MIJ always means best possible quality in the last 25-30 years for me. The culture still prides itself in giving a customer more than they spend. Thanks to those really hard working people. Thanks!
I favor the Japanese made more than MIM or USA fenders. When it comes to quality, you can’t beat the Japanese. Their attention to details is beyond compare. They are very consistent and they put passion when making things. It’s in their culture. Japanese=quality
ive been really depressed lately for god knows why but your videos make me really happy and i want to thank god for putting something as simple as a guitar channel on youtube into my life because your guyses videos really brghten my day
I have two Japanese strats, a 1990 ST62 from Fujigen and a 2015 Classic 60s from Dyna gakki. Build quality is great on both, with the Fujigen one being slightly heavier (both are basswood bodies I believe). The Japanese STD models from 2004-2012 aren’t as well finished however, but they are the cheapest in the model range.
I have 3 Greco guitars a super sounds from '79 a Super sound from '80 and a Super real les paul from 1980. These are keepers ! Also 2 Tokai goldstar sounds and a silver star. Also a e series Squier strat from 86. But the build quality of late 70s early 80s are some of the finest !
I got the gold tele and I will say it’s one of the best telecasters I’ve ever played and it requires no set up when I got it I was so amazed at how well it played out the box! Ironically I have the purple road worn 50s tele and this gold one is miles above it in quality! Not sure if I got a fluke or these Japanese fenders are all this nice but I recommend them to anyone
Nope, mine was the same. Fit and finish is above any Gibson I have. Action really low and slinky with no chokes or buzzes straight out of the box. Amazing.
@@ascott101 yeah my actions was perfect as well and the intonation is even spot on even with the 3 barrel saddles I was amazed at how well it was put together
Glad to see that they're back with FGN. I had a 90s Japanese Strat that was...fine, I guess? I've got one of the Mighty Jazz basses with EMGs and it is hands down the best instrument I own. FGN make incredible instruments.
I've been dead set on finding my dream triple single coil guitar in whatever form it may be out there, but that 50s strat honestly had the best tone I've heard in a very long time!
I am so jealous and pleased at the Captain's progress in playing. Technically, note choices and expression in improvising. Well done mate! I hope to do as well someday.
@@mikeg.9238 yeah, but he’s said in previous videos that his first love musically was drums, and that he didn’t pick up guitar seriously until later on
My 1993 MIJ 62 reissue strat, is the only guitar I've kept over the years, and will never sell. Bought it new in 93 with a student loan and still plays and sounds great.
These look great. Living in Japan I’ve owned a few Fender JV strats over the years. The 65s are good but the 85s and 115s are fabulous . My 1982 62-115 stands up to any Custom Shop strat I’ve played.
I just bought an 88 MIJ. 62 reissue. Got it here in the states, but it was brought to Seattle from Osaka when the original owner got it. Thing looked like it was straight off the production line. Turns out it has somewhere around 10 hours of play time in its whole life and basically just went up on a wall for years before sale. Best playing strat I have ever owned hands down! Only thing I wanted was a humbucker bridge, and fixed that with a simple swap for a mini humbucker in the bridge. I brought the thing to my tech just to get a second opinion and he straight up told me hold on to that thing with everything I have because they are some of the best strats in the world. Awesome and has replaced all but my Variax JTV59 for live playingf
Captain, the Tele 4 positions switch are: 1 bridge, 2 bridge+neck in paralel, 3 neck, 4 bridge+neck in series. I own one 51 Japanese Tele loaded with 4 way switch and Texas Specials pickups. I hope I could help a little. Cheers!
Trying that White Strat in store made me head straight home, take a few photos of my Gibson SG and sell it to go out and immediately purchase that white strat. It’s unreal
I have one of the original JV Serial Squiers from 1982. Came from the factory with Fullerton USA pickups and were visually very close copies of '57 and '62 Strats.
Oh yes, the original Squiers - badged Fender with Squier in small lettering underneath - were beautiful. Our rhythm guitarist had one in Salmon pink with a rosewood board. Glorious guitar. Even the drummer bought one.
I have always wanted a made in Japan guitar. The factory videos make it seem like they take great pride in what they do. Haven't tried one personally though but back in the 80's and 90's they were top notch
Basicly everything made in Japan is better.... I'm all for USA domestic but you take GM quaulty vs a toyta or honda made in Japan quaulty... GM gets crushed tenfold every. Single. Time!
@doctoribanez the early Fernandes STM50 revival series are super affordable & those are essentially the top tier MIJ Fender guitars that dont explicitly say Fender on the headstock.
Welp you pretty much take any American made/Mexico made guitar and give it to the Japanese to produce? You bet 99% of the time the over build quality is going to be superb.
@@eddieschpaghetticomer7325fr ppl dont realize how little wood matters. wood is only about preference and weight - it has little to no affect on sound. what matters is build quality , pick ups , fret size , and neck length. theres so much research on this and leo fender himself was aware hence his neurotic approach to every aspect of a guitar besides wood type. He settled on the most accessible and consistent he could find qc wise (ie alder , ash , and maple) and didnt think twice again. basically what im saying is japanese took it a step further w their attention to qc and detail. Basswood makes it lighter while still retaining the exact same sound u know and love from a strat meaning shredding longer and harder >:0
My 1983 Squire. Sq 70s 3 bolt strat is better than my 96 American Std so Japanese absolutely make great stuff . Also I play my 90 Yamaha Pacifica 721 more than both ..but this 50s Jv is incredible ...it just works for me and makes me feel like I'm playing better.inspires riffs melodies..I love it
They sound really great. they sound like a tele sounds, like a strat should sound, but seriously you couldn't plug straight from the guitar into an amp instead of what are their 30 pedals? I'd rather hear the guitars straight, especially when the topic is guitars.
i bought and sold many japanese strats in the hunt for the perfect guitar and I've always regretted selling them! Also the basswood ones sounded great to me. Always had perfect set up, low action never a buzzing string or fret and great sound and looks
I can't speak to the modern MiJ Fenders, but I own three identical MiJ Fender Stratocasters (1 from '85, 2 from '86) and they are the best playing guitars I've ever owned. They are incredibly stable and hold tune for what seems like months at a time.
