Fender Japan

[FLICKOFLASH]

Fender Japan

Fender Japan is the Japanese division of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

Contents
1 History
1.1 Manufacturers
2 "Made in Japan"
3 Timeline
4 Sources



History
Fender Japan was officially created in March 1982 and consists of two Japanese Music companies that handle the ordering and distribution. The two companies are Yamano Gakki (Gakki means musical instrument company) and Kanda Shokai. Yamano are a musical instrument wholesaler/retailer with their own retail outlets and Kanda Shokai are a musical instrument wholesaler with no retail outlets of their own. These two companies do not manufacture guitars, they order them from Japanese guitar factories such as FujiGen Gakki and then they distribute them through retail outlets. Yamano distributes them through its own retail outlets and also various other retail outlets and Kanda Shokai distributes them through various retail outlets including the Ishibashi chain of music stores in Japan. The Japanese guitar factories that have made Fender Japan guitars at various times are FujiGen Gakki, Tōkai and Dyna Gakki

Manufacturers
The Fender Japan guitar manufacturing contract was originally going to go to Tōkai in 1981/1982 but at the last minute Fender chose FujiGen Gakki instead. Some FujiGen Gakki made Fender models between 1982 and 1997 have necks made by Atlansia. Tōkai and Dyna Gakki took over the making of the Fender Japan models from FujiGen Gakki in 1996/1997. The Tōkai made Fender Japan guitars are not exported from Japan but some of the Dyna Gakki made Fender Japan guitars are exported. Dyna Gakki have made various guitars for Kanda Shokai's Greco brand. Terada made the Fender Japan acoustic guitars such as the Fender Catalina.


"Made in Japan"
According to a Fender representative it was in the Fender Japan contract that if there was a change of manufacturer from FujiGen Gakki to another guitar factory then the logo would be changed from MIJ ("Made in Japan") to CIJ ("Crafted in Japan"). The first CIJ Fenders start around 1992 but most of the Japanese Fenders up till 1996/1997 are MIJ Fenders. In 1991/1992 FujiGen Gakki were expanding their factory operations by establishing FujiGen Hirooka Inc ((Japanese) フジゲン広丘（株）設立) to be able to take on additional set neck (Gibson like necks) contracts (such as the Orville by Gibson contract) and so Dyna Gakki (one of Kanda Shokai's main guitar makers) took over some of the making of the Japanese Fender models which resulted in a CIJ logo being used on some Japanese Fenders instead of an MIJ logo. CIJ is mostly used on Fenders from 1996/1997 until recently due to Tōkai and Dyna Gakki taking over the Fender Japan manufacturing contract from FujiGen Gakki in 1996/1997. The Fender Squiers were also brought into line to be in sync with the Japanese Fenders at around the same time (1996/1997) with 'Crafted' rather than 'Made' being used. "Made in Japan" is used on some current Fender Japan models (2007) instead of "Crafted in Japan".


Timeline
1982: Fender Japan starts production with FujiGen Gakki having the manufacturing contract. The "Made in Japan" (MIJ) logo is used.

1984: CBS sells Fender to its current owners and while waiting for a new USA factory to begin production, Fender Japan models and leftover USA stock were mostly sold in the USA for a few years.

1992: The first "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) models start appearing due to Dyna Gakki taking over some of the manufacturing while FujiGen Gakki were expanding their operations.

1996/1997: "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) is used instead of "Made in Japan" (MIJ) because Tōkai and Dyna Gakki take over the manufacturing contract from FujiGen Gakki.

[drewbertca]

Cool info... Thanks....at least I was using the right term to describe my Big Cat (Jaguar Baritone Custom)

[classic]

Thanks Flick ...

So my Strat finally knows the roots ...

[LoKi]

Originally Posted by classic

Thanks Flick ...

So my Strat finally knows the roots ...

Love those Japanese Strats! I've never owned or played a bad one. They sell for almost as much as the USA counterparts here, if not more sometimes.

[FLICKOFLASH]

Want to Know why ? cause when Fender sold out in the 80's all the 50's machinery from the old factory went to the Japan . So those Tokai are built on the same machines & templates as the 50's Fenders. The agreement was they would not sell those FenderJapan to the USA . Thank God for ebay !!!

[LoKi]

Not to the USA but there are at least 6 great ones in my friends shop here in Calgary... I'm leaning toward a tobacco burst like the one Classic posted above.

Good Fender Japan stuff isn't too hard to find here in Canada. You should make a trip to Vancouver... Oh man... it's a Japanese Fender wonderland out there, in pawn shops and vintage shops everywhere. Best part about pawn shops in Van is that they WANT to sell stuff. I always get a killer deal somewhere on the coast.

[classic]

Originally Posted by LoKi

Love those Japanese Strats! I've never owned or played a bad one. They sell for almost as much as the USA counterparts here, if not more sometimes.

This is a sweet sounding Strat ... couldn't ask for more ...

But - its amazing that the Japanese people are going more for the Seymour Duncan brand or VanZandt and Suhr ... their prices are so high that it wouldn't make sense to buy them there ...
If you know exactly what you want and if it doesn't matter whether it is labeled CIJ instead of Made in USA ... you'll get a high quality guitar at a reasonable price ... $900 shipping included ...

