[Stephenlouis]

Most Pacificas are not Japan-made. Still awesome guitars.

For example, my Pacifica 1221 was assembled in Taiwan out pf Japanese and American parts.

I did not know that, I have not owned one in a very long time, but back in the day, they were wonderful guitars.

 

[robbiedaug]

I am not crazy about the shape of this model but the specs and design are pretty good IMHO. Your thoughts?

He didn't mention nor demo the trem bar.

 

[Steadfastly]

He didn't mention nor demo the trem bar.

I wondered about that. I wasn't paying strict attention to his playing and wondered if he did as I couldn't remember him mentioning it. Good catch Robbie!

 

[Steadfastly]

Perhaps, but it's still a very well-made Japanese guitar (all Gotoh hardware too) for a reasonable price, as stated in the title.

Yes, it is. Ibanez makes very good quality instruments. My first electric guitar was an Ibanez.

 

[spanky13]

I recently bought the same FGN guitar that another forum member suggested above. I paid about 1150 duties and shipping included. Well built, a little heavy, pickups good but maybe will swap them. Fujigen Bcls10Rmp-Fcb Les Paul Type | eBay

 

[Steadfastly]

I recently bought the same FGN guitar that another forum member suggested above. I paid about 1150 duties and shipping included. Well built, a little heavy, pickups good but maybe will swap them. Fujigen Bcls10Rmp-Fcb Les Paul Type | eBay

There were duties? Are you confusing duties with other charges?

 

[Steadfastly]

If I was going to buy a different guitar, it would be an Agile, Harley Benton or a Wolf from AIO. As Max says, great quality guitars for a very good price.

 

[Jim Soloway]

The Yen has gone from 127 to the US dollar to 150 in just the last 10 months. That means that Japanese guitars have come down in price compared to US guitars. And Japan has some great guitar factories. There are definitely some good deals to be had right now on Japanese guitars.

 

[Steadfastly]

The Yen has gone from 127 to the US dollar to 150 in just the last 10 months. That means that Japanese guitars have come down in price compared to US guitars. And Japan has some great guitar factories. There are definitely some good deals to be had right now on Japanese guitars.

That is a big change in the exchange rate. The problem with buying from Japan is the shipping costs.

 

[Okay Player]

This is the model referred to in the video.

OZ RV TNC
View attachment 509597

I'm not sure if that's "reasonably priced, from Japan" or "reasonably priced from Japan". $2K Canadian puts it in the same price point as a Les Paul Studio, American Performer Strat or Tele, any number of Charvels (Made in Mexico) or this one that I'm sure someone who likes that style would probably go for.

View attachment 509599

And GuitarMax is a wanker.

But stainless frets!!!1!1!11!!!

 

[BlueRocker]

But stainless frets!!!1!1!11!!!

And pitched by a Fabio wannabe

 

[Rollin Hand]

I did not know that, I have not owned one in a very long time, but back in the day, they were wonderful guitars.

My Pacifica 1221 is nuts. The lone problem is that some of its innovations are persnickety. Like the fact that the tremolo arms no longer exist unless you drop more than $50 (after shipping) with Frets on the Net. The RM Pro II bridge might transmogrify into a Gotoh at some point...

 

[Jim Soloway]

That is a big change in the exchange rate. The problem with buying from Japan is the shipping costs.

It is if you're buying a single guitar from Japan but shipping in Canada is also very expensive. I was looking at some archtops from Japan and the shipping was about $275. Shipping in Canada, they probably would have been about $100. So it does add $175. It still would have been a decent price for what they were selling but to me a bigger problem is not being able to try it (or at least one like it) before buying it. That requires a real leap of faith and in this instance I just didn't have enough to pull the trigger. I ended up buying a guitar locally instead.

On the other hand, if you are buying a MIJ guitar that's being retailed in Canada, the whole situation changes. They come in container loads and the shipping is not much more than if they can from California. L&M is selling the Fender Made In Japan series Strats and Teles for $1539. I haven't played on but I'd be willing to bet that the quality is outstanding.

