Seek help : Fernandes LP GoldTop P90, from 80s?

[BKS]

Funny how people say they like Burny but stay away from Fernandes not knowing they are the same. Nice goldtop. I have a black Fernandes les paul and a Burny les paul. Both very sweet. I am a big fan of the brand but roxy is queen as you can see.

 

[Roxy13]

Funny how people say they like Burny but stay away from Fernandes not knowing they are the same. Nice goldtop. I have a black Fernandes les paul and a Burny les paul. Both very sweet. I am a big fan of the brand but roxy is queen as you can see.

I'm not

Most of my Burnys are actually SGs. I have a lot of Burny SGs, more than any other brand, ranging from 1973 to the late 80s/early 90s.

o0mobius0o has had a lot of Burny singlecuts.

 

[JDZ]

+1 on the Dyna Gakki cavity route. With that, the 97 pot code would date the pots to July 1989.

If I'm not mistaken, for Gibson based models Fernandes was used on export and Burny for domestic market.

Fernandes made some unbelievably good Strats.

 

[elephantrider]

Otherwise y'all should join me and Zomby over here in Ohio.

shout out... lived in Westchester for a bit. so pretty in the fall.

 

[JDZ]

Love it. Is it a Gibson?

'78 Greco SA 800.

All my guitars are Japanese

 

[BKS]

I'm not

Most of my Burnys are actually SGs. I have a lot of Burny SGs, more than any other brand, ranging from 1973 to the late 80s/early 90s.

o0mobius0o has had a lot of Burny singlecuts.

I did not say they were all single cuts
I have several but just 2 are les paul. Fernandes rhoads, superstrats and my rfa 75 Burny

 

[endial]

Well, hurry up and buy the dang thing already!

 

[o0mobius0o]

1989 RLG-60 because of the 56 option. Humbuckers would be RLG-50. Looks mint. You should buy it.

 

[jimmyjames]

...before Mobes does...

 

[Slashperryburst]

They just need some polish. Get a photo of the control cavity and we can figure out who made it. Fujigen didn't make Burnys in the 80s, so that's wrong.

Guitars with rusty strings and frets that need to be cleaned can make for fantastic buys. One of the best ways to get a great deal as others will just pass on it.

I'm more than happy to spend 30 minutes polishing the frets or 45 it takes to level, crown and polish them.

This was one of the filthiest guitars I've ever bought. It looked like it had sat out of its case for decades. All the dirt and grime hid what was beneath.

Guys, I know it can be cleaned up. I was just pointing out that the frets are manky, so it can't be that new. Also, dirty ass frets and fairly low res pics might be hiding some fairly considerable fret wear, which is another thing to consider. All depends on how much of a deal you're getting.

 

[JDZ]

Guys, I know it can be cleaned up. I was just pointing out that the frets are manky, so it can't be that new. Also, dirty ass frets and fairly low res pics might be hiding some fairly considerable fret wear, which is another thing to consider. All depends on how much of a deal you're getting.

I've bought over 200 (Japanese) guitars out of Japan, mostly ones from the late 70's and early 80's. So, speaking from a bit of experience. I suspect Mobius has bought even more than me and I wouldn't be surprised if they were almost all Burny/Fernandes. He is the person here to ask about Burny's.

More importantly, you live in Japan and never thought to look into Japanese guitars!
In 1981 Guitar Player, a US magazine, declared Japan a World Guitar Superpower. You should find out why.

 

[zeneffect]

I'd venture that was bought, person gave up playing guitar, and it sat in that case since forever with the strings it shipped with. Some really even crust on those frets, should cleanup fairly nice. If not ship to Roxy for some fretwork.

 

[Slashperryburst]

More importantly, you live in Japan and never thought to look into Japanese guitars!
In 1981 Guitar Player, a US magazine, declared Japan a World Guitar Superpower. You should find out why.

I've played a handful and (mostly) enjoyed them, however, as I'm sure you're more than aware, getting into MiJ guitars is a bit like opening a can of worms. People have to rely on forums like this to see what they have, where it was made, what it's worth, whether it's on par with X, etc.

That's all just too much work for me. I look at a Gibson and I know what it is. I know what pickups are in it and I know what it's worth.

 

[Roxy13]

Sure, some could use at a light level and dress. Some could even use a major level and then dress. Some of these guitars we are buying are more than 40 years old.

