This is the coolest string commercial ever. I'm really interested in trying String Joy. The music, the lightning, and the information was spot on. It's not easy to get this info with just English, but you guys nailed it.

This was awesome! I have a 97 CIJ Fender Telecaster. It was quite expensive and I wondered why I was seeing other MIJ guitars listed for less. This kinda makes sense now. By the way, the guitar is awesome. The rosewood is unlike any other I’ve seen even from USA Gibson models.

Informative video !! . I'm always amazed at just how complicated and diverse the fender production system became over the years ! I own a CIJ Malmsteen Strat which according to Fender & the serial number was built between 1997 & 2000 . I don't know of its value but -I do like it and it sounds and plays very good ,which I guess is the mist important thing !

Good to know! I have an 1997 Fender Jaguar (CIJ) and a 2002 Fender Jazzmaster (CIJ). Both lovely guitars. Thanks :)

Great video! I love the Japanese fenders and this clears up a lot for me better then any forum on the internet.

Well spoken and good information. This is the best no non sense info about these guitars on KZfaq. Well done 😊

What an excellent history. Thank you. My CIJs and a frankenstrat with an MIJ neck were all fine instruments. All sold off now. I'm down to 2 90s MIMs (S & T) and a sweet Waterslide Rona T. I love them all. Vintage Schmintage. I'm vintage!

Great video! 🙌🏼🎸

great info!

It's actually a lot more simple than this. The Fujigen contract with Fender stipulated that if another company were contracted to make guitars for fender other than Fujigen they would not be able to use "made in japan".

such great information here! many thanks, and i string my 21 MIJ Jazzmaster Noir with StringJoy's customs. it's a good life.

A lot of information here, some correct and some incorrect. In 1982 Fender partnered with Kanda Shokai and Yamano Gakki for form Fender Japan. Kanada Shokai is a music company that owned brands, but they did not make any guitars of their own. Their best known brand is Greco. In 1981 Greco released it's Super Real series and Fernades launched it's Revival series. Both of these lines were from of a small team (2 people) of consultants working with both Fujigen and various brands in Japan (Kanda Shokai). Part of the agreement Kanda Shokai made with Fender is that they would stop producing Fender copies under the Greco name. Within months Fender Japan was producing guitars that had all the hallmarks of Greco guitars (and Fernandes Revivals as well). I think it would be safe to say that they were most likely relabeling Greco's as Fender. It is correct that the first Squier guitars were essentially the same as the regular Fender Japan guitars, but with a different name so they could export them and not compete with themselves. This arrangement remained till the mid 90's when Fender started to bring Dyna Gakki on board (also located in Matsumoto, Nagano) to produce guitars. It is around this time that the 'Crafted in Japan' labels start appearing. Around 1997 Fender Japan stop having Fujigen produce guitars for them. I don't know why so many sites say that Fender has it's own factory in Japan. It does not, never had. They did dissolve the original Fender Japan (with Kanda Shokai and Yamao Gakki) in 2015 and launched a new 'Fender Japan'. They have been using Dyna Gakki since the mid to late 90s. When they first started working with Dyna Gakki they brought Tokai on board for a little less than 2 years while Dyna Gakki updated their facilities. They have recently gone back to Fujigen for some models (such as the Modified JV series). The golden age of Japanese guitars would be the early 80's. Greco's Super Real and Fernandes Revival series are some of the best guitars this country has produced. My 1984 Fernandes RST-50 is by FAR the best guitar I have ever played. I have Fender Japan guitars from the mid to late 80s as well (Made in Japan). I also have a 1984 Yamaha strat copy that was also built by Fujigen. In addition I have a 1991 Fujigen Squier Strat, a 1999 Epihone Japan SG70 (also Fujigen). My 1999 Burny RLC (Les Paul Custom) was made by Dyna Gakki. Just some tips from a guitar nerd that has been in the land of the rising sun since the mid 90s ;). Oh and a pet peeve of mine, Fujigen is pronounced with a hard G (like saying Ken but with a G).😎

Great video, I have a 95 MIJ Jazzmaster which I acquired at a reasonable price. However I've seen these go at price points that are way to high. I'm going to keep mine, though since it's been with me for almost 20 years.

Thanks for sharing, great tips! It's all about the neck for me, I can make them all sing if they have a great chunky neck.

Got my eye on a cij. Great video!

Very informative! I own a 1986 Contemporary Strat from Japan and it is great quality! Has a cool black neck and headstock and some beautiful sounding pickups. Coincidentally, I found this video because I am considering purchasing a Japanese Jaguar, and wanted to know the difference between them all. Thanks!

