The Floyd Rose-Fernandes Connection

In the very beginning, Fernandes Electric Sound Research Group Co. Ltd. of Japan (not Schaller) was the first company to commercially mass-produce the Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo. The following is a concise summary of Fernandes' connection with Floyd Rose and subsequent developments of its own guitar vibrato systems with particular emphasis on left-handed guitar production.

1981 - 1983 Genuine Floyd Rose Production

February 1981: Floyd Rose meets Fernandes representatives at the 1981 NAMM show. A contract is signed almost immediately for Fernandes to mass produce Floyd Rose's double locking guitar vibrato system which he has been handmaking and selling from his garage since the late 1970s, following its development in 1976.

Fernandes (a Japanese marketing/distribution company) outsources the actual metalwork to one or more Japanese factories, possibly including Gotoh, although no surviving documentation conclusively confirms the factories involved.

February 1981: Executives of Rockinger of Germany meet with executives of Kramer Guitars at the 1981 Frankfurt Trade Fair. Kramer decides to use the Rockinger True Tune Tremolo for its guitars. The Rockinger TTT is made in Germany and was developed with fine tuners to solve the common complaint with the Floyd Rose vibrato unit where one has to otherwise unclamp, retune, and reclamp mid performance.

Late 1981: Fernandes begins supplying complete units and parts, manufactured in Japan and shipped to Floyd Rose in the United States. When the first version (FRT-1) is revised (FRT-3), Rose supplies wax patterns to Fernandes so they can produce the revised units using the lost-wax casting process.

February 1982: Dennis Berrardi, CEO of Kramer is on his way to the 1982 Winter NAMM show in California and is on the same flight as one of Eddie Van Halen's gear managers. A meeting between he and Eddie Van Halen is arranged. Discussions lead to interest in Eddie Van Halen coming on board with Kramer.

February 1982: Floyd Rose meets Kramer executives at the 1982 Winter NAMM show. They are interested in Rose's tremolo as a replacement for the Rockinger Tru Tune Tremolo which has been Kramer's premier vibrato system since 1981.

Early 1982: Eddie Van Halen has been using the original Rose tremolo since 1979 but is not happy with having to unlock the nut to retune mid-performance. He has also been using the Rockinger TTT which has fine tuners. Van Halen suggests Rose add fine tuners to his.

Early 1982: Development begins on the first fine-tuner-equipped Floyd Rose, using a bent baseplate (L-shape) to mount vertical tuners⁷. Fernandes produces prototypes. Rose assembles or modifies some personally, sometimes using a mix of U.S and Japanese parts.

March 15, 1982: Floyd Rose files a patent for the fine-tuning mechanism.

Mid-1982: Approximately 25 prototypes are distributed to artists including Eddie Van Halen, K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), and Steve Lukather (Toto). K.K. Downing receives a gold Japanese prototype.

Mid-1982: (date unknown) Rockinger executives attend the opening party of Musicians Place in Hannover Germany and hear a rumor that Kramer is dumping them for Floyd Rose. They fly to the USA to find out if it is true, meet with Kramer executives who try to downplay the whole thing. In the same trip, they meet with Eddie Van Halen and present him with a Rockinger guitar fitted with the Rockinger TTT.

June 1982: Floyd Rose presents the new fine-tuner tremolo at the 1982 NAMM International Music & Sound Expo in Atlanta and pitches it to Kramer.

July 1982: As confirmed in photographs and concert footage, Eddie Van Halen performs live with a gold vertical fine-tuner Floyd Rose prototype installed on his "Frankenstrat" guitar during the Hide Your Sheep Tour.

Based on live use, Eddie Van Halen reports that the fine tuners interfere with his playing and suggests putting the tail at an angle to reposition them further back.

August~September 1982: Floyd Rose and Fernandes develop a revised version of the fine-tuner tremolo with an angled tail to accommodate this change; updated prototypes are produced and tested.

September 1982: The first angled-tail double-locking tremolo prototype is used by Edde Van Halen on his "Rasta" (Unchained) guitar.

October 1982: Eddie Van Halen visits the Kramer factory in Neptune, New Jersey, while on a break from the tour. He installs the prototype from his Rasta guitar onto his Frankenstrat guitar. This guitar is then featured in Kramer ads.

October 1982: Eddie Van Halen moves toward a formal relationship with Kramer during the ongoing tour.

November-December 1982: Eddie Van Halen replaces the first angled-tail prototype on his Frankenstrat guitar with a second angled-tail prototype and tests it in live use during the final months of the tour. There are some small visual differences between the two.

Late 1982: Production of the vertical fine-tuner tremolo continues in Japan as the Floyd Rose FRT-4 (metric, cast construction.) It is embossed with "Floyd Rose" on the baseplate.

1983 - 1985: Floyd Rose partners with Kramer, Kramer shifts production from Japan to Germany

Early 1983: Floyd Rose formalizes his partnership with Kramer Guitars.

During this early period, Floyd Rose tremolos were effectively exclusive to Kramer production guitars in the United States.

Kramer, already a major user of Schaller hardware, chooses Schaller in Germany to manufacture the new angled-tail design, displacing Fernandes from U.S. supply despite the existing contract.