 

[Steadfastly]

It is if you're buying a single guitar from Japan but shipping in Canada is also very expensive. I was looking at some archtops from Japan and the shipping was about $275. Shipping in Canada, they probably would have been about $100. So it does add $175. It still would have been a decent price for what they were selling but to me a bigger problem is not being able to try it (or at least one like it) before buying it. That requires a real leap of faith and in this instance I just didn't have enough to pull the trigger. I ended up buying a guitar locally instead.

On the other hand, if you are buying a MIJ guitar that's being retailed in Canada, the whole situation changes. They come in container loads and the shipping is not much more than if they can from California. L&M is selling the Fender Made In Japan series Strats and Teles for $1539. I haven't played on but I'd be willing to bet that the quality is outstanding.

Yes, of course, this is the case. That is how Harley Benton, Agile and AIO can offer their quality guitars at such competitive prices. Not paying exorbitant CEO salaries, helps too.

 

[Jim Soloway]

Yes, of course, this is the case. That is how Harley Benton, Agile and AIO can offer their quality guitars at such competitive prices. Not paying exorbitant CEO salaries, helps too.

Yes, but I guess I hold Japanese manufacturing at a higher level level than those made in other Asian countries (and often higher levels than American manufacturing as well).

 

[mbene085]

The most affordable high-quality Japanese-made guitars are the many brands that have been made by the FugiGen factory over the last 40 years.

Many people know the Fenders, but they've done so many OEM brands that have zero name recognition. I saw someone selling a mint condition 5 year old FugiGen SG for something like $500 because people had no idea what the brand was (and I can't even remember, because I'd never heard of it).

The only weaknesses of the FugiGen Fenders were intentionally specced into them by FMIC (e.g. pickups, electronics) to keep them from eating into the rest of their lineup. When an OEM gives FujiGen carte blanche to use good parts and good specs, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better guitar.

And the used ones still generally go for peanuts.

 

[spanky13]

There were duties? Are you confusing duties with other charges?

Maybe yes. It could have been the Provincial taxes... . There were no added fees fortunately. Also, I had been concerned about neck profile. It is like a Gibson 60's slim but with more shoulders, so between a C and D profile. On the cheaper FGN built Japanese spec guitars, Cool Z seems like good value but resale might be tough.

 

[Steadfastly]

Maybe yes. It could have been the Provincial taxes... . There were no added fees fortunately. Also, I had been concerned about neck profile. It is like a Gibson 60's slim but with more shoulders, so between a C and D profile. On the cheaper FGN built Japanese spec guitars, Cool Z seems like good value but resale might be tough.

You are confusing duties with Tax and brokerage fees. For the benefit of others contemplating these purchases, it is good to be concise on the charges as threads can go on forever explaining this and correcting errors and misconceptions.

 

[phuzz]

The guitar in the OP doesn't really appeal to me but even if it did the pricing is on the high side. Taking a chance on an unknown builder with shady Asian factories possibly doing the work but being passed off as something they're not. I also would hate to lose on resale, this screams $300-$400 on Kijiji (if you're lucky). I don't think it's a wise purchase unless you really love it and have money to burn. Far more and better options in my opinion are available from trustworthy builders and local retailers.

 

[Steadfastly]

The guitar in the OP doesn't really appeal to me but even if it did the pricing is on the high side. Taking a chance on an unknown builder with shady Asian factories possibly doing the work but being passed off as something they're not. I also would hate to lose on resale, this screams $300-$400 on Kijiji (if you're lucky). I don't think it's a wise purchase unless you really love it and have money to burn. Far more and better options in my opinion are available from trustworthy builders and local retailers.

You have some valid points. Some things to think about. Most buy guitars to play, not resell. This company is not an unknown builder and definitely not shady. Pretty much everything that Guitar Max puts on his channel is from a valid supplier/manufacturer. As for $300-400.00, you would definitely get more that that on resale if you listed the specs. As for more and better options elsewhere, that may be but some of those options on this guitar are not available elsewhere. As for the pricing being too high, I tend to agree with you but prices have gone up quite a bit over the last few years and it is getting hard to find a guitar that has some extra features or specs for under $1000.00.

This guitar is not for everyone and I would doubt whether more than 2-3 members would ever purchase one but it is an interesting, very good quality guitar to examine and that's what most of us are here for. We like to see new and interesting things and where the music industry is heading.