Most of the Japanese-made Fenders up until 1996/1997 were MIJ Fenders. During the ’70s, in the so-called “law suit” era, Japan was producing Gibson and Fender style electrics with excellent results. Reverb Bump. )The Fender MIJ Traditional 70s Telecaster Thinline is built using a timeless single-f-hole, semi-hollow body and dual wide-ranging humbucking pickups designed to produce the versatile array of tones you expect from a workhorse tele, as well as some you don’t. And it’s the spitting image of where it all started. This resulted in the "Crafted in Japan" inscription appearing on some Japanese Fenders during this period. (This guitar is LEFT-HANDED.). The first CIJ Fenders started around 1992, when Dyna Gakki took over some of the production requirements of Fender Japan. Appointments preferred » Call to make yours today at (773) 525-7773 or Click for more details! Contact one of our experts for special deals, or learn how you can get the perfect piece ofgear into your hands today! 1996/1997: "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) is used instead of "Made in Japan" (MIJ) because Tōkai Gakki and Dyna Gakki take over the manufacturing contract from FujiGen Gakki. Tokai and Dyna Gakki took over the production of the Fender Japan models from Fujigen in 1996/1997. The high quality 3-ply alder body feature a sleek, stylish design, and the selected rosewood fingerboard neck is equipped with luminous side position dot inlays for improved visibility on stage. Throw on a solid maple neck and a Flaming Pink finish only available in Japan and SE Asian markets and it’s just too hard to resist. ... Fender Stratocaster (Japanese, RARE) 1984-87 White. CIJ was used entirely on Japanese Fenders produced from 1996/1997 until 2015, after Tōkai and Dyna took over the Fender Japan manufacturing contract. Shop Gear The Fender MIJ Traditional 60s Stratocaster is a period-inspired stunner that somehow features premium vintage-style hardware, a trio of vintage-style single coils, and a genuine solid rosewood fingerboard for under $900 USD. The new tradition starts from here: "Made in Japan Fender" has history of over 35 years and keep providing high-quality of products. Some Fujigen made Fender replica between 1982 and 1997 have necks made by Atlansia. The Modern Series is the latest Made-in-Japan product line developed to provide the highest level of playability and tone to modern players with significantly playing skills. I wouldn’t deny that Fender made some great guitars in the ’70s, but it’s commonly thought that Fender’s quality dropped quite a bit from that of the ’50s and ’60s. 2015: Fender, Yamano and Kanda Shokai end the Fender Japan joint venture on March 31, 2015. Fender Squier Bullet Bass. Modeled after the extra-hot ‘65 Mustangs, the Fender MIJ Traditional 60s Mustang is built to virtually the same specs, like the decal with patent number, aged button “F” tuners, period-correct plastics, grey fiber-bottom alnico magnet pole piece, and a vintage-style tremolo, all with enough wiggle room left to add a solid rosewood fingerboard. $650. At the beginning of the Fender Japan venture, Tokai was seriously being considered as the manufacturer, but after a breakdown in negotiations, FujiGen Gakki was chosen instead. This period-inspired fretless Jazz Bass is available in two timeless finishes and built with an alder body and reverse winding tuning machines, yet with enough room left in the budget to add a premium rosewood fingerboard without pushing up the price to offer unmistakable Fender soul and limitless tonal possibilities at an unprecedented value. Shop Fender MIJ Traditional Series guitars and basses at Chicago Music Exchange now to see what happens when you combine historically lauded tone with internationally renowned quality. The Tōkai-made Fender Japan guitars were not exported, but some of the Dyna-made Fender Japan guitars were. Fender took over the Japanese business effective April 1, 2015. Fender Made In Japan models are known for quality at an unusually low price, and the MIJ Traditional Series presents time-honored Fender models–complete with classic Fender tone, foreign market finishes and premium components like rosewood fingerboards–for under $1,000 USD. The Fender MIJ Traditional 60s Jazz Bass Fretless is an absolute wonder. In the early '80s a new problem that Fender had to deal with emerged: the rise of the made in Japan guitars, caused by dollar increase against yen and by the quality of the instruments realized in Japan, which made those Americans uncompetitive. One of the conditions in the Fender Japan agreement was that Kanda Shokai cease production of its Greco Fender copies. 1984: CBS sells Fender to its current owners and while waiting for a new US factory to begin production, Fender Japan models and leftover US stock were mostly sold in the US for a few years. Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler that does not own any retail outlets of its own. Throw on a killer Surf Green finish and it’s just too hard to resist. Dyna took over because FujiGen was expanding its own factory operations. And it’s the spitting image of where it all started.The Fender MIJ Traditional 70s Mustang is a perfect recreation of the timeless, small-scale favorite, beloved just as much for it’s compact size and lightweight body as it is for its alnico pickups and fat, round low end. 1982: Fender Japan starts production with FujiGen Gakki having the manufacturing contract. Throw on a Flamingo Pink finish only available in Japan and SE Asian markets and it’s just too hard to resist. Fender Japan, Ltd. was a joint venture between Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Kanda Shokai (神田商会) and Yamano Gakki (山野楽器) to produce and sell Fender-branded instruments for the Japanese market. Fender “Squier” guitars were produced at the same time as the Fenders in Japan, but were made as cheaper versions of the Fenders, to meet the demand for cheaper guitars in Japan and abroad. I have a Japanese Jazz bass I purchased new in 1989 and love it. Previously available only in Japan and SE Asian markets, the MIJ Traditional Series offers classic finishes like Arctic White, Surf Green, Black, and 3-Color Sunburst, as well as the sought-after Torino Red and Candy Tangerine and the rarely seen Flamingo Pink, Candy Blue, and California Blue.Each MIJ Traditional model is equipped with specific, period-inspired hardware, solid rosewood fingerboards, and top quality electronics designed to emulate the look, feel, and sound of various key eras in Fender’s history. 1993: The first "Crafted in Japan" (CIJ) models start appearing due to Dyna Gakki taking over some of the manufacturing while FujiGen Gakki were expanding their operations.