Fender Japan on Ebay?

[Diminished Triad]

I've come across many guitars allegedly made and sold by Fender Japan through a middle salesperson/distributor on Ebay. Anyone know if Fender Japan allows this or knows it's going on............basically wondering if the guitars are legit? Seems like a huge selection bearing that "Fender Japan" name.

Thanks for any info....

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

Recent Fender Japan (approximately the "Crafted in Japan" stuff) is made by two manufacturers, Tokai and another I'm too lazy to look up right now. The Tokai stuff is not for export. However, this isn't enforceable by law as long as you don't want warranty.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

Recent Fender Japan (approximately the "Crafted in Japan" stuff) is made by two manufacturers, Tokai and another I'm too lazy to look up right now. The Tokai stuff is not for export. However, this isn't enforceable by law as long as you don't warranty.

Thanks, Sir!

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

A few of their specs indicate Japanese Alnico Custom St (Japan) x 3............does anyone know of these pickups or have you played the Japanese Fender strats?

Also, how are their prices compared to mainland USA prices? On Ebay they seem slightly under what the going rate is for the same guitar in America (same model of guitar)....at least for the few I've reviewed.

Here's the site they point to as the address for their manufacturer.....you can view lots of their guitars here: www.fenderjapan.co.jp

Thanks for any info you can share about the pickups and pricing.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

I have a CIJ '52 RI that I bought in Japan (and brought home). It's a big V neck, gloss yellowed finish and vintage style hardware. The pickups are Texas Specials. When I was shopping there, it seemed most of the CIJs were Japanese versions of the late 90's and early 2000's "standard" reissues. Meaning the 52 Tele, 57 & 62 Strats, late 60s Tele, 70's Strat, etc. They all seemed to use Fender US pickups, either Texas Specials or 57/62s. I liked them, and like you mentioned much cheaper then a US RI. Now, the Custom shop is putting out more accurate RIs, but I feel like these CIJs are solid guitars. Other than the slightly hot Texas Specials, this thing nails the vintage Tele vibe for me.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

Oh yeah so basically, Fender Japan still has mystique here in the US, between those 80's Squires and MIJs that were top notch, and the fact that they sell MIA style RIs for less than a real MIA and they are unavailable in the US means its a huge market for ex-pats to buy them in Japan and sell/ship to the US. Same goes for real ESPs too. (like the ESP Explorer)

 

[B Bent]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

I cant shed light on the subject, but I have always admired every Japanese Fender I have owned. Totally top notch.

 

[CountFeedback]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

usually the body wood is not alder/ash on MIJ guitars, not sure if that's always true on the more recent "not for usa" stuff.

 

[LReese]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

I've got a couple of MIJ pieces - Good stuff. One of mine is ash and the other Alder.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

There have always been Japanese domestic market only models. There have always been traders who sneak them abroad. Fender isn't the only brand to suffer. In the UK, the official Ibanez distributor takes a very generous cut. Hence, there is a whole lotta unofficial parallel importation goin' on.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

usually the body wood is not alder/ash on MIJ guitars, not sure if that's always true on the more recent "not for usa" stuff.

Yeah but the thing is, this has IMHO contributed to the great reputation.

Quite a few of these guitars use basswood and basswood is a very good tonewood for many more people than they realize themselves. Most people only play basswood with Floyd type trems and never get to actually hear the wood. Basswood has a mid drive that can make it significantly easier to make the guitar "sing". Plus it is fairly consistent piece to piece, more so than ash. But because Leo didn't find cheap basswood in the local lumber supplier's pile in 1952-57 people somehow think it must be alder or ash.

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

Yeah but the thing is, this has IMHO contributed to the great reputation.

Quite a few of these guitars use basswood and basswood is a very good tonewood for many more people than they realize themselves. Most people only play basswood with Floyd type trems and never get to actually hear the wood. Basswood has a mid drive that can make it significantly easier to make the guitar "sing". Plus it is fairly consistent piece to piece, more so than ash. But because Leo didn't find cheap basswood in the local lumber supplier's pile in 1952-57 people somehow think it must be alder or ash.

I have a Bass wood Dean Razor back and while the pups aren't the best one thing it did well was sustain the notes very full sounding. Also I saw Guthrie Govan's new Charvel strat both of them and they were bass wood with a maple cap and when I asked him about the bass wood he said it had a lot of low mids.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

I have a Bass wood Dean Razor back and while the pups aren't the best one thing it did well was sustain the notes very full sounding. Also I saw Guthrie Govan's new Charvel strat both of them and they were bass wood with a maple cap and when I asked him about the bass wood he said it had a lot of low mids.

Yeah, there are more great sounding basswood guitars. Some of the best Ibanez Roadstars such as the Lukather model, a whole bunch of Music Man guitars and basses (including the Axis guitar and the Bongo bass). Many Suhrs are ordered in basswood.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

I love my Jap strat. Its great.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

I don't get what the big deal is. Do you want one? Just buy it, if the feedback is good enough you know you're getting a real MIJ Fender. I have one... it's a guitar.. not a woman dude.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Fender Japan on Ebay?

Prices appear to be generally better than others on Ebay..............of course I have no personal experience with MIJ fenders.
Seems like most find the MIJ models good. I'm sure I'll end up getting one soon. Thanks again!