Easily one of the better guitar reviews I've seen in a while. Most focus on how a piece of gear sounds or makes one feel, meanwhile you provide a lot of context information, such as the buying process that led you to acquiring it, what you compared it with before purchasing, what you use it for, as well as the things you didn't like that you changed. Most of the above could be written off as personal preference, but I would say it gives a lot of insights to people interested in purchasing an FGN. Especially that there's not that much information on the brand's offering relatively to some major names and even less on how FGN's perform over time. It's easy to fall victim to GAS, but whatever people purchase, they're stuck with it and all its consequences. Awesome playing as well! Thank you Dan
Been looking at FGN for a year now and prices have gone up of course...this is the exact guitar I’ve been looking at...but I don’t need another strat style so I was thinking of one of their tele style guitars...great review my man...really helpful!!!!
Great review !! I own the FGN ... it is a killer guitar for the price. Highly underestimated, people usually don't know that FGN are making all Japanese made Fender's, Yamaha's and Ibanez's and they did build guitars as well for Epiphone, Gretsch, Dean, DBZ ... they are really great quality and often better than the US made guitars ...
Just picked up one of the flame maple versions of these on reverb, and damn it is a great guitar. Easily as well built as my $2600 ebmm reflex in terms of woodwork and electronics. the trem in particular impressed me; normal bridges on any price point guitars are noticeably inferior, but this one is great. just wish it didnt have that cheap looking flame veneer
Love your review style Mr. Love the guitar too. sounds very very good for the price. Icould certainly use that for everything I do in cover band world !
Great review and playin' man! Enjoyed it. Bought a used FGN, same model as yours in red. Product year is 2019 and I think it is not a compound fretboard radius on it. So on that point you maybe wrong. Keep on the great work! 🤘🏻🎸
Hey Boss. Do you still have and play or sell? Best Regards and Best Wishes! LOL.. I just watched til the end. Had seen this before and not watched to end. Smackin that headstock..do that at least once a week. Right of passage for any guitarist. Cheers! :)
Wow. Coda Music. I used to frequent that place when I lived in the UK. Bought some Les Pauls from there. Likewise, I really like the FGNs. I am going out to look at a few today.
Great demo and excellent playing. If im lucky mine should arrive within a week. Went for the Old Lake placid one. Will probably change a pickup or two but im really stoked!!?
i dont even play guitar but over 40 years of collecting and doing my homework i bought a FGN J standard and its as good as ANYTHING out there for thousands more., mate they HAD locking tuners from new,, the locking is on the front not the back,, There is a slot on the shaft, turn the tuner then lock it with a screwdriver from the front,, DERRRR
I would say that it’s probably closest to a Suhr. Not quite as ‘good’ but that’s all personal preference. Size wise it’s very middle of the road, not too thin or bass ball bat thick. Just very comfy. The finish is great too, satin and not sticky at all. So hard to describe a neck because it’s all personal preference without measuring it exactly. Hope it was some help though.
The one i tried was similar to a Fender US /Japan(duh same factory) performer strat. Softer and more playable neck which is a little bit rounder. It is freaking perfect.
They have another range above this standard line called "expert" they pretty much compete with any other custom shop quality. They do ibanez j customs when they dont do the FGN branded ones
Great demo Dan- Whats the neck shape on this model? is it heavy? i've tried the Expert series and it has a chunky neck they call U shape. and it's very heavy.
Very nice review~ I've noticed that you changed out your volume pot. You said it worked in a "strange" manner. On another UA-cam channel (EytschPi42) he also reviewed the FGN guitar and said that the volume pot takes off way too much treble when you roll it down. Would you describe it the same way?
All is great apart from that pickgard. Will a standard after market pickgard fit on the body? Because the original pickgard looks different. Even if it did, I will have to drill an extra hole on the bottom horn to fit it properly which sucks. They will be my first choice if it weren't for that weird ass pickgard. Oh and the naked maple headstock. Raw maple headstock looks so weird on a guitar with dark body with a dark colored pickgard. At least roast it to make it darker and fit in better with the rest of the guitar. Or use a bright color pickgard. Otherwise, Japanese quality is way better than over 4 grand American quality. I'm not Japanese so I'm not fanboying here. lol
Hello! I tried that model and the more Suhr looking one, but I found the frets too chunky at the edge of the neck. They're not sharp, but I really feel them when sliding my hand up and down the fretboard. Do you think about that at all, or is it nothing unusual?
I’ve never noticed it personally to be honest. Not when playing. I’ve just checked it out being more aware of it, I can feel them but no more than other guitars I’ve got. It’s certainly never bothered me.
@@DanLeggatt Excellent! Maybe I was a bit too aware of every little detail. I'm still thinking about getting the Suhr-y looking red one, J-standard. Thanks for your reply!
