What is the difference between Fender USA and Japan?  

 

Image: Kurt Cobain playing Fender guitar from the-sun.com

Since 1946, the American guitar brand, Fender, has remained top-dog of the music world. At least, that’s what most people safely assume, given the era-spanning ubiquity of the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars across pop music, played by everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Harry Styles.

Fender’s downturn between the mid-1960s and 1980s made way for its Japanese division, Fender Japan, to come into existence. Since then, an infinite debate has ensued: Which guitars are better? Fender USA or Fender Japan?

Join us in our deep dive into Fender guitars, where we’ll unravel the wild, competitive history between Fender USA and Fender Japan, before shedding light on the pros and cons of Fender’s Made-in-America and Made-in-Japan guitar series.

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A History of Competition: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan 

The story of how Fender Japan came into existence is riddled with shock, surprises, and competition between continents. For this, we need to backtrack to the last days of Fender’s golden age.

Fender’s Darkest Age

In 1965, Leo Fender (creator of his namesake guitar brand) sold the Fender company to Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., better known by their TV network name, CBS. CBS produced Fender guitars between ‘65 and ‘85, and debuted a range of re-invented models including the Fender Telecaster Deluxe and the Telecaster Thinline. But overall, this era in Fender’s history fell flat in comparison to their 1950s-early 1960s heyday.

CBS continually cut manufacturing costs, leading to a “reduction in quality and consistency,” prioritizing quantity over quality and profit over performance. The slump in quality was noticeable, spurring many guitarists of this era to abandon Fender altogether.

It’s this harsh decline in consistency that brought Fender Japan into existence. American-made, CBS-era Fenders simply weren’t living up to the standards of vintage Fender guitars. Then the inevitable happened: Fender replicas became equivalent to, if not better, than CBS Fender’s own creations.

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Image: Fender CBS Stratocaster 1974 from planetbotch.blogspot.com

Fender Japan: Absorbing International Competition

The mid-1970s and early-80s saw a host of Japanese guitar brands produce unofficial versions of Fender’s original designs. Craftsmen imported and dismantled a selection of original 1950-60s Fender guitars, scrutinizing the tech that made these golden-age models so prized across seas.

Then, Asian manufacturers recreated these original American Fenders for the Japanese market, side-stepping the extortionate US exportation costs and the extravagant prices attached to the true, 50s-60s American Fenders. Japanese Fender replicas became the obvious choice for Japanese guitarists seeking the exact sound popularized throughout the West by artists such as Hendrix.

Before long, Fender USA caught wind of the replicas produced by Japanese guitar brands such as ESP, Ibanez, Greco and Fernandes, and that these knock-offs were much higher-grade instruments than Fender was producing itself. Attempts were made to block the production of these replicas, but eventually, Fender gave into the Japanese demand, establishing the official Fender Japan branch in 1982.

The guitars manufactured by Fender Japan were top-quality. Fender’s original Japanese production factory, Fujigen Gakki, had already been making replica instruments for years, and knew how to recreate the original designs of the 50s/60s models with diligent levels of precision.

 

Image: Range of Fender Japan Stratocasters from Fender Japan’s 1985 catalog from vintagejapanguitars.com 

Fender USA: Back on Top Form 

Fender’s notorious CBS era was finally put to rest in 1985. A cluster of private investors bought out the brand and soon reinstated the manufacturing techniques of Fender’s early days, returning Fender USA guitars to their vintage vision of quality.

Several pros from Japan’s overlord musical equipment brand, Yamaha, were even brought to Fender’s US plant to assess the quality of their CBS-era Fenders, and figure out how to get Fender USA back on top-form. This incited Fender to temporarily shut their US production lines whilst they made the necessary changes, re-routing all production to their Japan plant between 1984-85, before opening their new Californian factory in 1985. This means that all Fender guitars built during this short period were made in Japan.

 

Also Read: TOP VINTAGE JAPANESE GUITAR MODELS

Image: Fender USA with USA flag

 

Fender USA vs. Fender Japan

So, that’s the mythos.

Fender Japan was created to absorb Fender USA’s international competition, providing authentic Fender instruments to Asian markets without the crushing exportation costs.

Back in the early 80s, the quality of Fender Japan guitars would have been miles above that of the imploding and reorganizing Fender USA.

But what about today? Fender USA has certainly reclaimed its name; most younger guitarists will hardly have even heard of the brand’s past slide to the edge of annihilation. It’s a strange footnote in the history of an otherwise indomitable guitar brand.

So let’s dive into the details — which guitars are the best? Fender USA or Fender Japan?

 

Image: “Two Jazzmasters” 

Fender USA Guitars

Established in California, 1946, Fender is one of the most renowned brands to flourish in the US and spread its impact across seas. Fender’s American models are home-country originals and, by definition, the cream of the crop when it comes to Fender guitars.

Fender USA has relegated its CBS-era downfall to a distant memory, and proves it with every new guitar that’s hit the shelves post-1985. According to Guitar Quarter, Fender is currently experiencing its “modern Golden Age,” thanks to the updated specs of its best-seller, the Fender Stratocaster, being aligned with that of its 50s-60s heydey.

Fender USA produces each of its classic shapes — the Strat, the Telecaster, the Jaguar, the Jazzmaster, and more — under a range of different Series, each destined for a different type of performer.

