Fujigen also made the best Orville by Gibson Les Paul Reissues between 1992 and 1995. They also made the high spec Ibanez guitars. Generally speaking, Japanese guitars are often very high quality. Look at the current Fender Japan guitars for example. Glad that our Japanese friends get the attention they deserve!
@@jackgreenwood1817 Totally agree with you. I wasn't looking to get a Gretsch, but a Synchromatic G400 acoustic archtop was offered to me as payment for some artwork I had done. I have had many high quality archtops over the years and the Gretsch is among the best. I put a floating mini-humbucker on it... so it's doing double duty and quite versatile. All solid woods, carved top, ebony board... as you say "Flawless".
So glad to see this. I've had my own white Masterfield Semi-Acoustic for several years and it has become my favorite semi-hollow guitar ever. The neck, action, and fretwork are particularly impeccable. Hope people fall in love with these the way I have.
These guitars are on the market for quite a while. Glad that you put these guitars in the spotlight they deserve. My masterfield (the red one) of the year 2011 is still going strong.
For string construction: -Roundwounds have a circular-shaped wire wrapped around the core. -Halfround/Groundwound strings share the same construction as roundwounds - with the circular-shaped wire wrapped around the core - but are then ground down (hence the name) to get a "worn in" feel, where it's halfway between roundwounds and flatwounds. -Flatwounds have a flat, metal ribbon that is wrapped around the core. -Tapewound strings share the same construction as flatwounds, but with flat, nylon ribbon wrapped around the (ferrous) metal core (still allowing them to work with magnetic pickups). If you haven't tried flatwounds in a while, the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds (cobalt strings) might be worth a shot - the bass versions (to my ear) retain the sound of roundwounds, but the feel of flatwounds. Doing a roundwound-to-flatwound comparison video would be great! (Compare D'Addario strings, Ernie Ball strings, Fender strings, etc.)
On the Japanese website, you can custom order the LP body with pickup covers and a few different paint jobs, and you can customise the knobs to the more traditional gold speed knobs. Interestingly, it comes with a different logo design when you do that.
I'm not sure how much you'd see them in the UK but I'm sure you're familiar with Godin. That EFL Single Cut really reminds me of a Canadian made Godin. That exaggerated upper horn, wider body, carve top, exposed pickups. Very Godin look (which are also criminally underrated guitars)
The 335’s have the mahogany sides and centre block all in one piece. They are truly exquisite. I’ve had one for a few years and love it. The pickups are fabulous as well.
The model names make sense when you consider they're simply abbreviations. MFA-FP = Masterfield Fully Acoustic - Floating Pickup = MFA-FP MSA-HP-C = Masterfield Semi Acoustic - Humbucking Pickup - Custom There's also an MSA-SP with P-90 Single coil pickups. Easy to remember when you know what the initials stand for.
I have 2 fgn guitars the odyssey standard hss strat, and the tele style ibuia finish with 2 seymour duncan humbuckers. I just love picking them up and playing them. Both are definitely keeper's. Amazing quality.
You should should check out some eastman guitars. Handmade in china (not a mass produced factory) custom shop quality for the price of standard instruments. And they sound KILLER!!
I was about to come comment this. They are the most competitively prices handmade guitars. I have an all acoustic non cutaway archtop AR905 and it is exquisite. Would have been over $10,000 if it said Gibson on the headstock. Real unsung brand in the mainstream still. And they make all styles of acoustic and electric.
Went to a jazz club in Taipei recently and saw the really good Kinya's Electric Bebop Band. They were playing really modern looking jazz hollowbodies and I could not figure out what the make was, but probably something like this. Jazz guitar is such and interesting and deep world.
Pete’s playing around 9:30 mark made me smile - nice one bro! Think I’m going to have to try one of these. Side note, I have flat wounds on a barky old Japanese Tele and they are phenomenally versatile!
Really enjoyed watching this episode, love to hear you guys jam, I agree with others Lee is getting better by the day, and Pete is well fan damntastic.
A cheap “flatwound” might be a ground down roundwound, but a true flatwound, though expensive is certainly not. It is tapewound, ribbon wound, whatever phrase you want, but is the ultimate string in my opinion. I’m sure FGN would not dream of putting crappy ground down cheap excuses for a flatwound on their guitars. What a scandalous suggestion if they did, the strings would smell of metal dust and feel dirty rather than silky smooth.