That might be the case, I hadn’t noticed it until you said to look for it 😂 As I said, it’s never personally bothered me but everyone’s preferences and feel are unique. I hope it works out for you if you go for it mate 👍
@@DanLeggatt Yeah, well, I'm only finding out about details in these last few months, after some 15 years of playing (I was a late starter, in my early 20's). Now I feel that I can handle the instrument pretty well, so I'm able to notice details. I've also watched some UA-cam on the subject, and it's interesting how I didn't know what guitar fit me, concerning the neck profile (I didn't even know that was a thing!); string height, or action (would you believe that it impacts playability?? 😄); flat fretboard or a bit of a radius... The instrument is so much more than I have though! And now I feel it too, which is great, I have a closer connection to the instrument, and I can feel the vibrations coming from it when playing. Guitar and music is pure joy for me! It'll be fun to poke around your channel some more, I like the type of content that I've seen so far.
😂 It may sound like a lot but really, other than mechanical upgrades for ease (Locking tuners and graphite saddles) the core guitar is what it would be out of the box. Other than a few personal preference wiring tweaks the pickups are totally stock. I wouldn’t normally ‘review’ a guitar with mods but I couldn’t find many decent videos before I got this one so I wanted to get the info out there for anyone interested 👍
@@DanLeggatt I came across this brand by accident, although I knew about Fujigen I didn't know they made their own "Suhr" style strats. All of the reviews I've seen thus far have been very complimentary.
Easily one of the better guitar reviews I've seen in a while. Most focus on how a piece of gear sounds or makes one feel, meanwhile you provide a lot of context information, such as the buying process that led you to acquiring it, what you compared it with before purchasing, what you use it for, as well as the things you didn't like that you changed.
Most of the above could be written off as personal preference, but I would say it gives a lot of insights to people interested in purchasing an FGN. Especially that there's not that much information on the brand's offering relatively to some major names and even less on how FGN's perform over time. It's easy to fall victim to GAS, but whatever people purchase, they're stuck with it and all its consequences.
Awesome playing as well! Thank you Dan
Thanks so much for the comment. Really appreciate the feedback and glad you enjoyed the video 👍
Been looking at FGN for a year now and prices have gone up of course...this is the exact guitar I’ve been looking at...but I don’t need another strat style so I was thinking of one of their tele style guitars...great review my man...really helpful!!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great review !! I own the FGN ... it is a killer guitar for the price. Highly underestimated, people usually don't know that FGN are making all Japanese made Fender's, Yamaha's and Ibanez's and they did build guitars as well for Epiphone, Gretsch, Dean, DBZ ... they are really great quality and often better than the US made guitars ...
Just picked up one of the flame maple versions of these on reverb, and damn it is a great guitar. Easily as well built as my $2600 ebmm reflex in terms of woodwork and electronics. the trem in particular impressed me; normal bridges on any price point guitars are noticeably inferior, but this one is great. just wish it didnt have that cheap looking flame veneer
These guitars definitely seem to fly under the radar. Enjoy the new guitar 👍
Love your review style Mr. Love the guitar too. sounds very very good for the price. Icould certainly use that for everything I do in cover band world !
Thank you mate! Yeah thats the main reason I picked it up, versatility is the key for those kinds of gig. All the best!
Great review and playin' man! Enjoyed it. Bought a used FGN, same model as yours in red. Product year is 2019 and I think it is not a compound fretboard radius on it. So on that point you maybe wrong. Keep on the great work! 🤘🏻🎸
Finally fgn with no flame maple top, looks so good
Woo thanks for the name drop 😂 it is a lovely guitar that, I’m a little jealous they’ve stopped making that colour.
It's definitely back on the 2020 models, they've just updated the website!
Hey Boss. Do you still have and play or sell? Best Regards and Best Wishes! LOL.. I just watched til the end. Had seen this before and not watched to end. Smackin that headstock..do that at least once a week. Right of passage for any guitarist. Cheers! :)
Wow. Coda Music. I used to frequent that place when I lived in the UK. Bought some Les Pauls from there. Likewise, I really like the FGNs. I am going out to look at a few today.
It’s a cool shop for sure. Chill staff too. Did you find any FGNs you liked?
nice tone!nice play!
Great demo and excellent playing. If im lucky mine should arrive within a week. Went for the Old Lake placid one. Will probably change a pickup or two but im really stoked!!?
Hope you dig it! Enjoy the new guitar 👍👍
@@DanLeggatt got mine today. Ohh boy how good it is, its my fourth FGN but still always surprised about the quality.
@@spezia8169 no tuning problems here, changed to locking tuners and i dont use the wang bar...
Granadillo is also a kind of rosewood!
Armadillo fingerboard?
That’s a really sweet sounding guitar. It’s like an Ibanez and Tyler had a secret love child.
I thought the same! On both counts haha. Thanks for checking out the video.
Should be rosewood depending on model.
i dont even play guitar but over 40 years of collecting and doing my homework i bought a FGN J standard and its as good as ANYTHING out there for thousands more., mate they HAD locking tuners from new,, the locking is on the front not the back,, There is a slot on the shaft, turn the tuner then lock it with a screwdriver from the front,, DERRRR
Dam i didn't know Ozzy man did guitar reviews. Word up.
