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Fender Japan basses now labeled "Made In Japan" again

J

jamerson_fan

Feb 17, 2008
70
3
#1
Hi

Maybe this is old news, but I recently discovered that new Fender Japan basses/guitars are labeled "_Made_ In Japan" again, Not "Crafted In Japan" as they were from approx. 1997 until recently.

pictures below from a current eBay-auction of a '62 reissue Jazz Bass by "meestursparkle":

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Fender-Japan-62-Jazz-Bass-Standard-JB62-634_W0QQitemZ170295787094QQihZ007QQcategoryZ64400QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


DSC_0188.jpg


DSC_0180.jpg


The reason for the shift in labeling in '97 was presumably because they moved production from the Fuji-Gen factory to Tokai.

Does anyone know if they still are made at Tokai's factory or have they moved production yet again?


regards from
Magnus
 
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#2
This may be a dumb question, but I never understood why they were labeled CIJ anyways. Theres MIM and MIA, what makes japan so special? :D

Is there a difference between "Made in..." and "Crafted in..." (or whatever the C stands for)? :confused:
 
#3
According to a Fender representative it was in the Fender Japan contract that if there was a change of manufacturer from FujiGen Gakki to another guitar factory then the logo would be changed from MIJ ("Made in Japan") to CIJ ("Crafted in Japan"). The first CIJ Fenders start around 1992 but most of the Japanese Fenders up till 1996/1997 are MIJ Fenders. In 1991/1992 FujiGen Gakki were expanding their factory operations by establishing FujiGen Hirooka Inc to be able to take on additional set neck (Gibson like necks) contracts (such as the Orville by Gibson contract) and so Dyna Gakki (one of Kanda Shokai's main guitar makers) took over some of the making of the Japanese Fender models which resulted in a CIJ logo being used on some Japanese Fenders instead of an MIJ logo. CIJ is mostly used on Fenders from 1996/1997 until recently due to Tōkai and Dyna Gakki taking over the Fender Japan manufacturing contract from FujiGen Gakki in 1996/1997. The Fender Squiers were also brought into line to be in sync with the Japanese Fenders at around the same time (1996/1997) with 'Crafted' rather than 'Made' being used. "Made in Japan" is used on some current Fender Japan models (2007) instead of "Crafted in Japan".
 
#4
ClassicJazz said:
According to a Fender representative it was in the Fender Japan contract that if there was a change of manufacturer from FujiGen Gakki to another guitar factory then the logo would be changed from MIJ ("Made in Japan") to CIJ ("Crafted in Japan"). The first CIJ Fenders start around 1992 but most of the Japanese Fenders up till 1996/1997 are MIJ Fenders. In 1991/1992 FujiGen Gakki were expanding their factory operations by establishing FujiGen Hirooka Inc to be able to take on additional set neck (Gibson like necks) contracts (such as the Orville by Gibson contract) and so Dyna Gakki (one of Kanda Shokai's main guitar makers) took over some of the making of the Japanese Fender models which resulted in a CIJ logo being used on some Japanese Fenders instead of an MIJ logo. CIJ is mostly used on Fenders from 1996/1997 until recently due to Tōkai and Dyna Gakki taking over the Fender Japan manufacturing contract from FujiGen Gakki in 1996/1997. The Fender Squiers were also brought into line to be in sync with the Japanese Fenders at around the same time (1996/1997) with 'Crafted' rather than 'Made' being used. "Made in Japan" is used on some current Fender Japan models (2007) instead of "Crafted in Japan".
Click to expand...

There's some missing info here. Do you know more? Are there any MIJ's between 97 and 07? I haven't heard on any, but that doesn't really maean anything. Why do some post 07s say MIJ again? Who is making Japanese Fenders now? Can I have your Sadowsky?
 
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#5
wvbass said:
There's some missing info here. Do you know more? Are there any MIJ's between 97 and 07? I haven't heard on any, but that doesn't really maean anything. Why do some post 07s say MIJ again? Who is making Japanese Fenders now? Can I have your Sadowsky?
Click to expand...

That was some information from Wikipedia on Fender Japan.

And no, you can't have my Sadowsky! :scowl::rollno::scowl::rollno: ;)
 
#9
I'll drop by to the nearest shop to confirm it is indeed Made in Japan. My theory is that it has something to do with "marketing". For a non-english speaking nation like Japan, MADE IN JAPAN sounds more "powerful and convincing" than Crafted in Japan. Have you ever seen any electronic gadget manufactured here that are labeled Crafted in Japan? :D
 
#10
wvbass said:
Who is making Japanese Fenders now?
Click to expand...
Most domestic-market Japanese Fenders are made by Kasuga ("Tokai") and the export FMIC Japanese Fenders are made (to a much lower standard) by Dyna.

If anyone has definitive information to the contrary, please share it along with your source for it. This stuff changes a lot so I like to keep current and FMIC won't disclose the information.

Count me among the many who feel that by objective standards the Japanese-market FJs are the best built of all production Fenders.
 

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