I just picked it up



Made in Japan, only location was printed on the back of the head of the guitar, nothing on the box.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcyzCRlFAMF/?taken-by=wildthing_san

DiMarzio pickup
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcyygX5FxwG/?taken-by=wildthing_san

The golden trim is very nice (see my instagram for more shots)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcyzVGIF2EX/?taken-by=wildthing_san


@sillentdx Let me know what shots you want for wikipedia? and give me a few days, I wanna play with it right now ^_^

Congrats, Oli-san! I liked how the floor staff checks the string action, intonation and whether or not the truss rod needed adjusting in front of you.

BTW, what did he say about the neck at about 6:00 onwards?

PS: My hotel during the Perfect World trip was literally a few minutes from this music store. The shop's near Sakuragaoka-cho in Shibuya right?

kudo_maharizu wrote:Congrats, Oli-san! I liked how the floor staff checks the string action, intonation and whether or not the truss rod needed adjusting in front of you.

BTW, what did he say about the neck at about 6:00 onwards?

PS: My hotel during the Perfect World trip was literally a few minutes from this music store. The shop's near Sakuragaoka-cho in Shibuya right?

6:00 he was talking about string action whether I needed it lowered from the standard 2mm.

Yep that shop Ikebe GRANDEY & Jungle in Shibuya, SCANDAL probably uses it before as there is a copy of signed Go! Go! Guitar from 2001 in store, loads of other artists autographs miwa etc... (miwa panic borrowed a guitar few hours before for Kōhaku Uta Gassen, there was an interview about this.)

As the guitars have arrived in stores in Japan (Ikebe-gakki at least), Ikebe has close up shots of the SCANDAL signature Fenders now.

Great axes! My only complain is the change of tuning machines to traditional style one on the production guitars.
Take a closer look to the previous promotional photos, Go!Go!Guitar Magazine and the Billboard live video, the actual axes that Haruna and Mami use are fitted with modern Grover style machines.
I wonder why Fender do it. IMO that is not the case of keeping the vintage look.

I’d say cost - it’ll bump up the price tag on these babies.

Also, I don’t think the machine heads on the guitars HARU/MAMI are playing are Grovers as the buttons are of the wrong shape for Grover - https://www.grotro.com/Grover/ROTOMATICS And from the official website, that is the classic shape (just like my 2001 Gibson LP Standard).

I have a feeling the girls have GOTOH fitted on theirs - and you can choose to have the same button style as theirs. I’d be happy to retrofit mine with SG510s (locking, 1:21 ratio etc).

Most possibly Gotoh. Guitar at this price point deserve better tuning machines.
Richie Kotzen Telecaster (MIJ) at a close price range also with Gotoh.
Especially the Mami sig Strat with a trem will benefit from a locking machines.

Had some good news from Ikebe at an ungodly hour this morning that my order has been shipped today. Unlike wildthing who lives in Tokyo, I will have to wait until prolly after the new year for it to arrive at my doorstep with it being X'mas and the new year. If it arrives between X'mas and the new year it'll be a bonus!

Out of interest - anyone else here at SH ordered the guitar/s?

I ordered the Stratocaster through Ikebe as well. Seems like shes already hopped a plane to the US.

Ryoko wrote:I ordered the Stratocaster through Ikebe as well. Seems like shes already hopped a plane to the US.

Wow, that's quick. Mine's only reached Narita airport today.

---

I have looked closer at the articles in the Jan 2018 ish of the Guitar magazine, and despite listing the specs of HARU's Tele to include gold vintage-styled tuning heads, the photos (as Metal Mickey pointed out) clearly shows HARU's own model has a more modern-styled set (the reso of the photo showing the back of her guitar wasn't high enough to make out the text, but it surely looks like a Gotoh).

And the caption of her guitar strap button, which is a Schaller, describes it as HARU's own (if Google translate is playing ball here).

MAMI's tuning pegs are the same as HARU's, although she retains her strap buttons without modding it to Schaller. MAMI uses a regular strap lock on her candy apple red strap anyways.

I guess it is understandable why they modded their guitars which is to withstand the rigours of touring. Looking at the price of a set of Fender Klusons in gold (GBP100 in the UK) gave me second thoughts of modding the headstock to Gotoh, as it'll be a waste to remove them, and as the screw placements for the Klusons are different to the Gotoh set, the headstock will be cosmetically defaced, even if it's at the back.

I don't see myself touring the world ever anyway, let alone my own room.