If you switch from Flat Wound Stings (with a flat wound 3rd string) to Round Wound strings, you'll need to use a set with a Round Wound 3rd string as well, otherwise you won't be able to intonate that string properly on the wooden bridge (no saddles). Another solution is to get a Tune-O-Matic bridge, which should sit on top of the wooden bridge Base. I did this on my Gibson ES-175, but went back to using Flat Wounds, as it better preserved the traditional Jazz sound.
Pete I’m stealing that albert king style lick of yours at 24:09 for my improv bucket lol. I loved that. I thought you were gonnna go all stevie-doing-albert when I heard the setup, but you went somewhere else entirely, really slick and classy lick. That was fire. I’m gonna use that in Althea. Right after my me-doing-garcia-in the BB Box style walk up to the chromatic pull off. I’m gonna answer it with my own bastardized version of your albert-goes-dutch lick
I have a '46 Gibson L7 with a floating pickup. I can really be quite loud and sit in front of my amp, and no feedback. You have to be very controlled with the amount of bass, use heavier strings and expect to play quite hard. Don't use the same gain as you would with a solid body that you expect to play lightly. I also switched from flatwounds to Monel strings (13s) - great sound, last for ages and you can hit them with a heavy pick and it plays great. I use flatwounds on a Tele and that slightly knocks the edge off.
15:30 Lee, "You can do whatever you like. We enjoy listening to you." I second that. (And I'd really like to have the Masterfield MFA-FP. maybe someday..._)
I was a 335 player for over 20 years. Until about 10 years ago I acquired an Ibanez JSM100 (made in the Fuji-Gen factory). Gibson does not even come close, not matter the vintage.
Please expand digital John from the digital sector!! Love you guys but I do think he would bring another level to these instruments! As always, thank you for the great content!
15" for the 335-style guitar I think is a great choice! I wish there were more 15" semi-hollows out there. I love my 339 and have found a 335 to be a bit too big for my preference, but I've wondered if I'd like something in-between even better. I very briefly played a Collings I-35 that indicated I might like a 15" guitar even better than the 339, though it's hard to know for sure without extensive playing. Unfortunately, $2,000 is outside of my price range for the foreseeable future, and that's near the low end for a non-standard size like 15".
The "335" style guitars are roughly the same size as the Collings I-35. An alternative to these guitars are the Eastman versions. I own a T-59/v and it's better than the dozen of so 335s/339s I played at my three local GCs. Anderton's stocks Eastman's, right?
Amazing video really i hope one day my dreams it comes true to play guitar in England its my dream when i was kid i listen uk songs i love England🎸🎸⭐🌟🌟🎸🎸🎸🏴🏴🏴
You could do an episode on the Yamaha acoustics.. I have a made in Japan AC5R acoustic concert solid wood guitar (Rosewood Back & sides, spruce top - I think). Have had Gibsons and Martins over the years, and I have to say I think my Yamaha is perhaps a better instrument at a fraction of the price. The fit and finish, material quality, playability, and sound are amazing. Mine has an on board pickup system that I'm so impressed with and I plug it directly into a 65 Fender Deluxe RI. I see what the big name American guitars cost these days and I just can't make sense of it. If you have a Yamaha franchise it would be great see what you think of them. Thanks. Love your videos.
2 questions guys - when is Pete's signature purple Duchess V4 amp getting officially announced (been in the background of videos for weeks now)? And where's your Kraken Mk2 video?
Pete’s purple V4 is identical to the white one - there are no plans to sell the purple one, it was just a gift to Pete. And Kraken V2 videos will be out soon - just waiting for the right people to around to film it.
I've had my sights on the MFA-FP for about a year now. It should be an upgrade from the GB10SE I have and really love. I would have to save and sell some guitars I already have. And also spend a few hours with the MFA-FP and an amp I know, just to see what it really feels like... who knows, maybe some day... Does anyone know how the neck compares go a GB10SE? And how much bigger is it to the GB10SE? Thank you!
