I'm a US Marine stationed in Okinawa, and I just bought an MIJ Telecaster from the Hybrid II Series line. Probably one of the best guitars I've played. Definitely the best electric guitar I've bought. The quality is through the roof with this guitar, it's just so clean and structurally sound. It's really light for an Alder body (crazy, right?!) And it sounds like a bell with its tones. Plus, its Arctic White body and pickguard with the Rosewood fretboard looks so pretty. And even though it's a modern Tele (locking tuners, 22 frets, tummy cut, and a 4th position with both pickups in series) it's still a Tele through and through. It's got the simple, and versatile, and dynamic sound that we all love from Telecasters. (Perfect for Country, Blues, Rock, Jazz, Metal, and J-Pop and J-Rock. Gonna sound like Brad Paisley and play some anime intros with this instrument!) P.S. They're still quite cheap over here in comparison to American guitars. I got this MIJ Hybrid II Tele for ¥139,700 (~$885), whereas back in the States these start off at ~$950 and go well into the ~$1600 range. Plus, you HAVE to buy these online in America (save a RARE occasion where one happens to show up in the used section of a Guitar Center) Whereas in my case, I found mine at a Shimamura music store in an AEON Mall. I'll ship this back home when I get the chance. I'm never gonna let go of this amazing and beautiful guitar. Keep up the great work, Zac!

I lived in Tokyo for 20 years teaching university and announcing Sumo in English on NHK TV. The Fender Japan story is deep as a well. Suffice to say that, except for a short time in the late 90's and early 2000s, Fender has always made lacquer-finished top-of-the-line guitars with USA electronics for domestic consumption. FJ always made versions at different price points so you have to be very careful what you buy. Dyna replaced Fuji Gen at one point in the '90s and their instruments are much more accurate in some ways and with lesser accuracy in others. Top-of-the-line FJ guitars are terrific. Remember this: "EXTRAD." Those are the best of the best, made from '88 until '92...

I lived in Japan for over a decade (late '80s into the '90s), and I was routinely impressed with the quality of the guitars on sale there. Many of them were very strange by American standards, yet they still displayed the same high standards of craftsmanship. I still wish that I'd picked up a Talbo...

Hi zac great video. I've recently purchased a mij 62 telecaster and love it. I have Mia and mim telecasters of various types and love them to death. But I have to say the standard of these mij teles is really impressive. The one I have is a 62 custom in daphine blue with double cream binding, plays really great ❤. It was a rare domestic colour exclusively for Japan and I'm over the moon with her. She's a keeper

I used one of Johns ac30 amps and two of his rotary speaker cabinets (not a Lesley but the same concept) on my album because the engineer is a friend of his. Truly an honor to play through the great of a legend

Hey Zac- I really enjoy your videos. To me, they are the perfect mix of information, demonstration and playing. In the KZread bucket of guitar channels, yours stands above the others. Thanks for doing it.

@AskZac

10 ай бұрын

Cool, thanks!

This video resulted in me searching for one of these. A friend spotted one on ebay and I turned out getting it for 1100 bucks Candian. The ad said “doesn’t make sound “. A friend, who is a fabulous guitar guy, messed with it for about half an hour and it sounds and plays wonderfully. Thank you for this and many of you’re videos.

I just bought a Fender Strat made in Japan limited edition Sahara color and having fiddled around with the guitar for about 20 plus years I was completely blown away by the quality and craftsmanship let alone the sound that was coming off the instrument. It’s maple neck and basswood body and at first I was a bit hesitant but when I picked it up played it unplugged and plugged I was shocked by the superb quality of it all. I bought it on sale for about $1000 and I gotta say it has been one of my best purchases ever. The access to truss rod is so easy and looks uniquely stylish as well as the 3 screw back plate. I can go on and on. Wow.

Hey Zac - I just bought a Fender JV Modified 50’s Tele. I’ve had it a week or so and I just love it! Perfect soft v neck carve, a 4 way switching system with a push/pull on the tone knob for out of phase - this yields 6 distinct sounds! From a Tele! The fit and finish is every bit as good as my American standard OR my boutique built black guard. I now have 5 Teles in total and this JV is rapidly becoming my fav! For under $1,200! I’m in Canada and we got those original JV guitars, so I’ve known about them since the mid 80’s. This RI and the mods included, just knock it out of the park! Wish it was ash, but I’ll live with the bass wood. Peace

I have an ‘85 Esquire I bought in the early ‘90’s. It’s always been my favorite guitar.

