What happened to Fender's Japanese production?!?

[Suntory]

@Tajue17
Couldn't comment on the Mexican instruments but the Japanese basses looked first rate. I find when the Japanese do something they tend to do it right; with the exception of politics, then its almost third world.

[antontanzil]

Originally Posted by synaesthesia

Sorry that is not accurate at all.

Fender does not have a factory in Japan but uses several OEM subcontractors, as do others. There are many factories and OEM business does shift as in any industry. You mention no names.

North East Asian economies operate dual economies, countries like Taiwan, Japan, Korea have dual economies, viz. they have a domestic market and an 'international' market. Again, Fender MIJ was established for the high demand of the brand in Japan, primarily.

http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/index.html



The Fender MIJ products you get outside of Japan are mostly parallel imports, there was a time when they were exported but that has not been for the longest time their core business nor their remit.
There was a time when MIJ Fender was cheaper (in the 80s) and it was of some concern to Fender as an international market, I think the pricing has resolved itself now and offers some level of market protection.

Hmmmm....

Let's see about that, if there's no MIJ Fenders in the near future, that means my info is correct

I do hope they're still in business

[gleneg61]

Sorry Anton but as I live & play gigs in Japan, have the 2013 Fender Japan catalog in my hands now & do a quick check of all the major stores websites to see that by far the biggest inventory of available basses n guitars is Japanese Fenders, I think your info is incorrect. In 15 years here I've never seen another Asian made Fender in a store; Squiers yes, but never an Indonesian, Indian, Chinese or even Korean one. Only US & Japanese & as the MIAs are double the cost, Japanese Fenders reign supreme. Fender is by far the most popular brand here, revered like a demi-god so I can't see Fender Japan ever ceasing production, maybe paring it back if domestic demand drops but never stopping: in fact they've just introduced a new range of models while they have also stopped some other models & options but the market is still too big & other smaller companies & boutique makers would fail first, leaving less competition. Plus, import restrictions, local business protection & Japanese pride would also protect against ceased production. In Japan, name, history, quality & reputation is everything & Fender has that in spades here. The Fujigen factory is still going strong & actually producing Fender style guitars under their own brand but they are price pointed around the same cost as Fenders so...not viable competition as I see it. Anyway, here's hoping.

[antontanzil]

That's good news...

There are some 'bizzare' Japanesse Products that doesn't go outside Japan, the Fugijen Factory is still open, I know that... My supplier supplies parts for the 'mass product' Fenders, and that particular factory that made those series is closed. Only one factory.

So if a few other factories is still making Fenders only for the Japanesse Market or higher end series that is very possible, I worked at a Sadowsky Dealer once, and there are some Metrolines that is only sold in Japan, not even US dealers have them.

I pay a lot of respect for Japanesse people who valued (and pay) more of their homemade products compared to Import products, and I guess that's what keeps business going therem though there are some that doesn't survive.

[Red Planet]

Not sure about who makes what where and why but I can surely tell you this, I have owned countless numbers of Fender Guitars and Basses. The CIJ and MIJ instruments are far better that the USA units. Not sure why but all of the USA instruments I have had of recent vintage have been duds and all of the Japanese unit have been fantastic. All this coming from a MIA kind of guy. My CIJ's are wonderful pieces of gear, light, airy, snappy, resonant, toneful, soulful, and play extremely well. Oh well I guess I have made my point. Off to bed I go.

Pic of my 62 reissue CIJ.

[landau roof]

I was at the Guitar Center in Ventura or Oxnard or Camarillo or whatever the other day, and they had both a new Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller MIJ if anyone is interested. The Marcus was light and a great player. I really liked it.

[ShowLow]

Originally Posted by Red Planet

Not sure about who makes what where and why but I can surely tell you this, I have owned countless numbers of Fender Guitars and Basses. The CIJ and MIJ instruments are far better that the USA units. Not sure why but all of the USA instruments I have had of recent vintage have been duds and all of the Japanese unit have been fantastic. All this coming from a MIA kind of guy. My CIJ's are wonderful pieces of gear, light, airy, snappy, resonant, toneful, soulful, and play extremely well. Oh well I guess I have made my point. Off to bed I go.

Pic of my 62 reissue CIJ.

Lust! Great color on that '62 RI.

Just played my MIJ jazz tonight. Know what you mean. It isn't light but it's all that other good stuff for sure. Rock solid and full of tone.

P.S. Sorry if slightly off topic...just noticed that the tug bar on the '62 is in '70s thumb rest position. ??

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by ShowLow

Lust! Great color on that '62 RI.

Just played my MIJ jazz tonight. Know what you mean. It isn't light but it's all that other good stuff for sure. Rock solid and full of tone.

P.S. Sorry if slightly off topic...just noticed that the tug bar on the '62 is in '70s thumb rest position. ??

Perhaps I have my information crossed. I think when I bought it, it was billed as a 62 RI but maybe thats not the case. Matters not to me what it is because I love it so. I have no idea about how what was where when kinda thing. Pehaps it's a 70's reissue or no reissue at all? Back in the 70's I sold Fenders for a living and all the 70's Fender Basses we had were reallly heavey. I have a 51 reissue, a 53 reissue Sting and both of those are as I described the other bass, light/spanky. The 53 is 8 pounds. I have not weighed the Blue Bass but it is light.

[ShowLow]

Aha! Well, should you ever tire of the Blue Bass please let me know. There would be a stampede in the Classifieds I think!

On topic, good to know that Fender Japan and Fuji-gen are going strong. What about Chuchin (aka Chushin?). I have a 2011 Fender Jazz from there. And did we ever find out the identity of the factory that closed?

[synaesthesia]

If you want a Fender MIJ today, you have to get it from a Japanese source if it is not a used one. There is nothing to see about, you are making conjecture based on scarcity outside of Japan. Again: MIJ Fenders are made primarily for the Japanese market, and it is a very big market on its own.

Originally Posted by antontanzil

Hmmmm....

Let's see about that, if there's no MIJ Fenders in the near future, that means my info is correct

I do hope they're still in business

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by ShowLow

Aha! Well, should you ever tire of the Blue Bass please let me know. There would be a stampede in the Classifieds I think!

On topic, good to know that Fender Japan and Fuji-gen are going strong. What about Chuchin (aka Chushin?). I have a 2011 Fender Jazz from there. And did we ever find out the identity of the factory that closed?

This bass is never going anywhere. The thing plays and sounds like a dream and I love the color.

How does one know which facory ones bass is made in? I purchased this off Ebay, used, sight unseen and it turned out very well. It was advertised as a 62ri but maybe it's not? It came with a modern Fender case the likes of is sold with USA Basses. The case is plastic with the big handle and the four great big latches.

[ShowLow]

Originally Posted by Red Planet

How does one know which facory ones bass is made in? .

If you email Fender Customer Service with the SN they can usually tell you. Not always with MIJ but worth a try.

mroberts@fender.com is the guy who helped me. Let us know what you find out!

[fremaochris]

On another thread someone mentioned the tsunami.