I live in LA california was lookng for a Sire Left handed Bass and i found the one i was looking for on the anderton online shop i ordered 4 days ago the bass was the next day already in NY and today it came to me. Perfect packed and i am just blown away. Freaking 4 days from the United Kingdom to Los Angeles. Wow I am so happy the Bass is top thank you so much.
Yes I just got one and it has great tone, beautiful neck (slightly smaller soft V). The neck - to my touch- is not quite like an American Soft V - but slightly smaller. It is more like between a deep C (American Professional 2 Strat) and an American V. But I am not complaining - I really love it. It's light - feels very player friendly. This neck and the deep C neck on the American Professional 2 have, are the best feeling necks to me. The soft V on this model having truss rod access at the top and not heel of the strat is a prayer come true! I think the price should be closer to 1100 than 13- but....I think it is worth having. I also think that as experienced as these guys are, to say they cannot tell the difference between the JV and an American Standard, Professional or Professional 2 is a bit ridiculous. But it excellent in it's own right. The only other criticism I have on the guitar is that I thought the finish could be better. My JH signature MIM strat has a much nicer Olympic White finish on it than the JV MOD. The JH strat was also less expensive. But again - it is worth buying for 200 or 2 something.
The Japanese make EXCELLENT Fender guitars. My old Fender 72' Pawn Shop guitar was PERFECT. I just did not like the pickups and sold it for something I really wanted. Bought it for $520. Sold it For $850. Edit: And me selling my original 80's white Japanese Squire was the DUMBEST thing I ever did. But I was young...and dumb.
I got two Fujigen Fenders(left handed), a lake placid blue precision bass with matching headstock and a 62’ reissue jazz bass. Absolutely one of the best basses I have hands down.
I have owned two Japanese Telecasters for a few years. One was about $1100 and the other around $1450 when I bought them new. In tone and quality, "Yes" they are both superior to the highest-end Mexican Teles or the lower-end American Teles. Unquestionably. And, Man, do they like being played through a classic Fender tube amp, such as the VibroLux, Super Reverb, or Bassman.
I have an 80's MIJ 57 reissue and yes they are excellent. When I originally bought it I tried about 10 US strats, but the MIJ one had an amazing resonance which the US ones didn/t. Whatever they did in their factory it worked.
Wow! These are great! I’m pleasantly surprised to hear that the Fujigen factory is back in action! I just sold a 94 Ibanez sound gear bass regrettably a couple months ago.. premium quality instruments no question about it.
Without a doubt, MIJ guitars are incredibly well made, whether Fender, Fernandes, Greco etc, used prices are really going up. I have not tried one of the newer ones.
And I got it plekked by sweet water so it’s like top notch bro Only thing I’ve had to change was I got a bigger trem block with a push in bar cause I stripped my bar (Thankfully it didn’t snap)
One thing I want to clarify. Fender didn't start making guitars in Japan in 1982. They made a deal with Japanese instrument maker FujiGen to make guitars FOR Fender. Fender ended that deal in 2015 when they started making guitars in their own factory in Japan. Oh, and when CBS executives got their hands on the FujiGen-made guitars, they knew they could not compete with Japan in the value-priced musical instrument space. That's when CBS began shopping Fender around. That's how good they were.
As a Baja tele player for the last 15 years, I'm pretty sure Lee got the electronic layout all wrong. The first position forward is both pickups in series. The second position is the neck...the third is both with the regular tele sound, and all the way back is the bridge. You can only get the out-of-phase when both pickups are engaged. There is a very noticable difference between the two out of phase sounds, with the front sound being very useable, and the middle - not so much, but you need a little more volume to hear it. (maybe they fixed that on the new ones) Great looking guitars though.
From fender vids, he got the positions right but you’re corrct on the pull-out mod, it should only act on the combo. Idk how they got the different sounds on?? Weird 🤔
@@diegoschwartz3519 the Fender vid I saw also had the wrong description! It was clearly wrong just from the sounds delivered. The wiring is the same as the Baja. I mean logically , how can you get a quacky out of phase sound in pos 4 (closest to neck) from a single coil alone? Pos. 4 is both pickups in series.
OH wow that intro riff!!! didn't expect to return to the channel i watch every day and have you become some of my new guitar inspirations, got to get some of that tropical defence
I just picked up a 2013 MIJ Fender ltd edition 1 of 25 apparently, 62 vintage "dragon" strat. Believe me when I say I have had them all from American standards to deluxe to the custom shop Eric Clapton strat for 4500 bucks as well as Mexican made ones galore! I have never played a better guitar ever and that includes all the Gibson vintage originals or reissues or custom shop versions I've had too. The fit and finish and the neck shape on this beautiful strat is stunning! And the sound of these pickups are the nicest I've heard on anything! I play fingerstyle guitar including all styles like jazz, Chet Atkins, Classical, fusion, blues and rock and whatever else is out there, and the clarity of each note on every string on any fret is indescribable! The separation of each note is so distinctive especially when I play complicated quick tunes like Classical Gas, for example...yes I know....ON A STRAT ...your asking? Yes, even on this strat the clarity of each note is just exceptional! I just can't say enough about these MIJ Fenders. This one will never leave me!!! If you are thinking about picking an MIJ up, don't hesitate! You will never regret it.
Maaaaannn That’s what we loveee HUGE INTROS, playability on spot, listen how you fight with those species. Yo made my day in those first three minutes 🙌🏻… Thanks for that 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I got one of the first 700 units of the 50’s strat and WHAT A GUITAR. It’s really nice having the humbucker and the coil split options. It’s a Swiss Army knife guitar. It’ll do anything. Highly recommend.
