‘Made In Japan’: The Return To Prominence Of Japanese Guitars

[chromewaves]

'Made in Japan': The Return to Prominence of Japanese Guitars

Japanese guitars are currently viewed as a premium item by some collectors, but they haven't always been quite so revered and valuable.

www.spin.com

 

[70 Mach 1]

Tis all I really want in life is more japanese guitars. The older the better.

 

[True Vintage]

I wish I could buy an overseas shipping container full.

 

[FractalGarden]

FGN has become my brand of preference. I wasn't trying to find it. It found me. I now have 3 of them and regularly hunt for more of the obscure stuff.

 

[Thebutnut]

My early MIJ Epiphone Les Paul easily sits in with my Gibsons.

 

[chromewaves]

I've got a 96 CIJ 72 Telecaster Custom, 97 CIJ '62 Jazzmaster, and 22 JV Modified 60s Strat and love em all. Japanese Fenders sit at a real sweet spot of quality, scarcity and affordability - even with the prices going up. And around here at least, there's enough people who've gone to the trouble of importing them that there's always a few for sale locally, used, to really tempt.

 

[wraub]

I have two 80s Ibanez basses, two 80s Squier basses, and a mystery Strat-like thing from the 70s, all MIJ and all excellent. Fortunately, I got them when I could still afford them.

 

[AltecGreen]

FGN has become my brand of preference. I wasn't trying to find it. It found me. I know have 3 of them and regularly hunt for more of the obscure stuff.

Here's one for you. In case you did not know, FGN has a custom shop and a showroom in Tokyo.

FUJIGEN(FGN)／Virtuoso FLAME 60th Anniversary Model 2021年製 【返品OK】[RI014]／中古／¥880000／状態：A+

／中古楽器の買取・販売 Qsic／／[新品同様] 【1ピースのホンジュラスマホガニーバック】

www.digimart.net

 

[Quality Control]

Japanese guitars have held prestige and value since the mid 90s when every cheap thing got moved to Korea and they started producing better stuff. The lower end Japanese Ibanez and Jackson's were always considered great value for money. It's only gotten more steel manned over the years.

 

[Rick CD]

Picked this gem off Craigslist many years ago for cheap. I upgraded the electronics and added the floyd. Mid 80’s A-series, low serial number if that matters.

 

[Antti H]

You get premium parts and build quality without the steep markup that American brand names have. What's not to love?

 

[Jrossignol24]

I’ve gone almost entirely Japanese for my recent purchases. Just impeccable quality and playability. And you can find amazing used deals. Now the word is getting out though…

 

[Jrossignol24]

FGN has become my brand of preference. I wasn't trying to find it. It found me. I now have 3 of them and regularly hunt for more of the obscure stuff.

Some of the best guitars I’ve ever played

 

[fretless]

I own 5 Aria basses from the 80’s. All awesome. LOVE Matsumoko made instruments!

 

[skiba]

Am lucky to have a few made in Japan guitars, and they are simply stunning not only to look at, but also to play / sound wise. The attention to detail, and making sure everything is just right with them is second to none.

The two that I've got from Jersey Girl Homemade Guitars out of Hokkaido. Also, another of theirs that I'm in the process of purchasing at the bottom -- hopefully that one is sorted out soon. Love their work, and have a build in process, but, that is a ways off.:

 

[sunburster]

Japanese guitars are generally very good, and are significantly better than the MIM stuff. These days they are extremely overpriced outside of Japan, but still reasonably priced in Japan.

With that said, I sold all my Japanese Fenders when I got American Fenders (AVRI 62s and an AV65). The Japanese guitars paled in comparison, really.

 

[El Fenix]

Owned a bunch. Punch well above their weight for what you'd expect at the price point.
Currently:
Geco EGC 57-60
Edwards LP Custom

I sold my Edwards Jimmy Page #1 like an idiot. Feel free to shame me.

 

[treeofpain]

Modern Japanese guitars go from excellent to extraordinary. While I agree with a lot the article had to say, Japanese guitars did not start in the 70s and 80s with "lawsuit" guitars. They started decades earlier and first became common in the USA in the mid-60's, when the demand for electric guitars outstripped supply due to the "Beatles on Ed Sullivan" effect. The guitars were arguably not very good for the most part until the early-mid 70's. By 77-78, they were introducing their own designs and beating USA manufacturers at their own game.

 

[Gasp100]

Japanese guitars are generally very good, and are significantly better than the MIM stuff. These days they are extremely overpriced outside of Japan, but still reasonably priced in Japan.

With that said, I sold all my Japanese Fenders when I got American Fenders (AVRI 62s and an AV65). The Japanese guitars paled in comparison, really.

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle on this one.
I used to have an MIJ fetish and went through many, many Burny LP's, ObG, Greco, Fernandes, Tokai, Epi Elites, Epi Japan, Fender Japan, etc.
I'm very partial to guitars from the "Golden Age" 80-92 or so, but a lot of that just has to do with the mystic of country of origin and it's history. I guess I could argue my current Fernandes Revival strat from 82 has some "mojo" and possibly better/older wood? The poly is lite and done well, all the natural patina is really cool.
In fact, I pulled it off the wall to play and it's pretty damn good with my upgrades (Hipshot tuners and Wudtone trem, floating).
Might actually be better than any off the shelf Fender I've owned.

But when these guitars shipped get into the $1200+ range I tend to start asking "Isn't there something comparable MIA" used that would make more sense? Easier said with bolt on styles than LP's.
Currently my thing is trolling Ishabishi -- not sure if I'd feel comfortable buying for any direct Japanese seller -- for guitars that are under $800 (no duties). I'm spying some gems out there, but still haven't pulled the trigger yet.

The current Fernandes I bought off Reverb and had an amazing transaction, would do again in a heartbeat.

 

[NSDQRKR]

MIJ Jackson Dinky…Well made and plays great