And yes, some need a refret after this many decades. That guitar does not need a refret. They aren't even as corroded as some I've bought. You can enlarge the pics and clearly see the frets are in pretty good condition. They don't have divots everywhere.

If the corrosion is heavy, metal polish might not do the trick and then you have to go to sandpaper or fret erasers and work through the grits. But, they won't have leveling and crowning scratches everywhere so it goes faster than what you do after crowning frets.

@Slashperryburst if you look at newer models year and specs should be easy to find. Besides your hands and ears should tell you what's a quality guitar, no?

 

[kennyandy]

Again thanks for all info shared. I just went to Fernandes official website and looked into 80-89 catalogues; correct me if I am wrong: seems like only 82-86 had this particular model 56 style goldtop LP P90; therefore I am wondering 1989 may not the correct year, just saying

 

[o0mobius0o]

That one was made by Dyna, so it has to be at least 1987. The pots are CTS and have a date code of 1989, so it's plausible that it was made that year.

 

[Roxy13]

It seems to me Fernandes became very focused on selling super strats from the mid 80s on They were the most popular guitars at the time and it did seem like everyone and their mother wanted one I think that's the only reason it and others are not shown in those catalogs.

 

[Slashperryburst]

@Roxy13 , I know you know your stuff when it comes to MiJ guitars and buying guitars from Japan. But what about buying guitars in Japan?

You see, unlike the US, you can't just walk up, pick up a guitar and play it. That kind of culture just does not exist here. You have to get the salesperson to take it down for you and plug you in. And even then, they'll be back in a few minutes trying to force you into a decision.

And then there's the overwhelming amount of brand names, model numbers and price ranges. I've only played a few MiJ brand guitars, but the prices ranged between ¥200,000 - 750,000. And they've mostly been nice guitars (I didn't gel with one of the tokais I tried), but the top of the line didn't necessarily blow away the LP reissues I've tried and the bottom of the range didn't seem any more special than a Gibson Usa, and while I absolutely do not buy guitars with the intention of selling them, I'm more willing to put my money down on a Gibson because I know I can sell it easily if needs be.

Really didn't mean to come in here and diss MiJ guitars. I just wanted to see pictures of a goldtop.

 

[JDZ]

I've played a handful and (mostly) enjoyed them, however, as I'm sure you're more than aware, getting into MiJ guitars is a bit like opening a can of worms. People have to rely on forums like this to see what they have, where it was made, what it's worth, whether it's on par with X, etc.

That's all just too much work for me. I look at a Gibson and I know what it is. I know what pickups are in it and I know what it's worth.

You're right, it's a slippery slope and can require alot of groundwork. I prefer the vintage ones, but have also bought brand new. Seriously, you should go play a brand new Navigator N-LP.

N-LP | ESP GUITARS

生まれながらにして銘器と呼ばれるものがある

espguitars.co.jp

Look on Digimart for Big Boss' inventory.

 

[Roxy13]

@Roxy13 , I know you know your stuff when it comes to MiJ guitars and buying guitars from Japan. But what about buying guitars in Japan?

You see, unlike the US, you can't just walk up, pick up a guitar and play it. That kind of culture just does not exist here. You have to get the salesperson to take it down for you and plug you in. And even then, they'll be back in a few minutes trying to force you into a decision.

And then there's the overwhelming amount of brand names, model numbers and price ranges. I've only played a few MiJ brand guitars, but the prices ranged between ¥200,000 - 750,000. And they've mostly been nice guitars (I didn't gel with one of the tokais I tried), but the top of the line didn't necessarily blow away the LP reissues I've tried and the bottom of the range didn't seem any more special than a Gibson Usa, and while I absolutely do not buy guitars with the intention of selling them, I'm more willing to put my money down on a Gibson because I know I can sell it easily if needs be.

Really didn't mean to come in here and diss MiJ guitars. I just wanted to see pictures of a goldtop.

No, I've never been to Japan although a friend and I are discussing a future visit. I have no idea really how pushy the sales guys are compared to ones in the US Probably the best time here to try guitars without any pushy sales people is GearFest at Sweetwater, which hasn't run the past 2 years. There are just too many people there for them to focus in on anyone!

Does it help any if you don't speak Japanese? I'd be that idiot tourist who has no idea what anyone is saying to me.