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Post subject: Crafted vs Made in Japan
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 10:48 am
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OK, I've heard all this urban legend about "Made" in Japan vs "Crafted" in Japan. Supposedly, "Crafted" means a Japanese home market guitar of higher quality. I heard that Fender would not allow "Made" in Japan guitars to have as high a quality parts as American guitars. But Fender relented for Japanese home market guitars, thinking that not many of them will get to the USA. Others have told me that "Crafted" and "Made" don't mean anything like that, at all. Any ideas?

Now, I've bought parts that were supposedly Fender "Crafted" in Japan. I found the finish on the necks and bodies to be really thick and glossy. Pretty to look at, but I suspect the tone suffers. I also have heard that the Japanese ash or sen, is totally different than ours in an inferior way.

I wouldn't mind trying a "Crafted" in Japan guitar, if it really meant something! :?:

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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:03 am
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Crafted vs. Made? Sounds like a marketing strategy to me.


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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:04 am
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To get an answer from those in the know I have sent an email to Fender Customer Relations.
I will let everyone know what I hear back.

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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:19 am
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WOW! Fender Customer Relations is on it this morning. This is the response I just received: "Crafted in Japan" was merely the designation that took over in 1997 for the older "Made in Japan" wording to differentiate between different era Japan
instruments

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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:40 am
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Awesome and thanks. Another urban legend shot down. I can save my money!

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When I was a young man, we called it Vietnam.
Now that I'm an old man, still bleeding in a foreign land........."War Is Not The Answer", 2007.

www.guitargeezer.com


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Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 11:49 am
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Now, supposedly, and this could be just a rumor, 1980's MIJ's were better made than USA models of their time.


I own a 1986 MIJ '72 RI and it is a great guitar. At the time when I got it (last year) I also owned a 2005 CIJ '68 RI. I did find the 1986 MIJ to be a better guitar. BUT, that is just my opinion.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2007 12:22 pm
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You're probably right. I also read that when Fender USA switched from Fullerton to Corona, California, they sourced their guitars from Japan for a year or so. Then there are certain vintage Squires that are supposed to be built to USA Specs or better. So much knowledge and so little time and money. Then I was at my local favorite guitar store, when they were unpacking new MIM Strats. One came out with a beautiful birds eye maple neck, nice heavy body and it sounded really good. I would have bought it, but the owner kept it for himself.

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Now that I'm an old man, still bleeding in a foreign land........."War Is Not The Answer", 2007.

www.guitargeezer.com


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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:42 am
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I have a 1986 MIJ Contemporary 22 with the System I bridge. I wanted a U.S. Strat but they were still so hard to come by in '86 and the few that were available were priced very high (for me anyway). It's a good quality guitar that is aging nicely. I also have a CIJ Jazzmaster which is very high quality.

I had heard the same thing about MIJ v CIJ with CIJ supposedly the better of the two. I hope we have that cleared up. It seems to me I've seen MIJ and CIJ on guitars of the same production year.


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Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 4:57 pm
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I've heard that the change was made so that parts sourced from anywhere in the world could be used in "Crafted" guitars. Sounds better than assembled.

I'm not saying that this is what Fender Japan is doing, it just gives them options. All about semantics.

And this could be compete hearsay.

Bottom line is they are terrific guitars and a great value.

Mine...

Image

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Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:06 pm
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That is quite a collection of Teles. No Albert Collins-style humbuckers?


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:26 pm
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I've a "crafted in Japan" tele thinline and my hotrod deluxe in combination with the Fender doubles at the neck and bridge sure sound good. I'd like opinions on what would give me a bluesier tone though, except a bluesman amp. I was wondering if I COULD GET A SILKIER MEATIER TONE WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF PICKUP.

Appreciated


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