Another "are these real?" thread

[alex1fly]

I'm seeing these new 2021 guitars advertised as Japanese made Fenders. I was under the impression that Fender Japan stopped production several years ago. Any insight into what these may be?

https://reverb.com/item/40135792-fen...color-sunburst

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184732672546

https://reverb.com/item/39648944-fender-made-in-japan-hybrid-ii-telecaster-mn-sn-3941-3-45kg-2021-3-color-sunburst

[larryguitar]

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-series/made-in-japan/

[beaubrummels]

If I'm reading it correctly, the joint venture ended in 2015, but Fender took over Japan production directly? But key retailers like Ishibashi doesn't have these new ones, but they were a distributor for the previous joint venture, so maybe they were cut out of distributing with Fender overtaking production? Hard to say where they are coming from. If legit, looks like a Highway 1 with better pickups. The label on the Indonesian one doesn't match the label on the Japan one. I'd just as soon call FMIC at this point and try to get an official story, (or report a bunch of counterfeits.)

[Obsessive Compulsive]

You mean no Japanese Fenders made in recent years? Wtf?

There is no such thing as 'Fender Japan stopped production several years ago', cause they are made by Fujigen not FMIC. After the deal ended Fender outsourced manufacturing to another Japanese company and to distinguish Fujigen made from the newer ones, 'Crafted in Japan' is used instead of 'Made in Japan'. This also debunks the internet myth that CIJ is different/ more superior thatn MIJ, if you actually fall into that BS...lol.

[alex1fly]

I'm just trying to make sense of it. There's not a lot of information available in English, and I get confused about who-makes-what-and-when.

Long story short, I'm looking for a sunburst Tele body to stick my new Fender neck on and think it'd be "cool" to have a Japanese made body... a little piece of Fender lore/heritage.

[beaubrummels]

I think that would be an expensive way to get a body. Not sure it's worth it (well, to me anyway). A licensed replacement ash body should be the same quality / sound.

Side note, from what I'm reading, CIJ was non-Fujigen (per their contract) for the joint venture after Fujigen. Fujigen hasn't been involved since 1997 that I can find. I can't find info on who is making MIJ now. Unless I misread the information and Tokai / Dyna was the joint venture and Yamano / Kanda Shokai took over in 2015, which could be the case.

[PFDarkside]

I have a CIJ I bought in Japan in 2005, for whatever that is worth. If you said MIJ ended in 1997, that would make sense.

[JamesPaul]

Fujigen built the 2020 LE HM Strat. But that was a Limited Edition and I think where the originals were built. I don't know that Fender is working with Fujigen again, but these 2021's are at the same price point.

[AdrianSD]

I'm seeing these new 2021 guitars advertised as Japanese made Fenders. I was under the impression that Fender Japan stopped production several years ago. Any insight into what these may be?

https://reverb.com/item/40135792-fen...color-sunburst

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184732672546

https://reverb.com/item/39648944-fender-made-in-japan-hybrid-ii-telecaster-mn-sn-3941-3-45kg-2021-3-color-sunburst

Looks legit

https://shop.fender.com/en-AU/electric-guitars/telecaster/made-in-japan-telecaster/made-in-japan-hybrid-50s-telecaster/5655002303.html

[Aceman]

Is ANY Telecaster for $1200 really legit?

[alex1fly]

Looks legit

https://shop.fender.com/en-AU/electr...655002303.html

Link's not coming up for me.

[alex1fly]

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-series/made-in-japan/

This page just brings up two "Boxer" HH guitars and two PJ basses for me.

[AdrianSD]

Link's not coming up for me.

That's weird, GeoIP based filtering? This is the Australian website, maybe Fender got sick of Americans? Oh wait
https://shop.fender.com/en-AU/electr...an-telecaster/ returns 8 Made In Japan Telecasters, 2 Hybrid and 6 Traditional priced between 1899-2099AUD

[JamesPaul]

This page just brings up two "Boxer" HH guitars and two PJ basses for me.

Maybe Fender USA has sold out of the MIJ Tele's they had in stock? I have noticed, during the pandemic, that a lot of websites are keeping their pages much more current with what they have in stock. Seetwater has the Boxers showing no longer available and is suggesting alternatives on their page.

[beaubrummels]

Fender is very good about detecting your region and not showing you products that are only targeted in a specific country's market. Evidently, these are Asia distributed only.