Made in Japan
A shorthand for place of manufacture. It does not prove a maker, factory, date or value on its own.
MIJ NETWORK / REFERENCE
THE
GLOSSARY.
Short explanations for the words that keep turning up in Japanese guitar research.
REFERENCE DESK / 20 TERMS
WORDS YOU’LL SEE
START
HERE.
Useful shorthand.
Room for debate.
Close copies, real craft
A loose name for the period when Japanese makers built close versions of famous American designs. Check the actual guitar rather than trusting the label.
Older, not automatically better
A sales word as much as an age description. Ask for a date, condition report and evidence before attaching value.
The paper trail
Catalogues show models, finishes, prices and changes between years. Useful evidence, but never the whole answer.
Built for another label
Original equipment manufacturer. A factory may build instruments sold under another company’s name.
The name on the headstock
The label is not always the factory. Separate who sold the guitar from who designed, ordered or built it.
One clue, not a verdict
Serial systems vary by maker and era. A number may narrow a date, but it needs to agree with the guitar’s other details.
A small clue
A date or maker mark on a control pot dates the part, not necessarily the whole instrument.
Under the neck
Stamps, pencil marks and route details can help identify a factory or model. Photograph them before cleaning.
What the wood remembers
Cavities and channels cut into the body can reveal pickup layouts, factory habits or later modifications.
A guitar assembled from clues
An instrument made from mixed or replaced parts. It can be a great player while having uncertain originality.
A changed finish
A refinish can hide original colour, stamps and wear. Look for overspray, edge lines and finish inside cavities.
Surface wood matters
A thin decorative veneer or cap is not the same as a solid carved top. Listings often blur the difference.
Joined with glue
The neck is fitted into the body and glued in place. The joint, heel shape and finish can help date or identify a model.
Joined with screws
A removable neck construction common on many Japanese designs. Neck plates, pocket shapes and shims can carry useful evidence.
Feel and measurement
The distance from nut to bridge speaking length. Measure carefully; a small difference changes feel and intonation.
First-fret room
The width across the nut. It affects hand feel and is worth recording alongside scale length.
The guitar’s story
Receipts, old photos, cases, tags and a clear ownership trail make an instrument easier to understand and trust.
What is still as-built
Separate original, period-correct, replaced and modified parts. A changed part is information, not automatically a flaw.
Show the source
A claim supported by an original catalogue, dated document, clear photograph or physical evidence that can be checked.
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When a word raises a question, take it to the topic board.