Red or Black? Can't decide? Then, this Fernandes is the bass for you!

guitarz.blogspot.com:

This Fernandes RJB-CTM Bass is a Made In Japan J-type bass so you know it's going to be outstanding quality. However, the main reason I'm posting it on Guitarz today is because of that startling but very cool bi-coloured finish.

Currently listed on eBay with a very reasonable Buy It Now price tag of US$735.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

2007 Fernandes Ravelle Custom "Japan Premium" Dave Kushner signature

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Here's another Sustainer-equipped Made in Japan guitar from Fernandes, this time it's a Fernandes Ravelle Custom Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver) signature model from 2007 and is not to be confused with similar models from China and Korea. I like how the classic Les Paul design has been taken and given a Science Fiction / Industrial twist. Note how the volume and tone controls align with the holes cut out in the pick guard. The metallic green also particularly sets off the futuristic stylings.

Currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $1,295.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

Wacko Japanesese Fernandes Hisashi Imai Stabilizer Guitar currently listed on eBay

guitarz.blogspot.com:

For our final post of 2013 I wanted to share with you something really wacky, so what better than this Fernandes Hisashi Imai Stabilizer SLV model guitar? It's a signature guitar for Hisashi Iman, guitarist of Japanese visual kei innovators Buck Tick, and regular readers may recognise it as a guitar we have shown before on this blog but this time we have much more detailed photos AND if you really really want to, you can BUY this particular guitar as it is currently listed on eBay (at the time of writing).

In my previous post I suggested that the stabilizer bar was probably more for aesthetics than any genuine need for extra stability in the neck. And of course, being a Fernandes this guitar is equipped with a Sustainer in the neck pickup position. In my own opinion, the Fernandes Sustainer is no replacement for an EBow - even if the Sustainer does affect ALL the strings simultaneously (for me, that's part of its downfall) - but perhaps the Sustainer works even better in conjunction with that stabilizer bar. It's interesting to see the rear view photos of the guitar which show that the stabilizer has been mounted with 4 bolts just as if it is a secondary neck. It then seems to be attached to the rear of the headstock by having the machine heads directly mounted through it and into the headstock proper.

This is a guitar that strangely appeals to me. I'd love to play something like this on stage, despite the Floyd Rose trem which ordinarily I find such a pain. I don't think, however, I'd be up for the big hair, make-up and flamboyant costumes of the visual kei movement; with my 50th birthday rapidly approaching I feel I'm getting a bit old for that kind of thing.

Currently listed on eBay with a starting price of $1,580 (item located in Japan).

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
Please read our photo and content policy.

A cartoon guitar for the southpaws: Fernandes Um Jammer Lammy

guitarz.blogspot.com:

We've looked at one of these guitars before, but if I remember correctly this example is more faithful to that pictured in the original Um Jammer Lammy video game artwork, being left-handed. If you want names and model numbers, it's a Fernandes UJL-2000, but it's easier to remember as the cartoon guitar based loosely on the Les Paul design. According to the eBay seller:

It is a three-dimensionalized guitar that Um Jammer Lammy, lead guitarlist for a band "Milkcan", main protagonist uses in the video game, "Um Jammer Lammy" published by Sony for the PlayStation video game console. Looks a toy but was built carefully by a Japanese famous make, Fernandes. It has 609 mm / 24 inch scale as Fender Mustang has.

The weird thing about this particular example is that it's been converted to right-handed playing. Imagine, someone actually chose to play this strange-looking guitar and then played it upside-down! How odd that must have looked. Hopefully for the adventurous-minded southpaw, it won't be too difficult to convert back to left-handed.

Currently being offered for auction on eBay with a starting price of $1,499.99.

G L Wilson

© 2013, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!

Fernandes JG-series Made In Japan Jazzmaster-esque offset-waist guitar with Sustainer

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Francis writes:

I'm glad to see that the Guitarz crew take the time to listen to their readership. Thank you for featuring the Grass Roots bass, by the way. I was finally able to identify it thanks to a comment by a fellow reader!

Anyway, here's a treat for you since you seem to be interested in Japanese guitars. Fernandes have been known for their takes on the Fender shape and have remained in the business producing non-lawsuit guitars well after the time of those old Fernandes/Burny copies. This particular guitar is part of the Fernandes JG series. Their spin on Fender's offset guitars. I'm not too sure about which came first but the Fernandes JG came out around 1996, right when Fender put out the Jagmaster as part of Squier's Vista series.

