Japanese Fenders

[kevina]

Japanese Fenders,

Do any of you have any experience with these? I have only really heard/came across Mexican and American.

Are they good, worth the money?

Any advice would be great

Thanks

[Happy Jack]

Mar 3, 2010 6:17:14 GMT -5 kevina said:

Japanese Fenders,

Do any of you have any experience with these? I have only really heard/came across Mexican and American.

Are they good, worth the money?

Any advice would be great

Thanks

Never played one but quality is supposed to be very good and there is a place near you that sells them. Lesblues might have the info. I am sure it was Edinburgh somewhere

I will try and find the details - otherwise PM Lesblues

mojocaster.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=guitdiscussions&thread=143&page=1#783

Second post down, got some suppliers / info but I am sure I found an exporter near LesB but was some time ago

[kevina]

Someone has offered me a Fender Jaguar Japenese Re-issue, Seafoam green for my Strat which I am seriously considering.

Going to have a look at it tomorrow.

[gasman]

I've heard Japanese Fenders are great also! Check some of the Fender forums for more information.

[kevina]

I am going to have a look at it on Monday for a possible swap.

Its a funky seafoam green which looks nice in the pic.

It will have to be something special for me to swap though

[lesblues]

Hi Kevina, I have been looking at Japanese Fenders for a while. It really depends when it was made. It appears that the older ones ie 1980s are highly regarded and fetch a high price. You may have seen this stuff already, but just in case.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Japan

freespace.virgin.net/john.blackman4/history.htm

Fender JV

1982-1984

Produced for only 2 years from 1982 to early 1984, these were the domestic Japanese version, only for sale in Japan, the Squire JV were the cheaper export models. The Fender JV have Fender hardware and Pickups and nitro finish on the ST-85 and ST-115 strat models, and the TL52-95 tele. The ST-85 and 115 also have a steel trem block, the 85 has japanese pots, caps and switch and pickguard, whereas the 115 uses all USA parts, cts pots, high quality USA caps, and USA switch. The 115 pickguards are the shielded fender USA ones..(full shielding for the 62-115, and a extra shielding plate for the 57-115, as per the originals.)

Identification of the model number without the sticker on the neck back, can only be made by the finish, the electrics (see above) and the steel trem. In my experience, the A, B and C neck pocket stamps are not a completely reliable way of telling the model, there are ST-115's with both A and B stamps, (although the majority are A) and there are some ST-85 with steel trem and nitro body with a C neck stamp..for the Tele's there are nitro finished 95's with both A and C stamps. However I have yet to see a poly finished 65 model with anything but a C stamp..

For more info on Fender JV series Guitars see:

www.21frets.com/squier_jv/domesticjv.htm

Taken from: www.japanguitars.co.uk/index.htm where you can also see examples and prices.

Another good resource is www.tokaiforum.com/ it doesn't just talk about Tokais, which incidentally have a reputation for being better than the Fender and Gibson models they replicate, the forum also has info on Japanese Fenders.

In your position if after seeing the Jap guitar being offered you are interested in it I would take photos of it and post them on the Tokai forum to seek their advice as to whether or not it is a good deal for your strat. The guys on the forum are only too pleased to help I have asked for advice on there a few times.

If it is a new jap copy I personally would not go for it.

Hope that helps
Les

[lesblues]

www.fenderjaguar.net/reissue.htm

If you scroll down on this page you will find a section devoted to the Japanese Fender reissue Jaguar which may be useful to you.
Les