Hi Zac. I'm in England and in '95 my eye caught a butterscotch Squier tele hanging in the window of a junk shop. As I was a big tele fan, I had a quick play on it and realising it seemed special immediately struck a deal for £80. I soon realised it was a JV squire with an '83 date written on the base of the neck, cloth covered wiring, quality controls and hardware and of course the jv stamped bridge. It had wear to the fretboard but barely any fret wear. I still have it and have gigged with it every week since that day, still on those frets! It has the best neck I have ever played. I bought a fender Japan "JD" jerry donohue model some time after to accompany it but the squire was in a different league. I'll take it to the grave. Thanks for the great information.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Great story, and what a deal!

Great looking and sounding instrument! I’m glad you took the time to put it back in the proper shape. To me it is a vintage guitar.

Awesome history Zac, really enjoyed hearing it. I checked out the pics on your site too, that blonde ASAT looks ridiculous! The figuring of the wood and the way it's matched is so cool.

I came across Fender Japan last year when I saw a lake placid blue 62 RI on Reverb. Fell in love with look but didn’t know about the Japan thing. Several sites and searches in FB groups I discovered they were amazing. Ended up buying it and it quickly became my #1. I love playing it. Neck is huge C shape with dark rosewood. Pickups are early 80’s US black bottom with cloth wire and sound amazing. It’s an ST-62 but what Fuji Gen called “order made” so kind of limited or custom run. Was made in 91. Except for poly finish it is so correct for 62 even having a 3 way switch which I left on there. Most Japan stuff is great but those JVs are pretty special. Especially if you look at what they go for now. Although still cheaper than customer shop or vintage. Thanks for the video and congrats on the JV!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

That sounds like a killer guitar

Zac, Weird way to start this question but I’ve been in the bicycle industry for 35 years and the one thing riders/companies do is what they call “Bike Checks”. These consist of the owner of said bike, going through the bike from head to toe and discuss the bike, it’s parts, why they chose certain parts, and why they set it up a certain way. It’s really cool to see it in that type of light but also a great way to see the machine in it’s entirety. Now to my point. I think it would be great if you did a “Guitar Check” starting with your beautiful paisley tele sitting right next to you amp in this video. I DO know you’ve gone through some of your guitars and their history but it would be cool to actually dig a tad deeper with a lot more of the nuts and bolts of these great guitars that you own. Maybe even some wiring too? Thanks for ALL these great videos! Much appreciated. 😃- Bruce

Extremely informative as usual Sir. Thank you for this video. I always learn something new with you :)

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Another great episode Zac, I really appreciate your efforts. Thanks!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Hooray!!! Thank you so much for posting this. At last a correct history of Japanese Fenders and where the market gaps occurred to allow Fernandez and Tokai into the market for a while. And the positioning for the Japaneses Fenders over time

Lovely! I am a big fan of Japanese made instruments. I've had a 1983 JV telecaster 62 reissue since 1993. When I bought it, It was a butterscotch, slab rosewood fingerboard with a black guard though originally it was white. The saddles were the steel "bolt" type. The Logo was in the correct place but the string tree was incorrect like yours. Neck is pencilled Sept 1983 on the heal. For about ten years I played it like that but boy was it a heavy guitar. Around 2000, I bought an early 90's Japanese Fernandes bound sunburst custom tele, with maple neck, and swapped just the bodies (keeping all the JV hardware) and its a superb instrument now. The saddles are now the compensated Gotoh ones in brass and the bridge is one of the early Seymour Duncan vintage reissue types. I moved the tree to the correct position which reduced wolf tone pinging at the nut. In its original form it was quite a brash, bright and bold guitar if a little lacking in the bass and the Fernandez whilst good, was a little characterless. Just swapping the bodies between the two transformed both guitars. I also have two Tokais from the mid 80's (Strat and LP) and bought a Tokai Goldtop LS160 when I was in Tokyo in 2014. Interestingly Tokai made Fender Japan for about 10 years or so from the mid 90's - "Crafted In Japan" I believe!

