Mystery 1960's Stratocaster - Did I buy a Fake? Let's find out!
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- čas přidán 5. 06. 2022
- Hope you enjoyed this look inside a "1960s" Fender Stratocaster.
-Matthew
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Maybe a Japanese FujiGen (FG?) strat copy. I think Sam Ash had a house brand in the 1970s that were actually made by FujiGen under a different brand name. I got my money on this being one of those.
Wouldn't it be all metric then?
Its a good guess but I can't find any examples of an FG stamp on a Fujigen guitar. All dowel plugs are present.
@@MatthewScottmusic Then again you have to wonder why go threw the effort of putting dowel plugs during the refinish rather then just putting in the (4) screws where it actually lines up or have no backplate or route a plate from a blank
Fugigen Gakki. But I thought they used metric. Could that be why stuff does not line up?
@@MatthewScottmusic I also can't find any FujiGen guitars stamped FG. But I can't find any Fender bodies like that either. The dowel plugs certainly make me think Fender, but I'm just stumped. Those pickups do sound great, no matter what they are.
The figuring of the maple on the back of that neck is way awesome!
Matthew, maybe check the neck and body over with a UV light, at least the neck heel might show the remains of an ink stamp!
Still a cool guitar.
Smart thinking!
Amen lord bless guys! Amen!
Perhaps a partscaster and the body is a Fernandes Guitars (FG)... of 70/80's model. Never seen one with that neck pickup routing though..a mystery :) The electronics is similar though, except for the CTS pot. Also, the "aggressively" angled front strap pin is typical for Fernandes
Definitely a partscaster. I would go with the 70s MIJ copy of some sort. One way to check to see if it was made overseas would be to check some of the hardware to see if it's metric or imperial. It's a subtle, but significant difference that may help confirm where it was made.
The hardware is all replaced except the neckplate and tuners which are from the 1960s.
I don't recall any Fender branded bodies that look like that. Greco or Ibanez maybe
@@MatthewScottmusic Ahhh, dang. Worth a shot. The flame on the neck near the heal is almost too nice for a Fender of that era too. This was back when "fakes" were often better than the "real" thing and yours looks better than stock. I love the white tuning knobs too. No worries, as long as it plays well and sounds good, you got a winner.
I'm sure we'd all love to watch you build a "dream" guitar from scratch too. Maybe a vintage Frankenstrat, or just something new from the ground up that looks old, but plays new.
Cheers from the Swamp in FL, USA!
would an untouched one not be a partscaster?
@@MatthewScottmusic The new information re FG/ FujiGen, in conjunction with not only the replaced electronics, but also the neck plate, makes me think that the owner of the FujiGen guitar found a late 60's Fender that had had catastrophic damage, such as breaking the neck, and that therefore most of the parts, _including the neck plate,_ were tranferred to the Japanese guitar husk.
As long as you paid an appropriate amount for it, it was still a great purchase. It looks and sounds fantastic, and very much like a late ‘60s Strat should.
I always do 😎
@@MatthewScottmusic teach me your ways lol
@@MatthewScottmusic Could you please make a video about how you purchase these old beauties? Moreover, if I may ask Matthew, how much you pay for them? I know its not the best way to ask you, but I am extremely curious about your "ways" of getting these guitars... Moreover, I know you are a touring musician, and you have met with one of my favorites Tommy Katona... Would you be so kind to make a video about how you started and how are you able to make your living just on music... :) Please
The screw hole above the middle pick up indicates to me that it is a Japanese pick guard the American picguards seem to be further away from the middle pick up towards the front of the guitar then again I may be wrong I just got turned on to you man and I think you’re awesome
Yeah - "fook" brand snobbery... Play it, listen, feel - if you like it - go for it...
I had an older Fender telecaster I couldn't ID by its markings , I put it on CL for cheap 750$ , and was hit up by every Fender "expert" telling me the body was wrong, the neck was fake at the end of the day these people were spouting off all the things they didn't really know, I ended up keeping it and took it to get appraisal and it was all 60s body neck and electronics, Im glad they convinced me not to sell it
Tom, this is very common! People have no idea what they are talking about! haha
@@MatthewScottmusic Yes!
