Fujigen Gakki- what makes were made there?

I have sometimes wondered about collecting some Japanese guitars that were made in the Fujigen Gakki factory, but haven't yet found any really comprehensive resource to tell me what all the different headstock names were. I know about Tokai, Fender Japan, Squier JV, SQ and Vista series, Burny and Greco and (possibly?) Fernandez. And I think maybe Japanese Ibanez were made there along with some others like Antoria but I'm not sure (anyone know?). Any ideas where I can find more info?

Tokai is not a Fuji-Gen Gakki product, but instead were made by the 'Kasuga' company. And indeed they made some of the most accurate of all the vintage copy guitars.

One of the better makes you didn't mention was the 'Orville by Gibson' line. Later renamed 'Epiphone.' (Not to be mistaken with the 1970's Epiphones that Gibson had made by Matsumoku.) Incidentally, some of those late 1990's MIJ Epiphone guitars are exceptional themselves. So there's a couple to add to your Fuji-Gen Gakki list.

I've got an mid 1980's Japanese Stratocaster, that was made in the period when the only authentic Fender Stratocasters produced in the *world* came from Japan! Also, my short scale MIJ Vista series Jagmaster is among my all-time favorites.

But I'm not prejudiced to just the Fuji-Gen Gakki guitars. There are many great ones to be had from Matsumoku, Terada, and others. Even some of the funky old Teisco / Kawai guitars are tons of fun in their own ways.

Regards, John King Japanese Guitar Junkie

I just picked up a 1988/89 (H serial number) and it's an excellent guitar. One of those guitar where you can just feel the craftsmanship. I was able to compare it directly to a recent MIA strat and a couple of MIM strats, and there was no question, the MIJ just felt better. Although that MIA was really nice too (nicer finish for one thing), but at three times the price I paid...

Hoshino Gakki make Ibanez. But there seems to be a great deal of cooperation among the Japanese guitar factories, or at least there was at one point.

After buying the MIJ Strat in the 1980's I sold my early 1970'a MIA. The MIJ sounded and felt about as good, and stayed in tune *way* better!

Hoshino was the American branch of Ibanez that imported the guitars. They were still made in the Fuji-Gen Gakki factory. However, they may call themselves Hoshino Gakki now. And yes, they did seem to cooperate a lot in the past; as evidenced by the common hardware that many shared. That's because of the Japanese reliance on subcontract parts from what they call 'child' and 'grandchild' companies.

Regards, John King

The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced. -Frank Zappa (1940 - 1993)

The Fender Master Series was made there originally. Here's a link or two to help...
http://www.masterseriesguitars.com/
http://www.whitstableguitars.co.uk/ 1985fenderesprit.htm

And here's mine :




Good luck with your collection.

Virtual Guitar, fine looking guitar. Are you satisfied with the sound?

Hi There,

I read that you are a japan guitar fan.

Maybe you can help me
I, m looking for a kramer5150 replica from Japan
Maybe you know which factory or Japanese builder makes them.

THxs

Best regards

Roger5150

Absolutely! It's a brilliant and full, somewhat SG-like, sound. These are very well made instruments.

That's good to hear What genre do you usually play?

Here's my E-series Left handed E7**** serial, as you see there were many variations on the stock decal, personnaly I love the simplicity on mine

Now here's the ticket aside from Japan(F/G); the Squier Pro-Tone series is slowly rising in collectability. They were MIK but had vintage stylings, steel saddles,steel blocks, full size pots, ash bodies, alnico pickups(w/ reverse wound middle), and avail in strat,tele,and basses. Get them now while the price is low. If price is no option then go JV all the way.

Great photos and info, leftybob. Thanks for that

copper wrote:

Great photos and info, leftybob. Thanks for that :)

Here's a detailed overview of these great instruments; http://www.21frets.com/squier_jv/theprotonepage.htm
Those Fender enthusiasts should join that forum, it's a blast !
It's ashame this forum does'nt seem to get much traffic ; (

Yeah, nice information there at that site. It is more specialized though. Here we tend to approach all that is related to guitars.

copper wrote:

Yeah, nice information there at that site. It is more specialized though. Here we tend to approach all that is related to guitars.

I'm certainly not knocking it, I enjoy different sites and different styles of guitars.

And, I am very happy you joined us (and perhaps this can tempt some of the 'lurkers' here to post as well - no insult intended though. if people feel happier only reading here without participating then that's fine as well).