I wish I could post pictures of my Fender Strat,and P bass. The first JV were all Squires then to Stratocaster The Strat has a 57 maple neck E series on a 62 JV body. I had switched out the pups to 54 scatterwound ( hand wound ) specs,three CTS 250 k pots,four caps,push back cloth wiring,CRL toggle,Callahan steel term block,Switchcraft 1/4 inch,totally shielded with no cuts in the wood to keep the integrity of the period. Point being I can go from a Strat to a Tele sound. The guitar was made by Fugi Gen of course. It’s NOT a partscaster. The guitar was made with what they had from Fender USA machinery the Fender sent to Japan when Fender was moving from Fullerton to Corona in 1983-4 . My first Strat was a 59 - I’m 76 years old now. I remember when my dad bought me that Strat - sunburst,maple neck with tweed case. The guitar had been in the store for quite some time, as I got it new in 1961 . The retail price was $300. The P bass I only changed the pups,wiring,and Bourne pots. Also 57-62 configuration. When people start to really become aware of these early eighties Fugi Gen Fenders the prices will really start to peak. The Teles are already on parity price wise to the American Teles. Reverb is the best place to go. The one mistake in my opinion is when they put those bloody Floyd Rose trems on some.
I believe you got the 4 way switching wrong, position 1 is still bridge, 2 is still both neck and bridge parallel, 3 is neck and 4 is neck and bridge in series
I bought a Japanese Fender stratocaster back in 1986...... Sill have it.......played it for 20 years......it was made as well or better than any American stratocaster that I own.......love that guitar..... I wore out the bridge from resting my hand on it.....it was a Kahler bridge..... I found one 20 years later and had it replaced......it needs a fret job but it's a great guitar.......all black with a black headstock and rosewood neck.....paid $450.00 for it......has a humbucker in the bridge with a coil tap switch.....great sounding pick-ups too......
I had a Fender Strat I bought around 1990 in olympic white and ran it through a crappy Holmes amp. Sold it to move out on my own in my late teenage years. They have always caught my eyes, but man, this one appears superb.
I just got the gold Tele and it’s amazing. This is my 3rd double bound MIJ Fender Tele, along with a Midnight ‘60’s Traditional Tele and a ‘90’s Custom Tele and they are fantastic guitars. They look great, play and sound great and the workmanship on them is as good as it gets.
@@Noumenon4Idolatry Alto Music…not sure if these are available in a lefty, though (I could be wrong, but my brother is a lefty and my guess is he’d already have one if they did)
the same, i fell in love as soon as i tried it in the shop. I played the PRO2, the ULTRA, the VINTAGE seires and so on but this one just felt incredible. Both for sound and for playability, wich was the reason i took her instead of the american vintage (that's also a great guitar, but the neck is less comfortable to me)
I recently got a fender noir made in Japan. It’s the best strat I’ve ever bought. No set up required. It’s was perfect out the box with immaculate build quality. I won’t own an American strat because the Japan and Mexican are too notch.
It'd be interesting to see a comparison of these Japanese Fenders, Mexican Player Plus and low-end American ones taht are all in a similar price range!
All I want is that HSS strat with some changes. Plastic: Black knobs Finish: Black Pickguard: black 3 ply Fretboard: Rosewood Neck: Same sized headstock, 21 frets Pickups: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 in black, two white single coils I basically want the Kurt Cobain black "Vandalism" Strat (minus the Feederz bumpers sticker as I already have one of those.)
I love MIJs ....so well put together and they are a quality Fender product. BRILLIANT VALUE FOR MONEY!!I I own a few and buy them in preference to MIMs. I rate them as good as the Fender USA standard product...perhaps even better put together. These are great too.
Captain got the pickup positions VERY wrong on that tele. Bridge is in the same position as normal, all the way down, position 1. Position 2 is both as normal, Position 3 is neck as normal. Position 4 is the one being added - both in series. Pete nailed it. Its the same in both teles! :)
We need nitro on more affordable models! I was torn between this and a nitro vintera but think I’d go for the vintera despite the Japanese build quality. Olympic white with nitro please 😊🤞
@@rexrathtar3893 There’s a 60s vintera strat in vintage white with nitro and sss but the vintage white is border line yellow, quite like it all the same
One of my favorite Strats was Japanese - it came with a Squire logo on it. That was back then when the standard American Strat came with output socket on the scratchplate.....Ugh. Pete.
I did a blind test of Strats for a buddy who was just starting off playing guitar and wanted my opinion. He just handed me Strats until I tried à MIJ ´62 Reissue Foto Flame, this was in ‘96 and I told him, you have to buy this. He did. He eventually gave up playing guitar but guess who bought his Strat? Still have it after all these years.
To my understanding The captain’s description about the pickups wasn’t quite accurate about the gold tele. I believe it’s as follows Pos 4 both pickups in series Pos 3 neck Pos 2 both pickups in parallel Pos 1 bridge
As primarily a Les Paul player, and in particular 50s style LPs with fatter necks, which strat net would likely be most similar in feel to a 50s LP? I did have an American Fender Roadhouse strat that I got in the 90s but I sold it a few years back, the neck was definitely too thin for my liking. Would like to get a strat again sometime, preferably in olympic white but one that has a more substantial neck. Thanks!
I have a Japanese Jazzmaster neck with binding and block inlays! It was made in 2007 and is one of the best Fender necks I’ve played over the last 50 years!
I love the strat white, but... around 20 yeas ago I bought in Spain a japanese strat Hondo brand for around $200 wonderful built, It currently has Fender pickups, CTS pots, brass bridge, and it sounds wonderful, nothing to envy a Fender Strat.