@@MatthewScottmusic And they have no idea that they have no idea. They want to know and to make others believe they do. Weird, huh? lol
@@MatthewScottmusic No matter what the subject it.. I once owned a Squire, and traded it for some crappy bass. I knew NOTHING about guitars (still don't - just a tiny bit ore than back then) but looking back, I've never seen a guitar with so many printed and stamped numbers on it.. Still wondering wtf it was... Bought it for "50" bucks from some young woman, and it looked like new..
That's what happened to my 64 Strat. I paid $200, came with a 70s hardcase .... a buddy got a post CBS Strat with a 60s hardcase, we swap the case.
Got my Strat authenticated by the guys from Fender Custom Shop, even got a a new pu, tone knobs, selector from them.
Sold it 5 years back bcoz of an offer I cudn't refused/resist
My guess is that someone had multiple Fenders with problems, so they took the best parts off each and put them together into one workhorse strat. It sounds the business and if the price was right, it's all good.
It's a Fernandez body and probably some Fernandez Fender mix of hardware. The neck is Fender etc. Fernandez guitars are freaking awesome, especially the pre lawsuit ones. I still have a catalogue of their range and the complete copies they were creating were outrageous and top shelf quality. They even made signature guitar copies.
I had a top spec Fernandes Super Grade (LP) which I bought new in 1989. Best guitar I've ever played, beautiful cherry burst and highly flamed maple cap. Unfortunately it got stolen a few years later and I've never seen it again
You may be right as i saw a 1970s Fernandes Strat copy and it was made as good as a real early 70s Strat before the quality went down the toilet in the mid 70s
@@gjustg1540 IF it means something for you, and there is a way, you can recognize it, I suggest putting an add on Ebay searching for one with certain specs. It's probably changed owner more than once since then, so nobody will be afraid to offer it to you. Just write something like "High price for the exact same model, as when I was a kid" - that might get someone to tell the guy, who has it, that "someone's looking for one like yours". We are nostalgic about certain things, so good luck if...
@@CONEHEADDK problem is, it was stolen by addicts who tried to sell all 3 stolen guitars for peanuts. I got one back, but I've searched everywhere for the Fernandes, it was in a Gibson case which was heavily graffitti'd. I suspect it probably got knocked over, headstock snapped and that was it 😱
@@gjustg1540 OK.. Knowing the story does make it less likely to be findable. I've owned a few guitars (had a girl friend musician, and wanted to work on them to have something we could relate to) and I actually believe, I owned one. As I recall it, it was very nice craftmanship printing aso. Nice looking very hard small grain wood neck. I didn't know anything about guitars, but my dad was a carpenter, and I had done things with my hands for 45 years, and could see the quality of the work and materials. I might remember incorrectly, but the name rings a bell. I still own a few, and my LAG Rockline is the smoothest thing, I've ever handled. Got it cheap bcz nobody knew anything about it.
Love this kind of guitar detective work. Thanks for sharing Matt.
Thanks for watching!
I love a good mystery. No telling what a life this guitar has had. Enjoyed seeing all the clues and hearing the tones. Thanks.
Cool AF video. Keep us posted , this one will be on my mind. Great video as always Matthew.
Matt the best thing is you have a REAL Strat that may never be a show piece in some collection. But, you can make it as you want it and have a cool sounding model. I always say it's not the guitar but the artist playing it that brings out the life of it for all to hear. This one is a winner without braking the bank. Anyone who examines why they play will appreciate this instrument. Carry on and ROCK N ROLL!!!
I don't know nearly as much as you, but when I see FG I instantly think FujiGen
I can't find one Fujigen example with an FG stamp but it is interesting.
@@MatthewScottmusic I went looking and couldn't find one with that sort of stamp either. It's still a mystery!
Fujigen generally uses FGN as their abbreviation.
It means 'Fake Guitar'. Only joking.
If this is a FugiGen guitar, remember that they were later the builders for Fender Japan, and old-timers from Fender in the early 80s have said that the samples sent from Japan to California were of better quality that what Fender was building at the time, (with maybe the exception of the original Vintage Reissue series....)
I've got an '83 JV and I've had it for years, changed guitars a hundred times but kept that one.