Great episode Zac. I had email contacted John several years ago by about his gear and he told me that story about the story of his JV Tele and the fact that he preferred it over his original vintage tele. That's when he also told me about his use of Vox amps when I inquired about his tone. Great player and great guy. Speaking of MIJ Teles I own a '69 MIJ Thinline Tele Reissue in mahogany with serial number starting with A and 6 digits which places it at about 1985-86. And it does have the F logo on the neckplate as you stated. Great guitar. I did change out the pickups that were microphonic but everything else is all original. I bought it off someone with a Fender USA case and it still had the hang tags on the headstock and the protective plastic still on the pickguard. Very lightweight and really resonates. I bought it for $700 with case. It's a keeper.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

John is great, and that sounds like a great Thinline

About 6 most ago, I purchased a 1997 "Crafted in Japan" '62 reissue Tele that is simply amazing. Road worn and really alive - Upgraded to CTS pots and new switch. Per Zac's observation from a previous video, I upgraded to steel compensated saddles. (I originally put a Rutter bridge on but switched back to the original bridge) the original bridge does sound better. I also re-fretted with "6105" higher narrow frets. Done deal - amazing guitar. Just joined a great country band playing the classics - OD'ing on youtube videos of the Tele-masters! Life is good. (still have the red Strat in my pic too).

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

That is a great rig.

Thanks Zak for the info on the JV teles.Loved JJ's sound and playing on "Ashes of Love",still do.Seeing the tape reminds me why I still do.

Thanks for the history lesson, Zac. I have a Squier JV Export ‘52 reissue from ‘83. I bought it in London when I was a teenager. Still my favorite guitar. The neck profile is super nice. I had a mod done when I went to college, but I have since ‘corrected’ that and everything else is original. Thanks again for the information!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Very cool. I want to find one of those next!

Glad I stayed until the end, great story on your JV. Bet that was a steal ;)

i also have a JV Tele 62 . my friend bought it in 1984. now its mine.fantastic guitar. wishes from Germany, Tom

Thanks Zac, I was fortunate enough to own a jv esquire, I believe 83-84, same bound sunburst finish as that one, light as a feather , rang like a bell. I turned it into a nashsquire with 2 strat pu & tele bridge, 5 way and played the frets off of it, sold it eventually but wish I had it today. Makes me smile whenever I think of that one, great to see your vid.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Very cool!

Thank you so much for sharing Zac. New to the channel and appreciate the content very much.

@AskZac

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the sub!

I always enjoy these kind of stories. Well, I came across a couple of your videos and liked them so much I decided to subscribe. I'm in a pivotal point in my guitar playing days. My taste is changing, evidently. Getting rid of the old classic hard rock gear and moving into a more Fender blues phase, which is very much unlike me. I'm looking at a Fender Blues Deluxe reissue amp. Trying to feel my way. Thanks and looking forward to more videos.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Blues Deluxe is a great amp. As is the Pro Jr

@Justafeller

4 жыл бұрын

@@AskZac Thanks! I'll check out the Pro Jr as well.

Thank You Zac Great information and great score on finding and saving that JV Tele.

I bought a JV 50s reissue butterscotch tele in Germany back in the late 80s in a pawn/old furniture/assorted old crap store for the equivalent of 80 bucks. It was for some reason covered in pink glitter stuff. I guess that's why I got it so cheap. It took me about 20 minutes to remove it. Still have it and gigged with it many times.

Great stuff Zac! My first "real" guitar was a JV '57 Strat. Still mad at my younger self for swapping it for a Les Paul. Now have mid 90's '57 Strat and '52 Tele from Japan. The telecaster is better than any American fender I've ever owned. Been my main guitar for years now.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Sweet!

Well, I’m absolutely in love with JV Teles! Thank you for sharing.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

I've had my 1968 Re-issued Squier Thin Line Telecaster for 11 years now. For $350.00. I could not go wrong.