Have the 50’s tele and have felt no reason to change anything but strings. Might pick up a strat too.. I cant tell the difference between basswood and alder. Plays and sounds great stock. Out of the box.
I know it’s not a Fender but I’ve an 84 Ibanez Roadstar (Back To The Future ) and it’s great , made in the same factory I think . Looking for a real Strat I struggled to find anything better and recently tried a second hand 60s reissue Japanese Fender Strat and it was so great ! A lot of players switch the pickups out though which puzzles me 😟
Although it’s a Squire, I have a perfectly good Telecaster .. sounds great, plays great, double bound. There’s no way I can responsibly justify another monthly payment right now. Yet I’m drooling over these JV options. If I were to get another guitar now, arguably a thinline Tele, or an SG, or a DC, or a casino would make more sense. But dang, show me a Tele with a V neck profile and that is just about my perfect guitar. Add in vintage tuners, brass barrel bridge saddles, more versatile wiring and Fender has put together most of my preferences at a great price point. If I can find one of these JV necks for sale, that would soften passing on these options. Otherwise they are on my list to acquire second hand down the road.
I think you may have mixed up the pickup switching on the 60s Tele. From bottom to top, Fender's website lists it as 1. Bridge, 2. Neck/Bridge in Parallel, 3. Neck, 4. Neck/Bridge in Series.
I don't think the phase switch explanation was right- phase is only a concern when waves are mixed; on a guitar that's two (or more) pickups selected and then it's either deliberately or accidentally wired out of phase for the hollow, quacky sound.
Both these build qualities are surprisingly very great superb quality and not just for their orice point !! I own ALL of them and ..am the most happiest camper i. the world to say the least . Great great Job J.V. !!!!!! Kuddos !!
I have a 1987-1988 e-series white strat MIJ but it has a maple fingerboard over top the maple neck. It has a Hendrix tone to it and a narrow neck which is what Hendrix preferred so it is a Hendrix like design. It is really nice. I also have a 1986 Lake Placid blue strat also e-series MIJ with a rosewood fingerboard. Neither have a skunk stripe in the neck. It is hard to say with I prefer.
Okay, dudes, great sounds there. But what's on the floor in front of you? Are we listening to guitars or to various stomp boxes? And what if you'd pick any other Strat or Tele? Would they sound much different?
I'm not an ESP owner or player any longer, but I have multiple Fujigen built Ibanez guitars and basses. I feel like like Fujigen and ESP Japan are making the best quality production guitars in the world right now. I have a USA Gibson LP Classic and it's pretty nice, but not quite as nice as the Japanese ESP Eclipses that I've owned and played.
MIJ always means best possible quality in the last 25-30 years for me. The culture still prides itself in giving a customer more than they spend.
Thanks to those really hard working people.
Thanks!
I got a MIJ last year and it's the best guitar I own!
mij, or crafted they are different factories...
MIJ means for me: great quality control for whatever they make. Design wise it’s a copy from US or European products but better engineerd.
I have a MIJ Fender Aerodyne bass, incredible Bass for the money and always my go to gig bass.
As a 80’s Fernandes owner I agree.
I favor the Japanese made more than MIM or USA fenders. When it comes to quality, you can’t beat the Japanese. Their attention to details is beyond compare. They are very consistent and they put passion when making things. It’s in their culture. Japanese=quality
I'd seriously have to be extremely hands down honest and do agree with you 110% !!! Enjoy' em man!! 💜👍👍👍👍😁
ive been really depressed lately for god knows why but your videos make me really happy and i want to thank god for putting something as simple as a guitar channel on youtube into my life because your guyses videos really brghten my day
Back in the day the JV made fender's us builders cry when it arrived. It was better than they expected
I own many vintage Fujigen guitars. They’re fantastic guitars and meticulously built.
Agreed!!!!
I have two Japanese strats, a 1990 ST62 from Fujigen and a 2015 Classic 60s from Dyna gakki. Build quality is great on both, with the Fujigen one being slightly heavier (both are basswood bodies I believe). The Japanese STD models from 2004-2012 aren’t as well finished however, but they are the cheapest in the model range.
I have 3 Greco guitars a super sounds from '79 a Super sound from '80 and a Super real les paul from 1980. These are keepers ! Also 2 Tokai goldstar sounds and a silver star. Also a e series Squier strat from 86. But the build quality of late 70s early 80s are some of the finest !
I always go with Japanese Fender and have been for as long as I've been playing. Japanese Fender is the real deal. The quality is brilliant.
I got the gold tele and I will say it’s one of the best telecasters I’ve ever played and it requires no set up when I got it I was so amazed at how well it played out the box! Ironically I have the purple road worn 50s tele and this gold one is miles above it in quality! Not sure if I got a fluke or these Japanese fenders are all this nice but I recommend them to anyone
Nope, mine was the same. Fit and finish is above any Gibson I have. Action really low and slinky with no chokes or buzzes straight out of the box. Amazing.
Anything Japanese is usually miles above others in Quality.. Plain and simple always have been.....
@@ascott101 yeah my actions was perfect as well and the intonation is even spot on even with the 3 barrel saddles I was amazed at how well it was put together
MIJ was always on par with the US ones.
@@seanhershey3390 I’m aware but I’ve never received a usa made guitar or any guitar that played so well out the box
Glad to see that they're back with FGN. I had a 90s Japanese Strat that was...fine, I guess? I've got one of the Mighty Jazz basses with EMGs and it is hands down the best instrument I own. FGN make incredible instruments.
Shush
I've been dead set on finding my dream triple single coil guitar in whatever form it may be out there, but that 50s strat honestly had the best tone I've heard in a very long time!
And it plays awesome
Best playing guitar I have ever played
110% strongly agree and plays like warm butter too with all and everything in between !! Very happy for you man !!👍😊
Played the white strat today, and bought it almost immediately. Felt so good.