If you are someone like me that likes to rotate through their guitars and try something different after playing your guitars for a while the downside of these guitars are the resale value which would likely drop significantly, and that's IF you can sell it at all. In Canada the cost in Canadian dollars is around $3200 - $3300. Don't think I'd want to drop that much on a guitar that I may never be able to sell and if I did it would be at a big loss.
None of that relic garbage today. Proud of you two kids for doing this guitar slinger stuff for us old goats. These are what panty remover is suppose to be like.
@@craigtodd8297 these guys are basic rock at best and have no interest in jazz or anything outside the boring guitar cliches you hear in every guitar shop
Given that these cost four times as much as their bottom-of-the-line Telecaster, it makes me wonder how Sire can get a 335 style out for the cost of a Telecaster.
My only beef is small but the spec says maple top when it should say maple cap. These days top can mean veneer. The EFL guitar sounds more LP than 90% of the Gibson LPs do. A great sounding LP should have a deep growl sound on the lower strings other wise it sounds like an SG. Nothing wrong with an SG but with an LP you should get an LP not just a LP shape with a lot of plastic ornamentation.
If Gibson made these Jazz Hollow bodies, they'd cost $10,000. If you tried to duplicate this by buying a used Gibson 175 or something like that, it cost $7000 or $8,000 and it wouldn't be as nice as this.
I've become an FGN fan just after trying it. Gibsons are in the past now for me. Price/Quality is amazing 🎉
I love Pete's playing, but this video needed Ariel Posen! Man, I miss having those two together!
same I bought my musicman because of them
Fujigen also made the best Orville by Gibson Les Paul Reissues between 1992 and 1995. They also made the high spec Ibanez guitars. Generally speaking, Japanese guitars are often very high quality. Look at the current Fender Japan guitars for example. Glad that our Japanese friends get the attention they deserve!
Fujigen is still making the high end Ibanez stuff out of their Matsumoto factory. Wonderful guitars
The Japanese Gretsch guitars are possibly the best quality guitars I have ever tried. Flawless.
@@jackgreenwood1817
Totally agree with you. I wasn't looking to get a Gretsch, but a Synchromatic G400 acoustic archtop was offered to me as payment for some artwork I had done. I have had many high quality archtops over the years and the Gretsch is among the best. I put a floating mini-humbucker on it... so it's doing double duty and quite versatile. All solid woods, carved top, ebony board... as you say "Flawless".
Love the jazz musings, Pete…How refreshing it is to hear an instrument that’s not on the typical “edge of breakup” tones…Cheers!
So glad to see this. I've had my own white Masterfield Semi-Acoustic for several years and it has become my favorite semi-hollow guitar ever. The neck, action, and fretwork are particularly impeccable. Hope people fall in love with these the way I have.
Man, Pete can do anything with that guitar... as long as he doesn't smell it too much and die
That FGN 335 style is probably the PERFECT size for one of those guitars. I love it. Sounds fantastic too. Fujigen makes such quality stuff.
It make a huge difference. I have one and it's much more comfy
These guitars are on the market for quite a while. Glad that you put these guitars in the spotlight they deserve. My masterfield (the red one) of the year 2011 is still going strong.
I played some FGN guitars when in Germany and they were fantastic!
FGN are bloody good! Top tier quality guitar from Japan that really work for me.
For string construction:
-Roundwounds have a circular-shaped wire wrapped around the core.
-Halfround/Groundwound strings share the same construction as roundwounds - with the circular-shaped wire wrapped around the core - but are then ground down (hence the name) to get a "worn in" feel, where it's halfway between roundwounds and flatwounds.
-Flatwounds have a flat, metal ribbon that is wrapped around the core.
-Tapewound strings share the same construction as flatwounds, but with flat, nylon ribbon wrapped around the (ferrous) metal core (still allowing them to work with magnetic pickups).
If you haven't tried flatwounds in a while, the Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds (cobalt strings) might be worth a shot - the bass versions (to my ear) retain the sound of roundwounds, but the feel of flatwounds. Doing a roundwound-to-flatwound comparison video would be great! (Compare D'Addario strings, Ernie Ball strings, Fender strings, etc.)
On the Japanese website, you can custom order the LP body with pickup covers and a few different paint jobs, and you can customise the knobs to the more traditional gold speed knobs. Interestingly, it comes with a different logo design when you do that.
