alexreinhold
Senior Member
- Messages
- 685
Folks, sorry for starting a new thread but things became epic and I feel like some of you will appreciate what I have to share. Turns out Fender opened it's very first flagship store worldwide 2 weeks ago in Tokyo in a four-story building in Hajakuru (and there have been queues similar to Apple stores ever since).
What's even more crazy though - I always knew that my Japanese friend who I am staying with plays in a band with a great SRV-style guitar player named Shuhei. However, little did I know he's actually Japan's only official Fender guitar tech and on track to become Fender's first Asian Master Builder. So I got a personal invitation to Fender's backstage workshop for international Fender endorsers in Japan. So here's my story:
About 10 minutes from the flagship store in a random street, we arrived here:
![1.jpeg 1.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18541-0db7296015ca7b3654ff1392c197db5f.jpg)
And trust me, I did feel special lol
![2.jpeg 2.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18542-4f8d6a25c3350137fe7e28c9e287fb93.jpg)
The first thing I see upon entering were body blanks signed by all of the most famous Japanese Fender/Jackson/Charvel/Gretsch guitar players out there.
![3.jpeg 3.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18543-22ea503fd9405b8c7aa5860ea5b8b069.jpg)
But I did spot Scott Ian quickly (FYI - Pornograffitti was NOT Nuno as I was told haha). Btw - I did take a picture of a few guitars from famous people but I am not allowed to post them as per Shuhei's request. But one of them was a from a guy who recently had a reunion with his old band in Tokyo (you might know who ;-))
![4.jpeg 4.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18545-eaee65a4cca19639ddcb182a434d0de6.jpg)
Then I took a quick photo with Shuhei - of course representing the big W (who he is a HUGE fan of btw)
![3.5.jpeg 3.5.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18544-4eb9a24291ebe46ad22c8c505d25ccca.jpg)
Then we went to one of two rehearsal rooms which was filled with Acoustasonics (the other one was used for a meeting with a famous Youtuber unfortunately). Pretty much every famous Fender endorser who made it Japan has been here - we're talking John Mayer et al. For example, Cory Wong will be here next month.
![5.jpeg 5.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18546-468a6de533150e53182af967c90108b2.jpg)
I asked Shuhei about tone. He said 70% neck, 30% body. He refused to comment on pickups lol
![6.jpeg 6.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18547-8566316263af2c6d9dc1967958176b04.jpg)
and I got to play a prototype built by him for a famous Japanese endorser. Not my cup of tea kinda guitar but some of you might love it.
![6.5.jpeg 6.5.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18548-e744744d9d67cfc1731d9ca4d6a4bb3b.jpg)
and then it was workshop time The Gretsch you see is from one of Japan's most famous guitar players.
![7.jpeg 7.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18549-139f6f31a928602a20e11b3ebfc5b151.jpg)
Like a kid in Toys R Us
![8-min.jpg 8-min.jpg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18550-ee0e35af2d81c2ab091588b517232f9d.jpg)
What's even more crazy though - I always knew that my Japanese friend who I am staying with plays in a band with a great SRV-style guitar player named Shuhei. However, little did I know he's actually Japan's only official Fender guitar tech and on track to become Fender's first Asian Master Builder. So I got a personal invitation to Fender's backstage workshop for international Fender endorsers in Japan. So here's my story:
About 10 minutes from the flagship store in a random street, we arrived here:
![1.jpeg 1.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18541-0db7296015ca7b3654ff1392c197db5f.jpg)
And trust me, I did feel special lol
![2.jpeg 2.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18542-4f8d6a25c3350137fe7e28c9e287fb93.jpg)
The first thing I see upon entering were body blanks signed by all of the most famous Japanese Fender/Jackson/Charvel/Gretsch guitar players out there.
![3.jpeg 3.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18543-22ea503fd9405b8c7aa5860ea5b8b069.jpg)
But I did spot Scott Ian quickly (FYI - Pornograffitti was NOT Nuno as I was told haha). Btw - I did take a picture of a few guitars from famous people but I am not allowed to post them as per Shuhei's request. But one of them was a from a guy who recently had a reunion with his old band in Tokyo (you might know who ;-))
![4.jpeg 4.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18545-eaee65a4cca19639ddcb182a434d0de6.jpg)
Then I took a quick photo with Shuhei - of course representing the big W (who he is a HUGE fan of btw)
![3.5.jpeg 3.5.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18544-4eb9a24291ebe46ad22c8c505d25ccca.jpg)
Then we went to one of two rehearsal rooms which was filled with Acoustasonics (the other one was used for a meeting with a famous Youtuber unfortunately). Pretty much every famous Fender endorser who made it Japan has been here - we're talking John Mayer et al. For example, Cory Wong will be here next month.
![5.jpeg 5.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18546-468a6de533150e53182af967c90108b2.jpg)
I asked Shuhei about tone. He said 70% neck, 30% body. He refused to comment on pickups lol
![6.jpeg 6.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18547-8566316263af2c6d9dc1967958176b04.jpg)
and I got to play a prototype built by him for a famous Japanese endorser. Not my cup of tea kinda guitar but some of you might love it.
![6.5.jpeg 6.5.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18548-e744744d9d67cfc1731d9ca4d6a4bb3b.jpg)
and then it was workshop time The Gretsch you see is from one of Japan's most famous guitar players.
![7.jpeg 7.jpeg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18549-139f6f31a928602a20e11b3ebfc5b151.jpg)
Like a kid in Toys R Us
![8-min.jpg 8-min.jpg](https://unofficialwarmoth.com/data/attachments/18/18550-ee0e35af2d81c2ab091588b517232f9d.jpg)