With the way Airports are, who knows?  probably just luck of the draw.  EMS scan updating is from my experience a bit off.

For the tuners, I'm by no means an expert, but in reference to what few pics we have so far, are they Gotoh SG381's?  If they are, I don't know if any drilling etc. is required.  Ill Probably keep the Vintage tuners or upgrade to Fender Locking Tuners as a direct replacement if need be.

Ryoko wrote:...are they Gotoh SG381's?

Can't tell from this distance on the photo. Shape-wise, SG360, SG381 and SGL510 fit the bill - the difference being their ratios. The screws on the vintage tuners are at the sides of the tuners, while the Gotoh is at an angle. So, new holes needed, hence defacing, value goes down etc etc. unless this guitar is meant to be one's workhorse for performance/production I guess.

The gold tuners on these production models are not cheap in the first place, and I feel bad for wanting to replace em "just because".

I agree those vintage style tuners look pretty good especially in gold. They keep the vintage feel of a Fender perfectly.
Yes, the girls won't ask for a tuner upgrade for no reason (more possibly an advice of Motchy).
Hope those are locking Gotohs on thiers, that is very helpful for making the life of a roadie easier working for frequent touring guitarists.
If I have the chance to buy Mami's red strat, subsequent modifications follow:
- Locking tuners in gold
- EMG DG20 pickup set
- Fender 2 pivot tremolo in gold and maybe
- Schaller Security Lock in gold.

Just a small update on my end:  my strat cleared US Customs @ ISC Chicago IL and is in transit to Indianapolis IN.

Ryoko wrote:Just a small update on my end:  my strat cleared US Customs @ ICS Chicago IL and is in transit to Indianapolis IN.

Mine landed in Coventry 8 hours ago. As for getting cleared by UK Customs that quick... prolly not.

It will be alright, as long as its delivered in 1 piece yeah?  With my Luck, I'm either getting the Floor Model or the necks going to be broken. lol

I just hope the build quality is good.  To be honest, the Jazzmaster I received had an extremely good build quality barring the Bridge and a minor action issue which was easily resolved.

Ryoko wrote:It will be alright, as long as its delivered in 1 piece yeah?  With my Luck, I'm either getting the Floor Model or the necks going to be broken. lol

I just hope the build quality is good.  To be honest, the Jazzmaster I received had an extremely good build quality barring the Bridge and a minor action issue which was easily resolved.

Not worried about it being in pieces, as Ikebe double boxes its guitar delivery last time I bought Bluetus from them. Just that the shipment’s in the country yet it will be at least a week until I see em. Gosh, if tracking says it cleared customs and reached the local depot by midnight on Saturday...

PS - liking your avatar. I actually live in Sheffield, the city where they are from.

@kudo_maharizu Have you ever have a feeling of Scandal to Osaka is like Def Leppard to Sheffield?
Btw, I was a big fan of Def Leppard back in the 80's.

Def Lep has to be in my top 5!  My guitar just arrived. This will have to tide you guys over for now, I got some stuff I have to take care of

^_^ Label:

OK! So, I got around to taking some pictures! Go me!  Firstly, I'd like to give some opinionated  positives and negatives about this guitar.  Any questions I'll answer since I'm sure I'm missing some finer points.
The Positives:
Excellent weight and balance
"U" shaped necks are flat out amazing!
The Pictures don't do the Vintage Cherry red Justice.  This sucker pops!  Think translucent cherry red!
Texas Pick ups are amazing!
250k pots! (that's a personal preference on my end so I'm excited about that)
5 way blade switch is very nice.  (this is in reference to a lot of the 5 way switches I've felt over the years)

The Negatives:
action issues right off the bat. (this could be just me being picky though)
Fender didn't bother with tuning or Intonation.  (not a big deal I did it myself)
Gold hardware will scratch very easily.....trust me on this lol
Final assembly personnel got some of the pick guard screws cattywampus. 
Fender strings are junk imo.  Changed out to Slinky Greens already.
The gig bag they include is a joke.  My Mami Jazzmaster came with a nicer gig bag.  With that being  said,  They probably figured we as customers would get a Hard Case, which I will.
Would it have killed them to put the fender Logo on the rear Neck Plate?
Not a huge fan of the non lacquered Neck, but it is slick and it will grow on me so I guess I'm neutral on it.

