Fender Japanese Teles, Reputation? Any Good?

[PhilKing]

Could you get one on ebay direct from Japan?  I have a japanese 62 custom (the candy apple red with body binding) and the neck feels just like my real late 61 neck.  If you can find one at a decent price buy it and then spring for a set of BK's later and you will have a great guitar that you can keep.

[Crazy Gra]

Phil,

Yes I considered e-bay and I realise many ppl have great success on e-bay but I'm not the type to take any sort of risks. I would only really feel comfortable if I get to try before I buy.

I think I'll surf the Aussie second hand dealers on the 'net (ones that have a satisfaction guarantee sort of deal).

The Jap one I saw was a real beauty though and even light weight too. It also had the binding. (Sniff, sob).

[mikeluke]

Have you thought of this one? Buying direct from Japan - don't know what the import duty would be if any but...

http://www.ishibashi-music.com/fenderjp/index.htm

Did a quick calc and a nice new Tele plus shipping to Australia works out at about AU$1000 - little more if you add a hard case. Bit better than AU$1800!

[hunter]

if it looks, feels and sounds great, what do you actually want from us? If it's worth 500quid to you, just buy it ... market value is irelevant if it is right for YOU

[CaffeineJunkie]

if it looks, feels and sounds great, what do you actually want from us? If it's worth 500quid to you, just buy it ... market value is irelevant if it is right for YOU

he could be a preacher (and no, not jt's axe)

[fps_dean]

I think the Jap Fenders have always been good quality, but £500 seems a bit steep, unless there's something extra special and/or collectable about it.  

You should be able to hunt a Japanese Tele down for that price in USD, let alone pounds.

I think that's way higher than their original selling price.  $650usd was the max. selling price of a Jap Fender here in the US anyway.  The Japs don't hold their value either.

[jt]

if it looks, feels and sounds great, what do you actually want from us? If it's worth 500quid to you, just buy it ... market value is irelevant if it is right for YOU

he could be a preacher (and no, not jt's axe)

 :D Agh Yes but does he give sermons once a week like my one !!

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

 :D  8)

[Git-art-ist]

i have a fender jap strat. aorund 93-94. i love it. its the best strat ive played.

fender japs are great. I think they are better than american fenders.

i got mine for $550. your one osunds like a good deal . you should get it.

[fatbob]

Thanks guy's, I suspected it may have been over priced. He's rejected an offer of 425 quid ($1000 Aus) from someone else already. (I've been working the currency back to pounds from Aussie $). He will "accept" $1250 Aus (that's 500 quid). It seems 400 quid is more it's going rate, and that's top $.

But here's an example of Fender Australia's attempted GOUGING that I was talking about.

American Series Standard Tele.

To summarise and this is ALL IN US $

US street price $950
UK street price $1259
AUS "discounted" street price $1438 Or you can pay the Fender Australia GOUGING RRP of $1828.

Remember all of the above is in $US, so the playing field is level.

So I've got to spend almost $500 US more to get the same thing in Australia do I? How much is freight anyway and custom clearence (no duty anymore). And if I paid Fender Australia's ridiculous price I'd be shelling out $878 US more. I could probably buy TWO in the US for $1828 US!!!  :shock:

Fender Australia need a damn good booting  (Bart Simpson style)! And they can stick their Teles! I hope I can find a good s/h one!

Rant over and excuse me. Oh and thanks for the replies.

[Crazy Gra]

Have you thought of this one? Buying direct from Japan - don't know what the import duty would be if any but...

http://www.ishibashi-music.com/fenderjp/index.htm

Did a quick calc and a nice new Tele plus shipping to Australia works out at about AU$1000 - little more if you add a hard case. Bit better than AU$1800!

Yes I think another poster said a similar thing but I'm getting more interested!

I've been convinced after hearing what ppl have to say that Jap Fenders are a good thing quality wise, so I'm seriously thinking of shipping one in. I'm also now considering the G&L ASAT Korean line  (supposed to be excellent quality and less than $1000 Aus new ) I just have to check import duty from Japan for the Fender. $1900 Aus for an American std is ROBBERY and I bet it's hard to tell the difference. They have a good choice of models too.

Sweet and thanks to all.

[plastercaster]

for the rrp you could probably fly to japan and pick it up yourself :!:

[Searcher]

for the rrp you could probably fly to japan and pick it up yourself :!:

You probably could for that price, but you'd have to swim back.

[BleedMarshall]

I'm hoping you guys can help me out a little. I have the Tele bug badly but I refuse to pay the silly prices dealers want in Australia for new ones.

I've seen a Jap Tele for sale which I've dated by the serial number as 1993-94. It's in absolutely mint condition and is a "Target burst" finish. It plays like a dream also and as far as I can see is hardly worn at all.


I believe Jap Fenders to be good quality instruments (and this one certainly fits the mold) but is the early 90's a "good" era for Jap Fenders? ie If I fall out of love with it later on will it be something that buyers want?

The owner wants 500 pounds for it, does that seem a fair price?

Please help me spend my $  :D

Bear with me here, but that price seems a little high if I calculated the exchange rate right. Other than that, and I am sure you have played the guitar and checked all the areas of interest on it, I'd say buy it if you can get the shop to drop on the price.

As far as wheather or not a buyer will want it.....depends on the market and the buyer. Jap Fenders have never been big in the states here, but the Mexis are getting good reviews everywhere these days.

Were the 90's a good year for Jap Fenders? Not really from my experience, but again I am in the U.S. and only know those trends really, and thanks to a feqw friends across the pond here I am learning more about the buyers in Europe. But as a rule Fender did poorly as far as quality during that time period, so I advise a very good going over of the guitar before you buy it.

[Louderthangod]

I have a antigua reissue Tele that's CIJ that I love.  I did do some mod's to it...compensated, brass saddles, Lollar pickups (including a charlie christian in the neck) but they are very good guitars typically at least equal to the American but sometimes the pickups aren't that great and then sometimes they're quite nice.

[Crazy Gra]

Well thanks everyone. I've actually seen a US G&L ASAT S/Hollow that I've completely gone to pieces over. It's waaaay more money than I want to spend but I've fallen in love with it. The quality is just super dooper.

Finally read the fine print and re-sized the image to acceptable levels so here's the new baby.