Thanks for visiting the store! We spent a lot of time and effort designing and building the store. Great Video and glad you enjoyed it. You definitely understood the sense and the sensibility of the store. Edward Bud COLE - President APAC Fender.
Im hooked !!! You guys 🤘🏻… I live in Montreal Quebec Canada and I wish we had , vintage selling instruments. We have some cool stores, but they all shares mostly big brands and all. Every mom and pop shops closed because of the big chain’s store. It’s hard for them to compete price wise. Keep the good work❤❤❤❤
Growing up with a MIJ Westone Spectrum LX (198MBK). I could never appreciate any guitar without lockdowns & fine tuners on the tremello/vibrato. It is cool to see the Tom Morello Stratocaster Black!!! It's about time they build a serious axe!!!
This video just randomly came on in the back ground and as I looked up I saw the Blue Tom Delonge Strat on display. The day before I presume you went and filmed this video, the Yellow was hung on display here above it and I bought it on my trip over there. 2 days after, I went and bought the Blue off display so you must of been there the day in between so the blue strat in the video is mine! Random! Great channel though and have subscribed
Kinda eerie hearing Madison Cunningham's voice announcing the Vintera II while you filmed outside. If you aren't familiar you guys should check her out, incredible guitarist and songwriter.
Fender made a prototype double-bound Strat in the mid ‘60s, with a zebrawood top and pearloid block fretboard inlays, but it never made it into production.
I went there and played a 56 Custom Shop Journeyman Strat. Loved it but the pricing was way higher than here in the states. Over there even after the no tax and strong US dollar the guitar was cheaper to buy here in the US so i had to pass on it. I was surprised it was so expensive there-880,000 yen.
You’re right in saying the nitro is sprayed over a thick polyurethane coat. So it’s not really nitro. It’s essentially a standard polyurethane guitar with a participation trophy nitro top coat.
i bought my first strat from here just after the store opened. i then found the same strat from ikeba gakki a few weeks later for way cheaper, with better aftersales support. its way overpriced compared to other stores in the area
Alex if you can bring back t shirts next time a sell them thru your shop not reverb you would do really good. There’s no way to get a Fender Tokyo shirt in the USA
I’ve thought for years that Fender Japan has cooler guitars than Fender USA does. In the late ‘90s I saw a thinline Tele on the Fender Japan website with a standard Tele bridge pickup, a Tele neck pickup in the middle position, and a Wide-Range humbucker in the neck position. It was apparently only available in Japan-I contacted Fender to see if they could get me one, and they couldn’t do it. I’ve seen some killer guitars come out of Fender Japan-I used to have a Japanese Fender Rosewood Tele that was better than any of the early ‘70s American ones I’ve tried. (all two of them.) Did Fender Japan ever make an Electric XII reissue? It’s a moot point now-I’ve got a 2019 Mexican one.
Those of you who have purchased guitars/basses from Japan - what was the best method of getting them back home? Did you ship them back or check them in when flying?
It's actually insane when you compare fender vs gibson flagship stores. I love them both but its wicked to see fender kinda gravitate towards a younger audience compared to gibson. The gibson garage opened here in london and it was great and all but it didn't hit the vibe of trying to attract young people like how you see there at fender tokyo.
Haha, you beat me to it. That was the one I was going to mention as my "favourite" or at least most astounding guitar in the video. What a piece and price. Insane.
Fender Japan has gone lower and lower standards for their Made in Japan line, I recently bought a brand new traditional and got problems and contact the Fender Japan, they just reply with "within criteria" kind of bull crap. Don't get into the brand hype.
We deal with A LOT of MIJ guitars and MIJ Fender in particular. Personally still think pretty highly, but that's really lame of them to respond like that
my MIJ strat's QC issue is the horn strap button was angled(from the top down view), I unscrew the button only to find out they drill the hole not straight in, really disappointed because I have high hope and this basic mistake is just unbearable, look like some uneducated luthier drill the hole on purpose to make it bad. @@aflashfloodofgear
@@bryanchan420fender American has super low standards too my friend, , bought my dream bass Jazz Bass ultra 5 from sweet water, factory set up was unplayable, sharp frets, glue on the board, and when I took it out of the case for the first time… the G-string popped off , we live in a society where nobody and I mean NOBODY takes any pride in their work anymore , its just a job.
I agree. If you play a Japanese Ibanez it immaculate, but I’ve played three or four MIJ Fenders and not really thought they were much different quality wise to a Mexican Fender.
That paint-by-numbers design layout is kind of stale. It would have been cool if they incorporated the actual instruments into some of the design choices and color schemes, patterns, etc. instead of just against stagnant white walls. 🤷♂️ maybe this is just the artist/musician in me
Great work touring the guitar shops around Tokyo. Love the advice and commentary, but your filming and editing sucks - slow down, you can’t really take anything in as you’re panning too fast! Sort it out for the next round 😂
leo Fender is doing 1000 RPM in his grave, he would not have ever opened a flagship store in a foreign land full of people that hate us! Fender is AMERICAN, Gibson did it right by opening their store in the heart of music city, another reason to like Gibson more than fender.