This model didn't appear on any of the catalogs Fernandes have on the internet. It has three single-coil pickups, a two-point tremolo bridge with roller saddles, a three-way toggle switch by the lower horn instead of the blade switch usually found on the Fernandes JGs and no tone knob. This also features a Fernandes Sustainer pickup, but not the same one found on their Sustainer Lite-series JGs. The two knobs are for guitar volume and Sustainer intensity. The two toggle switches below the knobs are to switch between regular and some other harmonic feedback setting or something, the other switch is for the Sustainer pickup.

This is a mix of all the features found on their various JG models. Something I was unable to find in their regular catalog. Eventually, I stumbled unto this Japanese site that lists two finishes with identical features as the Fernandes JG-85s EV. One has the regular black finish with weird pearloid-type pickguard found on the other JG models. The other one was this, what appears to be a transparent finish that shows the guitar's grains. A higher-end (well, it's around $1000, a bit more than the usual $500++) model JG, most likely a signature model for this band called Eins Vier (hence the EV in the model name).

I have questions for the readers though. I still don't know everything about this guitar. Does anyone have one? If so, what pots are in this? I could check mine but it could be possible that they could've been swapped out. Also, if you see that grain/top, could anyone identify what wood this is? I'm not that adept at identifying wood by grain. Thanks, if ever! Just sharing what information I have about an underrated guitar that has little to no information floating around the internet.

Francis

Hi Francis, thanks for showing us another one from your collection. It interesting to note some of the features on this guitar. For example, the spaces around the pickups and volume and tone controls in the pickguard. The Pickups and pots are not mounted on the guard as on Fender guitars; it looks like the pickguard is only there for aesthetics. This is reinforced by the fact that there is a plate covering the control cavity on the back of the guitar. Some would say this is messy, having plates on the front AND back of a guitar. Me, I think it just makes it all the more curious.

You mention that the guitar has three single-coil pickups and a three-way toggle switch. Surely three pickups are usually selected via a five-way toggle. (Not on early Fender Stratocasters, I know, before anyone comments). I suspect that the neck pickup is not a pickup at all, but is purely a sustainer unit. This would make sense with the three-way switch, as there are only actually two pickups to select.

Later Fernandes Sustainers have dual sustainer and pickup functions on the unit in the neck position; I have owned three Fernandes Sustainer guitars over the years and I always thought that the later combined sustainer/pickup units were rather weak. The current Fernandes that I own, like yours, is an older Japanese-made example and appears to be a three pickup guitar (albeit with a humbucker in the bridge position), but actually only has two pickups - with a three-way switch - and a dedicated Sustainer ONLY unit in the neck pickup position. The particular Fernandes guitar I am talking about is the only one I have ever tried that wasn't a disappointment. It's my personal belief that the earlier Fernandes Sustainers were the best. (Incidentally, didn't I read somewhere that the very earliest Fernandes guitars with the sustain feature used the Sustainiac rather than their own proprietary system?)

Anyway, despite all that I still prefer the EBow!

G L Wilson

© 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Fernandes FV-85MS Japanese-made Michael Schenker Flying V replica

guitarz.blogspot.com:

For some reason I find myself drawn towards the Flying V shape, especially when its on a guitar as beautifully finished as that pictured above, but despite the fact that the shape is totally impractical. The Flying V is really a stage guitar. It's not really a guitar for playing at home, or for playing when seated.

Strangely, this particular V appears to be anonymous, although it is actually a 1980s Japanese-made Fernandes FV-85MS. Usually Fernandes guitars based on Gibson designs were given the Burny brandname, and this guitar is unusual in having no name (and what are the bets that some owners applied Gibson decals?). The MS in the model designation naturally refers to none other than Michael Schenker - as if you hadn't guessed from the two-tone black and white finish.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $899.99.

G L Wilson

© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Fernandes YB-75 N Teardrop Bass in natural maple - made in Japan

guitarz.blogspot.com:

There is something quintessentially "1960s" about the Teardrop design as popularized by Vox and many copyists. Here, with the Fernandes YB-75 N Teardrop Bass, this example in natural maple finish, the design - simple as it is - has been brought up-to-date. It's a straightforward, no-nonsense bass with two Jazz Bass pickups and control layout consisting of a volume for each pickup and a single tone control. I do wonder if it may be a little neck heavy; the extended upper horns on some electric basses are known to help with balance.

This is, I believe, a Fernandes Made in Japan model produced exclusively for the Japanese market, although invariably one or two examples escape to the West.

G L Wilson

© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Burny MG-145S HY looking suspiciously like a day-glo B.C. Rich Mockingbird

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Indeed, you would be forgiven for thinking that this might be a somewhat colourful B.C. Rich Mockingbird - it even has the cloud-shaped fingerboard inlays. However, it is a Burny MG-145S HY, another signature guitar of the late X Japan guitarist hide.