That fretboard is gorgeous. Looks way better than my gibson es-335.
I'm not sure how much you'd see them in the UK but I'm sure you're familiar with Godin. That EFL Single Cut really reminds me of a Canadian made Godin. That exaggerated upper horn, wider body, carve top, exposed pickups. Very Godin look (which are also criminally underrated guitars)
Lee's playing, gets better every time he does a video. Great stuff guys.
I have a 2012 MSA P90 model that I’ve fitted with mini humbuckers. It’s awesome.
BOYS THAT LAST AXE WAS A MONSTER, THE BACK SHOULD STAY THE SAME FRONT WIGHT, LOVED THE VID.
The 335’s have the mahogany sides and centre block all in one piece. They are truly exquisite. I’ve had one for a few years and love it. The pickups are fabulous as well.
I agree I have one as well.
Great video. That Expert sounded amazing. I haven’t heard anything bad said about FGN, definitely on my to do list.
the first one is beautiful but the last one , FGN EXPERT FLAME EFL-FM-R, is the best rock gtr i've heard in years! MIJ are always the best
I own an FGN tele style…its my everyday player 👍
More jazz boxes please!
The model names make sense when you consider they're simply abbreviations.
MFA-FP = Masterfield Fully Acoustic - Floating Pickup = MFA-FP
MSA-HP-C = Masterfield Semi Acoustic - Humbucking Pickup - Custom
There's also an MSA-SP with P-90 Single coil pickups. Easy to remember when you know what the initials stand for.
The white one looks awesome with matching headstock .
Lee & Pete really enjoy your playing and reviews!
Always learn something new new
Very impressive guitars . A wide range of guitar styles with excellent sounds and quality. I want 1 or 2... maybe even 3!
I am really looking forward to Lee and Pete looking at the new 2024 PRS SE line up.
I'm Just in love with FGN Flame ! ❤
I have 2 fgn guitars the odyssey standard hss strat, and the tele style ibuia finish with 2 seymour duncan humbuckers.
I just love picking them up and playing them.
Both are definitely keeper's. Amazing quality.
Wow, Mr Pete can play some serious Jazz! Great guitars, great sounds!
aa..yes, joe pass never would touch a guitar again, if he heard this.
😂
Captain getting better and better every time
You should should check out some eastman guitars. Handmade in china (not a mass produced factory) custom shop quality for the price of standard instruments. And they sound KILLER!!
I was about to come comment this. They are the most competitively prices handmade guitars. I have an all acoustic non cutaway archtop AR905 and it is exquisite. Would have been over $10,000 if it said Gibson on the headstock. Real unsung brand in the mainstream still. And they make all styles of acoustic and electric.
Ugh... _anywhere_ but China
What are the factory conditions there?
FGN rules.bought my first FGN made Fender strat 1986....the only ”fender” i still have..
Wowsers... that cherry semi - I want.
Went to a jazz club in Taipei recently and saw the really good Kinya's Electric Bebop Band.
They were playing really modern looking jazz hollowbodies and I could not figure out what the make was, but probably something like this.
Jazz guitar is such and interesting and deep world.
Those are so sweet. The only Fujigen Gakki instrument I have is an early 70s semi-hollow bass.
Pete’s playing around 9:30 mark made me smile - nice one bro!
Think I’m going to have to try one of these.
Side note, I have flat wounds on a barky old Japanese Tele and they are phenomenally versatile!
Really enjoyed watching this episode, love to hear you guys jam, I agree with others Lee is getting better by the day, and Pete is well fan damntastic.
A cheap “flatwound” might be a ground down roundwound, but a true flatwound, though expensive is certainly not. It is tapewound, ribbon wound, whatever phrase you want, but is the ultimate string in my opinion. I’m sure FGN would not dream of putting crappy ground down cheap excuses for a flatwound on their guitars. What a scandalous suggestion if they did, the strings would smell of metal dust and feel dirty rather than silky smooth.
If you switch from Flat Wound Stings (with a flat wound 3rd string) to Round Wound strings, you'll need to use a set with a Round Wound 3rd string as well, otherwise you won't be able to intonate that string properly on the wooden bridge (no saddles). Another solution is to get a Tune-O-Matic bridge, which should sit on top of the wooden bridge Base. I did this on my Gibson ES-175, but went back to using Flat Wounds, as it better preserved the traditional Jazz sound.