@@Marsh_Spain same, JV rocks and i've tried true vintage.
Fujigen
I'm in the vintage JV owners club had a JV 62 Strat since 1983. Keeper!
I have a SQ Squier from 83, the necks were overstock USA made and sent over to Japan.
Everyday I look for more awesome gear and content u have!! Love it!! I’m a half a player but love it so much!! Your an inspiration to peps like me. Ty Matt. Keep a rockin
There is a reason why this sounds good, It happens to be the same factory Fender actually chose in the 80s to make their products.
That's one of those old guitars like Grandpa's axe, it's had the handle replaced 3 times and the bit twice, but it's the one he's had since he was a boy.✌️ As long as the mojo is original, rock that thing!
Always looking forward to these vids!
I thought to myself "What does the FG stamp relate to...?" Then I thought "Fujigen Gakki!" Since I did a bit of research on the internet, I have noticed that several other people have suggested that it might be Fujigen Gakki. Here's an abridged passage from a history of the Japanese guitar company: "By 1970, Fujigen was making electric guitars with the Greco brand for the Japanese market, and was making Ibanez guitars for the large company Hoshino Gakki. Fujigen was cranking out some seriously nice guitars during the 70s, including a partnership with Roland to create the first “Guitar Synthesizer”. The quality of Fujigen instruments caught the eye of the Fender company, which was owned by CBS at the time. After visiting several Japanese guitar factories, Fender decided to partner with Fujigen, and Fender Japan was started in March of 1982. Most Fender fanatics know that many of the finest reissue guitars were produced by Fujigen during this period."
Thanks for that. I was really impressed with the burl grain on the back of the neck. That’s amazing. I’m not knowledgeable about vintage guitars, just learning about them from you, others and books about Strats. I think your bottom line should be if it plays good enough to justify what you paid for it then it’s a keeper.
👍☮️🌞🎸🎵💗
I learned something. Great video.
Looks like a late 60's Fender refin.
Thanks for all the fantastic videos!
Your playing on the "Bold As Love"
video... really amazing!
I think this is for sure a 1969 firemist gold refin. Somewhat a shame since that is a super rare/valuable finish but it would be super rad to restore it to firemist 🤘
Glad you read my comments, and thanks for the prompt reply!! I agree that trying to accurately date a vintage guitar, especially, a Fender (which can be easy modified from stock) can be more than a tricky task. Another thing I noticed, is that the white finish on the body looked way too bright White for Olympic white, so we can be sure that it's most likely a refin. *But... so what?? It sounds great!!
Great Video! I think fg = fujigen. It's a early japan 70's body i think, with fender parts on it and the fender headstock. So it's not original in my opinion but it sound's huge to me!
Fujigen Gakki
That's a good guess but I can't find one example of a Fujigen with an FG stamp or with proper routes, dowl plugs, contours..
As always, a great upload.
My guess would be Fujigen but, whatever it is, it sounds great. Thanks for sharing, man.
Wow the flame on the neck!!!
Thanks for the laser update on the mystery Fender. I still think it’s real but I would need to rely on the experts. The back plate screw holes gives me hope. Thanks foe sharing!!
Friggin crazy! They didn't even fill the holes for the back plate, they just painted over them! LOL
Thanks Matt, love these mystery videos.👍😎👍
Brilliant video as always.
I bought a old fender strat body from a guy who only sold vintage tuners and such. He seemed honest price was cheap. He said it was a prototype. I have searched hi and low doesnt match anything at all. A one off, no chance to prove anything. Lol. Built a really cool strat with it. Theres a hole there cool investigation. Theres shape prophile changes mine was a very old shape they had cool shapes the early ones i would check that next. That was the thing on mine that checked out old. The shape and thickness the subtle differences over the years. The neck looks right maybe pre stamp neck.
It's an old partscaster most likely. If you like it, keep it. My tech is busy with one of my partscaster right now getting it ready to go out on the road. Cause I love it.
I know what you mean. My parts caster is Strat number 8 for me, but I like it best of all the ones I've had. My bias is probably due to the fact that I hand picked all the parts and put it together. myself. I definitely got it just like I wanted it, and now I don't need any more Stratocasters. One is all for you really need, if it's a good one.
