The modern range of vintage style Japanese Fenders comprises the Traditional and the Heritage the Traditional first series was launched in 2017 and revamped in 2020. The Heritage was launched in 2020 both are still current as at 2022. In addition there is a Junior Collection shorter scale range. All made by Dyna Gakki and reviewed by Custom Shop Master Builder Chris Fleming who made some small changed to the original designs All are meant to be closer to true vintage models than previous Japanese Fenders, or so they say. All these guitars are intended for the domestic market only. I only intend to cover Telecasters. The Stratocasters are more than covered by Antonio at Fuzzfaced I suggest you check out his site here Fuzzfaced
There are 7 models of Telecaster some with left handed options, left handed models usually had less colour options and cost more.
They were released to co-incide with the 35th Anniversary of Fender Japan, or so they say, I suspect a co-incidence.
They also returned to waterslide decals over the finish and bone nuts according to the specifications.
Pictured above this is close to a 52 Telecaster some blurb from Fender Japan via Google translate.
A model that realizes deep tones with simple controls. Equipped with TL Vintage pickup on the basswood body.
Basswood, which has ash-like properties, provides an edgy tone with alnico magnets. The one-piece pickguard called "Blackguard"
follows the original looks made in 1952, which is still very popular. The body radius that faithfully reproduces the original
model and the decals of the headstock realize a style closer to "real".
Specifications
Body Basswood polyester finish
Neck Maple U shaped
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets
Headstock see pictures
Tuners Vintage style
Pickups Alnico tele style chrome at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Chrome 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65" bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle vintage through body brass barrel saddles
Pickguard Black 5 screw
Colours 2 colour sunburst, black, vintage natural or US Blonde
Left handed Vintage natural only
Price at launch 90000 yen left handed 100000 yen
In this case the Custom refers to a bound body.
Specifications
Body Alder polyester finish black double binding
Neck Maple U shaped poly finish
Fretboard Rosewood 21 Vintage style frets
Headstock Standard Telecaster with Silver spag logo and telecaster on the front Made in Japan and Serial Number on the back
Tuners Vintage style
Pickups Alnico tele style chrome at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Chrome 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65" bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle vintage through body brass barrel saddles
Pickguard Black or Mint Green 8 screw
Colours 3 colour sunburst, black, California Blue, Torino Red, Daphne Blue or Arctic White
Left handed 3 colour sunburst or Torino Red both with Mint Green Guards
Price at launch 100000 yen left handed 110000 yen
Pictures of the details seem quite hard to find.
This is the much loved or hated by some, Pink Paisley of Blue Flower 69 Telecaster. Peace and love etc.
Specifications
Body Basswood polyester finish
Neck Maple U shaped poly finish
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets
Headstock Standard Telecaster with black cbs logo and telecaster on the front Made in Japan and Serial Number on the back
Tuners Vintage style
Pickups Alnico tele style chrome at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Chrome 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65" bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle vintage through body chrome barrel saddles
Pickguard Transparent
Colours Pink Paisley or Blue Flower
Price at Launch 110000 yen
No left handed model at launch but they do exist I have seen them.
This as you will gather is a reproduction of the 1969 Thinline Model
Specifications
Body Hollow Mahogany with F Holes Gloss Finish
Neck Maple U shaped poly finish 4 bolt
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets
Headstock Standard Telecaster with black cbs logo and telecaster thinline on the front Made in Japan and Serial Number on the back
Tuners Vintage style
Pickups Alnico tele style chrome at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Chrome 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65" bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle vintage through body chrome barrel saddles
Pickguard Large White Perloid
Colours Natural
Price at Launch 120000 yen
No left handed model at launch not seen one
Specifications
Body Ash Polyester Finish
Neck 1 piece Maple U shaped 4 bolt
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Standard Tele see pictures
Tuners Chrome Die Cast
Pickups 2 vintage style Alnico single coils chrome at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Flat Top Chrome 1 volume 1 tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.615 Bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle vintage through body chrome barrel saddles
Pickguard 3 ply white
Colours 3 colour Sunburst, Black,Candy Apple Red, Natural, Surf Green or Blue Ice Metallic
Left Handed 3 colour Sunburst or Natural
Launch Price 105000 yen left handed 110,000 yen
Weight 7.24lbs
The custom in this case refers to the neck humbucker.