@@iked3702 I can see the idea of wanting to be American made and everything but if you are blind to see the competition or just too confident in thinking you are the best and can charge whatever price you want for an instrument then that will get you in trouble. There are several Japanese brands that I will look at first before even considering Gibson based on quality and price. I have been looking for a 335 style guitar for many years with details that would be next to impossible to do with Gibson. I wanted a 335 with a spruce top and a single pickup in the neck position. Wouldn’t you know that I found one here in Japan and I found that I also had the option of making a custom order if I wanted for a more reasonable price than a Gibson. The world is getting smaller and if your a company that sells globally, you need to constantly be in touch with your customer. Fender is doing this and hiring people who not only specialize in music but also lifestyle and fashion in their corporate offices.
Thanks for visiting the store! We spent a lot of time and effort designing and building the store. Great Video and glad you enjoyed it. You definitely understood the sense and the sensibility of the store. Edward Bud COLE - President APAC Fender.
The store is fabulous - a must see for any musician visiting or living in Japan!!
Secret Keeper European/Canadian tour with some guitar shopping in the future? Your Japan videos are always my favorite. Can't wait to see more!
I oddly liked that all white one.. Weird. The green tele was sick too..
Im hooked !!! You guys 🤘🏻… I live in Montreal Quebec Canada and I wish we had , vintage selling instruments. We have some cool stores, but they all shares mostly big brands and all. Every mom and pop shops closed because of the big chain’s store. It’s hard for them to compete price wise. Keep the good work❤❤❤❤
Growing up with a MIJ Westone Spectrum LX (198MBK). I could never appreciate any guitar without lockdowns & fine tuners on the tremello/vibrato. It is cool to see the Tom Morello Stratocaster Black!!! It's about time they build a serious axe!!!
This video just randomly came on in the back ground and as I looked up I saw the Blue Tom Delonge Strat on display. The day before I presume you went and filmed this video, the Yellow was hung on display here above it and I bought it on my trip over there. 2 days after, I went and bought the Blue off display so you must of been there the day in between so the blue strat in the video is mine!
Random! Great channel though and have subscribed
Amazing store! Wish they’d open one like this in the US maybe in Corona or Austin
Green is my favorite color, so I was digging that one too. All it needed was a matching headstock!
Awesome having Jeff Beck be the background music
Those Tele MIJ are 👏👏🏻👏🏽
Ps: nice video as always!
Kinda eerie hearing Madison Cunningham's voice announcing the Vintera II while you filmed outside. If you aren't familiar you guys should check her out, incredible guitarist and songwriter.
That basement! Wow
What a fantastic video Alex have a good weekend ❤😊
I lean towards red but that Green tele really looked good.
TURN IT UP!
I have a Sterling Albert Lee model in Sherwood Green and it's a treat!
Never seen a bound strat before, that’s cool.
Fender made a prototype double-bound Strat in the mid ‘60s, with a zebrawood top and pearloid block fretboard inlays, but it never made it into production.
I went there and played a 56 Custom Shop Journeyman Strat. Loved it but the pricing was way higher than here in the states. Over there even after the no tax and strong US dollar the guitar was cheaper to buy here in the US so i had to pass on it. I was surprised it was so expensive there-880,000 yen.
yea the made in usa are more expensive there while the made in japan are more expensive here in my experience
Turn it up ❕
Cool content , Cheers from Baritone Cult in Michigan ⭕️
I got a cosmic green player plus and I love it so much, the one you got makes me so jelly.
Really like the vibe of your video's. Since were all learning, the movement of the camera makes it hard to focus. greetings from Aruba.
Going on July
Great vid
Cool video well done.
Good choice.
Man oh man i wish i had enough money to get something from fender japan..awesome..
You’re right in saying the nitro is sprayed over a thick polyurethane coat. So it’s not really nitro. It’s essentially a standard polyurethane guitar with a participation trophy nitro top coat.
On my bucket list. Thanks for taking us along. Peace
i bought my first strat from here just after the store opened. i then found the same strat from ikeba gakki a few weeks later for way cheaper, with better aftersales support. its way overpriced compared to other stores in the area
I want fender squire one
Did you bring back some merch for the site, i’ll take a fender Tokyo shirt in large pls 😉
Amazing!!!