@@jpalberthoward9 I have two strats that are wonderful. One's a hardtail, the other has a vintage trem. So for me, two is all I need :D
@@dongonzulman6478 in all honesty, if a righteous neck with maple fret board became available, I'd build another one. It really is fun to have maple and rosewood with any kind of Fender.
.........I can resist anything except temptation.
Always a ton of fun watching your videos! Thanks for the great entertainment and sleuthing. I rarely dream about the past but its almost always about where a guitar has been if I do LOL!
I think, Originals have only ONE String Tree
Interested in seeing if you are able to find out what it is, but it is cool, regardless, and sounds great. That bridge pickup, with the square holes in the baseplate, looks like what came in my '83 Japanese Squier. Great sounding pickups. I'd love the hell out of that, no matter what it turns out to be.
A lot of Fender refinishes had an engraving stamp under the pickguard towards the lower horn which is not present on this guitar, plus the entire neck pocket is painted which is also unusual. This guitar is a mystery, but I'm not sure it's a genuine Fender. Maybe an early Japanese copy which most were excellent guitars, and if the waterslide decal was added to the headstock many years ago, the lacquer could still be checked and aged just with time. It looks the part, and if it performs the part, I'd keep it and play the hell out of it
As some others have said in so many words, hopefully you paid a price you are happy with and really dig the axe! It's sweet man. Play that bad boy! Just that old orange drop cap adds some serious mojo and tone. Love it!
Maybe if he didn't want to take his real vintage piece's He has a 59
I love your videos man keep it up, loves from Malaysia
Great video -- now it's time to play that Strat!
The lower tone pot looks to be a Nobel brand which was Made in Japan. You find them in guitars in the late 80's into the 90's. They are actually great pots.
Nobel still makes great pots.
I don’t know if it’s an authentic 60s body or not. Looks to be. Just altered a bit over the years. Either way it’s a lovely guitar. And what’s more awesome to see is a kid your age with an appreciation for the classic stuff. I love this Strat regardless, it’s lovely and it has a character of its own. The old 58 Gibson of your I like as well. You have excellent tastes in amps also. I enjoy your playing a ton. Carry on the good work!
Hey the headstock decal is raising some flags, secondly the lack of who was overlooking the neck is missing. The neck looks nice, just as long as you didn’t pay huge dollars you have a partscastor.
My Opinion on the Body: Something like this would not have left a Japanese Factory like Fuji Gen, they had very high quality standards. They always got the screw holes on the back right, they did not paint the full neck pocket, they did not have square Routes, they had way cleaner Cavity Routings. I also dont think they did any Refins. It just looks like a non-professional Refin on an old original USA Body and its a Player with EX-homemade extra-Switch-Routing like we all know it happened during 70s and 80s ;). By the way...nobody mentioned the bridge. Something i would observe, too.
Agreed, I can't find any example of a Japanese Strat with these routes, contours, etc. The FG stamp is totally speculative. Could have been someone's initials.
@@MatthewScottmusic Yep, think so too.
I dont recall when squared Pickup Routes were the standard but it shouldnt be younger than 1971 due to the Headstock Decal and 4-Bolt Construction.
That guitar looks like I got hold of it when I was about 21, when I was playing on the road.😄 I engaged in my share of butchery (youthful indiscretion🙄).
Great job Matthew, my first thought was the pickups 👏👏👏👏👌😄
Hey Matt, "FG" is likely FujiGen, they made licensed reissue Fender models since the late 70's early 80's, initiating fullscale production in 1982. It would appear that some parts from an earlier strat have made their way over from a 70's guitar.
I can almost assure you that the bridge pickup is an import Japanese one, as told by the square witness holes in the bottom. EDIT: The lower impedance is also consistent with this, as FujiGen attempted to capture "vintage aged" tone of older Fender pickups of yesteryear by simulating degaussing, essentially underwinding them.
Fenders were not produced in Japan in 70's . The first Fender JV was made in April 1982.
FG is an S-style body made by Fernandes. This is not a Fender body, not even licensed by Fender.