The colourful design reflects hide's flamboyant dress sense;
X Japan were considered pioneers of the visual kei movement, although by the time hide joined the band the other members were beginning to drop visual kei aesthetics.

The Burny MG-145S HY is equipped with a Fernandes Sustainer (remember, Burny is a brandname of Fernandes, so this is essentially a Fernandes guitar), a feature that hide used on many of X Japan's songs.

This guitar is currently on sale on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $2,333 which, no doubt, some would think optimistic for a B.C. Rich "copy".

G L Wilson

© 2011, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Fernandes Nomad "Hello Kitty"

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I can't really add this Fernandes Nomad "Hello Kitty" to the "Hideous guitars" tag here on this blog, because - let's face it - it's not aimed at the likes of me. However, it's seems like incredibly lazy marketing. You can imagine the conversation:

"We want to market this guitar to young girls."
"Let's make it pink."
"Yes, good idea. And maybe add a cute cartoon character too."

I mean, c'mon... Am I the only one that finds this "let's make it pink and cutesy" attitude cloyingly sickening? And isn't it a little bit insulting to women? I'm all for "guitars for girls" but much prefer the designs of Luna Guitars who make guitars suited to the female form that are feminine without being nauseating - some of which appeal to male players too.

Yeah, I get that the "Hello Kitty" Nomad is aimed at a younger age group, but in some ways that makes it all the worse... but hey, this is supposed to be a blog about guitars and not gender politics, so I'll leave it at that.

Maybe I'm wrong but I feel that the seller is being a tad optimistic asking a Buy It Now price of $599. This guitar may well be "discontinued" (I wonder why?), "rare" and "mint", but I can't really see anyone but the most rabid Fernandes collector going for this one. Or maybe a "Hello Kitty" collector.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

Fernandes Rieko and Maki Tele

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Of the weird and wonderful guitars we showcase here on Guitarz, some which I enjoy the most are the often surreal (to us Westerners anyway) instruments associated with Japanese bands. This left-handed Tele-style guitar from Fernandes is adorned with photos of Rieko Miura and Maki Miyamae from J-Pop group Coco, who were active from 1989-1994.

I'm guessing this guitar was a souvenir item for sale to fans. I can't imagine it being used by the group in a live situation. I mean, who'd play a guitar with a picture of themself on it? It does beg the question, why are only two of the group featured on the guitar and were the other members represented on a different guitar? Also, as it is left-handed, was there also a right-handed guitar (surely?) and if so, how did the artwork differ or was it merely a mirror image?

Granted, this is an extremely cheesy guitar but one that I find fascinating.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

It's that cat again! This time on a Burny Flying V

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Following on from our piece about the Fernandes "Love Driver" Strat, I would like to thank Ralf Mutz from bringing this Burny Flying V LV-115KK Ken model to my attention. Like the Fernandes Love Driver it has an ultra-sparkly finish, and there at the 12-fret is the very same black cat inlay. The Burny brand was produced by Fernandes, but the Fernandes name was initially reserved for Fender replicas with the Burny brand being applied to Gibson replicas.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Fernandes Love Driver is a real pussycat

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I almost feel that I should have to apologise when posting about another Stratocaster. However, this custom shop quality instrument is no Fender. Built in Japan's FujiGen factory in either the late 1970s or early 1980s (my guess would be the latter), this Fernandes Love Driver with "Erotic Body" is the kind of quality Japanese "copy" that got Fender thinking that if they can't beat them they may as well join them and which led to the emergence of the Squier and Fender Japan lines.

What would you call that finish? It's a kind of dusky pink sparkle. And I'm not usually one for fancy inlay work, but I do like the black cat at the 12th fret position.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Fernandes GM-85 MS Pearl Yellow Kenichi Ito

guitarz.blogspot.com:

ESP are usually the manufacturer we immediately associate with weird and wonderful signature guitars designed for a whole host of Japanese guitarists and bassists, names that we in the West are not familiar with. However, Fernandes have also got in on this act (indeed we have looked at some of these previously), and this particular yellow guitar, the Fernandes GM-85 MS is the signature guitar of Kenichi Ito formerly of the band Iceman.

If it looks familiar to some of our regular readers, that may be because we previously featured a diminutive version of this guitar with built-in amp.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

John Mayall's sawn-off Strats

guitarz.blogspot.com:
Latvis sent the above photo and comments that: "I know that John Mayall has many modified and odd shaped guitars. [In] 1990 he played this one at Kuusrock Festival here in Finland."