[rickym]

Nice history lesson FOF.

classic - that Strat is to die for ! Beautiful.

I have an '84 MIJ Tele & a '93 CIJ Jazz Bass. The guts are okay, but the bodies & necks are great. I can always change out the innards, but with good wood & solid construction to start with, you can't go wrong.

[classic]

Originally Posted by rickym

classic - that Strat is to die for ! Beautiful.

Thanks for the compliments ... highly appreciated ...

I have an '84 MIJ Tele & a '93 CIJ Jazz Bass.

Pics ??? We love pics ...

I can always change out the innards, but with good wood & solid construction to start with, you can't go wrong.

That's exactly why I decided to buy this Strat ... primarily I was looking for a Tokai ST80 in excellent condition ... but my gorge was rising when I noticed the prices ...
I knew the required specs and found ... a Fender CIJ ...
BTW - from the s/n it has been manufactured in the Tokai plant ...

[rickym]

Originally Posted by classic

Pics ??? We love pics ...

Here they are. I thought the bass was a CIJ. Nope it's an MIJ.

[classic]

Originally Posted by rickym

Here they are. I thought the bass was a CIJ. Nope it's an MIJ.

I'm not a bass player ... does it sound like it looks ... ??? Gorgeous bass ... I guess it's well balanced from the weight ...

... and the Tele ... well, it's simply 'classic' ... nice ...

Thanks for sharing ...

[rickym]

Thanks, classic!

The Jazz Bass is balanced superbly. And it has a nice warm "round" sound; but not muffled at all. However both the Tele & Jazz are extremely noisy. They both need cavity shielding. But they do sound great. I have roundwounds on the bass for a pseudo-Jaco tone. But I'm afraid I'll chew up the fretboard. So back to flats.

The Tele is very warm. The bridge pup is clear & crisp but not biting. I've only changed the pots on both & the switch on the Tele.

[northlight]

I just recently bought a CIJ Fiesta Red Strat and i can safely say it is an outstanding guitar!!!

[EEF13]

are the new japanese CIJ any good? how would the 65 reissue mustang compare to the old ones

[northlight]

CIJ and MIJ have the very same QC processes, it like a transitional indication. These guitars are equal in quality in my opinion.

[loverockkid]

Would the strats from 1984-1992 better then the ones after 92? i looking at some but heard the older ones are much better......

[classic]

Originally Posted by loverockkid

Would the strats from 1984-1992 better then the ones after 92? i looking at some but heard the older ones are much better......

What brand do you mean ??? Fender Japan ???
The best Strats are the Tokai ST80 or ST100 - if you ever will spot one nowadays ...
You'll have to pay a huge amount for them ...

: :: TOKAIGUITAR.DE :: :

But - once again ... if you can snatch a Fender Japan with the same specs you can't go wrong ...

[armann]

They where really good in the 80's.

[05jrock]

Fender '52 Reissue Tele with Texas Specials for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand
Fender Telecaster w. Kinman AVn Noiseless Pickups for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand

I'm planning on going to have a play of these 2 fenders.1 is made in mexico and the other in japan.Is the quality of the mexican made much different from the japanese?

what do they mean when they say reissue?

[djwilbanks]

The Japanese made ones tend to have better build quality, based on principle.

but both are great guitars.

A Reissue is kind of like when they reissue a comic book or re-release a movie. Its just the same as the original, its just not the original. Dong ma?

[overdriver]

www.21frets.com

[qwank]

don't forget about Mustangs!!!

[05jrock]

vintage tokai breezy sound telecaster (1981) for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand

Found this on a NZ auction site.

The place that he says done the setup are not far from me so I will be going to ask them about this 1.

I have had bad luck with my last few auctions by just missing out.must be time I won.

[FLICKOFLASH]

Originally Posted by overdriver

www.21frets.com

but mine has 22 frets

[Mr Bones]

The problem I have with them is that the finish is ungodly thick. They are wood encased in amber.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by FLICKOFLASH

but mine has 22 frets

Must be a fake

[coldsteal2]

Originally Posted by qwank

don't forget about Mustangs!!!

Hey i had the Bass version of that back
in 69! same color and stripes

[dubyatf]

I own 2 newer MIA Strats and while they're nice - they aren't buttery smooth "players".I have an opportunity to buy a 1981 MIJ Strat that's pretty much pristine (from the pics at least). Seller wants $425. It seems like the MIJ/CIJ are pretty highly regarded. Does that seem like a sorta' decent deal?

Thanks!

[classic]

Originally Posted by dubyatf

Seller wants $425. It seems like the MIJ/CIJ are pretty highly regarded. Does that seem like a sorta' decent deal?

It's difficult to tell you something without any pics ...
There are also different levels of quality available ... when I've purchased mine I knew exactly what I'd get for my money.
It seems to be a nice price though ...

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by dubyatf

I own 2 newer MIA Strats and while they're nice - they aren't buttery smooth "players".I have an opportunity to buy a 1981 MIJ Strat that's pretty much pristine (from the pics at least). Seller wants $425. It seems like the MIJ/CIJ are pretty highly regarded. Does that seem like a sorta' decent deal?

Thanks!

A 1981 MIJ for 425. that a steal these days go for it. They sell from 800-1500 Is it a FENDER squire series? If it in good shape you won't lose on her thats for sure.