UK. I agree on your point, very good value guitars. Thanks for watching!

[@bmac5085]

@@MattsGAP no problem. Give you a sub as well.

[@MattsGAP]

@bmac5085 much appreciated! If you don't mind me asking, what 2 FGN'S have you got?

[@bmac5085]

@GuitarsAmpsPedals I have the one in my icon white antique odyssey j standard hss all seymour duncan pickups pegasus humbucker in the bridge. Plus a split coil switch. It's really versatile, the only thing that it didn't come with is locking tuners. But I replaced them makes a big difference keeping the guitar in tune. My other fgn guitar is the iliad j standard ibuia. It's a hardtail comes with two seymour duncan humbuckers. Beautiful guitar, sounds great and a pleasure to play. Traded in my les paul tribute for it. It also has a coil split. The quality of these guitars is outstanding. Similar quality Japanese guitars out there going for a lot more money than these. I am currently looking for an fgn lp type guitar.

[@MattsGAP]

@bmac5085 Very nice! I've been locking at the Odyssey's for a while now, there's a nice looking purple one on the Andertons site. Thanks again for watching, good luck getting your hands on your next one!

[@angelaferkel1]

I‘ve made a Photo from the Headstock and the Trustrodcover with the japanese Letters. Afterwards i‘ve copied the signs and pasted it into google Translation App and translated it to german. The Translation result is „Berg Fuji“, which means „Mount Fuji“. But if i translate this to directly from japanese to english, the result is „To Fuji“. Very strange. In my opinion, the translation to german (mount fuji) make more sense.

[@MattsGAP]

Yeah, how odd. I guess it’s different in other languages too. Thanks for watching!

[@the_mad_leprechaun]

Nice work! I have no idea what you said but it sounded brilliant! 😁👍No No I totally agree! What you said!

[@MattsGAP]

Really, I don't remember recording this one in Japanese ! 😁

[@the_mad_leprechaun]

@@MattsGAP you said the label was in Japanese! Send me a photo and I'll translate it into English!

[@MattsGAP]

@@the_mad_leprechaun ah OK, I shall send it over!

[@davidgordon7673]

This is a completely brilliant review, and just what I was looking for. I was looking at this model and some of the Eastman LP-types. Plenty of info on those, very little on these, so thank you so much. I have two questions, if you don't mind. First, how does the guitar hold tune without locking tuners? And, they say that the frets on these are "jumbo" (which i love), but so often that really means "medium". So, anything you could say about the frets would be great. Thank you again for being the best demo of this guitar on YT. Cheers!👍🙏PS- as a yank-anglophile, I have to say that you voice and your accent are so beautiful to listen to.

[@MattsGAP]

The tuning on mine is immaculate. It simply doesn't move ever. The frets are Jumbo. Bigger than a fender or gibson, but I've seen larger frets on Ibanez guitars. It's very difficult to say whether your experience of Jumbo frets will match these, but I think they will work out for anyone who likes larger frets. Thanks for your comment, I was hard pressed to find a good review on the expert flame, as I say in the video their marketing isn't the best. Thanks for watching and good luck with your search!

[@ragnakak]

I wish I could find these new in US

[@MattsGAP]

It’s a great guitar, I think if you really wanted one you could order one from Andertons music in the uk but I’m sure it’s gonna be a touch pricey for shipping etc. thanks for watching!

[@petkopeet]

Im interested in that guitar but the only thing that I’m not keen on are pickups. On all videos I saw they sound weak and dark with higain. Anyone tried changing pickups on those for something with more output?

[@MattsGAP]

I don’t know whether anyone can answer that question for you. I can say though the guitar is beautifully built and I do agree about the pickups. I was tempted to switch out the pickups to Bareknuckle Mules but in the end I decided to sell it as I felt I would prefer a Les Paul overall and they’re more or less what the FGN would end up being like if I put Mules in it. Perhaps ask yourself whether buying a different guitar that’s already loaded with your favourite pups is a more suitable proposition or whether you’re happy with the extra expense and uncertainty of swapping out the FGNs pickups. I purchased my Expert for a lot less than they cost now and I was happy to sell it for what I paid new, which don’t think is possible anymore making it a potentially expensive gamble if you switch them out and don’t like the result. Plus the pickups were hard to access as there wasn’t much spare wiring around the switch etc so it might be easier to remove all the wiring and drop in a whole new loom. Thanks for watching hope you get what you’re looking for!!

[@ferexx]

it does say Fujigen in kanji

[@MattsGAP]

Thanks for the info. It makes sense that it would mean Fujigen, but until now, I only suspected! Thanks for watching

[@ferexx]

thanks for making this video. I have a P90 and a HS tele. probably going to pick up a humbucker sometime this year and the FGN is definitely on my very shortlist

[@MattsGAP]

They're so good for the money, I have been tempted to buy another, but I have other guitars on my wish list first! If you do buy an FGN, I'd be interested to know what you think of it?

[@ferexx]

@@MattsGAP my local guitar store said they will be restocking their FGN around June so I'll probably get to check some out, need to ask them if they are bringing in the model. right now they only have the cheapest FGN Iliad left and they are pretty decent for the price.

[@MattsGAP]

@ferexx Yeah, I've noticed that most retailers are stocking the cheaper models, I imagine they're easier to sell, my Expert was in Coda in the UK who don't normally stock FGN. My guess is they must have been testing the brand out via their distributors!

[@stephenbates1633]

Sorry if I missed this but what is the neck radius? I can't find it specified on their website or any retailer ads.

[@MattsGAP]

Hi, I don't own the guitar anymore so I can't check for certain but going off memory I'd say 12inch fingerboard radius and a chunky ish but very comfortable neck.

[@ehsanhaq155]

Great video! I have a chance to buy the flame hardtop in black. Has the dot inlays. I imagine it's significantly better than guitars made in Indonesia or China etc.

[@MattsGAP]

Cool, well, I definitely recommend them. I'm sure some Indonesian and Chinese guitars are great, but based on how much time and effort would go into making a high-quality guitar, I think a Chinese or Indonesian one of equal quality would cost the same.

[@ehsanhaq155]

@@MattsGAP thanks for the response man. Much appreciated. Totally agree 😁🙏

[@hans-jurgenschroder1444]

Thank you so much, that's very true what you're saying. I've never played a nicer fretboard in my life. Not even a PRS for a 10,000$ provides such excellent fretwork! But do I really have to travel to Japan to get a blue one? Fujigen wrote me that they are not planing to export any other colors of this model. Anyone heading to Japan?

[@MattsGAP]

That sounds like a strange business plan to me!!! But maybe to FGN, the European & US markets are insignificant. I guess having been in business for such a long time, they must know what they're doing!? If I ever do visit Japan, I'll bring a few blue ones back! Thanks for watching!

[@vlade198]

How much does this guitar weigh? Thanks

[@MattsGAP]

Hi, I don't actually remember what it weighed and sadly I no longer have the guitar. I usually list the weight in the video but I can't remember whether I did for this one. I would estimate from memory around 8.5lbs, substantial but not overly heavy. Thanks for watching!

[@superman-el9jd]

sweeeet

[@MattsGAP]

Agreed!