Misc:

Body, Neck, Head, and Mami Sig.:

The Guts!:

Size Comparison to a Mami Jazzmaster:

With all this being said, I'm very happy with my purchase.  Actually I feel this is an absolute bargain.  This guitar will play any song great, but it seems to be more geared to play 70's Classic Rock.  Think Smoke on the Water or Kashmir in Bridge position.

Those pictures are clear and self explanatory.
One question! How do you feel about the fret job! Especially the fret ends?
NGD congrats! Enjoy!

Ryoko wrote:OK! So, I got around to taking some pictures! Go me!  Firstly, I'd like to give some opinionated  positives and negatives about this guitar.  Any questions I'll answer since I'm sure I'm missing some finer points.

Now THAT'S what I call a guitar review.

Nice one, mate. Although I have a n00b question:

Ryoko wrote:

How do you adjust the truss rod if you could barely see half of it?

Since my shipment is languishing in a Customs warehouse in Coventry (US Customs don't charge duty on imports from Japan eh - I read that online somewhere. Lucky you.)... I only have a set of Schaller strap locks in hand at the moment keeping me compan... never mind.



Just wondering - which one would suit the guitar best?

@kudo_maharizo

Make sure the case you purchase fits a standard Strat or Tele, and you're good to go. Dimensions (in inches) are about 42 x 15 x 4.2. Personally, I like the tweed look.

I didn't purchase the guitar to answer your truss rod question (and for whatever reason the computer I'm on can't view the pictures properly), but I know on my Strat the rod is accessible up on the neck.

BTW, the red color does look pretty sweet.

Metal Mickey wrote:
One question! How do you feel about the fret job! Especially the fret ends?

I would give the Fret job an A-.  #2 and #11 have a high spot Between D&G and G&B respectively. Other than that the frets are all dead on. Firmly Seated etc.  So a very minor issue imo.  The frets ends are flush with the neck and have what seems to be the standard 35 degree angle on them. (I'm not getting out a protractor lol).  I will say I feel Fender cut corners a little bit and used a lower quality fret wire. Don't get me wrong I don't expect Stainless Steel, but I don't want bargain basement either.

9-12 fret picture:

@ Kudo_maharizu  The neck will have to be detached from the guitar in order to adjust the Truss Rod.  This I'm thinking is somewhat common on some types of Telecaster (don't quote me on it)  Its a minor inconvenience for sure.

As for cases.  As I said before these pictures Truly do not do this guitars color justice!  Id use a black case.  I would also use a fender Case.  Foam cases tend to fit the guitar more snugly, but I prefer Plush and a nice humidifier area.

If you have a Mami Jazzmaster.  Good luck finding a good Hardshell for it.  The Specs are different from a standard American Fender jazzmaster, and I haven't found a hard case that will fit it yet.(I don't try too hard to find one though, its not my life mission)
Maybe someone here has found one and can point me in the right direction?

The thumbnails were taken from fender.com - they should fit. My question was more from an aesthetic point of view.

Ryoko wrote:@ Kudo_maharizu  The neck will have to be detached from the guitar in order to adjust the Truss Rod.  This I'm thinking is somewhat common on some types of Telecaster (don't quote me on it)  Its a minor inconvenience for sure.

Urgh - I guessed as much. Just hope it'll just be the intonation and action that needs doing when she arrives.

Ryoko wrote:As for cases.  As I said before these pictures Truly do not do this guitars color justice!  Id use a black case.  I would also use a fender Case.  Foam cases tend to fit the guitar more snugly, but I prefer Plush and a nice humidifier area.

I actually agree with you - would love to see the black plush / red guitar contrast with the tolex case. I think it's appropriate as well, with her being a 70s Strat.

Ryoko wrote:If you have a Mami Jazzmaster.  Good luck finding a good Hardshell for it.  The Specs are different from a standard American Fender jazzmaster, and I haven't found a hard case that will fit it yet.(I don't try too hard to find one though, its not my life mission)
Maybe someone here has found one and can point me in the right direction?

Actually, I do - both the MAMI Squier sig and her Fender Jazzmaster. But I only have one Gator hard case which would fit either one and it's housing my Jaguar. As I have two Fender gig bags with the SCANDAL logo on them, both JM's are in the gig bags atm.



It's not moulded, and the Squier JM fits okay: http://gatorcases.com/products/guitar/deluxe-wood-cases/deluxe-wood/jaguar-style-guitar-case-gw-jag/

Anyway, back to topic. Found a Fender tolex case for her just now. As luck would prolly have it, it may arrive on my doorstep before the Ikebe shipment!