FujiGen
Encyclopedia
FujiGen Gakki フジゲン 楽器 is a musical instrument manufacturer based at Matsumoto
in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji
. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments". FujiGen does OEM guitar manufacturing for well known guitar brands and they also manufacture their own brands of guitars such as Heartfield and FgN.
(Ibanez
), Kanda Shokai (Greco guitars
) and Yamaha. In 1977/1978 FujiGen went into a joint venture with Roland Roland Corporation
to produce guitar synthesizers. In 1981 FujiGen opted out of acoustic guitar production to mainly concentrate on solid body guitar production. FujiGen obtained a CNC router
in mid 1981 for making guitar parts and also began to manufacture their own pickups starting in late 1981.
In 1981/1982 FujiGen obtained the Fender Japan
contract which lasted until 1996/1997 and in 1983 FujiGen were producing 14,000 guitars a month with 80% of the guitars being made for export markets and 20% being made for Japanese domestic markets. In mid/late 1992 FujiGen obtained a part of the Orville by Gibson
contract which ended in 1998 and from then on have made Epiphone Japan solid body guitars, some Gretsch
models and their own branded FgN guitars. FujiGen still do OEM guitar manufacturing for companies like Ibanez and Epiphone but in much smaller quantities than in the past. FujiGen has 3 factories, the Omachi factory in Nagano
, the Hirooka factory (established around 1992) in Nagano
and the Matsumoto head office factory in Nagano
.
Dyna Gakki were established in 1972 at Nagano and currently build some of the Fender Japan guitars and also build some of the Gretsch guitars as well. Dyna Gakki made the early 1980s Ibanez Blazer guitars for Hoshino Gakki and have also made Greco guitars for Kanda Shokai. Dyna Gakki made the Yamaki/Daion/Founder/Joodee solid body guitars for Daion in the 1970s and early 1980s (the Daion "Joodee" brand should not be confused with the "T and Joodee" brand by Japanese luthier Shiroh Tsuji).
Terada were established in 1912 at Nagoya and concentrate mostly on making Semi Acoustic and Acoustic guitars and have made guitars for Ibanez, Orville by Gibson, Epiphone Japan, Gretsch and other well known brands as well. At their production peak (in the late 1970s/1980s/early 1990s) they were producing around 10,000 guitars a month using 3 factories, the Higashiku factory, the Kanie factory and the Shirakawa factory.
Terada's output is now about an 1/8 of what it was at their peak and they are still actively producing guitars at their Kanie factory.
Ida Gakki (Iida) were established in 1958 at Nagoya and have made Solid Body, Semi Acoustic and Acoustic guitars for well known brands such as Ibanez, Yamaha and Caparison
. Ida Gakki (Iida) also own the Peerless guitar factory in Korea.
Kasuga were established in 1935 at Nagoya and made the Heerby and Ganson Gibson replica guitars in the 1970s/1980s. They were involved in a joint venture with Roland for guitar synths in the late 1970s.
They also made Acoustic guitars for Yamaha in the 1980s before the Yamaha Acoustic production moved to Taiwan. They went out of business in the early/mid 1990s.
Matsumoku
were established at Matsumoto and built Aria and Epiphone guitars and also built guitars for many other well known brands in the 1970s/1980s. They went out of business around 1986/1987.
Chushin Gakki established in 1948 by K.Miyazawa at Nagano and have made electric guitars since 1961 since production of all other instruments ceased.They made Charvel and Jackson
guitars, Robin
in the early 80s, as well as original designs, such as Bambu and El Maya (EM series), collaboration of Maya Musical Instrument CO and famous American manufacturer engineer (Alembic?), starting in the 1977 through the early 80s.
1986/1987 tour of Fujigen factory, Rainer Daeschler.
http://www.daeschler.com/articles/fujigen/
Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.-Outline:The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating a new municipal...
in Japan and is named after the famous Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
. Gen means stringed instruments and Gakki means musical instrument - the name being literally translated as "Fuji Stringed Musical Instruments". FujiGen does OEM guitar manufacturing for well known guitar brands and they also manufacture their own brands of guitars such as Heartfield and FgN.
History
FujiGen started production in 1960, making violins and classical guitars. In 1962 FujiGen started production of electric guitars. In the 1970s FujiGen started making guitars (OEM) for companies such as Hoshino GakkiHoshino Gakki
is the owner of the Ibanez guitar and Tama drums brand names.-History:The Hoshino company was founded in 1908 by Matsujiro Hoshino originally as the Hoshino Shoten bookstore which mostly sold books and sheet music and then gradually over the years also began to import musical instruments into...
(Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
), Kanda Shokai (Greco guitars
Greco guitars
Greco are a brand of electric guitars produced by Kanda Shokai 神田商会. Kanda Shokai is a musical instrument wholesaler mostly known for being part of Fender Japan.-History:...
) and Yamaha. In 1977/1978 FujiGen went into a joint venture with Roland Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
to produce guitar synthesizers. In 1981 FujiGen opted out of acoustic guitar production to mainly concentrate on solid body guitar production. FujiGen obtained a CNC router
CNC wood router
A CNC wood router is a Numerical control tool that creates objects from wood. Parts of a project can be designed in the computer with a CAD/CAM program, and then cut automatically using a router to produce a finished part....
in mid 1981 for making guitar parts and also began to manufacture their own pickups starting in late 1981.
