Incredible Craftsmanship, Quality, and Value
When high-quality instruments are discussed, “Made in Japan” often comes up as a mark of excellence. Japanese-made guitars have earned a reputation for their superior craftsmanship, attention to detail, and remarkable value. Without a doubt, Japan is a guitar lovers paradise and the best Japanese instrument manufacturers are every bit as obsessed with the pursuit of great tone as their counterparts in the United States and elsewhere. It’s exactly these qualities that prompted us to seek out guitars difficult to find outside of Japan and make them available in the United States. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your musical journey, owning a guitar from Japan offers unique advantages that can significantly enhance your playing experience. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key benefits of choosing a Made in Japan (MIJ) guitar and why these instruments stand out in a crowded market.
1. Pride in Craftsmanship, Incredible Precision and High-Quality Materials
One of the most celebrated aspects of Japanese guitars is their exceptional craftsmanship. Japan has a long tradition of meticulous attention to detail in manufacturing, whether it’s electronics, cars, or musical instruments. Japanese luthiers are known for their expertise and attention to detail in every part of the guitar-building process—from wood selection to shaping the neck and body, to fretwork and final assembly and finish. As would be expected from any premium manufacturer or bespoke luthier, Japanese brands take a great deal of pride the instruments they craft and every detail large and small in that process.
A key part of the expertise of Japanese builders is thoughtful and knowledgeable selection of materials and components. Whether it’s the tonewoods used for the body and neck, high-quality hardware components, or immaculate finishes, careful choices are made to maximize performance, aesthetics, and overall quality. Japanese guitars not only look, sound and play great but are built to last. Tonewoods like alder, ash, mahogany, maple, rosewood, or more exotic alternatives are carefully dried, aged, and selected for their tonal properties, stability and sustainability.
2. Reverence for Tradition and Innovation
Japanese guitar manufacturers have a deep respect for iconic classic guitar designs, traditional construction methods and innovations that have shaped the music world, but they also have a passion for pushing boundaries. This combination of tradition and innovation makes MIJ guitars uniquely versatile.
Japanese builders hold classic guitar models and associated manufacturing techniques in high regard, often obsessively pursuing perfection of these timeless forms. Critically, many builders expertly meld modern high precision construction techniques with traditional and more labor-intensive processes to produce the best possible instrument at a given price point. Set-neck, bolt-on neck, and through-body necks are crafted with such precision that they feel seamless while exemplifying the unique qualities and benefits of each design. The combination of high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship results in guitars with superior tone and durability compared with guitars made elsewhere overseas, with high-end models often matching the best US-made guitars at a lower price point.
Manufacturers like Fender and Tokai work hard at perfecting vintage-inspired models alongside evolutionary and innovative modern interpretations of classic designs. Companies like Ibanez and ESP have become pioneers in modern guitar design, with innovative shapes, cutting-edge technology, and advanced features for progressive players. Deviser, the parent company responsible for amazing instruments from Bacchus, Headway, Seventy Seven, and Momose is a major manufacturer in the Japanese market that is not well known elsewhere. Deviser builds truly sublime instruments that can be an absolute steal on the secondhand market. There are several Deviser made instruments in the Professor’s collection. If you’re willing to look outside the major brands, Japan also has a plethora of smaller manufacturers and boutique builders such as Atelier Z, Bizen, VanZandt, StilBlu, Dragonfly, Saito, and Red House (just to name a few) that build world-class instruments that will knock your socks off.
Whether from large factories or small boutique manufacturers, Japanese-made guitars are typically held to the highest standards, with rigorous quality control ensuring that instruments have an extraordinarily low rate of imperfections. We have found this to be true with the multitude of Japanese-made instruments we’ve inspected and played. This precision results in a guitar that not only looks flawless but also performs consistently. Companies such as Fujigen, Dyna, and Terada have a long history of producing outstanding guitars for Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, and others.