Thanks for the video. I’ve got a Squier Vista Venus guitar CIJ in 1997. It’s suuuuper nice. I guess it makes sense, I had no idea it was worth so much until recently

Great vid...talk about "naiveté" and more likely snobbery: I went to buy an amp 25 years ago and the lady was selling a Tele with it. I refused because it was a Squier "Made in Japan". YIKES! Fortunately, she insisted they be sold as a pair and, to my surprise, once I got it home and set up it was a FANTASTIC guitar...it's a JV Butterscotch. The website you mentioned dates it between 1984-1987 with the bridge serial number, however the neck stamp indicates late 1982!?? I have since bought a 90's CIJ 60's-reissue Strat. Also a great guitar..

Super informative! Never knew Tokai actually made Fenders in the past. Thanks!

Found your video just by happenstance, worth the watch! Very interesting and informative, thank you. I bought a MIJ 84 strat, actually had it shipped from Japan to the UK (where I was living at the time) after retuning home from a night of drinking, then brought it back with me to Canada when I returned home to retire. Guitar is amazing to play, craftmanship is evident. I also have a 71 US strat, which is also nice, which I bought in the early 80's, also after a night of drinking whilst playing a show at a biker bash. I'm not a collector, I actually like to play, mostly at home these days. My guitar purchases stopped after I quit drinking, but after watching your video, I guess I made good decisions while inebriated! I assure you, I made some poor choiced while pissed too, have a couple of ex wives to prove! Anyway, I do have a question. How do I know if the MIJ is all original, what things can I check (outside the obvious serial number) to see if I have one of these "gems"? Not looking to sell, but more of an interest thing. Fact is, the grandkids will inherit my guitars, I'll play them till I can't, death or arthritis, whichever comes first. I've done some cursory searches, but you seem well informed about these guitars, so any help you could five me would be greatly appreciated. Again, great video, many thanks!

I own a 1993 Japanese 50’s Telecaster built in the Fuji-Gen Plant and it reads “Crafted In Japan”. There was some crossover apparently. It’s a superior guitar and one of my favorites, so either they were having a good day at that factory or it is a production fluke that it’s so great sounding and playing. Thanks for the informative Vid!

I have a 2002 CIJ strat and am having so much trouble trying to find info about it. Is it safe to assume it's a Toakai?

Got a March '97 Telecaster double humbuckers ❤️ Just want to know how much does it cost now? 🥰 Awesome video! Thank you!

Hey! Thanks for the video. But there must be a mistake: I have a Crafted in Japan Comp Mustang (SN: P 09...) which the guitar data project classifies as made in Fuji-gen Plant (for Fender Japan), Japan in 1993 - 1994. What do you think, Stringjoy?

I’ve played a few Tokai strats and P-bass models. One of these days I might own one.

I’m looking at a CIJ jaguar from 99, but guitar dater is saying that it was made at fujigen and not tokai. Is it still one of the good ones?

I have a '98 CIJ '68 Reissue Strat that I picked out by chance because it was slightly different from the others in a sea of Strats on the wall at a music store in Chicago and stood out with a natural ash finish and giant late 60s headstock. It was my first real guitar after learning to play for a few years on on a cheapo Strat copy my cousin gifted me. I had no idea at the time what I had purchased, I just liked it above the others. Edit: I used the lookup site mentioned and it says my CIJ is 97-98' was made in the Fujigen factory. That's weird, it should be dated earlier and/or be called MIJ instead if it's from that factory.

First thing I did when I got to my Navy duty station in Yokosuka was run out to a local music store and grabbed me a new CIJ Jaguar in 2007. I had no idea there was a following/demand for the CIJ, I just wanted a Jag!

Ryan's other channel is Demos In The Dark, he's a great player and reviewer!

What about the guitars made in Mexico around 2001? And what about the current guitars coming out of Corona? I have a Made in Mexico 2001 Jazz Bass and a 2021 Acoustasonic Jazzmaster. I’m still beating myself up for selling my 1962 Precision Bass.

Great video! Guitars are always a personal thing. MIM is the lowest Fender imho, MIJ , FGN, Tokai and USA are debatable, I personally prefer a MIJ or FGN over a USA Fender. (This is not bringing in player series and Squire). But then again A Les Paul I rate much higher than a Fender.

Great video. I have a 87 MIJ telecaster that I love and will never sell.

