• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD - Fujigen FGN Mighty Power Double P!

S

SgtHulka

Inactive
Mar 29, 2019
2,165
5,095
Banland
#1
My years long search for a killer P not Fender came to a crashing halt about a month ago when I saw @LowEndLobster 's video on this bass. I don't like the radius on Fender P' necks and also wanted a smaller profile, smaller frets, and more versatility. I wanted to simplify the herd. I will admit that in the last many years I have gone down the rabbit hole of preamps and tone tricks. Coming back to passive is a hell of a relief. There is beauty in simplicity and as I've improved, I find that this is a much better route that allows me to focus on playing more.

I did 3 weeks of heavy due diligence and it checked all of my boxes. I don't usually ever buy right away, and when I was still gassing on it 3 weeks later, I knew I had to pull the trigger, especially with very few of these available. As Lobster said, "Japanese hand made quality at Fender Mexican prices". Seriously. Arrived from Japan in only 2 days! I got to run it at band practice full bore a few days ago.

The neck is definitely something special. One thing you will notice, you can see the neck is finished specifically for each body and at the heel, there is no "extra neck" there that comes out of the neck pocket before flattening down like of mass assembled instruments. I don't play that far up very often but it feels very nice and it's a nice example of the craftsmanship here. I like the mean looking body style. The SBP-3's sound killer and the slightly more forward front pickup position is perfect for reggae of which I play a lot of. Both pups wide open are a rock players dream. The back pickup gets close to a MM tone and is WAY more useful in this configuration than a P/J. And the back pickup actually feels good to play over because it isn't so close to the bridge like most P/J's where it is difficult to play because of string tension.

I could go on and on but this bass is just killer, and an excellent value - of which many of you now know is one of my prerequisites. :D. Enjoy the pics!

IMG_20210508_122508419.jpg


IMG_20210508_122548447.jpg

IMG_20210508_122522807.jpg

IMG_20210508_122530252.jpg

IMG_20210508_122651800~2.jpg

IMG_20210508_122908151.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: emal, tindrum, Spectrum and 105 others
#10
RickBlair said:
I don't see that bass listed on their website. I was looking to see if they had a 5-string version.

Rick B.
Click to expand...
I never saw a 5 string version, although that would be nice. It's possible they have discontinued them. I tried to verify if they were indeed still in production with the sales rep but he was unable to tell me. Although they are not listed on the US website, the sunburst one shows up on the site ending in .jp for Japan.
 
#11
JRA said:
that ax looks killer and you make it sound as if it's perfect for you --- i'll bet it's the bomb to play! all of the features you describe sound scrumptuous. congratulations on your new instrument! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Haha, I told Lobster that it was like a shot from God. It really does feel tailor-made for me. At first I was in search of an MM/P, but after discovering this, and the more I thought about it the more I realized that this made more sense for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Son of Wobble and JRA
#16
Krizz said:
Awesome! Been looking at these for a couple of years, but the US importer only seems to bring over the jazzes. Curious, where did you order from?

Congrats!
Click to expand...
I ended up ordering from a shop called KUROSAWA Music Ochanomizu on Reverb. Initially I tried to order from a distributor here in the States, but couldn't find one. There was one company that supposedly was a dealer for FGN and I reached out as I prefer to give my business to someone here in the United States. He said he was a dealer, and would check but he never got back to me. I was trying to avoid shipping from Japan which ended up being $175. Still worth it though and my experience with the shop was excellent. They were patient and answered everything, including providing me extra pictures I asked for. Initially I was paranoid about import duties and customs but it arrived in two days and the only thing I had to pay for above shipping was US tax.

If any of you are going to order one, make sure to have them check weight. Of the 2 I considered, one was closer to 9 lb but this one it's just a shade over 8 and 1/4.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sponson Thrisby, Mili, LowEndLobster and 5 others
#18
SgtHulka said:
I ended up ordering from a shop called KUROSAWA Music Ochanomizu on Reverb. Initially I tried to order from a distributor here in the States, but couldn't find one. There was one company that supposedly was a dealer for FGN and I reached out as I prefer to give my business to someone here in the United States. He said he was a dealer, and would check but he never got back to me. I was trying to avoid shipping from Japan which ended up being $175. Still worth it though and my experience with the shop was excellent. They were patient and answered everything, including providing me extra pictures I asked for. Initially I was paranoid about import duties and customs but it arrived in two days and the only thing I had to pay for above shipping was US tax.

