It appears Fender Japan is going through some changes, and is even rumoured to cease to exist. I've heard mixed stories so far, but the most prevalent story is their Japanese distributor is ending the relationship between Fender Japan and themselves. What this means for Fender Japan is, at least so far, uncertain.
Here's the most plausible explanation I've read so far:
Ok... I have an employee who is a Japanese national, and also a guitar player. I asked him what this says. He says that this website is not Fender Japan's website, but that it is Kanda Shokai's website. He explains that Kanda Shokai is the distributor for Fender Japan. A lot of Japanese retail has a distributor between the manufacturer and the retailer. Kanda Shokai Was this.
So, if I understand this correctly, Fender Japan provided the designs, secured the manufacturing, and delivered the product. Kanda Shokai would handle retail orders, as well as the marketing of the guitars, collecting some percentage for this service. This relationship is ending. It does not seem that Fender Japan is (necessarily) going away, but the relationship between Kanda Shokai and Fender Japan is ending. The website for Kanda Shokai's Fender Japan marketing was www.fenderjapan.co.jp, where they are referring traffic to look to www.fender.co.jp, which has nothing on it now, but is implied to be the new website of Fender Japan.
So... To recap:
-We know that www.fenderjapan.co.jp is the website of Kanda Shokai
-We know that Fender Japan and Kana Shokai are parting company
-We think that www.fender.co.jp is a future website for Fender Japan info
-We don't know if there is a new distributor coming into the business
-We don't know if Fender Japan is going out of business, or reducing its offerings, or if all will pick up again, with some different parties at the helm.
..all I got right now...
I don't know the source, I've only seen it quoted on another forum.
It would SUCK if they do call it quits. Where else are we lefties going to get cool vintage reissue Fenders and non-standard colours? So fingers crossed!
I do not know how it differs, but I do know the relationship between mfgr and distributor is vastly different in Japan versus US/Canada/EU. I think they distribution laws are different in Japan? (don't quote me on that!)
Fender Japan as far as I know has always been just a corporate entity that contracts out to various factories. I don't know the distribution network, but there has never been a Fender Japan factory per se. I would be really surprised if Fender pulled out of Japan.
The Japanese Fender-site is now online, and apparently there still are some Japanese-made instruments listed among the regular American, Mexican and Chinese Fender range and the Squier range. For example, the lefty Fender '62 Jazz RI is still here. But only in sunburst and white now: http://www.fender.co.jp/basses/jazz-bas ... -sunburst/
They now call it the Classic 60s Jazz Bass. The Mexican Classic series is also available in Japan, but it is just called the 60s Jazz Bass, without the "Classic" reference.
Agent00Soul wrote:It looks like the lefty Jaguar Bass is a thing of the past. I couldn't find it on the site.
I believe Fender Japan discontinued the Jaguar Bass alltogether, now that there's an American Standard Jaguar Bass (with a PJ pickup configuration), and a MIM Standard Jaguar Bass with passive electronics and without all the extra control plates. And there's the MIC Modern Player series and the Squier Vintage Modified versions of course. Lame!
Agent00Soul wrote:It looks like the lefty Jaguar Bass is a thing of the past. I couldn't find it on the site.
I believe Fender Japan discontinued the Jaguar Bass alltogether, now that there's an American Standard Jaguar Bass (with a PJ pickup configuration), and a MIM Standard Jaguar Bass with passive electronics and without all the extra control plates. And there's the MIC Modern Player series and the Squier Vintage Modified versions of course. Lame!
They have a bunch of models on the site, just no more lefties. If you look at the Precision or Jazz pages, there are photos of left-handed instruments but not with the Jag. http://www.fender.co.jp/basses/jaguar-bass/
I love my Japanese Jaguar bass, but I have to admit that I would get an American Standard if they ever offered it leftie, which they won't.
Agent00Soul wrote:They have a bunch of models on the site, just no more lefties. If you look at the Precision or Jazz pages, there are photos of left-handed instruments but not with the Jag. http://www.fender.co.jp/basses/jaguar-bass/
Yes, but my point is none of those are MIJ. Fender Japan discontinued the model entirely.