I have had both over the last 30 years and honestly honestly I noticed no difference between them. They both played fantastic

damn good info

Also, interesting fact is that Japan (crafted or made) Jazzmasters are way more exprensive than other models like Japanese strats and teles. Almost on par with American made.

I have a crafted in Japan jazzmaster neck.. not sure what to do with it

I have a CIJ 2004 '72 Custom Tele RI. It says that it was made by Fuji-gen factory

How can you tell if it's a Tokai? I've got a '97 Jag and some serial databases say Tokai, some say Fujigen, how were you able to determine that yours is a Tokai?

my fender is FGN era still own this bass use custom 110-50 stringjoy set on ;) , later got fgn p bass for price of mexican fender :)

like wise, was looking for a cheap and tough bass for practice during travelling....ended up with 1 squire vj and 2 fender vj bass and 1 fgn 5 string...all together cheaper than one hyped brand

My 86 Tokai Super Edition it's the best playing and built strat I've ever came across

By far, the best strat I've ever had is my CIJ 07 ST54-120 DMC. Beast of a strat! Try'm, you'll like'm.

HELLO? I have a STRAOCASTER "made in JAPAN" serial C can you say me where it's built and what is this age

Guitars are still built in the fujijen plant today though!

I have a Tokai AST-88 (now AST-95)... I think it can be compared with a MIJ Fender because Tokai made guitars for Fender.

I visited the Tokai factory in Hamamatsu in 2018 and the CEO Mr. Adachi told me that they never struck a deal with Fender and never produced for Fender. That it was all Fujigen and later Dyna Gakki.

So the neck has to be labeled CIJ correct ??

"squire" sp?

Japan uses basswood often, instead of alder, and while basswood can sound good and is generally lighter in weight - as poplar is, I prefer alder. Probably the more expensive Japanese guitars use alder (and ash), but the Jazzmasters in my price ranger were basswood. CIJ strats and telecasters are usually basswood too. The MIJ stuff probably used more of the traditional wood varieties?

I bought one new Fender Strat in 1984'-85 MIJ for $175.00 and the workmanship is outstanding. I still own it and will never sell it ...

fender have never owned a plant in japan,they are still made at dyna gakki under contract,dyna also produce their own high end kaminari guitars etc ,original tosin abassi sig guitar,vola guitars,which arent fender associated.facts mij fujigen 82 to 97,with dyna helping with large orders 92 ,hence first cij. dyna and fuji gen are only 35 klm apart in the nagano prefecture,japan,and both have made greco,burny fernandes,ibanez badges as well as fender at various stages.the official change to cij was late 96/early 97.tokai were brought in for a very short while, so dyna had time to expand to take bigger orders.the tokai cij fenders were sold only in japan,so if you didnt buy the guitar in japan,then probably dyna.fender and tokai links have allways been tenuos,after a spat they had in early 80s,when tokai was really rattling fenders cage,but by 97 ,fender/squier japan had eaten into tokai sales,so they needed the work,and only worked with fender for less than a year.dyna was the actual recognized new fender japan factory,and still are,though they are not owned by fender.to confuse matters,dyna went back to using mij instead of cij again in 2007,dyna also reused serials from a to u,so without referring to the cij dyna 92.it goes like this 82 to 97 mij fujigen,97 to present day 2022 dyna gakki,with some cij made by tokai in 97 only,which were only sold in the japanese domestic market .this is dyna gakki www-guitarblog-ru.translate.goog/Dyna-Gakki/?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

The Early 80'S ( 82 JV Fender logo ) JAPANESES FENDERS were made to Leo Fender's Blue Prints

All MIJ guitars I played were superior to US made ones.

i have a lake placid blue bought it in 1993

My 93-94 MIJ 68 ri Fender strat is better by far than all my name brands. Just picking it up makes me play better.

I own three 1984 Tokai Strats and a 1984 Tokai Talbo. Great guitars! If the house was on fire and I could only grab one guitar it would be the 80s Tokai version of a '54 strat (eight hole pick guard and 7.25 radius neck)

Japanese Fender are always good….period. I’ve owned CIJ and MIJ……they have all been excellent. The are as good as any USA Fender guitar I have owned or played.

I watched all of this long winded delivery only to have the period of 2004 that I was looking for completely skipped over like it never existed lmao

Guitars never gets boring 😂😆

I have a '97 CIJ Jaguar, and it will never leave me either. Japanese guitars (at least from the 90s) were not *better* than American. They were more consistent.

So my 93 MIJ jag isn’t as good?

I own a Lot of Made In Japan Fenders! WooF!!

