Product: Fender FJ-70
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
03/27/2007
at
05:04am
by
Dan
Email: effdfyno<at>internode dot on dot net
Features
:
10
Tabacco Sunburst Finish. Jumbo Guitar. Original factory fitted tuners were discarded and replaced with Gotohs. Neck is Rosewood, 20 Frets however the width is quite nice and easy to play. It has faux MOP crown style shaped block inlays which are quite unique and stylish. The top is a two piece spruce job and the back and sides are rosewood. It has a ivory style binding all round and along the fret board which gives it a 'Gibson' look and feel. It's basically a Jap made Fender from 1980/81. They only made them in 1980 and 1981 so they are quite rare to the best of my knowledge. I
Sound
:
10
This guitar has mellowed with age and the sound is both rich and loud. This sucker can boom if you want it to or you can just ease along and pick it but mostly it's a strummer with guts! I love it.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
I got this baby damaged on Ebay. The bridge had completely ripped itself out and the neck was bent as a result of the broken bridge and not having strings on it, plus some neglect. I however knew the man to fix it so it was well worth the USD150 plus a further $30 to post it USPS surface mail. I've spent a few hundred having here fixed up but it's the best guitar I own by miles. The quality of wood and original workmanship is a little hazy as the damage may not have been from the original construction. All I know is that after it's restoration, it is now priceless. I've had it valued at a figure which is very high but I will never sell it. I will keep it and play it and die with it.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
The guitar has been through major surgery but it's as solid now and as sturdy as anything I've ever seen. This guitar can handle anything. As for gigging with it - sure. I've not bothered as it stays at home but it would sound awesome with the right pick up. I wouldn't butcher the natural sound by doing anything other than using an under saddle pick-up or possibly even a sound hole job. Don't massacre beauty by ripping a hole for a pre-amp in a guitar this beautiful.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
This is now a vintage guitar. Who would bother going to Fender now? Repairs have been many as stated. It has a new beechwood bridge. Re-fretted with dutch flat frets. New tuners and some minor touch up work to the binding on the fret board and some very light wear and tear around the sound hole.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've been playing this for 5 years. I own many guitars but this is my favourite. Once you play a guitar with the depth of sound such as this, it's hard to pick up another and not feel like all other dreadnoughts sound inadeqaute. I guess that's the glory of a jumbo guitar. If you ever see one of these for sale at a reasonable price - buy it quickly and get it set up by a luthier and you wont regret it.
