Part 2: "Fresher"—A Surprising Guitar with Built-in Effects
Following up on our previous feature on Herrby, we’d like to highlight another unique guitar this time around♪
We regularly receive a large number of used Japanese-made guitars, including Greco and Tokai, but among them, one guitar stands out in particular!!
Its name is “Fresher”!!
First off, for those of you wondering, “Fresher??”, here’s a quick summary♪
What is Fresher?
Fresher is a brand launched in 1973 by Kyowa Shokai, headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, as a sister brand to Galant. It released numerous copy models centered on Fender and Gibson styles, such as the Stratocaster (FSC), Telecaster (FT), Les Paul (FLP), and SG (FSG).
*Note: Fresher had a predecessor brand called “FRESH,” which was reportedly in production for only a few months before being replaced by Fresher.
The price range for its flagship products was in the 30,000 yen range, and even its high-end models were priced in the 40,000 to 50,000 yen range, offering an affordable lineup targeted at the youth of that era. Around the time Fresher was launched, Greco released the EG-360 in 1971, which became a huge hit!Furthermore, in 1973, Fernandes released the FST-60, and almost instantly, domestic guitar brands shifted their lineups to focus on copy models, with price points moving from the 30,000 yen range to the 50,000–60,000 yen range. Amidst these changes, Fresher—which had been releasing a lineup centered on lower-priced models—began to attract attention.
A catchphrase I came across in a magazine article from that time...
“Our job is to deliver great guitars.”
Hmm... You can really feel their conviction about guitar-making (￣～￣)"
They were among the first of their time to adopt the set-neck construction method, faithfully reproducing Fender and Gibson models. They used carefully selected materials, finishes, and parts—even down to the smallest detail—while still maintaining a low price point.
From 1973 to 1976, production of the Fresher was handled by the “Matsumoto Musical Instrument Manufacturing Cooperative,” which had its production base in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. After that, Chushin Musical Instrument Manufacturing took over production until around 1986, when the line was discontinued.
*As I researched this, I discovered that there were several different Fresher logos; the one featured here is from the early part of the third generation.
And the star of this feature—the very reason for this special—is the “Fresher Attachment Series,” a line of “guitars with built-in Effectors.”
In November 1977, Fresher announced three new models that differed from their conventional copy models. The lineup consisted of three models: the “Les Paul FLP-100,” the “Firebird FFD-100,” and the “Stratocaster FSC-100.”♪
Since Fresher’s pricing was tied to its branding—and the company primarily focused on the lower price range—setting a retail price of 100,000 yen at the time must have been a major undertaking.
Additionally, in May of that same year, Greco/Roland announced the guitar synthesizers “GR-500” and “GR-505,” and since models like Gibson’s RD and Music Man’s Stingray were being released overseas at the time, these instruments incorporating electronic features really reflect the spirit of the era♪
So, let’s take a look at
let’s take a closer look at the full picture!!
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| *Although the model number was revised to FLP-1005 in mid-1978, the specifications and features appear to have remained unchanged. | ||||||||||||||||
The wood materials consist of a one-piece mahogany neck (set-in) with a one-piece maple top and a one-piece mahogany back.
That’s a pretty luxurious spec for its time, isn’t it? ♪ As for the neck...
Nut width: approx. 44 mm, thickness (near the 1st fret): approx. 23 mm
Width at the 12th fret: approx. 52 mm, thickness: approx. 26 mm.
It felt close to a C-shape that wasn’t too thin when held. ♪
Guitar Description
Above all, the defining feature of this Les Paul-style guitar is that it comes equipped with built-in effects♪!!
It’s mounted directly on the top of the body without compromising the look♪
From the mini-switch in the upper right, between the volume and tone controls...
| the effect ON/OFF switch |
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| Finally, I tried running all the effects through a sound similar to Roland’s AP7 (Jet Phaser)!! It gets... pretty wild (lol). I wonder... if it’s actually usable?? |
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Back Side
| What does the back look like?? The cavity cover is quite large♪ |
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| This hole on the back is for adjusting the distortion output level; you adjust it using a thin flathead screwdriver or something similar♪ |
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| I actually opened it up to take a look inside♪ The circuit board isn’t mounted on the body itself, but on the back panel. |
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| Each circuit board is mounted separately. |
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| Also, the LED located below the effect’s ON/OFF switch doubles as a battery indicator. It turns on when you plug in the jack♪ |
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| By the way, it uses a 006P 9V battery♪ |
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Apparently, there was even an export catalog centered around this guitar with an Effector built-in♪
In addition to the built-in effects guitar featured in this article, Fresher offered a lineup full of playful products, including rhythm boxes, models with LEDs embedded in the side of the neck, the “X-309” series (Fresher’s first original model), optional lacquer-finished and chisel-carved finishes, various unconventional guitar shapes like the Flying V inspired by the heavy metal boom, and even guitars with built-in amplifiers♪
In addition to these, there were numerous items beyond just guitars, such as handbooks explaining maintenance and playing techniques, a free magazine called “MUSIC DOCTOR,” promotions offering free Effector cases, and even staff jackets.
Hmm… Fresher… it’s getting deeper and deeper (lol)
This guitar isn’t really meant for heavy-duty use… it’s more of a collector’s item♪
But I have a feeling that if you use this guitar on stage, you’ll definitely be the center of attention!?
In preparing this feature on the Fresher,
I decided to research it from scratch… but since there was almost no documentation available, I gathered information by browsing through catalogs and magazines from that era and surfing the web. I hope this article will be enjoyed by everyone—from Japan Vintage enthusiasts and fans of unique guitars to even those who aren’t particularly interested in guitars♪
Also, not just this Fresher model—we’re constantly receiving new shipments of used Japanese-made guitars♪
Check out our Japan Vintage inventory here!!
By the way, on a personal note…
While working on this project, I’d been thinking for a while that the shape of Effectors just screams “that’s it!!”—so I went ahead and made one♪
Inside, I crammed the circuit board, battery, and other components into a Volkswagen bus I bought at a knick-knack shop—it’s a Guyatone TZ-2 “THE FUZZ”—and it’s finished♪
See you next time for our next feature! (￣▽￣)ノ゛