Fender Made in Japan!

[skortch]

Need to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod?

My interest level just dropped to zero...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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Who knew? Those sneaky bastards...

This is it for basses though. Here's the whole new Made in Japan line:

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This bass looks pretty nice!

View attachment 3187113

I’m not a big fan of gold plated hardware. Granted, looks great when new, afterwards, not so much. Other than that, like every instrument I own, it was played and looked over thoroughly before plunking down the cash.

 

[Scott Baiowulf]

This looks super rad and I’m surprised how reasonable the price is, but taking the neck off to adjust the truss rod is a vintage feature I just can’t abide by.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I don't like black, but that, with the matching headstock and gold hardware looks really nice.

I usually hate Gold Hardware but it just works on this P-Bass.

Black and Gold done right is a fairly 'can't miss' color scheme, and this is. Just to be too picky, this would have looked even better with a black ebony fingerboard. One more argument for matching headstocks, it ties the look together SO much better.

Indeed!

Unveiling VI: "Projekt Black"

What's funny is that it was two different MIJ Jazzes, one of which I previously owned, that inspired me to assemble this parts-bass projekt.

So what happened to Fender Japan not being able to sell here? At least that’s what I thought. What factory are these coming out of?
Did they kiss and make up? I was under the impression they were two separate companies.....yes? no? Sorry if I’ve been under a rock. Haha

The way the excerpt from the article posted by MCF is worded, it sounds like these are not made by Fender Japan... but rather by Fender, in Japan in the "craft and style of Fender Japan".

I think the reason it was stopped years ago was becasue the price points were similar to the MIM stuff and cheaper than the MIA and it was cannibalizing those two lines. The thinking probably is, with the average American made Fender sitting around 1500, there is a need for an instrument at the 1000 dollars or a price point just below that. The Japanese made stuff now fills that void. Plus, customers have been asking for a long time. I suspect this is only the start and it will be a good thing for the brand.

Back around 2015, the joint-venture between FMIC and Kanda-Shokai was dissolved, with Fender taking over complete control over production and marketing of it's products within The Land Of The Rising Sun.

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Despite the big breakup, there are still Japanese-made Fender instruments being produced. There is a whole line of "Japan Exclusive" models, but to get them here in the U.S. one would have to pay a premium, not to mention jumping through a few, extra hoops

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For a long time, the Export Edition Aerodyne has been the only easily available MIJ/CIJ instrument, so it's cool to see FMIC finally bringing over new guitars with that bygone Fender-Japan aesthetic.

 

[nilorius]

Need to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod?

My interest level just dropped to zero...

No, you don't need to remove the neck. It's important to see at first the status of rod - the angle.

 

[TheDominoKid]

Beautiful! I do wish it had a maple board....

 

[Scott Baiowulf]

No, you don't need to remove the neck. It's important to see at first the status of rod - the angle.

No truss rod nut at the headstock and no cut out at the heel, sure looks like the neck requires removal to me.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I adjust truss rods so seldom there’s no real downside to this arrangement, to me. Even if you do need to, you don’t even need to take the strings off. It takes all of a couple of minutes to loosen the strings then screws tilt the neck in the socket, make adjustment, tilt down tighten screws and you’re done, 5 minutes tops. Even if I lived where the neck needed a seasonal tweak, this would not be a deal breaker. Everyone should be comfortable doing this kind of minor service. This is not rocket science and a heck of a lot quicker and easier than changing my oil.

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Just for the sake of clarification... Fender Japan was never defunct. They just stopped exporting their products to the US (and other?) markets. In fact they currently have a pretty broad product line that is not represented by this new "Made in Japan" series now available here in America.

I don't know all of the details but that is my understanding. Fender Japan is not controlled by the same folks that produce Fender instruments for the USA.

Sorry buddy, it’s not defunct anymore. That’s sort of the whole point of this thread.

