NGD - '78-'79 Fernandes Stone Logo

Forest Lemon

Forest Lemon

Strat-Talker
Mar 10, 2022
313
Western NC
I just traded my Vintera 60's Strat straight up for this one. I may not have gotten the best deal monetarily, but I'm happier with the sound of the Fernandes. I think it may be an FST-50 but I'm not too knowledgeable about these. Cosmetically it's a little rough, but the neck is straight and all the original parts are present (except 2nd tone pot looks replaced) and work well - even the 3-way switch.

The pickups are some sort of grey-bottom alnico and sound just fantastic. Very clear and chimey surprisingly. It's a great weight at 7lbs 14oz, 2 piece body that the thin poly finish has sunken into over the years, and it has those kice deep curves. It also rings really loud and resonates well. It's going to need a little more work setting up, but overall I'm really happy with this cool old Strat copy.

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Stu78

Stu78

Senior Stratmaster
Apr 20, 2019
2,844
Scotland (North of The Wall)
Forest Lemon said:
I just traded my Vintera 60's Strat straight up for this one. I may not have gotten the best deal monetarily, but I'm happier with the sound of the Fernandes. I think it may be an FST-50 but I'm not too knowledgeable about these. Cosmetically it's a little rough, but the neck is straight and all the original parts are present (except 2nd tone pot looks replaced) and work well - even the 3-way switch.

The pickups are some sort of grey-bottom alnico and sound just fantastic. Very clear and chimey surprisingly. It's a great weight at 7lbs 14oz, 2 piece body that the thin poly finish has sunken into over the years, and it has those kice deep curves. It also rings really loud and resonates well. It's going to need a little more work setting up, but overall I'm really happy with this cool old Strat copy.

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Man, that is nice! 🙂👍
 
Lonn

Lonn

Mod Admin
Staff member
Jul 6, 2014
19,678
Carmel IN
Big fan of the MIJ Fernandes guitars. There's a nice TE-1 Tele near me for $400 and I really want it, but I've already got 3 very nice Teles at the moment. The VA finally paid me today some back pay they've owed me since last year so maybe........
 

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Forest Lemon

Forest Lemon

Strat-Talker
Mar 10, 2022
313
Western NC
Lonn said:
Big fan of the MIJ Fernandes guitars. There's a nice TE-1 Tele near me for $400 and I really want it, but I've already got 3 very nice Teles at the moment. The VA finally paid me today some back pay they've owed me since last year so maybe........
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I'd say buy it. I already have 3 other Strats and I bought a Springy Sound literally an hour before this guy called me today haha. I'm just going to sell the weakest link after spending some time with them all. I've heard those Revival Series Fernandes are great too, and if it stacks up to this one then you need it.
 
B

Butcher_my_axe

Strat-Talker
Jun 8, 2022
135
Australia
Forest Lemon said:
It's a killer guitar. Supposedly the "stone logo's" were made by Tokai from what I've read.
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Yes, Tokai Gakki. This was the run between around 1977-1980, featuring the famed "stone-logo".

Apparently some of the older pre-1977 guitars made by Kawai Gakki for Fernandes were better that what Greco under Matsumoko-era were churning out (which is saying something considering Fender USA reps witnessing Japanese manufacturing were in tears of shame of themselves of what they saw).
 
Forest Lemon

Forest Lemon

Strat-Talker
Mar 10, 2022
313
Western NC
Butcher_my_axe said:
Yes, Tokai Gakki. This was the run between around 1977-1980, featuring the famed "stone-logo".

Apparently some of the older pre-1977 guitars made by Kawai Gakki for Fernandes were better that what Greco under Matsumoko-era were churning out (which is saying something considering Fender USA reps witnessing Japanese manufacturing were in tears of shame of themselves of what they saw).
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I posted it on a Fernandes Facebook group and the moderator said it's likely an FST-40. From pictures I've seen online, it has the same pickups and tuners as the lower tier early Tokai Silver Star's as well.
 
Badscrew

Badscrew

Strat-Talker
Oct 12, 2022
181
Paris
Had a "The Revival" bass of the similar age in the past, it was a fantastic instrument.

Sold it because I didn't need more than 7 basses, in the hindsight should've kept it :D

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Forest Lemon

Forest Lemon

Strat-Talker
Mar 10, 2022
313
Western NC
Butcher_my_axe said:
Yes, Tokai Gakki. This was the run between around 1977-1980, featuring the famed "stone-logo".

Apparently some of the older pre-1977 guitars made by Kawai Gakki for Fernandes were better that what Greco under Matsumoko-era were churning out (which is saying something considering Fender USA reps witnessing Japanese manufacturing were in tears of shame of themselves of what they saw).
Click to expand...
Well I just learned this on the Fernandes Facebook group today. Apparently these and many other stone logo models were actually made by Matsumoku.

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