Pete is making that sing.... I have a Yamaha FS5 Red Label. Made in Japan. It is awesome. Japanese guitars are really good.
We are Spinal Tap and this is 'Jazz Odyssey'.
The Captain truly nailed that intro
Pete I’m stealing that albert king style lick of yours at 24:09 for my improv bucket lol. I loved that. I thought you were gonnna go all stevie-doing-albert when I heard the setup, but you went somewhere else entirely, really slick and classy lick. That was fire. I’m gonna use that in Althea. Right after my me-doing-garcia-in the BB Box style walk up to the chromatic pull off. I’m gonna answer it with my own bastardized version of your albert-goes-dutch lick
Just when you think guitar designs or anything ! are almost impossible to improve .
In come the Japanese.
Looks and sound stunning
I love my Ibanez GB19 from 2002 it's my go to guitar
Fujigen guitars are not only great value, but some of the best guitars, period. My Ibanez AR2000vv is incredible.
I have a '46 Gibson L7 with a floating pickup. I can really be quite loud and sit in front of my amp, and no feedback. You have to be very controlled with the amount of bass, use heavier strings and expect to play quite hard. Don't use the same gain as you would with a solid body that you expect to play lightly. I also switched from flatwounds to Monel strings (13s) - great sound, last for ages and you can hit them with a heavy pick and it plays great. I use flatwounds on a Tele and that slightly knocks the edge off.
FGN jumps into the fray with Ibanez & Yamaha going for that ultimate Gibson Jazz Box aesthetic.
15:30 Lee, "You can do whatever you like. We enjoy listening to you." I second that. (And I'd really like to have the Masterfield MFA-FP. maybe someday..._)
Love that opening jam. Reminiscent of the Derek Trucks Band.
I've got an old tokai strat, plays very well.
amazing. I love it. FP is my goal now.
I really enjoyed that one. Well done, boys.
Nice guitars! Pete is such a great player..wow!
In Japan you can get it in black, blueburst, burgundyburst, tobacco burst, and natural and mine plays like a dream...
I've been waiting for you to play these.. love my p90 masterfield
Wow, Jazz fusion right here on an Anderton's video.
Guitarist: *Impressed by the top and string through body option*
Bassist: First time?
Lee _killing_ it on that 335-style one... nice video guys : )
The white one probably does not have the little carve in the headstock, because it is bound
I was a 335 player for over 20 years. Until about 10 years ago I acquired an Ibanez JSM100 (made in the Fuji-Gen factory). Gibson does not even come close, not matter the vintage.
Perhaps a blindfold test on 335 type semi-hollows is on the cards? These look fantastic.
Love that headstock!
21:36 the lick
Bought an FGN mythic and I can’t wait to get another lol
Please expand digital John from the digital sector!! Love you guys but I do think he would bring another level to these instruments! As always, thank you for the great content!
The Captain’s boots are throwing me off. Where are the Vans?! 😂
Probably got himself a new sponsorship deal 😂
15" for the 335-style guitar I think is a great choice! I wish there were more 15" semi-hollows out there. I love my 339 and have found a 335 to be a bit too big for my preference, but I've wondered if I'd like something in-between even better. I very briefly played a Collings I-35 that indicated I might like a 15" guitar even better than the 339, though it's hard to know for sure without extensive playing. Unfortunately, $2,000 is outside of my price range for the foreseeable future, and that's near the low end for a non-standard size like 15".
msa-hp c!🎉
The "335" style guitars are roughly the same size as the Collings I-35. An alternative to these guitars are the Eastman versions. I own a T-59/v and it's better than the dozen of so 335s/339s I played at my three local GCs. Anderton's stocks Eastman's, right?
The intro, first time I see Pete lost 😂
He wasn't, that's jazz baby
He wasn’t lost, he was purposefully playing outside the key.
Must have been watching a different video. Not lost, just exploring.
Amazing video really i hope one day my dreams it comes true to play guitar in England its my dream when i was kid i listen uk songs i love England🎸🎸⭐🌟🌟🎸🎸🎸🏴🏴🏴
It's a shame they had to change so many details for the non japanese market. The old LC10 was a beauty.