It’s funny to read all the comments that are completely different from one another yet each submitted with such expert authoritative confidence often based on something they “saw before” or “had once”. I appreciate your approach, Matthew. The correct approach of compiling evidence and being patient with the process and much like a scientist, allowing the truth to reveal itself. Not forcing one’s own truth and then looking for factors to support a biased or premature conclusion. If I see you in Dallas again, I might have to abduct you and take you with me to Jimmy Wallace’s shop. Loved your video of that place. Been here my entire life and wasn’t aware of it so thanks for that. Keep up your great work!
Looks like a 69/70 Fender Strat to me, that has undergone some kind of an overhaul an a couple of mods probably back in the 70ies and 80ies including a refinish, probably rattle canned. I can imagine this guitar to sound even better, when you dowel the screw holes in the neck (some looked a bit worn out) and carefully get that paint out of the neck pocket. On a lot of guitars I had on my workbench, a proper body/neck connection improved the sound massively. And you might even find some more info in the neck pocket, maybe some traces of the original paint. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some Firemist Gold to be found.
Super nice playing as always, and a super nice project guitar!
That was an interesting use of the fret slot cleaning tool! Lol.
Hi Matt, I have the same mark "8" or "&" on the back of my '71 strat's neck. (all original except pots and switch, I own it since '83) But mine is still stamped 22AUG71B. Probably yours has been refin, and those numbers "41076" are strange, never seen that. That body is a mystery, some things seems original, some others not. pups not originals, grey bottoms for that period. Anyway, it sounds great ! 😉
thank you for all the videos! amazing work! Lovely guitar, if you dont want it, i would love to have it :)
Thank you for watching. It's a great guitar.
Great detective work.
When parts guitars started flying around in the early eighties, before "vintage" was a thing, stuff got swapped, bodies got routed for all sorts : SRV's single pick up yellow strat being a perfect example, and not all of it was Luthier-grade workmanship (and I am guilty as charged, your honour), so calling what may be a survivor from those days a "fake" relates only to how the guitar gets represented for sale now, rather than what the guitar actually is. I'd add that details like the holes for the backplate being offset, those are the kind of production details that Fender Japan routinely get exactly right which in my mind suggests something other than simply mij.
I have nothing but respect for you and your tenacity in doing what you do but this is a Japanese copy. A very good one!!!
Thanks Gary, we can agree to disagree 😁
@@MatthewScottmusic I love seeing what you do best hunt for answers. I think a little more evidence is needed that’s all. And I do hope you’re right because you are a savant when it comes to finding these things!!! Love and respect always!
Those markings and the serial number is the exact same as my Chender. It is a Chender brother. That is why the stamp is not there but you have those markings. I have the exact same guitar. The FG is the builder which is Fuji Guitars
Chender wtf 😳
@@AntoineDuez They are dead ringers = exact copies made China like Chibsons
@@AntoineDuez Chinese Fender
@@AntoineDuez yep and every now and then you can get a really good one. I really dig mine.
Isn’t Fujigen Gakki Japanese?
You could Strip the Paint inside the routes to check what Kind of Wood is it made of... maybe that could shine a light !
Hey Matt
Great vid. I'd love to see a video on the Fender Bassman head I see you have, since I myself is thinking of buying one. Also, didn't Fender start using the bullet truss rod in 72'?
Whatever it is it sounds and looks great! Nice score!
The pickup electronics and that orange circle is present on Japanese reissues mid 80’s.
It is most certainly a FujiGen Gakki but based on the orange-drop capacitor alone this isnt assured since both Fender USA and FujiGen used them, Greco even sourced caps from the same manufacturer as Fender.
Cool investigation and guitar. A partscaster for sure that has mileage and most likely a cool history.
A lot of professional guitar refinishers will stamp guitars when they work on them so people know it’s not a factory finish. I’ve never seen those exact initials though. As for the numbers- I have seen that same font under 70’s pickguards. I have one from a 73 on my wall that has a similar looking stamp.
Whether it's a Fender or not, it sounds amazing.
It looks like a Fugazi Guitar, something Songbird Music in Toronto would cobble together from their guitar repair parts bin.
Damn dude! Love your guitar stories. Wish I could fish up the money for it somewhere :-).