Fabulous video as always Zac. Yes, we were knocked out by the JV quality when they arrived in uk ... I had a bunch of them once. Sadly sold the Telecaster to fund a plane ticket to LA😩 but the ‘57 Strat’ was my main gigging guitar for so many years. My son in law now owns the ‘62. Your sunburst looks to be a beauty ... those gems are still out there on EBay and Reverb!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Glad it is still in the family

I'm a huge fan of Japanese instruments. My wife is Japanese, so we've been over many times to visit family. My father in law has a 1970 (+/- a year) Yamaha classical. He had it strung with steel strings, and in a closet it had sat for decades. Needless to say, the top was dished like a soup bowl. I restrung it with nylons, and by the time I left, a few weeks later, the top was flat again, and sounded fantastic! And. . . . I went home and bought a flamenco guitar, due to my newfound appreciation for the projection of nylon string guitars. I'm now on the lookout for a Japanese made Tele. Maybe I should get back to Japan, post Covid, and find one to bring back. Is it like food? I mean, if you're in Japan, it's just a guitar, not a Japanese made guitar, right?

What a sound that Tele has and superb playing too Zac!

The playing is great, Zac, the story is fun and the vid is informative.

Thanks for another good one, didn't know anything about these models and found it very interesting.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed!

My dad has had his 86 MIJ Stratocaster for over 30 years and he loves it. It’s a righty switched for a lefty. From hearing him play it Japanese made Fenders are awesome. I live in Chicago and I don’t know the guitar got here but it did and my dad loves it. The Japanese made stuff easily rivals the USA made stuff.

Huge fan of japanese teles. I have a trusty TL-62, but now I want more! Great vid :D

I'm in Australia and we very quickly realized in the 80's just how good the quality of the Japanese (Fender/Squire and Gibson/Epiphone) gear was. I own into double figures Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, etc and it's not just the big F and G that has that quality. Greco, Burny, Fernandes, Ibanez, Tokai -early Tokai, etc etc and they're just great bang for the buck. Their work ethic is second to none, well maybe the Germans ant the Americans - Thought I'd better throw that one in. Great guitars one and all, and my two favourites are an 80's Tele and a Burny 335. Great episode, Zac. Very sad to hear that the U.S didn't get the benefits of the Japanese quality for so long. Some small token for living in the Antipodes.

Love MIJ guitars! I have a 83 Squire bullet & 83 Squire strat. both are KILLER! Thanks for sharing Zac.

Great video and info thank u

Thanks Zac for this episode and Desert Rose Band stuff.Feel free to use any footage from this guitar from my channel. You forgot to mention how Brad got his sound from hearing Hello Trouble from this guitar. 😉

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you. I added them here, along with links to your site and channel. Also, there are some photos from John www.askzac.com/post/john-jorgenson-and-his-1982-fender-japan-tl62-65-telecaster

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

I did enough name dropping here

John Jorgenson is a musical genius; his whole body of work on different styles is amazing.

I had a Japanese Squier Strat in the late 80's that was really good. Good enough that I played it on stage for 2 years. Not sure when it was built exactly but I bought it from a small town music store in '88. I kept that axe for 15 years. It finally found a new home with a promising new guitarist that was down on his luck and needed a decent guitar to play on stage.

I had a MIJ Kotzen Strat and still have my Kotzen Tele, so I can say the MIJ Fenders are still ace quality. Love the fretwork and solidity of them. I took a look at 'JV Fender' in Reverb and hoooboy pricey stuff!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

I did not pay market value.

We have seen quite a few JV's here in the Canadian market. I have personally owned about 6 JV strats and stillown 2 plus a JV Precision bass. Great guitars!

I own a tobacco burst JV Precision Bass dated September '82, and having owned a couple of American made Fender P basses over the years, the JV is the superior instrument, in my humble opinion. Another fantastic episode, Zac. Keep up the good work. All the best from the UK 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@AskZac

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

We get lots of Fender Japan instruments in Australia. They make great stuff. My neighbour has 2 JV strats. They are both awesome. I have later model Fender Japan strats and teles, no complaints. Great video as usual sir

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Very cool!

