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Japanese guitars - most made in the Fuji Gen Gakki Factory
I have been a fan of Japanese guitars for nearly 30 years. My first was the Black Squier Japan Vintage (JV) made in 1983 (when I bought it). After wrestling with a US Stratocaster in the 70’s it was a revelation to play this guitar and I gigged it for years and years. 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.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.
Over the years I have come to own a wider selection of Japanese guitars including 2 Tokai Goldstars from th 80’s. These Strats are very well made, use good wood and hardware and stand up to gigs as well as any guitar I have owned.
The sunburst telecaster is a ‘Made in Japan’ guitar of the late 80’s whilst the 52’s re-issues at the top left is a later ‘Crafted in japan’ guitar. The quality of the later guitar is slightly inferior although I have still gigged it extensively
The black Telecaster at middle right is from the production run after the JV fenders were discontinued - these were called SQ Squires. The Japanese factory then started using Japan hardware and pickups in the guitars and they weren't exact replicas of Fender instruments. Never the less the are still brilliant guitars. This is a very clean example from my chum Julian at Sevenoaks Guitar Centre (in Kent)
The final Japanese guitar (bottom left) is a rare Hank Marvin signature Squire…no more that 2000 of these were made for the EU market in 1991 - 1992 although they are a few from a production run in the late 80’s. Again this is a super clean example (although one pick up has been changed, and I gigged it straight away - from my chum Julian at Sevenoaks Guitar Centre (in Kent)
Classics from the land that invented the electric guitar
The oldest guitar I still own - my 1974 Les Paul deluxe. I paid £230 for this guitar in 1974 so its heading for 38 years old. Although out of fashion for a few years because of the smaller Epiphone pick ups, famous users in the 70’s like Scott Gorham and Pete Townsend have ensured that these guitars have some value in the 21st century. It is bloody heavy and I’m not sure I could get through a long gig with it. The USA Strat is a from Julian at Sevenoaks Guitar Centre, its a 2006 USA standard and had ben unloved by its previous owner. Price was too attractive to turn down. After a bit of TLC its a great player