Good fun unearthing the hidden screw hole
Thanks Matt
If it sounds and plays good, it is good👍🎸🤘
I sent this vid to a old timer that knows Stratocasters. He’s said 1969 -70 body, he’s sure of it. Not sure of the neck, but it’s beautiful..so many players switched pickups and modded as there were no other means to get different tones. Who knows where and who owned this fender throughout the years. Has a nice warm tone.9
Thanks for that 👍🏻
The switch looks like a Japanese Hosco 5 way DM-50
I have only seen Fujigen Gakki stamps as FGN never FG. The hunt is half the fun. Good luck.
Unless you plan to sell it I don't think it matters. The guitar sounds absolutely wonderful no matter what it is or how it came to be.
Matthew all i can say is no matter what that strat guitar is, It sounds sounds super great !!!!
Id gamble neck is 100% legit, body is legit too just heavily messed with. Still really cool with just that alone. Funny how everyone loved those “vintage pickups” in the first vid lol, placebo is a real thing folks!
Maybe body isnt, im having second thoughts after reading some commente, but literally who cares. Its how it plays and sounds that matters. A neck like that must have some solid mojo.
Cool vid.
Nice modded partscaster, just like Leo designed them to be. Nothing to worry about anymore, you can do anything you want to it and have a killer vintage instrument.
Cheers!
Back then there really wasn't any replacement parts. You had to go to music stores and look through their drawers. Or buy a support guitar and use the parts off of that.
Matt, where do you get your rugs?
No matter what, that neck grain is gorgeous !!!
My stepdad just picked up a 60s silvertone sparkle 3/4 scale guitar with a lipstick pickup. It was one of the amp-in-case combos. Someone threw it in the garbage and I cleaned it up, changed the strings, and shes a player.
Awesome great video, play on. :)
Just been doing some research into the refinish. I think it should have a matching number between the neck and under the pick guard so they match back during reassembly. The stamped letters FG might be that. Check the stamped number on the neck might be a paint code. I didn’t do any comprehensive research but it could answer some questions. I think it’s genuine only because it didn’t raise any major red flags for you and you have seen enough proper fenders of that era.
Yeah, I straight away thought FujiGen, but it's purely a guess .
Possibly had been factory refinished in 1976. Probably explains the stamps and the second string tree on the headstock.
For what it's worth I saw somewhere that in the 80's Greco guitars did have 5-digit serial numbers in a YPPPP. Y = year, PPPP = production number. So it could be a Greco neck with a Fender decal.
Awesome review!
F. G. Stands for f*cking guitar
Rock on.
I have has a number of Pre Fender japan Japanese strats over the years and have never seen stamps like that in the neck cavity nor the ink stamp on the heel of the neck.
my english is not good enogh to understand what you said but that strat is enough beautiful and sound good 🤟👍👍
A real frankenstein's monster you've got there Matt! Judging by whats under the hood it's made using electronics from several sources; namely a 1957 cts pot and a 1980s bridge pickup. Have you considered upgrading that pickup alone to a Seymour Duncan and getting one step nearer to that lost CBS attic guitar.
(Take from me that's a keeper🙂)
I believe that guitar has mojo, thanks for sharing 🎸🤠👍PEACE
Awesome work! I think you're on the money with your estimation. At least best that can be determined given what you have to work with.
God Bless!
Thanks very much!
Have to ask, where do you find these. Because I might check that out.
Fun video.
The tremolo cavity is very narrow as well
Matt you ever come across any "cheap" player grade vintage strats? I'm really only interested in the original electronics being intact.
Hi Matthew,
on my 1070 Strat the neck shows the same type of stamp, #41008 + handmark - but not that little thing. In the neckpocket the body is stamped the same way, but different number.....By Olli
Great video, thanks! In the 70s the CBS Strat pickups would have been considered to be the 'cheap' ones. Anyone who was used to playing the original pre-CBS Fender made guitars would likely consider it an upgrade to replace the pickups in the CBS guitar. Whether it helped, I don't know. I can't think of anyone back then who would of thought these guitars would be collectable one day. Dang!
Hello friend, the symbol FG or FGN could be the abbreviation of the Fujigen factory in Japan... which manufactured the Fender for a long time, made in Japan. Good job... and thank you...!!!. Joseph