Love that “firemist” one with rosewood fretboard. As someone who’s shopping around for either a tele or a PRS, that one is tempting
I am so jealous and pleased at the Captain's progress in playing. Technically, note choices and expression in improvising. Well done mate!
I hope to do as well someday.
I think he'll be fine , isn't this his dad and his shop?
@@mikeg.9238 yeah, but he’s said in previous videos that his first love musically was drums, and that he didn’t pick up guitar seriously until later on
@@jordishima Ohh 👍
I purchased the 50’s JV Strat you demoed last and I love it. The humbucker in the bridge position makes it versatile too. Love the neck on it
My 1993 MIJ 62 reissue strat, is the only guitar I've kept over the years, and will never sell. Bought it new in 93 with a student loan and still plays and sounds great.
I bought a MIJ White Strat in 1984 and still have it and still play it...Great guitar
These look great. Living in Japan I’ve owned a few Fender JV strats over the years. The 65s are good but the 85s and 115s are fabulous . My 1982 62-115 stands up to any Custom Shop strat I’ve played.
I just bought an 88 MIJ. 62 reissue. Got it here in the states, but it was brought to Seattle from Osaka when the original owner got it. Thing looked like it was straight off the production line. Turns out it has somewhere around 10 hours of play time in its whole life and basically just went up on a wall for years before sale. Best playing strat I have ever owned hands down! Only thing I wanted was a humbucker bridge, and fixed that with a simple swap for a mini humbucker in the bridge. I brought the thing to my tech just to get a second opinion and he straight up told me hold on to that thing with everything I have because they are some of the best strats in the world. Awesome and has replaced all but my Variax JTV59 for live playingf
What’s the neck like on a 115? Looking at a 1992 115 but seeing different things online about whether neck is thick or thin
Captain, the Tele 4 positions switch are: 1 bridge, 2 bridge+neck in paralel, 3 neck, 4 bridge+neck in series. I own one 51 Japanese Tele loaded with 4 way switch and Texas Specials pickups. I hope I could help a little. Cheers!
Captain and Pete bringing the fire in the opening jam (as always).
Trying that White Strat in store made me head straight home, take a few photos of my Gibson SG and sell it to go out and immediately purchase that white strat. It’s unreal
O man! Awesome sounds on this olympic white large headstock Strat Mr. Pete! AWESOME!!!
I have one of the original JV Serial Squiers from 1982. Came from the factory with Fullerton USA pickups and were visually very close copies of '57 and '62 Strats.
Oh yes, the original Squiers - badged Fender with Squier in small lettering underneath - were beautiful. Our rhythm guitarist had one in Salmon pink with a rosewood board. Glorious guitar. Even the drummer bought one.
I have always wanted a made in Japan guitar. The factory videos make it seem like they take great pride in what they do. Haven't tried one personally though but back in the 80's and 90's they were top notch
Japan doesn’t export all of their guitars...I bet they hold the top stuff back...I’d like to go to Japan one day and hit the guitar shops!!!!
Basicly everything made in Japan is better.... I'm all for USA domestic but you take GM quaulty vs a toyta or honda made in Japan quaulty... GM gets crushed tenfold every. Single. Time!
@doctoribanez the early Fernandes STM50 revival series are super affordable & those are essentially the top tier MIJ Fender guitars that dont explicitly say Fender on the headstock.
Welp you pretty much take any American made/Mexico made guitar and give it to the Japanese to produce? You bet 99% of the time the over build quality is going to be superb.
Damn straight !! I 110% agree !!👍🦂🦂🦂🦂
It's mainly your build woods don't matter a whole lot !! It's YOU !! 70% and your electronics and Pickups !!! And ,,, NO more nor LESS !!!
@@eddieschpaghetticomer7325fr ppl dont realize how little wood matters. wood is only about preference and weight - it has little to no affect on sound. what matters is build quality , pick ups , fret size , and neck length. theres so much research on this and leo fender himself was aware hence his neurotic approach to every aspect of a guitar besides wood type. He settled on the most accessible and consistent he could find qc wise (ie alder , ash , and maple) and didnt think twice again. basically what im saying is japanese took it a step further w their attention to qc and detail. Basswood makes it lighter while still retaining the exact same sound u know and love from a strat meaning shredding longer and harder >:0
except in guitar necks and in acoustics@@8oichi
My 1983 Squire. Sq 70s 3 bolt strat is better than my 96 American Std so Japanese absolutely make great stuff . Also I play my 90 Yamaha Pacifica 721 more than both ..but this 50s Jv is incredible ...it just works for me and makes me feel like I'm playing better.inspires riffs melodies..I love it
They sound really great. they sound like a tele sounds, like a strat should sound, but seriously you couldn't plug straight from the guitar into an amp instead of what are their 30 pedals? I'd rather hear the guitars straight, especially when the topic is guitars.
i bought and sold many japanese strats in the hunt for the perfect guitar and I've always regretted selling them! Also the basswood ones sounded great to me. Always had perfect set up, low action never a buzzing string or fret and great sound and looks
The few Japanese Fenders I have played were awesome!
Japan build amazing guitars
I can't speak to the modern MiJ Fenders, but I own three identical MiJ Fender Stratocasters (1 from '85, 2 from '86) and they are the best playing guitars I've ever owned. They are incredibly stable and hold tune for what seems like months at a time.
I live in LA california was lookng for a Sire Left handed Bass and i found the one i was looking for on the anderton online shop i ordered 4 days ago the bass was the next day already in NY and today it came to me. Perfect packed and i am just blown away. Freaking 4 days from the United Kingdom to Los Angeles. Wow
I am so happy the Bass is top thank you so much.
I got the white Strat and it’s among the best guitars I’ve ever owned and I’ve had quite a few, from original MIJs to Custom Shops.