Specifications
Body Ash Polyester Finish
Neck 1 piece Maple U shaped 3 bolt with Microtilit
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Black CBS logo 2 string trees bullet truss rod adjustment
Tuners Chrome Die Cast
Pickups 1 vintage style Alnico single coil 1 wide range humbucker chrome at neck black at bridge
Controls Black top hat type 2 volume 2 tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.615 Bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 3 saddle vintage through body chrome barrel saddles
Pickguard large 3 ply black
Colours Black or Arctic White
Left Handed Same
Launch Price 100000 yen left handed 110,000 yen
Weight 3.4kgs
Specifications
Body Semi Hollow Ash Gloss Polyester
Neck 1 piece Maple U shaped 3 bolt with Microtilit Polyurethane finish
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Black CBS logo 2 string trees bullet truss rod adjustment
Tuners Vintage type Chrome
Pickups 2 wide range humbuckers chrome
Controls Chrome 1 volume 1 tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.615 Bone
Hardware Chrome
Bridge 6 saddle vintage through body chrome
Pickguard large 3 ply Perloid
Colours Natural, Surf Green or US Blonde
Left Handed Natural
Launch Price 120000 yen left handed 130,000 yen
Weight 2.9kgs
This is described as a traditional series 60s Telecaster and has some serious black and gold looks. A limited edition
with no indication of how many.
Specifications
Body Alder polyester finish black single binding in cream
Neck Maple U shaped poly finish
Fretboard Rosewood 21 Vintage style frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Standard Telecaster Matching with just Fender Gold logo and one string tree front Made in Japan and Serial Number on the back
Tuners Vintage style
Pickups Alnico tele style gold at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Flat top Gold 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65" bone
Hardware Gold
Bridge Gold 3 saddle vintage through body
Pickguard 3 ply Black white black 8 screw
Colours Black
II have not seen a left handed one
This is a sort of sister guitar to the midnight again as a traditional series 60s Telecaster and the opposite sort of look to the midnight.
Again a limited edition without indication of numbers as a guide Sweetwater said they could only get 15.
Specifications
Body Alder polyester finish single binding in black
Neck Maple U shaped poly finish
Fretboard Rosewood 21 Vintage style frets 7.25" radius
Headstock Standard Telecaster Matching with just Fender Silver logo and one string tree front Made in Japan Telecaster
and Serial Number on the back
Tuners Vintage style
Pickups Alnico tele style gold at neck black at bridge
Controls Knurled Flat top Gold 1 Volume 1 Tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.65" bone
Hardware Gold
Bridge Gold 3 saddle vintage through body
Pickguard 3 ply white black white 8 screw
Colours Olympic White
II have not seen a left handed one
This is a limited edition it is said only 125 were exported to Europe no idea about the rest of the world but it is odd that this is
exported at all as all other Traditional models are domestic only. Also I have seen so many of these for sale it seems many more must have been exported
It appears to have been made only in 2020 but the specs
partly seem to make it belong to the first series and partly to the second series. All I have seen say it has the 7.25 radius but the newer
1.615 narrower nut? So whether this belongs in the first or second series I don't know but I guess it isn't critical.
Specifications
Body Alder polyester finish
Neck 3 bolt Maple U shaped poly finish
Fretboard Maple 21 Vintage style frets 7.25" radius
Headstock 70s strat style CBS logo and 2 string trees front Made in Japan Fender Telecaster Deluxe
Back Made in Japan and Serial Number. Bullet TRA
Tuners Sealed Diecast
Pickups Alnico Wide Range Humbuckers x 2 Chrome covered
Controls Black Skirt Style 2 volume 2 tone 3 way switch
Nut 1.615" bone
Hardware Gold
Bridge Gold 3 saddle vintage through body
Pickguard 3 ply Black white black
Colours Seafoam Green
II have not seen a left handed one