Need some of their t-shirts. It’s unlikely I’ll ever make it to Japan, though. 🙁
Alex if you can bring back t shirts next time a sell them thru your shop not reverb you would do really good. There’s no way to get a Fender Tokyo shirt in the USA
it's friday babyyyyyyyyy
Makes me MADLY miss Tokyo. Gotta get back to Japan in the next couple of years
I’ve thought for years that Fender Japan has cooler guitars than Fender USA does. In the late ‘90s I saw a thinline Tele on the Fender Japan website with a standard Tele bridge pickup, a Tele neck pickup in the middle position, and a Wide-Range humbucker in the neck position. It was apparently only available in Japan-I contacted Fender to see if they could get me one, and they couldn’t do it. I’ve seen some killer guitars come out of Fender Japan-I used to have a Japanese Fender Rosewood Tele that was better than any of the early ‘70s American ones I’ve tried. (all two of them.) Did Fender Japan ever make an Electric XII reissue? It’s a moot point now-I’ve got a 2019 Mexican one.
Those of you who have purchased guitars/basses from Japan - what was the best method of getting them back home? Did you ship them back or check them in when flying?
LETS GOOOOOOOOO!
Block inlay jag grab that one.
A Real nice ESP.....wink & a nod to Santa 🎅 Clause. Maybe an Orange one..
Hot Saki ❕
It's actually insane when you compare fender vs gibson flagship stores. I love them both but its wicked to see fender kinda gravitate towards a younger audience compared to gibson. The gibson garage opened here in london and it was great and all but it didn't hit the vibe of trying to attract young people like how you see there at fender tokyo.
Totally agree with all of this!
Is no one going to mention that $1,000,000 custom shop?
Absolutely wild isn't it?
Haha, you beat me to it. That was the one I was going to mention as my "favourite" or at least most astounding guitar in the video. What a piece and price. Insane.
hating the silent siren signatures is crazyyy
Brian may have hated the Tele, but I still brought back one of the Surf Green silent siren jazz basses! - Alex
@@aflashfloodofgear good man, good man!
Miles more interesting that the Gibson exhibits
Toe ok o for me o lets go go..
Grimace Flake
Fender Japan has gone lower and lower standards for their Made in Japan line, I recently bought a brand new traditional and got problems and contact the Fender Japan, they just reply with "within criteria" kind of bull crap. Don't get into the brand hype.
We deal with A LOT of MIJ guitars and MIJ Fender in particular. Personally still think pretty highly, but that's really lame of them to respond like that
my MIJ strat's QC issue is the horn strap button was angled(from the top down view), I unscrew the button only to find out they drill the hole not straight in, really disappointed because I have high hope and this basic mistake is just unbearable, look like some uneducated luthier drill the hole on purpose to make it bad. @@aflashfloodofgear
@@bryanchan420fender American has super low standards too my friend, , bought my dream bass Jazz Bass ultra 5 from sweet water, factory set up was unplayable, sharp frets, glue on the board, and when I took it out of the case for the first time… the G-string popped off , we live in a society where nobody and I mean NOBODY takes any pride in their work anymore , its just a job.
I agree. If you play a Japanese Ibanez it immaculate, but I’ve played three or four MIJ Fenders and not really thought they were much different quality wise to a Mexican Fender.
If you want the best Japanese guitars ever made ....it's Fujigen. And esp.
That paint-by-numbers design layout is kind of stale. It would have been cool if they incorporated the actual instruments into some of the design choices and color schemes, patterns, etc. instead of just against stagnant white walls. 🤷♂️ maybe this is just the artist/musician in me
Left-handed 12 string takamine $$$$ not pro series.
I don’t know. Is it just me but none of those Japan made Fender’s impressed me!
Great work touring the guitar shops around Tokyo. Love the advice and commentary, but your filming and editing sucks - slow down, you can’t really take anything in as you’re panning too fast! Sort it out for the next round 😂
lfg
An opportunity to view a store which we've all heard about ruined by poor footage & shoddy camera work, bummer.
leo Fender is doing 1000 RPM in his grave, he would not have ever opened a flagship store in a foreign land full of people that hate us! Fender is AMERICAN, Gibson did it right by opening their store in the heart of music city, another reason to like Gibson more than fender.
I think your confusing the Japanese with the Chinese.
maybe if gibson considered other countries their guitars wouldn't be as utterly shit as they are
@@iked3702 I can see the idea of wanting to be American made and everything but if you are blind to see the competition or just too confident in thinking you are the best and can charge whatever price you want for an instrument then that will get you in trouble. There are several Japanese brands that I will look at first before even considering Gibson based on quality and price. I have been looking for a 335 style guitar for many years with details that would be next to impossible to do with Gibson. I wanted a 335 with a spruce top and a single pickup in the neck position. Wouldn’t you know that I found one here in Japan and I found that I also had the option of making a custom order if I wanted for a more reasonable price than a Gibson. The world is getting smaller and if your a company that sells globally, you need to constantly be in touch with your customer. Fender is doing this and hiring people who not only specialize in music but also lifestyle and fashion in their corporate offices.