Yes I just got one and it has great tone, beautiful neck (slightly smaller soft V). The neck - to my touch- is not quite like an American Soft V - but slightly smaller. It is more like between a deep C (American Professional 2 Strat) and an American V. But I am not complaining - I really love it. It's light - feels very player friendly. This neck and the deep C neck on the American Professional 2 have, are the best feeling necks to me. The soft V on this model having truss rod access at the top and not heel of the strat is a prayer come true! I think the price should be closer to 1100 than 13- but....I think it is worth having. I also think that as experienced as these guys are, to say they cannot tell the difference between the JV and an American Standard, Professional or Professional 2 is a bit ridiculous. But it excellent in it's own right. The only other criticism I have on the guitar is that I thought the finish could be better. My JH signature MIM strat has a much nicer Olympic White finish on it than the JV MOD. The JH strat was also less expensive. But again - it is worth buying for 200 or 2 something.
The Japanese make EXCELLENT Fender guitars. My old Fender 72' Pawn Shop guitar was PERFECT. I just did not like the pickups and sold it for something I really wanted. Bought it for $520. Sold it For $850.
Edit: And me selling my original 80's white Japanese Squire was the DUMBEST thing I ever did. But I was young...and dumb.
I feel your pain. I sold my ‘69 Tele way back when to visit my girlfriend. Ouch is not the word for it!
I got two Fujigen Fenders(left handed), a lake placid blue precision bass with matching headstock and a 62’ reissue jazz bass. Absolutely one of the best basses I have hands down.
I have owned two Japanese Telecasters for a few years. One was about $1100 and the other around $1450 when I bought them new. In tone and quality, "Yes" they are both superior to the highest-end Mexican Teles or the lower-end American Teles. Unquestionably. And, Man, do they like being played through a classic Fender tube amp, such as the VibroLux, Super Reverb, or Bassman.
I have an 80's MIJ 57 reissue and yes they are excellent. When I originally bought it I tried about 10 US strats, but the MIJ one had an amazing resonance which the US ones didn/t. Whatever they did in their factory it worked.
I also have this model too ! 😮
Wow! These are great! I’m pleasantly surprised to hear that the Fujigen factory is back in action! I just sold a 94 Ibanez sound gear bass regrettably a couple months ago.. premium quality instruments no question about it.
That bend at 2:29 is just brilliant!! And the look on Pete and Lee's face after the dive bomb is priceless...🤣Awesome Job Lads!!🇨🇦🍻🇨🇦
2:29
Without a doubt, MIJ guitars are incredibly well made, whether Fender, Fernandes, Greco etc, used prices are really going up. I have not tried one of the newer ones.
I bought an FGM t style Iliad last year, their reputation for quality did not disappoint. It’s such a magic feeling guitar.
Played one of these 60s JV strats yesterday at a music store. They feel amazing, also extremely light!
Buy it bro I have the 60s strat and it’s become my number one
Better than my custom shop I got for getting straight as in honors
And I got it plekked by sweet water so it’s like top notch bro
Only thing I’ve had to change was I got a bigger trem block with a push in bar cause I stripped my bar
(Thankfully it didn’t snap)
One thing I want to clarify. Fender didn't start making guitars in Japan in 1982. They made a deal with Japanese instrument maker FujiGen to make guitars FOR Fender. Fender ended that deal in 2015 when they started making guitars in their own factory in Japan. Oh, and when CBS executives got their hands on the FujiGen-made guitars, they knew they could not compete with Japan in the value-priced musical instrument space. That's when CBS began shopping Fender around. That's how good they were.
As a Baja tele player for the last 15 years, I'm pretty sure Lee got the electronic layout all wrong. The first position forward is both pickups in series. The second position is the neck...the third is both with the regular tele sound, and all the way back is the bridge. You can only get the out-of-phase when both pickups are engaged. There is a very noticable difference between the two out of phase sounds, with the front sound being very useable, and the middle - not so much, but you need a little more volume to hear it. (maybe they fixed that on the new ones) Great looking guitars though.
From fender vids, he got the positions right but you’re corrct on the pull-out mod, it should only act on the combo. Idk how they got the different sounds on?? Weird 🤔
@@diegoschwartz3519 What Fender vid? I agree with Jac, I think Lee has it wrong. All the way back is the back pickup on its own, just like any Tele.
@@diegoschwartz3519 the Fender vid I saw also had the wrong description! It was clearly wrong just from the sounds delivered. The wiring is the same as the Baja. I mean logically , how can you get a quacky out of phase sound in pos 4 (closest to neck) from a single coil alone? Pos. 4 is both pickups in series.
OH wow that intro riff!!! didn't expect to return to the channel i watch every day and have you become some of my new guitar inspirations, got to get some of that tropical defence
the gold tele with bindings looks so good with rosewood board, its optical perfection
I just picked up a 2013 MIJ Fender ltd edition 1 of 25 apparently, 62 vintage "dragon" strat. Believe me when I say I have had them all from American standards to deluxe to the custom shop Eric Clapton strat for 4500 bucks as well as Mexican made ones galore! I have never played a better guitar ever and that includes all the Gibson vintage originals or reissues or custom shop versions I've had too. The fit and finish and the neck shape on this beautiful strat is stunning! And the sound of these pickups are the nicest I've heard on anything! I play fingerstyle guitar including all styles like jazz, Chet Atkins, Classical, fusion, blues and rock and whatever else is out there, and the clarity of each note on every string on any fret is indescribable! The separation of each note is so distinctive especially when I play complicated quick tunes like Classical Gas, for example...yes I know....ON A STRAT ...your asking? Yes, even on this strat the clarity of each note is just exceptional! I just can't say enough about these MIJ Fenders. This one will never leave me!!! If you are thinking about picking an MIJ up, don't hesitate! You will never regret it.