It is insane about how weird fender has been over the years... A friend had a squire super strat thing that was one of the best fender/squire guitars I've ever touched. It was a black label squire and the only reason I remember that is because it looked *so* cheap. like a a straight ink stamp... But damn... HSH set up, fr licensed trem, sparkle blue... And ballsy as all get out... Idk if it was a fluke and someone that really cared made it or what. He bought it new from GC with a blackface fender 1x10 and just plugged straight in it sounded great for the heavy stuff I played then.... The obligatory iron maiden... EDIT: this would have been maybe 99 or 2001 at the absolute latest... I'm leaning towards 99 though as best as I can remember context.

Damn after watching the whole vid I have to wonder if this wasn't a fender that got shoved out the door as a squire or something.... He mentions that same era.

I think the MIJ guitars of the 80's were better than the 70's/80's US guitars in terms of quality control. But comparing good example to good example, I don't think it's true at all that the Japanese guitars where better made. And I've owned/own several of each

I’ve never heard of MIJ commanding a premium over CIJ until now. I think it comes down to particular models more than anything. I own an E-Series Squier (MIJ, late 80’s), a CIJ TL62 (early 2000’s), and formerly owned a 72 Custom Tele (Late 90’s, I think it read MIJ). The Squier is a great piece but the original electronics were sub par. The 72 had a great neck but the Basswood body felt like dried out driftwood and the pickups were terrible. TL62 is great all around (has USA made pickups) except for an ugly threaded barrel bridge. My point I suppose is that I don’t think the factory makes a heap of difference and there has always been a breadth of instruments coming out of “Fender Japan” and the quality can vary a lot. Squier Bullets (MIJ) were never particularly good guitars and a lot were cannibalized for their necks (which were swell). MIJ Squier Teles had a goofy, non standard, toploader bridge. During the early 2000’s when Fender Japan ran their own website (or piggybacked on Ishibashi’s) it was really easy to see general quality gradients by price. They made some pretty basic stuff in the sub 49,999yen range and then it went up nearly double that for fancier stuff. It can be difficult on the second hand market figuring out what exactly you’re looking at and what the original MSRP was. I could go on about other factors like how MIJs were hugely depreciated for decades and how relative scarcity in the US has driven up prices (if you ever visit Japan, used guitars are dirt cheap) but I’d say the only constant is that MIJ/CIJ pickups have never been particularly great.

MIJ (Fujigen) > CIJ (Tokai and Dyna)

👍

The mij thing is total bs can't believe people have fallen for this ...MIM and MIA made Fenders for me

Are you the Demos in the Dark guy?

*M I J is from the 80's until mid 90's, most assembled in Japan with USA bodies & necks at Fujijen factory... C I J are actually not worth as much as M I J (that dude ripped you off) better than MX, but not made at Fujijen and bodies + necks not from USA*

In other words, neither term means diddly shit. A distinction without a difference.

Слишком много слов, разговора, нужно больше сравнения звука, нескольких гитар

this story might be a Crafted in Japan is a merely advertisement So that, fender made in mexico will be more attractive for the fender Patronizer's custmer to buy & consider this CIJ. why this issue is just come out too late. Japan is no longer producing this model because the market is too low & building this Quality of instrument that made in Japan are so expensive.. if i'm a japanese builder why should i produce an instrument that will make my investment went to bankruptcy.🤣😂

Talk to much…

I'm so sick and tired of the Japan Vs American debate. Qu: Would you buy a Samurai sword made in America or Japan? (...ask yourself why you'll end up deciding to buy a Made In Japan Samurai sword) The ONLY reason why America keeps on pushing the Made in America is because of the MASSIVE debt America has. Japan is FAR superior Japan has a tradition of respect and shame The Japanese would rather die than produce a sub-par quality product. END.

Bla bla ..blabla

I bought a guitar, then I sold it. ...blah blah ...In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected... blah blah... Nikolai Tesla invented electricity in 1873.. blah blah... I bought another guitar, I have many guitars... blah blah... [Skip to 9:12]

Don’t need this long ass video. It was one of the stipulations in the Fujigen contract at the time when they first started. Nobody else could legally use the “made in Japan” branding… People always gotta make videos on things they don’t really know about..kind of disappointed at stringjoy on this one we all know early 80’s Fujigen MIJ is where it’s at ..ain’t nobody care about a 90’s CIJ guitar i shure is hell don’t

The big brand guitar used market today is pathetic, its full of people fighting over pennies and worthless minutiae, i really question the mental capacity of most people involved in it, they act like silly children trading baseball cards, and this kind of crap proves it.