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Fender (Squier) 'JV' Stratocaster. When Fender started production of the Squire series in the early 80's they didn't reckon on the quality of the guitars that came back. Using a lot of genuine fender parts, these early Japan Vintage or JV series rivalled the US guitars (better - some would say). They went out of production after a few years but set a standard for Japanese quality that stands to this day. Made in the Fuji Gen Gakki factory near Tokyo The earliest JV guitars have a fender logo on the headstock and a very collectable indeed - They are sometimes called series 1 JV's. Mine is a later model with Squier on the headstock. The pickups have cloth covered wiring and are probably US made. The JV Website has a lot of information on this series of guitars This is a 1962 re-issue and dates from 1984, I gigged this guitar for nearly 18 years non stop and it never let me down once, its a little battered and has had one fret job, but plays and sounds great |
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Gibson Les Paul Deluxe - one of my oldest guitars - in 2007 clocking in at 33 years and owned since new. By 1974 I had grown tired of cheap import guitars and saved up to by this Gibson Les Paul Deluxe in tobacco sunburst.. It came from Rhodes Music in Denmark Street (London), a shop that still sells guitars today. The Deluxe was out of fashion for years as the pickups are smaller than on other Les Paul models - but in recent years they have become collectable again and command a good price. My more country / Clapton / Knopfler style means this guitar has not been gigged much over the last 25 years. Pete Townsend loved these guitars look up details here - Les Paul Deluxe | |
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Fender Telcaster Custom. Purchased in 1993 and played regularly - no modifications. Its a Japanese model ('Made in Japan') and seems very resonant. One of the sounds I use the most is the neck pickup on its own - its seem to be mellow but able to cut through in a live situation Always wanted one of these - the original electric guitar. First marketed by Leo Fender in 1950 was initially called the 'Broadcaster' until a dispute about the name used by Gretsch (for a drum kit!!) forced Leo and Doc Kaufman to change the name to 'Telecaster' |
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Jackson PS2 purchased in 2000. The 'Super -Strat' format pioneered by Charvel in the 80's has led to a large number of options. Cheaper (non USA) Jacksons can have quality problems - mine is Japanese. I have changed most of the electrics and the guitar is now fitted with an EMG HZ passive pickup in the bridge position. I Mainly use this guitar for recording and practice | |
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Tokai (Japan)Fender Stratocaster replica 'Goldstar Sound'. Fender wanted to ban these guitars because they are much more than a copy - the attention to detail and build quality is top notch. This example has been fitted with EMG SA active pick ups and its another fabulous guitar. SRV had one! This guitar dates from 1983/4 and does not have the logo that makes the T from Tokai look like the F from Fender!! (if you know what I mean). Although the EMG pickups can sound a little sterile, I have gigged this guitar regularly. Tokai stil make Gibson copies in both Japan and Korea and many reveiwers put the Japanese guitars on a par with USA Gibsons. Newer Tokai Tele and Start guitars have a different headstock shape that cannot be confused with Fenders, but they are still highly rated, click this link for more info Tokai Japan |
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Paul Reed Smith (PRS) SE Soapbar -singlecut. PRS had a lawsuit pending in the USA on the basis that guitars like this (called singelcut) look like the Gibson Les Paul (see mine above). As PRS is a US Company, Gibson had forced PRS to cease production of single cutaway electric guitars. I think this is madness - the guitars really don't look the same and Japanese companies are still making Gibson copies, so this lawsuit was harming another US company. Thankfully reason prevailed and the case was thrown out in early 2006 - PRS have since re-started prodfuction of 'Single Cut' guitars from the USA although Korean made models are all Double Cut designs at the moment This particular guitar is made in Korea and seems to be very well made indeed. Soapbar pickups are modelled on Gibson P90 single coils from the 50's and have a very unique sound. |
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Squier Telecaster Custom. A comfort purchase from Regent Guitars in Denmark Street (London) in December 2005. Just fancied a cheap guitar to play with but was pleasantly surprised at how good it is. The hardware all had to be screwed down, the bridge screws where so long they cut into your hand and the intonation was out. After one day it was gigged and gave a good account of itself. I also added a treble bleed cap on both volume controls, it doesn't quite sing like my 62 re-issue but its fun to have around. | |
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Squier Standard Telecaster- paid just £100 for this guitar from Julian at the Sevenoaks Guitar Cenre. I could have gigged it the same day - thats the good thing about used guitars from a shop, most have been set up and had the rough edges taken off. This model is dated on the neck as year 2000 and its Indonesian. You can tell where the corners have been cut - the headstock is not sculpted like the real thing and there is no lacquer on the neck - oh and the tuners are a bit cheap and cheerful. I have lifted the D and G strings out of the string tree. I could not keep the guitar in tune with them in use and after considering a graphite string tree I ended up not using them at all. | |
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Ibanez AS105 'Artcore'. Made in China - but wow!! its a work of art. Top notch build quality, beautifil flamed maple, gold plated parts and super neck inlay make this a very nice looking and playing instrument. Purchased from Andertons of Guildford December 2006. | |
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Aria CSB380 Bass Guitar - Purchased 1984, very easy to play and lightweight single pickup bass. | |
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Fender Telecaster 1952 re-issue (2003 model) - Purchased May 2007. . I broke my own rule to buy this guitar. I swore I would never buy a guitar on ebay that I had never playedso I took a big risk on this one.This is a Japanese import model ('Crafted in Japan') with US pickups which undercuts the USA model by a lot of money and is very close in quality. The seller was very truthful and the guitar plays well and sounds very good. The pickup switch is poor and I will change for a new USA part and one of the screws that hold the control plate is only just in the wood..so Japanese quality control may be slipping a bit. 'Crafted in japan' fender guitars where not made in the revered Fuji Gen Gakki factory after 1997 (see next guitar), but for the money its a very nice player, 3 piece ash body and soft V profile neck | |
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Hank Marvin Squier
Japan Strat. Purchased November 2007 from my chum Julian at the
Sevenoaks Guitar Centre. I love fenders that are 'Made in Japan' at the Fuji
Gen Gakki factory - click here to see why
Fender
Japan Although its a Squier, the neck is maple and lacquered, the body is probably basswood, the build quality is first class and for a guitar that was made in 1991 it is almost unmarked. This Signature model was requested by the UK distributor and no more than 1500 appear to have been made in 1991 and 1992. It has been lovingly cared for and played a bit, I gigged it one week after purchase and it didn't miss a beat. |
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'SQ' Squier
Japan Telecaster. Purchased March 2008 from my chum Julian at the
Sevenoaks Guitar Centre. I love fenders that are 'Made in Japan' at the Fuji
Gen Gakki factory - click here to see why
Fender
Japan Although its a Squier, the build quality is first class and for a guitar that was made in 1985 it is almost unmarked. SQ series Squiers were made alongside the fabled JV series Fenders and are very close in terms of quality, the Squier name only came to mean lower quality in the late 90's. SQ guitars were made in 84, and 85 only. My Indonesian Squier does not compare with this superb instrument. It has been lovingly cared for and I gigged it on the day of purchase. |
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