Maaaaannn That’s what we loveee HUGE INTROS, playability on spot, listen how you fight with those species. Yo made my day in those first three minutes 🙌🏻… Thanks for that 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I got one of the first 700 units of the 50’s strat and WHAT A GUITAR. It’s really nice having the humbucker and the coil split options. It’s a Swiss Army knife guitar. It’ll do anything. Highly recommend.
I wish I could post pictures of my Fender Strat,and P bass. The first JV were all Squires then to Stratocaster The Strat has a 57 maple neck E series on a 62 JV body. I had switched out the pups to 54 scatterwound ( hand wound ) specs,three CTS 250 k pots,four caps,push back cloth wiring,CRL toggle,Callahan steel term block,Switchcraft 1/4 inch,totally shielded with no cuts in the wood to keep the integrity of the period. Point being I can go from a Strat to a Tele sound. The guitar was made by Fugi Gen of course. It’s NOT a partscaster. The guitar was made with what they had from Fender USA machinery the Fender sent to Japan when Fender was moving from Fullerton to Corona in 1983-4 . My first Strat was a 59 - I’m 76 years old now. I remember when my dad bought me that Strat - sunburst,maple neck with tweed case. The guitar had been in the store for quite some time, as I got it new in 1961 . The retail price was $300.
The P bass I only changed the pups,wiring,and Bourne pots. Also 57-62 configuration. When people start to really become aware of these early eighties Fugi Gen Fenders the prices will really start to peak. The Teles are already on parity price wise to the American Teles. Reverb is the best place to go. The one mistake in my opinion is when they put those bloody Floyd Rose trems on some.
I absolutely love my CIJ Jaguar Special. The body and neck may as well be made out of one piece of wood.
Got my Mij hybrid Tele today, it is insane, USA pick ups, locking tuners, big frets with a thickish satin neck, plays like a dream👌
I believe you got the 4 way switching wrong, position 1 is still bridge, 2 is still both neck and bridge parallel, 3 is neck and 4 is neck and bridge in series
@@gondokingo3931 yes
Exactly! 👍🏻
i bought the firemist gold tele from Andertons yesterday and its awesome. The fit and finish is superb, and it is effortless to play.
"Firmest" Gold! One of my favourites, for sure. I think it came into the catalog in the same year as Purest Green.
I bought a Japanese Fender stratocaster back in 1986...... Sill have it.......played it for 20 years......it was made as well or better than any American stratocaster that I own.......love that guitar..... I wore out the bridge from resting my hand on it.....it was a Kahler bridge..... I found one 20 years later and had it replaced......it needs a fret job but it's a great guitar.......all black with a black headstock and rosewood neck.....paid $450.00 for it......has a humbucker in the bridge with a coil tap switch.....great sounding pick-ups too......
I’ve just bought the firemist 60’s tele. It’s flipping stunning. I LOVE it.
Same here 🤘🏼 Instantly became my favorite guitar
I had a Fender Strat I bought around 1990 in olympic white and ran it through a crappy Holmes amp. Sold it to move out on my own in my late teenage years. They have always caught my eyes, but man, this one appears superb.
I just got the gold Tele and it’s amazing. This is my 3rd double bound MIJ Fender Tele, along with a Midnight ‘60’s Traditional Tele and a ‘90’s Custom Tele and they are fantastic guitars. They look great, play and sound great and the workmanship on them is as good as it gets.
Where you buy it? I’m looking for a lefty. Thanks 🙏
@@Noumenon4Idolatry Alto Music…not sure if these are available in a lefty, though (I could be wrong, but my brother is a lefty and my guess is he’d already have one if they did)
@@HVA58
Thanks. I looked too and I didn’t see anything. Maybe I’ll restring one of the strats upside down. I like that gold tele though. 😄👍
@@Noumenon4Idolatry You are welcome, and thanks. Being a lefty and having to deal with limited choices stinks. 😖
the same, i fell in love as soon as i tried it in the shop. I played the PRO2, the ULTRA, the VINTAGE seires and so on but this one just felt incredible. Both for sound and for playability, wich was the reason i took her instead of the american vintage (that's also a great guitar, but the neck is less comfortable to me)
For me, that white guitar is nearly perfect, even the headstock I like. Good reviews gents
I recently got a fender noir made in Japan. It’s the best strat I’ve ever bought. No set up required. It’s was perfect out the box with immaculate build quality. I won’t own an American strat because the Japan and Mexican are too notch.
I wish they would add more colours
pete sure loved that flame in the two tone strat. can't stop looking at it. 😁 you know a guitar is georgeous when you just can't stop staring at it.
That opening jam was fire.
It'd be interesting to see a comparison of these Japanese Fenders, Mexican Player Plus and low-end American ones taht are all in a similar price range!
I love that white strat except I wish the body was ash instead of basswood.
Japanese Fenders are awesome. I picked up a limited edition black paisley Strat a few years ago. Plays like a dream and looks amazing.
Another totally excellent episode youz guyz!!! Thank you for the demos!!!
I appreciate the attention you always give to the neck. Thanks for that!
All I want is that HSS strat with some changes.
Plastic: Black knobs
Finish: Black
Pickguard: black 3 ply
Fretboard: Rosewood
Neck: Same sized headstock, 21 frets
Pickups: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 in black, two white single coils
I basically want the Kurt Cobain black "Vandalism" Strat (minus the Feederz bumpers sticker as I already have one of those.)
I have 3 Strats and 2 Telecasters all MIJ. Fantastic guitars!
I love MIJs ....so well put together and they are a quality Fender product. BRILLIANT VALUE FOR MONEY!!I I own a few and buy them in preference to MIMs. I rate them as good as the Fender USA standard product...perhaps even better put together. These are great too.
I have a 1968 fender japan white strat. The best thing I ever played and proud owner🙌
Captain got the pickup positions VERY wrong on that tele.
Bridge is in the same position as normal, all the way down, position 1.