Sorry buddy but one bass for export doesn’t mean that the production line is quite alive ... in Japan and far east Asia in general there are now lots of good shops and the guys producing instruments under the Fender license in Japan (assuming that they work in Japan) are destined to become irrelevant if there’s no coordinated plan between them and Fender USA characterising their products ... a single black P bass with Japanese pickups and electronics and Gotoh tuners doesn’t seem to be a so great innovation ... different story, for example, a P bass made of roasted ash as the last limited series AVRI .. this marks a difference (Fender Japan has recently marketed two guitars with a mahogany body which is quite a
peculiarity ... they could do something similar with a bass line?) ...

Note:

I own two MIJ Fenders which are visible in my avatar ... they are good enough basses, so i’d be happy to see the MIJ instruments coming back to their best days

 

[Stranger Danger]

Sorry buddy but one bass for export doesn’t mean that the production line is quite alive ... in Japan and far east Asia in general there are now lots of good shops and the guys producing instruments under the Fender license in Japan (assuming that they work in Japan) are destined to become irrelevant if there’s no coordinated plan between them and Fender USA characterising their products ... a single black P bass with Japanese pickups and electronics and Gotoh tuners doesn’t seem to be a so great innovation ... different story, for example, a P bass made of roasted ash as the last limited series AVRI .. this marks a difference (Fender Japan has recently marketed two guitars with a mahogany body which is quite a
peculiarity ... they could do something similar with a bass line?) ...

Note:

I own two MIJ Fenders which are visible in my avatar ... they are good enough basses, so i’d be happy to see the MIJ instruments coming back to their best days

You are really confident and still don’t know what the word means. Defunct means nonexistent. That’s obviously not the case. If it means something else in another language that’s ok but this particular thread is being conducted in English.

 

[Valsmere]

Well that is a sweet looking p bass in any regards!

 

[Double E]

Sorry buddy but one bass for export doesn’t mean that the production line is quite alive ... in Japan and far east Asia in general there are now lots of good shops and the guys producing instruments under the Fender license in Japan (assuming that they work in Japan) are destined to become irrelevant if there’s no coordinated plan between them and Fender USA characterising their products ... a single black P bass with Japanese pickups and electronics and Gotoh tuners doesn’t seem to be a so great innovation ... different story, for example, a P bass made of roasted ash as the last limited series AVRI .. this marks a difference (Fender Japan has recently marketed two guitars with a mahogany body which is quite a
peculiarity ... they could do something similar with a bass line?) ...

Note:

I own two MIJ Fenders which are visible in my avatar ... they are good enough basses, so i’d be happy to see the MIJ instruments coming back to their best days

I agree that it is a little disappointing that they have five guitars to one bass in this campaign. However, I am still interested in this new development and believe that there will be more to come if more interest develops.

Since you are a fan and owner of MIJ basses I am surprised by your rather pessimistic attitude. I guess we are all entitled to an opinion though.

 

[onamission]

Need to remove the neck to adjust the truss rod?

My interest level just dropped to zero...

My MIJ is the same, remove to adjust. All you have to do is de-tune loosen the top screws , remove the bottom and adjust. It takes a few minutes but it's really not much of a chore.

 

[user362432]

If I get it, I would just "ebonize" fretboard and get gold dots on it.
And, I think I will.

 

[AngelCrusher]

MIJ basses are so awesome. Mine is an Ash maple pj so I'll personally take it over a basswood model but this thing looks awesome.

 

[gwangi]

Well, it looks like you can order one up right from the Fender website... I will be waiting for a complete review!

From the Japan website or Fender website here in the U.S.?

 

[user362432]

From the Japan website or Fender website here in the U.S.?

US

 

[gwangi]

Thank You!!!!

 

[Double E]

From the Japan website or Fender website here in the U.S.?

Here... right on Fender USA's site:

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[TheReceder]

Where on the site? Not seeing any option for Japanese made instruments.

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