Great video Zac. Growing up in England I had two JV 57 Strats one of which was my first proper electric (both long ago sold 🤦🏼‍♂️); the 1982 had red bottomed pickups which I believe were Fullerton stock. Also had a couple of Tokai strat copies from the early eighties too. Again sold them and of all the guitars I've ever flipped that L series '64 fiesta red, r/w board Tokai Goldstar Sound is the one that still haunts me. My local guitar tech was always raving about it. Why did I sell it?! Why?? Why!!! 😭 I was broke that's why.

Love it Zac!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you, brother!

I had a job as a flight attendant out of Australia during this period and definitely knew the quality. I still have a fabulous 40 th anniversary strat . Flame maple neck , thin nitro over 2 piece swamp ash body. Rare as hen' s teeth. I was like a kid in a candy store! Thanks for this Zac. Ps there are a bunch of other makers who build great guitars. Shhh!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

There are!

I have lived in Japan for the last 16 years. I have loved their domestic guitars. Even lived in the same town as Fujigen for time. I played a Greco Strat copy for a long time. I had a buddy who had a MIJ '52 tele. Didn't know what he had and he sold it. I love your TL62 their, to me the double bound sunburst tele is the look I prefer over all the vintage looks on a tele.

Good video Zac. I have an 85 Jazz bass Special from Japan. It's a very good guitar but it's an 80s hair band style with black hardware and metallic finish. I worked at Disneyland in 82 by the way, and saw JJs band a couple times playing in New Orleans Square. I don't remember what instruments they were playing but they were really good.

Great video. I got interested in John when Brad Paisley used to talk about him being such an influence . Also appreciate the history lesson on the JV teles and Fender Japan.

@AskZac

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

I have a Tele from Fujugen around 1993. It’s fantastic. A little bit darker tone like most Japan Fender guitars

I have a Japanese Fender TL-62 Tele Custom and I love it. I actually had a Fender Custom Shop Tele and I sold it because I liked the "cheap" Japanese Tele better. I never really connected with the Custom Shop guitar but I fell in love with the TL-62 the moment I played it. I'm very fortunate to have my share of "fancy" custom shop and vintage guitars but the guitar with the most bang for your buck is easily the Japanese Tele. It's awesome.

Great story, thanks for the info.

One of my favorite episodes. I didn’t know much about the JV telecasters. I feel like I could shop one out if I needed to now. I just recently bought a guitar from Artisans snd Glaser Instruments did the bone nut and setup. You definitely dont have to spend custom shop money for it to play like butter. Take care brother.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Great episode. Even after Fender Japan were forced to carry the Squier logo, they were still allowed to sell Fender branded guitars to the Japanese market, with Squier branded MIJ's sold mostly to the European market. 82-83 | JV series ('57 & '62 models) - Alder/Ash bodies, these guitars are phenomenal quality. 83-84 | SQ series ('70s model) - made from Sen (Japanese Ash) and are exceptional quality guitars. But it did mark the change from cloth covered wiring to plastic and pick up changes (well it was a copy of a 70s model). 84-85 | E series - fantastic guitars. 85-87 | A-D / F-J series - again really good guitars now with Basswood (Lime/Linden) bodies. 87 Production moves to Korea and 'plywood' bodies (except in 96). 1991 MIJ construction officially returns, and to help identify this return to a gold/silver standard + a return to solid wood construction, Squier launched their MIJ 'Silver Series' in 91-95 (not all silver series carried the additional logo). Officially the Silver Series had Alder bodies, but unofficially this may have been limited to sunburst finishes - Basswood may have been used for some of the solid colour options. 90-91 | K-L series... 92-93 | M-N series... 93-94 | O-P-Q- series... 95-96 | S-T-U series... All great guitars in there own right.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great info

@chrisraphel7194

11 ай бұрын

Is it possible for a 1985 MIJ 52 reissue to have an Ash body? I bought one from a friend and he has assured me it is not a basswood body, it’s ash. He’s a trustworthy collector friend of mine. It’s an A series. He also advised it has American parts not Japanese. It does sound fantastic. And is entirely original. It is a TL52-72 (I am not sure what that means except it’s a 52 re issue). Great vid thank you @AskZac and also thanks for the comment @luwullewa - good info. Cheers.

