New Fender "Made in Japan Traditional" offset line

[sunburster]

Fender released a new line of guitars in Japan called the "Made in Japan Traditional" series on September 5. These are slightly different from previous MIJ Fenders. Differences I can see include:

-Serial number and "Made in Japan" on the back of the headstock, like MIM and MIA Fenders.
-Headstock decal appears to be placed on top of the finish, instead of under it.
-Colors are new/reworked. Surf Green, Artic White, Daphne Blue, Torino Red, Black, Sunburst.

Here's an Ishibashi listing for an artic white Jazzmaster:


Torino Red Jazzmaster:


Artic white Jag (brown tort):


Daphne Blue Jag:


And a surf green mustang:

[sunburster]

I need that Daphne blue Jag!

[marqueemoon]

Digging that Torino Red.

[Gordon]

Is it me, or the bodies look thin?

[sunburster]

All the neck shapes are listed as being a "U" instead of the usual "C".

Also, "Flamingo Pink" 70s Mustang:



Sapphire Blue Transparent 70's Mustang:

[spacecadet]

They're using "aged white" plastic parts. Fender Japan previously didn't make those, so it makes me wonder if the pickups themselves might be different (FMIC pickup covers don't fit Fender Japan pickups and vice versa).

The tort pickguards are still nasty; if anything it looks like they went back to printed red, at least for that white JM. Oddly the Jag still has brown tort, which makes me wonder if these are made in different factories. (One Tokai/Dyna, the other Fujigen?)

The Mustangs really look great, but I can't do another slab body Mustang... if I ever get another one, it's gotta be different from my 66.

I didn't see in the original post but these have no matching headstock, which was/is a big selling point (to me) of the regular MIJ's.

[sunburster]

70's Mustangs have a contour body, not a slab.

Good point about the lack of matching headstocks.

Jazzmasters also look like they have Switchcraft pickup selector switches. Would be great to find proper full-sized pots in there as well.

[spacecadet]

70's Mustangs have a contour body, not a slab.

Oops, yeah I looked at the green one and then just looked at the pics of the other two mainly concentrating on color, without noticing that they were 70's and not 60's. Arm cutout's pretty obvious when I look again now.

[sunburster]

Ha, and I didn't notice the green one was a slab until you mentioned it! Need to get my eyes checked.

Here's a list of all that Ishibashi currently has for sale, lots of Teles, Strats and basses too:

http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/cmHeade ... raditional" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Unfortunately they won't ship these outside of Japan.

[sunburster]

At least two of the 70s Mustangs have a matching headstock. CAR and California blue:

[Whiny Minotaur]

Oh my, that trans blue Mustang looks smashing.

[dylanafghjkl]

the mustangs look great! might like the others if they end up having matching headstocks
i'll have a look when i'm there in like a week

[s_mcsleazy]

another reason im jelly of the jdm market

[BoringPostcards]

I'm loving those Mustangs. That clear blue one is sexy. Any idea if these are limited or are Fender Japan back in action?

[spacecadet]

Argh, why couldn't they make the green or trans blue Mustang with the matching headstock? That California Blue one looks a lot better with the matching head than it would without one, but the green and trans blue would just be out of this world with a matching head.