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Post subject: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:43 pm
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Hi, Guys, I'm new to the Fender Community and wanted to see if there are any other guitar nerds out there like me :)

I am an avid Fender collector with many fender guitars dating back to the early post-CBS 80's and as late as my latest purchase (built on February 6th, 2013).

The one's I have questions on are some of my most recent purchases which are a Made in USA American Standard, and the Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special (Made in Japan by Fuji-Gen). Both were bought within the last 6 months.

I LOVE both dearly and they both have unique voices which tickle my ear bones, but upon exploration of the two devices I was actually rather shocked!!

After removing the pick-shield to effectively rid the pesky protectant film, I noticed the Made In Japan Mustang featured many electrical parts stamped with the words Made in USA (Chicago actually, to be more exact). I was actually surprised to see the Japanese industry relying on American electronics, you know? It confirmed in my beliefs in the MIJ Fender as some of the best crafted guitars on the planet!! (MIM, MIC, and MIK just don't cut the mustard, in my opinion).

Now, imagine my surprise when I popped open my Made in USA Stratocaster to perform the same film-removal!! Inside were various labels and stamps saying "Made in Mexico". What the ----!?! :/ Now, I'm not saying that it bothers me too much. Those '57 Custom Shop single-coils SCREAM, and the electronics are very precise and solid. But what gives?

The reason I am writing is cause I was hoping someone else could enlighten me more on the reasoning behind this. Does anyone else find it odd that we should see this type of practice done with our beloved manufacturer? Shouldn't "Made in USA" entail the whole thing, or can it refer to just the wood and paint? Doesn't bother me so much with MIJ meaning USA too, but MIM is synonomous with generic to many of us collectors.

Now, do we really give the MIJ models as much credit as they deserve?

Does Fuji-Gen request these American-made electronics, or did they simply run out of stock, and is that the same for the Corona plant using Mexican parts?

Any and all feedback is welcomed, guys (and gals - what few of you there are;)! I love talking about Fender products and their compositional practices, but I'm hoping that others find this rather peculiar as well :)

-Clay


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:55 pm
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CTS now has manufacturing facilities in Mexico and has had for a number of years. In all candor, the quality of those "foreign-made" parts is just as good as the original components made in Chicago. I've got guitars with CTS pots made at both locations and really never give it a second thought. As an aside, both of my CIJ Strats had junk OEM electronics which I replaced with quality parts as quickly as I could get the instruments to my bench. One guitar was a Premium Vintage re-issue '65 made in 2005 and the other was a Strat 12-string made in 2006. Both were built by Fuji-Gen.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 11:49 am
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A 12-Stringed Strat!! Wow!! I'm sure you adore that collectable!!

I'm kinda surprised you replaced the electronics in your Fuji-Gens! Did you replace the pups only or did you do the pups and the pots? I'm curious about buying a pickup set myself but I don't know now! I was actually thinking about buying a dual Humbucker set up like on Fuji Gen's Mustang Special to put in an old Strat of mine.


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2013 2:22 pm
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Pickups, electronics, hardware, the whole can of whupass, at least on the '65 re-issue (the Strat XII retains all of its original CIJ hardware). Basically, all that's left of both original guitars is the furniture. I don't buy anything on the basis of collectability -- everything I own has to earn its keep. I need a 12-string for the Petty, Byrds, and some Beatles stuff, and a Rick 360-12 never really fit my fat fingers. With Fender's CS 69 pickup set and vintage Fender amps fitted with JBL speakers, the Strat XII comes pretty close to the prototypical Rickenbacker-with-toasters jangle.

(I must confess though -- I do so love me a Rick in FireGlo)

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 6:48 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
Basically, all that's left of both original guitars is the furniture. I don't buy anything on the basis of collectability -- everything I own has to earn its keep. I need a 12-string for the Petty, Byrds, and some Beatles stuff, and a Rick 360-12 never really fit my fat fingers. With Fender's CS 69 pickup set and vintage Fender amps fitted with JBL speakers, the Strat XII comes pretty close to the prototypical Rickenbacker-with-toasters jangle.


Arjay


That XII sounds radical, Arjay! I'd love to see it. Even the configuration of the turners onto the head-stock intrigues me. It sounds cool! To hear you describe it as a Rickenbacker-with-toasters jangle seems prolific! Fuji-Gen got that one right!

But you don't enjoy collecting instruments? The first time I oiled a rosewood fingerboard and polished up and cleaned the body and harware was when I realized, for myself anyway, that I treat my instruments like I do my cars! Lol

Any car or guitar I own that has earned its keep definitely gets the special treatment from me it deserves!


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:20 am
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No......Fuji-Gen did not "get it right".

I did.

The guitar as built came with crap ceramic pickups and junk mini-pots. It sounded muddy and the controls were noisy and unpredictable. OTOH it played well and the fit/finish of the instrument were flawless.

Image

While I had the "hood" lifted to transplant the new vital organs I swapped the original mint green pickguard out for one of white mother-of-pearl and replaced the aged-white plastic parts with those in parchment.

The headstock layout is reminiscent of Fender's original "hockey stick" configuration as used on their 1960's-era Electric XII sans the iconic hook at the top.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 6:52 am
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Wow! Marvellous collection, RJ! That room looks like one He!! of a hangout!!

Hey, when you popped off that pick-guard from the XII did you happen to see the country of manufacturer on the electronics? I'm curious because I wonder if there has been a change at the Fuji or not. I'm telling you, the Mustang Special from Fuji-Gen (released just this year) sounds amazing!


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 8:53 am
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The pots were made by NEC and the tone cap from Matsushita. The switch and output jack were unmarked but they looked pretty cheap, especially the former (they resembled the Taiwanese stuff as used in entry-level Squiers). I replaced it all with a "premium Strat wiring kit" from Angela Instruments but chose a Russian-made .022 ufd PIO tone cap instead of the .047 ceramic disc that the kit furnishes.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:49 am
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That being said, are any of those fine instruments you own replete with Japanese electronics stamped "Made in U.S.A."? My Mustang Special (CIJ) sounds amazing through anything, but more importantly through both my tube amps (I have a Vox and a Blues Deville 2x12).

The pots are just as responsive as my American-made Strats and even feature coil-taps on both of the humbuckers and still feature the 3-way switch which provide for about 16 tonal anomalies before I even begin to adjust those sharp tone-knobs and powerful volume output. It has bite and snarl, yet amazingly crystal clear twang if I need it. I'm smitten with this latest build from Fuji Gen!


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Post subject: Re: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan
Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 1:29 pm
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Nothing US-made except for the OEM pickups in the '65 re-issue Strat. They were (allegedly, according to the seller) Texas Special's. One was DOA when the guitar arrived. I heaved all three and replaced them with DiMarzio Virtual Vintage noiseless pickups.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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