If any of you are going to order one, make sure to have them check weight. Of the 2 I considered, one was closer to 9 lb but this one it's just a shade over 8 and 1/4.
Click to expand...

Thanks, appreciate the info, good to know the transaction and shipping went well
 
  • Like
Reactions: SgtHulka
#19
Nuage420 said:
Since you have both, can you compare the Esp AP to the FGN?
Click to expand...

They are both high quality basses. And I like that they both have high quality components that requires no upgrading. The FGN is entirely hand built except for initial CNC and it shows. They hand select each piece of wood for weight and integrity, and there is a high level of attention to detail. They won't even allow an instrument to pass QC that has a dark spot in the neck. And not that I've found anything terrible about the AP-5 but I just don't know if they take the same kind of steps. The EMG's are a bit more modern while the SD are more in your face. Both sound great but right now I'd have to give the edge to the FGN but that's more a matter of personal preference. Bridge pickup is much more useful not slammed so close to the bridge. The LTD neck is really nice and a tad smoother than the FGN, and while it is primarily a satin finish on the back of the neck the FGN is polished in such a way that makes it feel almost luxurious.

The biggest difference if I were to choose between the two would be the playability of the neck. The LTD has very big frets, and that's good for the longevity of the instrument and makes it virtually idiot-proof, but is more cumbersome. Playing the FGN is much more effortless. The frets are even smaller than I expected them to be. It really does play so easy. It has something installed called CFS or circle fretting system which is supposed to help intonation and accuracy/sustain of notes. I stared at the frets and read all about it but I still can't figure it out what it really is. Anyway, whatever it is, it works. Fretting is effortless.

The rest I guess comes down to body style and aesthetic. I really like the blacked-out matte finish and shape of the headstock over the LTD also.

Between the 2, the FGN wins. If not for the cool factor alone. That said, the LTD isn't going anywhere and will be one of my four basses once my gear revamp/downsize is complete.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Winton, R&B, bholder and 2 others
#20
SgtHulka said:
They are both high quality basses. And I like that they both have high quality components that requires no upgrading. The FGN is entirely hand built except for initial CNC and it shows. They hand select each piece of wood for weight and integrity, and there is a high level of attention to detail. They won't even allow an instrument to pass QC that has a dark spot in the neck. And not that I've found anything terrible about the AP-5 but I just don't know if they take the same kind of steps. The EMG's are a bit more modern while the SD are more in your face. Both sound great but right now I'd have to give the edge to the FGN but that's more a matter of personal preference. Bridge pickup is much more useful not slammed so close to the bridge. The LTD neck is really nice and a tad smoother than the FGN, and while it is primarily a satin finish on the back of the neck the FGN is polished in such a way that makes it feel almost luxurious.

The biggest difference if I were to choose between the two would be the playability of the neck. The LTD has very big frets, and that's good for the longevity of the instrument and makes it virtually idiot-proof, but is more cumbersome. Playing the FGN is much more effortless. The frets are even smaller than I expected them to be. It really does play so easy. It has something installed called CFS or circle fretting system which is supposed to help intonation and accuracy/sustain of notes. I stared at the frets and read all about it but I still can't figure it out what it really is. Anyway, whatever it is, it works. Fretting is effortless.

The rest I guess comes down to body style and aesthetic. I really like the blacked-out matte finish and shape of the headstock over the LTD also.

Between the 2, the FGN wins. If not for the cool factor alone. That said, the LTD isn't going anywhere and will be one of my four basses once my gear revamp/downsize is complete.
Click to expand...
Awesome! Thank you for the detailed response. I'm definitely not letting the AP-5 go, I have it specifically for thrash and the modern emg tone works perfectly. I remember LEL's video on the double P and have considered an FGN for some time now. I think for the price i got my AP-5 there's no reason to get rid of it. I'll need to keep my eyes out for an FGN it seems
 
  • Like
Reactions: SgtHulka

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back