Anyone knows how is granadillo fingerboard? Comfortable? Anyone?
Would consider changing the bridge with vegatrem. If that happens, then upload the video. Thanks man! 😎😊
Can’t see that happening any time soon unless they want to send me one 😂
This dude could make a mop handle sound good.
🤣 Thank you!
Great review! Can you compare the guitar’s neck to another brands’? I’m interested in buying, but there are no FGN’s in my area to try
I would say that it’s probably closest to a Suhr. Not quite as ‘good’ but that’s all personal preference. Size wise it’s very middle of the road, not too thin or bass ball bat thick. Just very comfy. The finish is great too, satin and not sticky at all. So hard to describe a neck because it’s all personal preference without measuring it exactly. Hope it was some help though.
The one i tried was similar to a Fender US /Japan(duh same factory) performer strat. Softer and more playable neck which is a little bit rounder.
It is freaking perfect.
They have another range above this standard line called "expert" they pretty much compete with any other custom shop quality. They do ibanez j customs when they dont do the FGN branded ones
Great demo Dan- Whats the neck shape on this model? is it heavy? i've tried the Expert series and it has a chunky neck they call U shape. and it's very heavy.
Not super heavy. My Suhr is heavier. Compared to the expert I tried ages ago I think the neck is slimmer.
Very nice review~
I've noticed that you changed out your volume pot. You said it worked in a "strange" manner.
On another UA-cam channel (EytschPi42) he also reviewed the FGN guitar and said that the volume pot takes off way too much treble when you roll it down.
Would you describe it the same way?
The taper was odd. It was a bit ‘all or nothing’. Some people might like it. I prefer a much smoother taper personally.
@@DanLeggatt Thnx~
All is great apart from that pickgard.
Will a standard after market pickgard fit on the body? Because the original pickgard looks different. Even if it did, I will have to drill an extra hole on the bottom horn to fit it properly which sucks.
They will be my first choice if it weren't for that weird ass pickgard.
Oh and the naked maple headstock. Raw maple headstock looks so weird on a guitar with dark body with a dark colored pickgard. At least roast it to make it darker and fit in better with the rest of the guitar. Or use a bright color pickgard.
Otherwise, Japanese quality is way better than over 4 grand American quality. I'm not Japanese so I'm not fanboying here. lol
很棒的吉他🎸，我也有一把，eos
Hello! I tried that model and the more Suhr looking one, but I found the frets too chunky at the edge of the neck. They're not sharp, but I really feel them when sliding my hand up and down the fretboard. Do you think about that at all, or is it nothing unusual?
I’ve never noticed it personally to be honest. Not when playing. I’ve just checked it out being more aware of it, I can feel them but no more than other guitars I’ve got. It’s certainly never bothered me.
@@DanLeggatt Excellent! Maybe I was a bit too aware of every little detail. I'm still thinking about getting the Suhr-y looking red one, J-standard. Thanks for your reply!
That might be the case, I hadn’t noticed it until you said to look for it 😂 As I said, it’s never personally bothered me but everyone’s preferences and feel are unique. I hope it works out for you if you go for it mate 👍
@@DanLeggatt Yeah, well, I'm only finding out about details in these last few months, after some 15 years of playing (I was a late starter, in my early 20's). Now I feel that I can handle the instrument pretty well, so I'm able to notice details. I've also watched some UA-cam on the subject, and it's interesting how I didn't know what guitar fit me, concerning the neck profile (I didn't even know that was a thing!); string height, or action (would you believe that it impacts playability?? 😄); flat fretboard or a bit of a radius... The instrument is so much more than I have though! And now I feel it too, which is great, I have a closer connection to the instrument, and I can feel the vibrations coming from it when playing. Guitar and music is pure joy for me! It'll be fun to poke around your channel some more, I like the type of content that I've seen so far.
How is the bridge? Is it floating? Can go upward or it lays on the body?
Mine is set up to float deliberately. It was floating when I purchased it new also. It’s quite easy to deck it, if floating isn’t your thing.
What volume pot 500k or 250?
The price??🙏
Depends where you are in the world. I’d recommend looking up the price from a retailer in your country 👍
799€ in Germany.
So, mod-wise, you've modified just about everything...... :-)
😂 It may sound like a lot but really, other than mechanical upgrades for ease (Locking tuners and graphite saddles) the core guitar is what it would be out of the box. Other than a few personal preference wiring tweaks the pickups are totally stock. I wouldn’t normally ‘review’ a guitar with mods but I couldn’t find many decent videos before I got this one so I wanted to get the info out there for anyone interested 👍
@@DanLeggatt I came across this brand by accident, although I knew about Fujigen I didn't know they made their own "Suhr" style strats. All of the reviews I've seen thus far have been very complimentary.