In 1981/1982 FujiGen obtained the Fender Japan
Fender Japan
Fender Japan is the Japanese division of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.-History:Fender Japan was officially created in March 1982 and consists of two Japanese Music companies that handle the ordering and distribution. The two companies are Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai...
contract which lasted until 1996/1997 and in 1983 FujiGen were producing 14,000 guitars a month with 80% of the guitars being made for export markets and 20% being made for Japanese domestic markets. In mid/late 1992 FujiGen obtained a part of the Orville by Gibson
Orville By Gibson
, also known simply as , was a brand of guitars that was managed by the Gibson Guitar Corporation for the Japanese market during the late 1980s and most of the 1990s.-History:...
contract which ended in 1998 and from then on have made Epiphone Japan solid body guitars, some Gretsch
Gretsch
The Gretsch Company was founded in 1883 by Friedrich Gretsch, a twenty-seven year old German immigrant recently arrived in the US. Friedrich Gretsch manufactured banjos, tambourines, and drums, until his death in 1895. His son, Fred, moved operations to Brooklyn, New York in 1916...
models and their own branded FgN guitars. FujiGen still do OEM guitar manufacturing for companies like Ibanez and Epiphone but in much smaller quantities than in the past. FujiGen has 3 factories, the Omachi factory in Nagano
Omachi, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 31,079 and the population density of 55 persons per km². The total area is 564.99 km²....
, the Hirooka factory (established around 1992) in Nagano
Shiojiri, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano, Japan. Its name literally means "the end of salt".-History:Municipal Area Changes* April 1, 1927-The village of Shiojiri gained town status....
and the Matsumoto head office factory in Nagano
Matsumoto, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.-Outline:The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating a new municipal...
.
Other Japanese OEM Guitar Manufacturers
Tokai (Tōkai Guitars) were established in 1947 at Hamamatsu and have built guitars for many well known brands over the years. They have their own Tokai brand guitars. They currently build some of the Fender Japan guitars.Dyna Gakki were established in 1972 at Nagano and currently build some of the Fender Japan guitars and also build some of the Gretsch guitars as well. Dyna Gakki made the early 1980s Ibanez Blazer guitars for Hoshino Gakki and have also made Greco guitars for Kanda Shokai. Dyna Gakki made the Yamaki/Daion/Founder/Joodee solid body guitars for Daion in the 1970s and early 1980s (the Daion "Joodee" brand should not be confused with the "T and Joodee" brand by Japanese luthier Shiroh Tsuji).
Terada were established in 1912 at Nagoya and concentrate mostly on making Semi Acoustic and Acoustic guitars and have made guitars for Ibanez, Orville by Gibson, Epiphone Japan, Gretsch and other well known brands as well. At their production peak (in the late 1970s/1980s/early 1990s) they were producing around 10,000 guitars a month using 3 factories, the Higashiku factory, the Kanie factory and the Shirakawa factory.
Terada's output is now about an 1/8 of what it was at their peak and they are still actively producing guitars at their Kanie factory.
Ida Gakki (Iida) were established in 1958 at Nagoya and have made Solid Body, Semi Acoustic and Acoustic guitars for well known brands such as Ibanez, Yamaha and Caparison
Caparison Guitars
Caparison Guitars is a Japan-based manufacturer of custom shop electric guitars.-History:The Caparison Guitar company was established in 1995 by former Jackson/Charvel Japan designer Itaru Kanno and was owned by Kyowa Shokai, a company that made contracts with factories to produce guitars for them...
. Ida Gakki (Iida) also own the Peerless guitar factory in Korea.
Kasuga were established in 1935 at Nagoya and made the Heerby and Ganson Gibson replica guitars in the 1970s/1980s. They were involved in a joint venture with Roland for guitar synths in the late 1970s.
They also made Acoustic guitars for Yamaha in the 1980s before the Yamaha Acoustic production moved to Taiwan. They went out of business in the early/mid 1990s.
Matsumoku
Matsumoku
Matsumoku Industrial was established around 1900 as a woodworking manufacturer of various items but is best known as a manufacturer of high quality guitars and bass guitars.- History :...
were established at Matsumoto and built Aria and Epiphone guitars and also built guitars for many other well known brands in the 1970s/1980s. They went out of business around 1986/1987.
Chushin Gakki established in 1948 by K.Miyazawa at Nagano and have made electric guitars since 1961 since production of all other instruments ceased.They made Charvel and Jackson
Jackson Guitars
__FORCETOC__Jackson is a renowned brand of electric guitar that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson.-Early years:Grover Jackson obtained ownership in Charvel's Guitar Repair of Glendora, California in the 1970s with a promise to bolster Charvel's business...
guitars, Robin
Robin Guitars
Robin Guitars is a boutique guitar manufacturer located in Houston, Texas.The company was formed in 1982 by Dave Wintz who owned the Rockin' Robin Guitar Shop at the time. Robin guitars were made in Japan by Tokai and Chushin until 1986, when their production moved to the United States...
in the early 80s, as well as original designs, such as Bambu and El Maya (EM series), collaboration of Maya Musical Instrument CO and famous American manufacturer engineer (Alembic?), starting in the 1977 through the early 80s.
Sources
http://www.fujigen.co.jp/history/1986/1987 tour of Fujigen factory, Rainer Daeschler.
http://www.daeschler.com/articles/fujigen/