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I've always wondered what the deal is with the serial numbers on Fender Mustangs. I don't remember what it was on my '69 RI, but since then, I've had two '65 RIs and one '73 RI, and they've all said "MADE IN JAPAN" in the back, and the serial numbers all came up as mid-90s FujiGen, which would make sense except I know for a fact that my instruments are not from that era. I mean, even the Pawn Shop Mustangs say "MADE IN JAPAN," and they're clearly new necks.

Whereas, you know, Mustang Bass, Jaguar, and Jazzmasters are often seen with "Crafted in Japan." So what makes Mustangs so special? Are they made in a different factory than all the other Japanese offsets?

My 65RI is 'crafted'. I don't think it is Mustangs only. As I understand it when MIJ > CIJ > now MIJ again.

Does that mean they're made by FujiGen again?

cobascis wrote:My 65RI is 'crafted'. I don't think it is Mustangs only. As I understand it when MIJ > CIJ > now MIJ again.

this is what I've heard. I know the really early Fender Jag basses were crafted in Japan but switched to Made in Japan. I was unaware that they ever changed plants though.

As far as I know, and as far as research has gotten me, it seems that FujiGen made all Fender Japan guitars for a while. According to some contract, they were the only ones to allowed to have "MADE IN JAPAN" printed. When other plants started taking over, therefore, they got the "Crafted in Japan" instead. I don't know how accurate this is. If that contract is still active, and "MADE IN JAPAN" has recently started propping up again, it almost suggests that it's FujiGen again.

I've a feeling I read that the current 65 reissues and some other models are made at Tokai. From my feel they are clearly a higher standard than a lot of the 90 s stuff. if that speaks for a different manufacturer or just improvements ... don't know.

MADE IN JAPAN means the Fuji-gen Gakki factory - they discontinued production there in the late 90s and resumed about 2008. The "new" MIJ is in a bolder font and all the serial numbers start with T. CIJ is the Dyna Gakki factory where production has run from the mid 90s to the present.

here's some information more in depth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Japan

MatthewK wrote:MADE IN JAPAN means the Fuji-gen Gakki factory - they discontinued production there in the late 90s and resumed about 2008. The "new" MIJ is in a bolder font and all the serial numbers start with T. CIJ is the Dyna Gakki factory where production has run from the mid 90s to the present.

Thanks for this info. Just before Christmas I swapped my B&B JM neck with CAR headstock for a non-B&B neck with car headstock, the guy said that it was brand new but it has a T serial number - I guess he was right after all, I thought he'd got it wrong.

MatthewK wrote:MADE IN JAPAN means the Fuji-gen Gakki factory - they discontinued production there in the late 90s and resumed about 2008. The "new" MIJ is in a bolder font and all the serial numbers start with T. CIJ is the Dyna Gakki factory where production has run from the mid 90s to the present.

so you're saying a lot of the models are made in both factories then?

Most models have been made in both, yes. For example the MIJ Jazzmaster had brass shielding, then the CIJ JM had conductive paint, otherwise very similar. I'm not sure how much of the current production is CIJ though - the new MIJ seems much more common.

Is it just an overall increase in quality over the years or a difference in OEMs? I feel like recent MIJs are the best Japanese offsets they've ever made.

so is there a quality difference between the factorys? I always thought the MIJ was a better instrument. but i have also heard good things about a CIJ...

Never owned a CIJ so I can't comment! I have 4 "old" MIJs and they are great.

there is no brass shielding in my 93 MIJ Jazzmaster. There was some in my 2006 Mustang, though.

Huh - shows what I know!

MIJ - FujiGen. OEM for Yamaha, Fender, Orville (Gibson), etc.

CIJ - Dyna Gakki. Tokai, etc.

kypdurron wrote:there is no brass shielding in my 93 MIJ Jazzmaster. There was some in my 2006 Mustang, though.

Yeah..I have a mid 1980's MIJ Jazzmaster with E6 serial number and it doesn't have any brass sheilding.
I have two MIJ Jaguars from 1996, and both have brass sheilding. Im pretty sure only the '65 RI Mustangs have the brass sheilding because of the vintage Mustangs having brass.

kypdurron wrote:there is no brass shielding in my 93 MIJ Jazzmaster. There was some in my 2006 Mustang, though.

Yeah..I have a mid 1980's MIJ Jazzmaster with E6 serial number and it doesn't have any brass sheilding.
I have two MIJ Jaguars from 1996, and both have brass sheilding. Im pretty sure only the '65 RI Mustangs have the brass sheilding because of the vintage Mustangs having brass.

Brass shielding is merely a feature of some models, I'm pretty sure. My MIJ '65 RI had it, my MIJ '73 RI doesn't, it has foil backed pickguard with shielded paint.