Tokai made JV Fenders

Tokai Forum

Help Support Tokai Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
S

stratfan

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Messages
57
Reaction score
0
Location
California, USA
Does anyone know of a way to tell which JV Fender Strats are currently made by Tokai?

If so please post info. If not, which are the comparable quality Fenders that are currently on sale in Japan that equate to an ST-80 or better?

Thanks for the time...
 
I don't know what an ST-80's specs were, but the best specced Fender Japan models are the VSPs. They make various models now, eg 54, 57 and 62 Strats, 52 and 62 Teles, Jags, Jazzmasters, Mustangs, basses. They all feature 2-piece bodies, Nitro top-coat finishes, steel trem-block, USA electrics (ie CTS, CRL) and Dimarzio pickups.

The next rung down from these are the TX models, which are usually 3-piece bodies, diecast block (with a couple of exceptions), Texas Special pickups, poly finishes and cheaper electrics.

I previously owned a ST54-VSP, it was a really cool Strat. I also owned a few of the TX models too, they were great also.

Fender Japan have a pretty good web-site listing the specs of all their current models:

http://www.fenderjapan.co.jp/fender/2008fender/stratocaster.htm
 
stratfan said:
Are the Tokai made Fenders easily identifiable? By S/N or some other means?
Click to expand...

I think all the current MIJ Fenders are made by Tokai. The serial numbers are Fender sequenced beginning with a letter signifying the year(s) of production. Does anyone know when Tokai began making the MIJ Fenders. Might be able to track down the serial number sequences based upon the beginning year of production

Here is a great link talking about Fender Japan (click on the tab at the bottom of the page for dating:

http://guitarsjapan.com/fenderinfopage.html

I have a couple of Fujigen made (E series 84 - 87) strats.
 
This is from a earlier post of Tokai Joe.

@ the fujigen years
JV+ 5 digits 1982-1984
SQ + 5 digits 1983-1984
E + 6 digits 1984-1987
A + 6 digits 1985-1986
B + 6 digits 1985-1986
C + 6 digits 1985-1986
F + 6 digits 1986-1987
G + 6 digits 1987-1988
H + 6 digits 1988-1989
I + 6 digits 1989-1990
J + 6 digits 1989-1990
K + 6 digits 1990-1991
L + 6 digits 1991-1992
M + 6 digits 1992-1993
N + 6 digits 1993-1994
O + 6 digits 1993-1994
P + 6 digits 1993-1994
Q + 6 digits 1993-1994
S + 6 digits 1994-1995
T + 6 digits 1994-1995
U + 6 digits 1995-1996
N + 5 digits 1995-1996
V + 6 digits 1996-1997


@ the tokai/dyna years.....

Crafted in Japan N + 5 digits 1995-1996
Crafted in Japan A + 6 digits 1997-1998
Crafted in Japan O0 + 5 digits 1997-2000
Crafted in Japan P0 + 5 digits 1999-2002
Crafted in Japan Q0 + 5 digits 2002-2004
Crafted in Japan R0 + 5 digits 2004-2005
Crafted in Japan S0 + 5 digits 2006-2008
Crafted in Japan T0 + 5 digits 2007-2008
Made in Japan T0+ 5 digits 2007-2008

If i remember correctly the second importent point it's a Tokai or
a Dyna,is the SN written over or under the CIJ.
But i can't remember in witch way. :oops:

Volker
 
I think that info from Tokai Joe is pretty right, with one possible difference, and this is only an idea of mine - when the labelling changed back to "Made in Japan" with the bold font in 2008 does this also mark the end of Tokai production, and someone else is now producing the Fender Japan guitars?

I have to say that the CIJ Tele that I had from 1997 was a very nice guitar, and the recent "Made in Japan" ones I've checked out were kind of different in looks and feel. Also a dealer that I know told me the newer MIJ guitars were not the same as the previous CIJs, and not as good. He may have been hyping up his own business though, which is selling second hand Fender Japan guitars, so he has mainly CIJ and some old MIJ/JV stock.
 

Similar threads

B
1980`s History HS-335 ?
Replies
4
Views
376
guitar hiro
guitar hiro
K
Fender CIJ 72 Strat....2006-2008 made by Tokai?
Replies
3
Views
161
Sigmania
Sigmania
M
Help with ebay breezy id
Replies
13
Views
463
MarcoXMarco
M
Sigmania
1981 JB60? Parted Out
Replies
0
Views
115
Sigmania
Sigmania
Sigmania
  • Sticky
What Cat's Eyes Were Made In Japan?
Replies
10
Views
385
Sigmania
Sigmania

Latest posts

Back
Top