I’ve just pickup a made in Japan 2003 sunburst Strat. A buddy of mine that used to work A&R for Fender here in Nashville says the early 2000s Japanese models are really good guitar and he’s right it is.

That Fender HARVARD is amaZING!

Cool history Zac ! Classic tone .

The '83 Telly is a Beauty and sounds very cool telly'ish! Thanks Zac for the Storie's about John. I'm very happy about the cocked whah sound of my Fender Esquire with Brass-Equipm.. It's a special tune of a cocked whah - sounds like a Les Paul! Thank you Zac :-)

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Nice!

Love them JV's....I was able to purchase a few 10 years ago or so before the prices got out of hand

Great catch and I am sure a bargain! Thanks, and I will be looking for a JV Tele and a Strat while I am trolling too!

Great story, great video.. thank you Zac

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

I have a 50's tweed Champ like the one behind you. Paid $25 for it in 1961. The guitar, a Sears Danelectro U-1, was $15. Both from H&H Music in downtown Houston. My first electric rig cost $40! I still have 'em. (I just looked again. I think that's a Deluxe.)

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Does it have an H&H badge on it? Love those. The amp in the shot is a Harvard. Not the most common tweed Fender.

I had an 84 Squier Bullet H2 that had been played to the bone. It was a great guitar... looking back I probably should have kept it.

There's an '83 JV Tele being sold out of Germany right now on Reverb. $3041.03 + $180 shipping. There's also an identical '85 MIJ Tele for sale - the first year after the JV series ended. The price plummets to $1049.99. What a difference a year makes.

@AskZac

3 жыл бұрын

Yes. One is JV, the other is not. They are probably quit similar.

Dang that neck pick up sounds amazing!

I also lived in Japan 10+ years. I have two '83 JV Strats, one poly finish and one of the higher end nitro ones (the 115). I would put either up against pretty much anything. When I got them, 2009 and 2011, they could still be had pretty cheap, well under $1,000 anyway. I also have a 1990 MIJ ST57 with 57/62 pups in it, but it doesn't play as nice as the others.

You certainly raised the stock on Fender Japan guitars with that cool story !

Very interesting. Thanks, Zac.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

Great story and info..

Thanks Zac, another very interesting video! I had an MIJ Telecaster with the binding, just like yours, for a while. I believe mine was early 2000’s so well after the JV era. It was OK but not fantastic and I eventually sold it. However I did have a mid-90’s MIJ Strat and that was a terrific guitar. Do you know if they ever made a Japanese Paisley Tele?

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

They did. JV era, and later.

Thx Zac for the history on these.... I was kinda shocked to see the kind of money they're fetching today !!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

the 52's are quite high

As the product manager for the Australian Distributor for Seymour Duncan in the mid eighties We had Seymour come over and promote his new convertible amplifiers for the Australian Market. I recall Seymour was more than impressed with a Tokai tele that was hanging on a guitar store wall. We where also Distributors for the Japanese Fernandes brand that produced Fender replicas also a great product..

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

The early 80s was a golden era for copy guitars

Enjoyed the vid 👍🔥🎸🦅

Teles have always been amazing. I don’t know how they ever became considered dorky. They’re always the first thing I reach for.

I had a great `83 Squier P bass that I played for years until it was stolen one nite while I was loading my gear out of a club. Miss that bass!

Fender Japan made some really good instruments. I have two Fender Santa Rosa acoustic electrics. They are built extremely well. They were only sold here for two years, '89 and '90. Though the onboard preamps are crude by modern standards, with good processing they can sound really good. They are a semi-hollow body, designed to deliver a reasonable acoustic tone on a loud stage without feedback.

Here in the UK Japanese Fenders are very good to left-handed guitarists with a fair number of lefty models such as Thinline Humbucker equipped Natural Telecasters, Red and Blue Mustangs, and 60s inspired Jazzmasters and Jaguars.

What a great guitar. Zac is the neck profile even close to a mid 60's neck. I have search all over and can't find the profile. I think the TL-62 is on my short list. Great video Zac.

