CIJ, MIJ, JV? What's the difference?

[TELEPHILE]

Howdy ALL!

Crafted in Japan?

Made in Japan?

Japanese Vintage?

What's up with all of these categories? Thanks in advance.

[SteveK]

The first Japanese made Feners that rolled out of Fuji-gen Gakki were '57 RI Strats that I think got the JV serial No prefix.

Made in Japan appeared on the guitars made from the late 80's through to about '98, when for some un fathomable reason they switched to "Crafted in Japan".

All sorts of conspiricy theories have abounded about this change. As far as I know they are all compete bollocks ;) My 50's Tele is MIJ, my '62 RI Jazzmaster is MIJ, my '98 '72 Thinline RI is CIJ. All good solid guitars.

- Steve K

[TELEPHILE]

Howdy Steve and ALL!

Thanks! I heard that the JV's were supposed to be the pinnacle and the CIJ's close behind. Could just be someone's marketing style, who knows?!!!!

I just scored an '86 MIJ Esquire Custom, all original and in quite nice shape at that. I'm happy! If the rest of the MIJ/CIJ/JV's are this good, I'm gonna pay more attention as to what's on the block regarding these geetars!

[Carbatron]

*

[Jim barth]

JV**** serial number guitars on the plate were made for the Japanese market in the early 80's and were among the earliest Japanese reissues made in the Gakki plant.

MIJ were imported into the US roughly from 85' -99' when the same guitars (well Tele Customs went from yellowed to snow-white bindings) started showing up with "Crafted in Japan" in script at the base of the neck instead of "Made in Japan" in printed letters

Initially many people thought the change had to do with the fact that the guitars may have started to be made somewhere else. I don't think that notion ever panned out.

[Carbatron]

Nice post Jim, thanks.

[Henrik]

I thought JV stood for Jimmie Vaughan...

[Tonesnob]

Originally posted by Henrik
I thought JV stood for Jimmie Vaughan...

Me too!

[Dana]

I was told today by a local guitar shop that Crafted in Japan meant the parts were made here in Japan (necks, bodies, etc) and assembled elsewhere (Taiwan, Korea, etc). 2 stores i went to didnt want anything to do with Crafted in Japan guitars because of the problems they have when they arrive (needs more work to make it sellable).

Dana

[TELEPHILE]

Thanks ALL for your replies. From all of the stories I've heard, I had a gut feeling that there was more to it than just different labelling. There's got to be a quality component to it otherwise every response would read "They are the same thing......."

Thanks again.