Id love to upgrade my semi, but this is a high-price point. Think I'll be looking at Ephiphones and Ibanezs.
You could do an episode on the Yamaha acoustics.. I have a made in Japan AC5R acoustic concert solid wood guitar (Rosewood Back & sides, spruce top - I think). Have had Gibsons and Martins over the years, and I have to say I think my Yamaha is perhaps a better instrument at a fraction of the price. The fit and finish, material quality, playability, and sound are amazing. Mine has an on board pickup system that I'm so impressed with and I plug it directly into a 65 Fender Deluxe RI. I see what the big name American guitars cost these days and I just can't make sense of it. If you have a Yamaha franchise it would be great see what you think of them. Thanks. Love your videos.
Don't mention Eastman . Andertons don't sell them.. But......
2 questions guys - when is Pete's signature purple Duchess V4 amp getting officially announced (been in the background of videos for weeks now)? And where's your Kraken Mk2 video?
Pete’s purple V4 is identical to the white one - there are no plans to sell the purple one, it was just a gift to Pete. And Kraken V2 videos will be out soon - just waiting for the right people to around to film it.
Nice to see more jazz boxes available. Gibson has removed many from their standard catalog.
I suppose because they cannot compete with better and cheaper offerings coming from Asia.
Love it 😍
Nice playing and unbelievably nice tones. Those guitars also look great. Excuse me, I have to go and rob a bank. Be right back.
Very nice guitars. Great demo too 👏
I've had my sights on the MFA-FP for about a year now. It should be an upgrade from the GB10SE I have and really love. I would have to save and sell some guitars I already have. And also spend a few hours with the MFA-FP and an amp I know, just to see what it really feels like... who knows, maybe some day...
Does anyone know how the neck compares go a GB10SE? And how much bigger is it to the GB10SE? Thank you!
hey guys, great vid. One question, can a regular luthier replace the cfs frets on these guitars?
msa-hp.....this will get my money easily.
I had the semi and it was so perfect it became boring, really. Was hard to sell later.
If you are someone like me that likes to rotate through their guitars and try something different after playing your guitars for a while the downside of these guitars are the resale value which would likely drop significantly, and that's IF you can sell it at all. In Canada the cost in Canadian dollars is around $3200 - $3300. Don't think I'd want to drop that much on a guitar that I may never be able to sell and if I did it would be at a big loss.
@@taylor12elementvb Exactly, unfortunately the brand name counts. The guitars themselves are very good to perfectionist good.
None of that relic garbage today. Proud of you two kids for doing this guitar slinger stuff for us old goats. These are what panty remover is suppose to be like.
Why would u want to retire ?? ur in heaven there !! lol
Well when someone sniff its guitar, you know for shure he is a big guitar addict !!!! (Pete's so funny).
would love to hear a jazz guitarist to test these
Dont you think they aught to be able to do a basic jazz standard. ?? its not a lot to ask for goodness sake. !
@@craigtodd8297 these guys are basic rock at best and have no interest in jazz or anything outside the boring guitar cliches you hear in every guitar shop
FGN stands for friggin' great (somehow 🤔).
Given that these cost four times as much as their bottom-of-the-line Telecaster, it makes me wonder how Sire can get a 335 style out for the cost of a Telecaster.
The intro jam is vaguely like Jazz...sounded kind of weird...enjoyed parts of the jam
Yep, value.. (in this dismal epoc)
My only beef is small but the spec says maple top when it should say maple cap. These days top can mean veneer. The EFL guitar sounds more LP than 90% of the Gibson LPs do. A great sounding LP should have a deep growl sound on the lower strings other wise it sounds like an SG. Nothing wrong with an SG but with an LP you should get an LP not just a LP shape with a lot of plastic ornamentation.
Are Eastman guitars a better value for the money than these guitars?
Man, Pete sounds awful playing jazz on that Hollow 😂, Pete is so amazing doing blues on his Tele, by the way!
They make better Les Pauls for 1,5k Euro than the Gibson custom shop.
If Gibson made these Jazz Hollow bodies, they'd cost $10,000. If you tried to duplicate this by buying a used Gibson 175 or something like that, it cost $7000 or $8,000 and it wouldn't be as nice as this.
"I should stop sniffing guitars" 😂