The ShadowMusic Web Community

I'm pondering the purchase of a rosewood board MiJ Fender in glorious Fiesta Red...

What are members' experiences of these guitars, and, in particular, the pickups as supplied...

Hi David,

I've bought several guitars from Jon Clarke (MIJ Fenders) in the past and I've always been very pleased. One such instrument was the model you describe. The quality of the instrument and the service I was given was superb. To be honest, I wasn't as clued in to the variations in tone that each of the different pick-up types gave at the time, so I cannot give you any feedback in that respect. I'm sure a good few others have bought from Jon and should be able to help.

Hey David!! I guess you haven't read my "pickups" post in the "that sound" section... MIJ guitars aren't bad at all EXCEPT for some
certain hardware parts and ESPECIALLY the pickups and pots!!I have a MIJ Fender Jazzmaster and it's a real killer guitar,but only after I
bought some vintage correct hand-made pickups from Curtis Novak(!!!)He makes awesomely good true to original pickups for all kinds of guitars
and more!Anyway...the MIM Fender guitars would be a better choice if you ask my honest opinion coz those guitars have FAR BETTER stock
pickups than the MIJ ones have!Even the Fiesta Red MIM Strat is a beaut and does not cost that much either...around 595 Euro's!
Great guitar for the money...honest!!

Cheers,
Ernie

David, see my recent post to your thread about Pickups on 'That Sound' Board.
John Boulden

Hi,

I've had no problems with my '57 reissue CIJ strat from Jon Clarke, as for the
pickups it sounds great to me, the pickups on the '57 are American and have
cloth wiring, as for the pots, mine still has the originals as fitted, theroretically
there should be no difference in operation to the larger pots.

Amanda

David,
You can't go wrong with a MIJ Stratocaster. The build quality is excellent and the attention to detail (like string tree location) is spot on.
I've owned four and am currently selling one on a NZ trading site ( www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=245030774 ) - if only you were closer we could do a deal!!!
I've usually retrofitted US hardware including trems with full steel block and US pickups - 57/62 pickups on the rosewoods and Custom 54s on the maple neck models.
I'm only selling this one because I brought another '62 back from the US a month ago and plan to keep it because of its colour. It seems to me to be the closest match I can remember to my original 62 Strat - which went for a song in '67!!
Enough of my rave - just go out and get one. You won't regret it.
Cheers,
JB

David, i have a standard jap HBM signature your welcome to try if you like. Granted its a maple board, but im sure you will get an idea.

We need to get together for that jam anyway................

Dave

Thanks guys... I used to have a MIJ Hank sig and that was a good piece of kit!

David, you'll have to think about converting to playing left handed, I'm considering selling one of my MIJs

Cheers
Barry