Position 2 is both as normal, Position 3 is neck as normal.
Position 4 is the one being added - both in series.
Pete nailed it. Its the same in both teles! :)
We need nitro on more affordable models! I was torn between this and a nitro vintera but think I’d go for the vintera despite the Japanese build quality. Olympic white with nitro please 😊🤞
@@rexrathtar3893 There’s a 60s vintera strat in vintage white with nitro and sss but the vintage white is border line yellow, quite like it all the same
the finish on that sunburst strat is muy excelente
Every time I think of MIJ fender I am reminded of the Tele that got away. They are stunning.
One of my favorite Strats was Japanese - it came with a Squire logo on it. That was back then when the standard American Strat came with output socket on the scratchplate.....Ugh. Pete.
I have this 1995 CIJ tele that is probably one of the best guitars I've ever owned. The weight is fantastic and the quality just feels so good.
I did a blind test of Strats for a buddy who was just starting off playing guitar and wanted my opinion. He just handed me Strats until I tried à MIJ ´62 Reissue Foto Flame, this was in ‘96 and I told him, you have to buy this. He did. He eventually gave up playing guitar but guess who bought his Strat? Still have it after all these years.
I have a 2012 Japanese 62 reissue Tele and it's my favourite guitar. Outstanding craftsmanship without the American pricetag!
To my understanding The captain’s description about the pickups wasn’t quite accurate about the gold tele. I believe it’s as follows
Pos 4 both pickups in series
Pos 3 neck
Pos 2 both pickups in parallel
Pos 1 bridge
You can tell they are good, they definitely assisted the creativity of both players
I would buy MIJ before I bought anything MIM right now (no thank you, Pau Ferro), and probably over any US ones too....
As primarily a Les Paul player, and in particular 50s style LPs with fatter necks, which strat net would likely be most similar in feel to a 50s LP? I did have an American Fender Roadhouse strat that I got in the 90s but I sold it a few years back, the neck was definitely too thin for my liking. Would like to get a strat again sometime, preferably in olympic white but one that has a more substantial neck. Thanks!
great opening jam guys !!!! you guys are rocking it!!!
Pete....wow...that intro solo. Best. Yet. Amazing, way to sell these guitars. 🤓💪
I have a Japanese Jazzmaster neck with binding and block inlays! It was made in 2007 and is one of the best Fender necks I’ve played over the last 50 years!
been lusting after old ibanez japan stuff, glad fender are still doing the mij series.
That gold tele looks mega. I've got a 20 odd year old Japanese Jazz bass and the neck/fret work is better than any standard USA made Fender
Yes to the title without a doubt and without watching the video I prefer a JV over a Fender USA anyday.
I love the strat white, but... around 20 yeas ago I bought in Spain a japanese strat Hondo brand for around $200 wonderful built, It currently has Fender pickups, CTS pots, brass bridge, and it sounds wonderful, nothing to envy a Fender Strat.
Have the 50’s tele and have felt no reason to change anything but strings. Might pick up a strat too.. I cant tell the difference between basswood and alder. Plays and sounds great stock. Out of the box.
I know it’s not a Fender but I’ve an 84 Ibanez Roadstar (Back To The Future ) and it’s great , made in the same factory I think . Looking for a real Strat I struggled to find anything better and recently tried a second hand 60s reissue Japanese Fender Strat and it was so great ! A lot of players switch the pickups out though which puzzles me 😟
FIRMEST Gold, the most solid gold colour of all ;-)
Although it’s a Squire, I have a perfectly good Telecaster .. sounds great, plays great, double bound. There’s no way I can responsibly justify another monthly payment right now. Yet I’m drooling over these JV options. If I were to get another guitar now, arguably a thinline Tele, or an SG, or a DC, or a casino would make more sense. But dang, show me a Tele with a V neck profile and that is just about my perfect guitar. Add in vintage tuners, brass barrel bridge saddles, more versatile wiring and Fender has put together most of my preferences at a great price point. If I can find one of these JV necks for sale, that would soften passing on these options. Otherwise they are on my list to acquire second hand down the road.
The last lick of the intro jam has me cracking up. Pete plays something and they’re both like “… whoa wait a sec” lol
I think you may have mixed up the pickup switching on the 60s Tele. From bottom to top, Fender's website lists it as 1. Bridge, 2. Neck/Bridge in Parallel, 3. Neck, 4. Neck/Bridge in Series.
I like the 60’s models and, Lee, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your playing!
Lees joke about pulling the nob out “an ancient form of contraception” cracked me up
Damn cap, I really appreciate what you did with that opening jam
I don't think the phase switch explanation was right- phase is only a concern when waves are mixed; on a guitar that's two (or more) pickups selected and then it's either deliberately or accidentally wired out of phase for the hollow, quacky sound.
Both these build qualities are surprisingly very great superb quality and not just for their orice point !! I own ALL of them and ..am the most happiest camper i. the world to say the least . Great great Job J.V. !!!!!! Kuddos !!
I have a 1987-1988 e-series white strat MIJ but it has a maple fingerboard over top the maple neck. It has a Hendrix tone to it and a narrow neck which is what Hendrix preferred so it is a Hendrix like design. It is really nice. I also have a 1986 Lake Placid blue strat also e-series MIJ with a rosewood fingerboard. Neither have a skunk stripe in the neck. It is hard to say with I prefer.
Okay, dudes, great sounds there. But what's on the floor in front of you? Are we listening to guitars or to various stomp boxes? And what if you'd pick any other Strat or Tele? Would they sound much different?
I'm not an ESP owner or player any longer, but I have multiple Fujigen built Ibanez guitars and basses. I feel like like Fujigen and ESP Japan are making the best quality production guitars in the world right now. I have a USA Gibson LP Classic and it's pretty nice, but not quite as nice as the Japanese ESP Eclipses that I've owned and played.