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Features

Long-form pieces — model histories, artist associations, and the engineering decisions behind instruments that don’t get much coverage in English. Where the rest of the site tells you what something is, Features tries to explain why it exists.

YamahaYamaha Guitars History: From an Organ Repair to 60 Years of IconsSeptember 25, 2026Yamaha is a name almost everyone knows, even people who have never touched a guitar. But how did the company…
IbanezIbanez History: The Bookstore That Became a Guitar Giant (1908-Today)MatsumokuThe Matsumoku History of Japan’s Greatest Guitar Factory (1951-1987)TokaiTokai Guitars History: From Harmonicas to the Copies That Beat the OriginalsBOSSBOSS History: 50 Years of Japan’s Most Iconic Effects

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ESPESP History: The Founding Years, 1975 to 1989August 1, 2026James Hetfield's ESP guitars — from the EET FUK MX-220 Explorer to the Snakebyte and Vulture signature modelsESPJames Hetfield’s ESP Guitars: The Complete Guide to Every ModelJuly 19, 2026Featured image for the Tokai MAT article showing carbon, fiberglass, and selected wood body concepts with MAT brandingTokaiTokai MAT: How Tokai Used Advanced Materials to Rethink the GuitarApril 1, 2026

All Features

TokaiTokai Talbo: The Aluminum Guitar That Failed, Came Back, and Became Tokai’s FlagshipIn an era when every electric guitar was made of wood as a matter of course, one Japanese model took…April 1, 2026Yamaha SG2000 electric guitar - featured image for article on its history and designYamahaYamaha SG2000: The Guitar Shaped by Santana’s IdeasThe Yamaha SG2000 is often seen as one of the most iconic electric guitars to come out of Japan.But what…March 29, 2026Ibanez RG vs JEM guitar comparison showing RG and JEM body designs side by sideIbanezIbanez RG vs JEM: Key Differences ExplainedIbanez RG vs JEM Quick Facts First JEM model: JEM777 (1987) First RG model: RG550 (1987) Main difference: The JEM…March 6, 2026Ibanez RG series electric guitar lineup guide showing modern RG modelsIbanezIbanez RG Series Guide: Models, Lineup & Product LinesIbanez RG Models Quick Facts First RG model: RG550 (1987) Most iconic RG models: RG550, RG570, RG770 Main RG product…March 5, 2026Ibanez RG history electric guitar featuring a bright yellow RG model illustrating the evolution of the Ibanez RG seriesIbanezIbanez RG History: Origins, Evolution, and Modern RG ModelsThe Ibanez RG series is one of the most influential modern electric guitar designs, evolving from the Roadster and Roadstar…March 4, 2026Screenshot of MIJ Guitar Guide article about George Harrison’s All-Rosewood Telecaster and Fender Japan TL69 models.Fender (MIJ)George Harrison’s All-Rosewood Telecaster and the Fender Japan TL69 ReissuesThe George Harrison all rosewood Telecaster is one of the most visually distinctive guitars ever associated with The Beatles. Most…March 3, 2026burny-les-paul-early-80s-rlg-series‐thumbnailBurnyBurny Les Paul: Early 80s RLG SeriesOverview & Key Points Burny Les Paul models from the early 1980s RLG series represent some of the most detailed…February 20, 2026greco-super-real-series-1979-82-thumbnailGrecoGreco Super Real Series: The Peak YearsOverview & Key Points The Greco Super Real Series was a line of Les Paul-style guitars produced in Japan between…February 20, 2026ibanez-rare-guitars-3-thumbnailIbanezIbanez Rare Guitars: 3 Limited RunsOverview & Key Points Ibanez rare guitars are limited-production instruments manufactured in exceptionally small quantities, often intended as showcase or…February 20, 2026Yamaha-SF-7000-ThumbnailYamahaYamaha SF-7000 Review: Specs, Value & SG ComparisonOverview & Key Points The Yamaha SF-7000 is a late 1970s to early 1980s Japanese solid-body guitar known for its…February 19, 2026Fender (MIJ)Fender Japan Guitars Used by 3 LegendsOverview & Key Points Fender Japan guitars are Japanese-made Fender instruments known for their consistent build quality and practical performance…February 15, 2026

How These Articles Are Researched

Most English-language writing about Japanese guitars recycles the same handful of forum posts, and the errors in them have been repeated for twenty years. The research here starts from Japanese-language primary sources instead:

  • Manufacturer catalogs
    Annual Japanese catalogs are the most reliable record of what was actually offered, at what price, in which year. Model names, finishes, and specs frequently differ between the Japanese and export versions of the same guitar.
  • Period advertising and magazines
    Japanese guitar magazines documented model launches, artist endorsements, and factory changes in detail, and much of it has never been translated.
  • Factory and distributor records
    Serial number systems, production locations, and contract manufacturing relationships. This is where most attribution errors come from and where most of them get resolved.
  • The instruments themselves
    Specs on paper and specs in hand don’t always agree, especially for transitional years.

Corrections welcome

Where sources conflict or a date can’t be confirmed, the article says so rather than picking the more interesting version. If you have catalog scans, serial data, or a correction, get in touch — several articles on this site exist because a reader sent something in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about what Features covers.

What’s the difference between Features and Tips?

Features are about the instruments — history, models, design. Tips are about the transaction — how to find, evaluate, and buy Japanese gear. If you want to understand a guitar, start with Features. If you want to buy one, start with Tips.

Do you cover acoustic guitars and basses?

Yes, though electric guitars make up most of the archive so far. Japanese acoustic production — particularly the 1970s Morris, Yamaha, and Takamine output — is significantly under-documented in English and is an area the site is expanding into.

Can I request an article?

Requests are welcome. Whether a piece gets written depends mainly on whether enough source material exists to say anything reliable.

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