Fender Made In Japan - A Brief History

[@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. 🎸🤘

[@michaelbajorek1972]

I have a Japanese jazz bass. Very nice instrument. I prefer the Japanese made Fenders. IMO.

[@leandroroepke9530]

I Have a Fender mustang japan 1995. That is amazing guitar

[@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!!

[@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.

[@jeffagoddard]

Great video! I love Japanese guitars 😀

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

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

[@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.

[@jaycollins9244]

I have had em all folks!!! Eric Clapton custom shop strats, American strats, Deluxe strats, standard strats, Mexican strats, you name it! I just picked up a few months ago a Japan made strat from 2013. It is the dragon finish that was made with another model that was the Geisha Girls version. There is NO comparison between these guitars and the American models. These guitars are absolutely exquisite! It is a 62 reissue and I can't stress enough the attention to fit and finish from the frets to intonation every where all the way up the neck. You can't slide a cigarette paper in between the neck and the joint to the body! And the sound is out of this world! This strat will never leave me!!

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Great feedback. I’m on the hunt for a 62 reissue. I’m looking for one made in the 80’s. I’m hard on guitars so I don’t mind some bumps and bruises.

[@virtualobject]

Well done, I really liked the way you didn't linger about, but I definitely had to concentrate. Most informative Japan guitar outline, essential viewing.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Awesome, thank you!

[@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

[@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.

[@vyger6336]

I have a Strat made in Japan . I bought it in 1984. It's still in near mint condition and among my 8 guitars its probably my favorite .

[@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!

[@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.

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

Lucas, I'm brand new to your site ! Liked, Subscribed, and that Bell has been RUNG ! Nice to come across this. I too cut my teeth on late 60's, early 70's Japanese Guitars ! I was lucky as I'm a white boy from Michigan, who grew up in Asia, Japan/Taiwan in the 60's / 70's My Dad would bring back several examples from Japan/ Hong Kong to our home in Taiwan back then. I was a Military Brat born in 1961 for reference. Anyway, I've poked around, and love this site, Cheers ! Mike, Santa Cruz Ca.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Thanks for the kind words Mike. I really appreciate that. Must have been pretty cool as a kid to see those guitars coming home. I love Fender guitars. Strats and Teles in particular. Definitely have a soft spot for the Japanese made stuff. When I was young I couldn’t afford the USA stuff. Cheers!

[@jasonboylen5161]

Hey Lucaa great channel. Man I have a Japan Squire Fender stratocaster whoever had it before me either sanded or painted over the information under the neck but the serial number starts with E64 can you tell me anything about it I got it sight unseen it was a mess somebody painted it pink and white and the paint was terrible it needed some tlc rewired I has to bring it back to life and glad I did the guy that fixed it took forever and I met him like 3years after he painted it and got it sounding great. I took it to a friend who had a music store at the time and he had the other guy do the work. I was working with this guy and we started talking about guitars and I was explaining how I got the guitar and he looked at me kinda funny and said "Was it pink and white " I said "yes it was" he replied "You almost didn't get that guitar back" That guitar played so good and the action was absolutely amazing. I agreed and he told me that he got it done in like 8 or 10 days. He said I played that thing for another week and I really liked that guitar. Do you still have it do you want to sell it I said yeah I do and I wasn't going to sell it. Sorry for rambling on. It was a decent guitar story. Im still have it but it's beat down a little so I decided to restore what needs to be and was wondering if you could find any history on it thanks for letting me tell the story of a guitar that I love so dearly. Like I was saying the serial number is on the head stock and starts with E640 if you need the rest of it let me know

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Great story Jason. Thanks for sharing. Hard to tell much from just the first few digits other than it’s was made in the 80’s. Does it have a single ply or 3 ply pickguard?

[@matiasdvoskin3985]

Hi I’m looking at a 1984 with the S1 tremolo system… what type of neck would be on that? Also what are your thoughts on the pickups? What kind are they? Thank you

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

I believe that’s the contemporary Strat. The S1 is the locking tremolo. That neck would be a flatter 12 inch radius. Those guitars were designed to compete with the shred models from that era. Personally, I prefer the vintage necks but still a good guitar.

[@Dgnine]

​@@LucasCrossleyGuitar Hi Lucas sorry but not following you here. Never heard about any Mij strat from 84 with 12" radius. They were usually all 7.25. is that a specific model?

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

@Dgnine yeah. The contemporary strats. I show one at the end of the video. I put a radius gauge on it and it measured 12”

[@Dgnine]

@@LucasCrossleyGuitar That's good to know! I have been hunting for a Fender Strat with a flatter neck and that 12'' radius must feel awesome. How do you like that neck?

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

@@Dgnine The neck needed a refret in my opinion so not a true test of how I might like it. Personally, I prefer a rounder radius on 25.5" scale guitars. My 77 plays as well as any other guitar I own. It's a 7.25 with Jescar Stainless Steel frets. I have quite low action on that guitar but it also had a plek. Feels very different when compared to my AZ Prestige. Both are great but I feel more at home on the Strat. Now on a shorter scale length like my Gibson 12" is perfect. It's all personal preference. Hope you find what inspires you.

[@spitfireaace]

I'm a little confused at the transition between '82 and '83 when Fender Japan was shifting between domestic and overseas production. Sending guitars to England, (Europe), that had the JV serial. I'm in Canada, pretty sure they came here as well. The one I bought here was used previously by a guy in Bahamas, which is I thought a British protectorate I believe.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Hey thanks for watching the video. According to what I could find the main export destination for those guitars was indeed Europe and the US. That said, there were instances of JV serial numbers from those years being imported to Canada by individual dealers who either sourced them from Japan or other countries directly. So they did make their way here just not in high volumes.

[@nicholaschavira1743]

I have a 2013 tl-62 with a custom edition logo. Is it legit? Plays amazing, fit and finish are perfect, wood is alder instead of the usual basswood. Just curious if it is indeed a Japan custom shop piece

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

It should be. To know for sure you’d have to open it up. Not everyone is comfortable doing that of course.

[@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.

[@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.

[@RobertJSedky]

Excellent work.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Wesley-zl2fz]

THANK YOU SO MUCH,,THE SQUIER WITH THE SEYMOUR DUNCAN DESIGN PICK UP S,,,THEY ARE VERY NICE,,I KEEP THE GUITAR PUT UP,,I COULD NOT REPLACE THIS ONE,,I GOT THE GUITAR FROM THE MAYFIELD FAMILY,,VERY SPECIAL TO ME ,,I PROMISED CURTIS NEPHEW I WOULD NEVER SELL THE STRATOCASTER ,,THE GUITAR IS AGEING WELL,,AN SOUNDS GREAT GREAT,,HAVE A BLESSED DAY

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

Rock on!

[@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 !

[@Wesley-zl2fz]

I HAVE A SQUIER STRATOCASTER WITH THE SEYMORE DUCIAN DESIGN PICK UPS,,,,,SOUNDS WOUNDERFUL,,GREAT CRAFTMAN SHIP,,,,

[@CardStar-games]

Hi

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

What's up buddy!

[@kellyswoodyard]

I have a Yamano Fender Strat, and it's a magnificent instrument. FAR superior to any mass produced American, Mexican, whoever, made Strats.

[@kennyblackbird5674]

CBS late 1970's Stratocaster 👍👍👍👍👍

[@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 😊😊😊😊😊😊❤

[@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.

[@booyaagrandma61]

JV=Joint venture NOT Japanese vintage.

[@LucasCrossleyGuitar]

That makes a lot of sense. Can you point to anything supporting this? Everything I read says Japanese Vintage. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.