 

Image: Fender “Vintage Series”

Fender USA’s American Vintage Series was launched to recreate the sound of their classic 50s and 60s guitars to perfection. As Fender explains, its American Vintage guitars are “built with period-accurate bodies, necks and hardware, premium finishes and meticulously voiced, year-specific pickups,” — resurrecting the sound which changed Western music forever.

 

Image: Fender “American Pro”

The American Professional Series also prioritizes familiarity and versatility, coalescing the lessons of Fender’s 70+ year history into a range of striking modern guitars. The price tags of these guitars are designed for professionals, ranging from $1,800 to $2,000. Other Fender USA series include the Ultra, Ultra Luxe and the American Performer Series, which sell from around $1,400 to $2,700.

Fender USA guitars are solid and stylish. Alongside Gibson, Made-in-America Fenders are the long-established backbone of the Western guitar music scene, promising sonic versatility and exceptional playability, as learned from the lessons of its past. 

Pros of Fender USA

– Authentic, original, American

– Astounding quality, electronics and wiring

– Era-correct or innovative hardware, depending on the Series

– Range of prices and finishes

– Custom Shop guitars made by Fender USA

Cons of Fender USA

– Expensive. If you’re a novice guitarist, Fender’s Chinese-made Squier sub-brand is a much better shout.

– Overall finish and craftsmanship said to be inferior to Fender Japan

– Lacks the flawless consistency of Fender Japan guitars

 

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Fender Japan Guitars

We’ve already dived deep into the origins of Fender Japan. But what makes these Japanese guitars stand out?

Originally, Japanese Fenders were priced much lower than the American originals, specifically in Japan where US-importation prices were high. As InSounder suggests, “In many respects, Fender Japan outperformed its US competitors in the early years of production,” — demonstrating its dependable nature from the get-go.

Many Fender Japan guitars are produced for the Japanese market only, making them rare collectibles for Western buyers. Their comparatively low production numbers naturally make them even more sought after, while also raising their price tags across seas.

Fender Japan represents the absolute quality of design and finish. While Fender USA reclaims its vintage allure, Fender Japan guitars are deep-set with a bold, contemporary edge. The 2022 Fender Japan Elemental Series epitomizes this — just look at the sleek redesign of the pickguard, matched with a modern, contoured neck and modified humbuckers.

Image: Fender Japan Elemental Series Range

One of the best accounts of Fender Japan’s top-quality craftsmanship comes from Michael Astley Brown of Guitar World. On his Japan-only edition of the Fender Elemental Jazzmaster, he writes, “I’m not saying it’s superior to US builds… just different. There was a level of detail here that I hadn’t experienced on a Fender guitar in this price range […] The fit and finish were quite simply unfaultable across the board. From the recesses for the direct-mount humbuckers to the perfectly applied pearloid pickguard, it’s a beautifully assembled guitar by any standards.”

The Fender Aerodyne Special Series continues the contemporary spark which makes made-in-Japan Fender guitars so unique. Called their “most futuristic offering,” Fender Aerodyne guitars modernize the sound and aesthetics of Fender’s more standard American guitars, without dispersing the elements which make those standard Fenders so great.

Image: “Fender Japan Aerodyne”

The Fender Japan Junior Collection meanwhile reduces the scale of the average guitar from 25.5” to 24”, promising “mini” or child-friendly guitars without compromising Fender Japan’s consistent quality.

At first, Fender Japan was just a cheap means for Fender to produce quality guitars for Japanese musicians. Now, they’re exclusive guitars in their own right, sought after by US musicians in the same way as vintage Fender USA guitars were by Japanese guitarists in the 70s. 

Pros of Fender Japan

– Diligence of Japanese craftsmanship

– Stunning consistency across products

– Quality of Fender Japan has never declined throughout its history

– Inspiring, contemporary designs

– Rare and collectible guitars in the West

– Custom Shop guitars made by Fender Japan

Cons of Fender Japan

– Low production numbers

– Electronics and wiring said to be inferior to Fender USA’s

– Often expensive for non-Japenese buyers

 

But you can get your hands on rare Fender Japan guitars directly from Japan with ZenMarket! ZenMarket is a proxy shopping service that helps users buy and consolidate goods from Japan for worldwide shipping!

Shop Fender Japan Guitars from Japan!

 

Is there a Difference Between Fender USA and Fender Japan?

 

Image: “Fender Japan Shop”

Fender Japan was established to bring the classic sound of vintage Fender guitars to the Eastern market, absorbing all competition from replica-makers in its wake.

In this sense, Fender Japan guitars mimic the sound and playability of Fender USA guitars. They’re designed to be practically indecipherable from each other. Their differences are practically unnoticeable to any average guitar player, and their quality is pretty much parallel.

Just listen to this side-by-side demonstration of a Fender Japan Stratocaster next to a Fender USA Stratocaster: while the Japanese Strat is slightly warmer, the tonal difference is minute.

 Video: From YouTube Channel “@maho0521”

 

The Final Scores: Fender USA vs. Fender Japan

Fender USA and Fender Japan are practically in balance. When it comes to “Which is better?” the answer depends on what each individual guitarist is seeking.

If you want a true Fender sound, Fender USA guitars are your best bet. But if you’re seeking a special evolution of Fender’s original allure, Fender Japan offers everything you need.

Both branches are reputable, dependable, and fixed with stellar tones and aesthetics. It all comes down to personal preference: vintage (Fender USA) or contemporary (Fender Japan).

 

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