Do really fender mij have 22 frets?

I think it's quite rare for standard or vintage reissue-style Japanese Fenders to have 22 frets unless they are custom orders for a particular dealer or similar. I was browsing a store near me the other day and they had a CIJ Tele Standard made in '86 with 22 frets. The owner says it's the only one he's ever seen. Most of the other strats and teles I've looked at have 21 frets like their U.S. counterparts.

The Heavy Metals are 22 as well as the Cotemporary's and the Hot Rod reissues so yes there are plenty with 22 frets.

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Thomas Jefferson

This one, perhaps:



That's one of the many MIJ Richie Kotzen sig Strats.

Cheers - C

I thought that would probably be the case... in Australia you're much more likely to come across the vintage (well... '80s, anyway) Japanese Fenders, which tend to be very true to the originals. They reissue some interesting years, too, like the Custom Shop does. I spotted a bang-on '65 maple cap strat a while ago, and a '70s black strat that was probably superior to any U.S. strat of that era.

Hi Mondo: you're lucky if you can still get them easily in Oz. They used to be readily available in the UK right alongside the US and Mexican Fenders, but that has all changed. Very hard to find now, apart from occasional individuals who import and sell on Ebay.

Cheers - C

I posted a link to Global Vintage elsewhere, but here it is again. The photos are squashed until you click on the large version, but otherwise there's some fun to be had perusing the selection. This shop is perhaps a 20 minute walk from my house, but sadly I hardly ever seem to find the time to go there. Good prices on the guitars for the most part, rather less so on the imported effects. That's standard for Australia, though... cheaper in most cases to order direct from the States; even with postage factored in, it's often about half the cost of buying locally.

If you don't "need" that 22nd fret, you could get something like this (not sure if you're looking for Strat or Tele?) :

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

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Well, looking at the headstock you can have a Strat and a Tele...

Meanwhile. This is the Richie Kotzen MIJ Strat I was really trying to find. Trans whiteburst finish on flame maple, white tuner keys, moto pickguard, ablone dot markers... The tart in me is in love!



And it can be ours for a mere Y138,600 ($1467) from:

http://www.ishibashi-webshop.jp/shop/g/g311719900/

Cheers - C

Now if only that Kotzen model had white block position markers (instead of abalone) to match the white tuner keys. It looks like a partial scalloped neck from what I see in the pic, but not very clear, neither are my eyes.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!