FujiGen

FujiGen Gakki (フジゲン, established as 富士弦楽器製造株式会社 in 1960) is a musical instrument manufacturer based on Matsumoto in Japan. FujiGen does OEM guitar manufacturing for well known guitar brands and they also manufacture their own brands of guitars such as Heartfield and FgN.

See also: Category:FujiGen

Early models

• 1960: started to produce violins and guitars.
• 1960: started to produce classical guitars for Kanda Shokai and Kamano Gakki.
• 1961: with the help of Anthony George of George's Music Store, guitar manufacturing quality was improved, and started to produce electric guitars.
• 1962: started to export guitars under various buyer's brands (St. George, Zim-Gar, Orland, etc) and also their own brand (Damien).

• 
  FujiGen EJ-2-T (1960s)
• 
  Zim-Gar EJ-2-T (1960s)

• 1960s: subcontracted with Teisco and manufactured several Teisco models (J-1 & J-2 solid electric, EB-1 bass (similar to EB-18), and VN-2 & VN-4 baritone).
• 1960s: with the request of trade buyer, several Kawai models (S180 "Hound Dog Taylor" guitar, FVN4 baritone, etc) were copied and manufactured.

OEM models in 1970s

• late-1960s or 1970s: started to supply OEM products to:

• Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez)
• Kanda Shokai (Greco guitars, and Fender Japan in 1980s–1990s)
• Yamaha (Yamaha guitars)

• 
  Ibanez Iceman
• 
  Ibanez Studio ST-200
• 
  Greco Super Real EGF1200 archive copy at the Wayback Machine (1980)

• 1977/1978: Fuji Roland, a joint venture with Roland Corporation, was started to develop guitar synthesizer.

• 
  G-303 archive copy at the Wayback Machine GR Guitar Controller (1979) played by Pat Metheny.
  Greco GO series (1977), and Ibanez Artsist Custom 2700 (1978) shared similar design.
• 
  G-505 archive copy at the Wayback Machine GR Guitar Controller (1982)
  Greco Boogie archive copy at the Wayback Machine series shared similar design.
• 
  G-202 GR Guitar Controller (1982)

OEM models in 1980s-90s

• 1981-1997: contracted with Fender Japan (including Squier).
• mid-1980s: CBS sold Fender, and until new USA factory started production, mostly Fender Japan products and the leftover USA stocks were sold in the USA market for a few years.
• 1992-1998: obtained a part of Orville by Gibson.

• 
  Squier Bullet
• 
  Fender Japan marked with MIJ (Made in Japan)
• 
  Orville by Gibson

OEM models in late 1990s-2000s

• late 1990s-: solid guitar of Epiphone Japan, some Gretsch models, their own brand Fujigen/FgN, etc.

• 
  FgN Telecaster Thinline headstock
• 
  FgN Telecaster Thinline body
• 
  FgN Semi-order Stratocaster
• 
  FgN NCJB-20R AL 3TS Bass

References

• Genesis of FujiGen (start of the electric guitar manufacturing) (in Japanese). Matsumoto guitars (Guitar Manufacturers in Matsumoto City). Matsumoto: Junk Guitar Museum.
  In the first half of 1960s, FujiGen had subcontracted with Teisco, and manufactured models including: J-1, J-2, EB-1 (similar to EB-18), VN-2, and VN-4; And then, their former factory manager had spin-out to establish a Teisco factory in Toyoshina, called Teisco String Instruments, Company (also known as Matsumoto Teisco).
  Also, several Kawai models at that time were sometimes manufactured by FujiGen (by the request of trade buyer), to fill the shortage of production of Kawai, and these models are seen on the 1965 photograph of FujiGen office.
• Adventures in Baritone -- 1965 Kingston FVN4 Japanese Electric Guitar. Drowining in Guitars! (August 2, 2012). "... this one is labeled Kingston, but it’s not a Kawai and it’s not a Teisco. Why is this rare? Well, those were the only two known suppliers for Westheimer Music. Not anymore, because my friends, this guitar was made by Fujigen. ..."
• History of Fender JAPAN. Music-Trade.co.jp, a division of Dai-Show Corporation, Yokohama, Japan.. "1984: CBS sells Fender to its current owners and while waiting for a new USA factory to begin production, Fender Japan models and leftover USA stock were mostly sold in the USA for a few years."