3. Exceptional Playability, Stability and Character
Another hallmark of Japanese guitars is their playability. Whether you’re picking up a Fender MIJ Stratocaster or a Bacchus bass, you’ll find that MIJ instruments are exceptionally comfortable and easy to play. Attention to detail during final assembly ensures that the action, intonation, and neck relief can be dialed in with high precision and typically remain very stable over time and seasonal variation in weather and temperature.
Japanese manufacturers understand that a well-set-up guitar makes all the difference in how the instrument feels in your hands. Many players comment on how comfortable and smooth MIJ guitars are to play, making them ideal for extended practice sessions, gigs, and studio work.
In our experience, Japanese guitars nearly always have a very lively feel when played and depth of tone that is a signature of a properly crafted guitar. Just like an outstanding meal, this is thanks to a good “recipe” prepared by passionate and knowledgeable “chefs” as described so far in this blog. We often receive excited messages from customers regarding their newly arrived guitar and how effortless and enjoyable it is to play. The passion and experience poured into these instruments is tangible when you play one.
4. Value for Money
There are many, many great new, preowned and vintage guitars to choose from when shopping for a new instrument. Perhaps the most compelling reasons to invest in a made in Japan guitar is the incredible value for money they offer in conjunction with the incredible quality we’ve described thus far. Compared to high-end guitars made in the U.S. or Europe, Japanese guitars often provide similar or even superior quality at a more accessible price point. Many players find that MIJ guitars offer the same level of craftsmanship and performance as instruments that cost significantly more. We wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment and are consistently staggered by how very good they are for the price. This can be especially true if you are willing to consider brands that aren’t well known outside of Japan or look for lightly used and/or standard production instruments from bigger manufacturers like Fender. While limited production and harder to find models from Japan often still present outstanding value, they will always command a higher price. There are simply more black Stratocasters and sunburst Jazz Basses out there, making them easier to find, especially on the secondhand market, which usually results in lower prices.
Also, there are lesser-known and private label brands, such as RYOGA, History, VG, and Crews Maniac Sound, produced for various music shops and companies by top-tier manufacturers such as Fujigen, Terada, and Deviser. If you are not brand conscious, these micro-brands often offer the absolute maximum value for money with boutique level builds often available for mid-tier prices. They often represent the most incredible value for money on the secondhand market. We proudly seek out many of these guitars as we want our customers to experience just how amazing they are for the price.
With MIJ instruments, affordability doesn’t mean cutting major corners. Instead, it reflects the efficiency and expertise of Japanese manufacturing, where production costs are kept lower without sacrificing quality. While instruments at all price points must be “built to a price” to ensure their manufacturer can make a profit through sales, Japanese instruments do an amazing job balancing high quality and excellent value. Whether you’re a professional guitarist or an enthusiast, MIJ guitars allow you to own a premium instrument without breaking the bank.
5. Unique Models and Limited-Edition Runs
Japanese guitar manufacturers are known for their creativity and innovation, often producing unique models and limited-edition runs that aren’t available in other markets. Companies like Fender, Ibanez, and ESP have produced exclusive models and even sub-brands specifically for the Japanese market, many of which feature distinctive designs, colors, specifications and often extremely limited production runs. We also do our best to seek out this hard-to-find instruments meant for the Japanese domestic market and offer them to our customers in North America.
Conclusion: The Best
Whether you’re drawn to the precision craftsmanship, high-quality materials, vintage designs, or cutting-edge unique models, made in Japan guitars offer something truly special for players at every level. With unmatched attention to detail, exceptional playability, and great value for money, these instruments represent some of the finest examples of guitar making available today. If you’re looking for a guitar that not only meets but exceeds your expectations, a made in Japan guitar is a smart investment that will serve you well for years to come.
If you’ve been considering adding a Japanese-made guitar to your collection, there’s no better time to explore the options and experience the incredible craftsmanship that comes with owning one of these amazing instruments.
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