@AskZac

3 жыл бұрын

It is like an early 60s neck. Pretty slim

I think Fender used to make (or still makes) a whole set of three Hellecaster guitars ( production is in Japan), that would be some interesting guitars to try! On a separate note, I happen to own a 1990 MIJ Fender Strat, it is an awesome guitar! Also have mid 90s CIJ Fender Tele, an absolutely featherweight guitar in natural finish... haven’t really bonded with the latter to be honest but it might be simply due to low (and pretty worn) frets... Anyway, thanks for another great vid Sir!

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

I remember the 90's Hellecaster models. They were very nice!

Another great video Zac 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸😊😊👌👍

I’ve got a pair of JV Strats, a white ‘62 reissue with a May 1982 neck date and a fiesta red ‘57 reissue from April ‘83. Both great players. Had to replace the bridge saddles and vibrato block on the white one due to prolonged aggressive use by a previous owner ☺️. The red one now sports a set of René Martinez lipstick tube pickups and is tuned to E flat standard. The guitar’s original JV pickups are in a custom shop Mary Kaye style Strat…they suit that guitar better than the CS originals.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

NICE

This is total gear hound stuff! Love it!

In high school I had a Japanese tele custom virtually identical to yours. Not sure what year it was or anything; thought it was a 90’s but perhaps it was one of these earlier ones. My buddy’s dad has gotten ahold of it at some point and gave it to my buddy, who sold it to me. I loved it, it was so awesome, but in my younger days I wasn’t as...street smart, as I am now, so out of stupidity, a few months later I traded it - for what, I don’t even remember. That tele is one of a few guitars that “got away”. I’d kill to have it back.

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

They have a killer look to them

Thanks for the great video 🤩🙏 I have the 87 bound custom , so did the quality go down after 84 ? I thought they were all good until 89- 90?

@AskZac

Жыл бұрын

Still great guitars. The changed the specs some to meet greater demand, and to be sold all over the world. Fender Japan had to cover for Fender USA while they setup new manufacturing. CBS kept the factory in 1985.

Great story Zac! I wish that Tele could tell us where it went after leaving the factory and where/what happened until you nabbed it.

I have that same guitar from the late 80’s. Some of the hardware was a little cheaper by then. I’ve had to replace the tuning keys and switch which have failed over time. No cloth wires either. That being said, it’s the best sounding guitar I own. The 7.25” radius and smaller vintage size frets take some getting used to

@AskZac

4 жыл бұрын

Very cool!

@nlumby

4 жыл бұрын

...interestingly, it's the radius that I really like!

I have a Fender Japan Strat I bought new in 1987. It plays great

Hey brother. I'm definitely more of a rock and blues style player, but I do really like me some smokin hot country pickin too and man you're a really tasty player. I really like your opening piece for this video.

Most of the Fujigen necks I’ve played were fantastic! Even with the later 90s’ models... A mij neck on a MJT body and good electronics and hardware > most of the custom shop models... for 1/3 of the price

@Asshat237

4 жыл бұрын

MJT? Made in japan tele?

@marc-antoinejean6428

4 жыл бұрын

@@Asshat237 nope... MJT... google it. Really nice replacement finished bodies made in USA

@Kenzabukuro

2 жыл бұрын

Truth

John Jorgensen is one of the most versatile guitar players out there. And after hearing that the Japan Fenders were and are better I went on a search myself.Got a Blue flower Tele in 95,and a week later bought a matching Strat. Was I in heaven or what. Still my favorites. Japan Fenders have better Q.C. In my book.But that's just me. Great stuff that brought back the memories.👌🎸

I had a Japanese Stratocaster once. I believe it was a 50th anniversary edition. It was a beautiful guitar & sounded great. I sold it for $500 when I was in high-school & I kick myself everyday for doing so. When I was younger I was a bit of a guitar snob. Or if I tell the truth I was just plain dumb. It had a flame maple top & some type of reddish yellow burst with a beautiful white pearlized pick guard. I would do almost anything to have that guitar back.

@adamdoran235

2 жыл бұрын

We've all been there mate!

Another great video. Zac, use your industrie power to make someone make a 3 saddles Tele bridge for Squiers affinities, Standards, Bullets,.........I can`t believe there is no one making them. To put a 3 saddle bridge in there is a real hassle.

I LOVE that guitar!! Wow!