Indeed, John Mayall does seem to favour Strat-type guitars (in the above instance it's a Fernandes) with the body chopped down to the bare minimum. Quite why he likes such tiny-bodied guitars is anyone's guess. Perhaps it has something to do with the way he slings the guitar strap over his right shoulder?

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Fernandes Hisashi Imai Signature model BT-1200MM

guitarz.blogspot.com:

As a sequel to yesterday's blog post about Hisashi Imai's Fernandes stabilizer guitar, here's another of the Buck Tick guitarist's signature models, the Fernandes Hisashi Imai Signature model BT-1200MM.

It makes a change from all the ultra-pointy guitars, I suppose.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Fernandes Hisashi Imai Stabilizer Guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I don't know if you'll believe me that it's possible, but it would seem that the Japanese are even more crazy about the guitar than we are in the West. They have long had guitar models that simply do not see the light of day outside of Japan. Just take a look at some Japanese guitar websites - you'll see all sorts of guitars that you've never laid eyes on before.

The Fernandes Hisashi Imai signature guitar features their own Sustainer system and a stabilizer bar similar to that found on the Roland GR-707 guitar synthesizer controller of the 1980s. With the GR-707 the bar supposedly kept the neck rock steady and allowed for accurate tracking of the strings. I'm wondering if the bar on this Fernandes maybe performs a similar function and improves performance of the sustainer? But the cynic in me doubts it; I reckon it's just there for aesthetics.

Hisashi Imai is guitarist of Japanese rock band Buck Tick who formed in 1984, and are founders of the Japanese musical movement known as Visual Kei, a style of music characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes (and which sounds like the 1980s never ended for some). I suppose it figures that such a band would use flamboyant looking guitars too.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Needs must...

OK, I'm having a bit of a sale right now, because (a) I don't really have the room for so many guitars, and (b) because I need to be able to pay for the latest purchase (more of that later!). So, here we have for sale the following:

• Danelectro '56 U2 circa 1990s with mismatched body and neck
  
• Danelectro 12+6 doubleneck circa 1990s (Was sold but the courier companies made it all but impossible for me to ship to Spain, so I had to issue a refund. I feel a rant coming on! - GLW, 20/02/09)
  
• Fernandes Native Pro with sustainer
  
• Washburn Idol WI-64DL with Buzz Feiten tuning system and VCC tone controls

So, if you like what you see, get bidding! EVERYTHING MUST GO!

(And yes, I did take my guitars out into the snow for a few photos, and no it didn't do them any harm whatsoever.)

Strange Fernandes Guitar

I'm not sure what to say about this very peculiar looking Fernandes Guitar. It's not a model I've ever seen before. Possibly it's a guitar intended for the Japanese market only. It appears to be quite a diminuitive guitar, so my guess is that this is aimed at children, and that it has an on-board amp and speaker (the big black "hole" near the bridge). Does anyone recognise the logo underneath the red button on the upper horn?

Fernandes Um Jammer Lammy

Life imitates art imitates life imitates... etc.

Blimey! Would you look at this? This guitar looks for all the world as if the designer had based it on a cartoon drawing by someone who, in turn, was basing their drawing on a Les Paul.

Actually, that's more or less exactly what has happened here. Apparently there is some computer game called Um Jammer Lammy (doesn't it just sound wretched?), and the above guitar - the Fernandes UJL-2000 to give it its correct designation - is based on the guitar played by a character within the game.

Now, you'll have to excuse my vagueness when it comes to such matters, because - I ain't ashamed to say it - I HATE ALL COMPUTER GAMES WITH A PASSION! Whilst we're on this sorry subject please bear it in mind to mention not the abomination that is Guitar Hero. I'm so sick and tired of finding crap about that load of nonsense every time I perform a search for GENUINE guitar-related news for this blog. It's part of the reason I turned to eBay for new material.

Now, let's never speak of it again.

Spiritual Enlightenment from Fernandes

According to the eBay listing for this one-off Fernandes with custom artwork:

"Porong" is a mountainous region in Tibet where the monks use their musical instruments to reach and maintain spiritual enlightenment. With that in mind look closely at guitars graphic: The little man (monk?) on the body of the guitar is wearing a backpack and hiking boots, his hand pointing upwards. On the headstock you see what he is pointing to: The mountainous region of "Porong"! Look closely at the hat he is wearing: the word "Porong" is written on the brim of his hat suggesting that his spiritual journey is always on his mind! So what we have here is an instrument that reflects ones "spiritual journey" towards enlightenment via music! Now that my friends is some serious MOJO!

Classic!