According to a former Fernandes employee, the company may not have been informed in advance of this transition. Considering Kramer pulled the same stunt on Rockinger, it seems quite likely.

March 1983: Although it never made it past prototype in the United States, Fernandes publishes its 1983 catalog in Japan, featuring the vertical fine-tuner FRT-4 as its premier Floyd Rose system, fitted to the FST-155 and FST-135 superstrats. Magazine ads follow.

March 1983: Kramer commissions Hansen Metalworks to produce an interim run of approximately 800 angled-tail units for Kramer's new 1983 lineup, while Schaller prepares for full-scale production.

The angled tail is achieved by bending the steel of the baseplace at a 25 degree angle. The end result is a slightly curved-back tail with oval arches between where the forks meet the top of the tail, differing from the later hard-angled cast Schaller version.

Eddie Van Halen fits the Hansen units on his "5150" and "Frankenstrat" guitars.

May 1983. Four months after the South American leg of the Hide Your Sheep tour Eddie Van Halen is interviewed by Music UK magazine. He says that he is no longer using the Rockinger and "... the Floyd Rose is going to be made by Schaller."

July 1983: In Japan, ESP releases a Japanese-made angled-tail, fine-tuner tremolo unit as the "ESP Magician." It is advertised in the July 1983 edition of Young Guitar magazine and is used on ESP Custom guitars as well as sold to the Japanese public as a boxed kit. It is the same design as the Hansen Metalworks version with bent-steel construction, swept-back tail, and oval cutouts, but with metric screws. (ESP is in Kramer's OEM supply chain, supplying Kramer with necks, bodies, and whole guitars.)

August 1983: The "ESP Magician" is again advertised in ESP's August 1983 Export Catalog as a boxed kit or factory option for ESP Custom Shop models. 

August~September 1983: Schaller begins full-scale manufacturing of Floyd Rose tremolos for Kramer.

September 1983: ESP abruptly stops advertising the ESP Magician.

End of 1983: (According to a former Fernandes employee) Fernandes learns of the Schaller double-locking tremolo with angled tail and fine tuners. Production of the FRT-4 ceases.

January 1984: Fernandes hastily publishes its 1984 catalog. (Catalogs are usually published in the final few months of the previous year.) It advertises the new "imported Floyd Rose" unit made by Schaller as the "Floyd Rose FRT-5," but the product page is actually word-for-word the Japanese FRT-4 product page from the year before, just with new photos.

1984: Kramer restricts Fernandes-produced Floyd Rose units to the Japanese domestic market.

1984: Schaller-produced units are used across Kramer’s U.S. and international production, including the Focus Series, which are fully built in Japan by ESP.

1984: Fernandes goes a whole catalog year without a counterpart to the Schaller FRT-5.

Late 1984: Fernandes draws from the same OEM supply chain that produced the ESP Magician and releases an identical version of it as the Floyd Rose FRT-7³¹. A string-through version is also produced as the Head Crasher FRT-6.

November 1984: The Floyd Rose FRT-7 and Head Crasher FRT-6 first appear in Volume 1 of the 1985 Fernandes catalog, published in November 1984.

1985: Fernandes sells both German and Japanese units as boxed kits and uses only the Japanese version on Fernandes guitars. The Japanese version is priced to undercut the German version. According to a former Fernandes employee, sales of the FRT-7 "went through the roof."

4 February 1985: Floyd Rose files for a further patent for the broader locking tremolo system on February 4, 1985.

5 February 1985: The patent Floyd Rose filed for Fine Tuners (March 15, 1982) is awarded as U.S. Patent No. 4,497,236 on February 5, 1985.

1985: Kawai is the primary factory that is manufacturing Fernandes guitars (L serials.) It also uses the Head Crasher FRT-6 on some of its own Rockoon-branded superstrats, even retaining the "Head Crasher" name. Rockoon guitars are available left-handed by special order with a 100-day turnaround and a 20% upcharge.

October 29, 1985: The patent applied for on February 4, 1985, is awarded as U.S. Patent No. 4,549,461 on October 29, 1985.

1985: (Month unknown.) The contract between Fernandes and Floyd Rose ends. Production transitions from genuine Floyd Rose units to licensed systems.

1986–1994: Post-Contract Proprietary Developments

January 1986: Fernandes rebrands their entire tremolo range to Head Crasher Tremolo System and presents an expanded product range in the 1986 guitar catalog, published in January. The Floyd Rose FRT-7 is renamed Head Crasher FRT-4 (second use of the FRT-4 name) and now has the '236 patent number displayed on the baseplate. The original FRT-7 gains a Floating Lock System whereby the bridge fits into a carriage that, by rotating the tremolo arm 90 degrees, locks the bridge from floating to fixed. This becomes the new FRT-7. It also displays the '236 patent number.

January 1986: Fernandes introduces the "Body Crasher" FRT-8 tremolo in the 1986 catalog. The design is actually a shared OEM unit first used by Fresher Guitars and Kawai in 1985. The Fresher version is called "Sound Crasher." The Kawai version is called "Rockoon Roller." Yamaha and Aria Pro II also feature it in their 1986 lineups as "RMX" (Yamaha) and "ART-2" (Aria Pro II). It has no licensing statement.

1987: Fernandes rebrands its entire range again, this time to FRT Tremolo System. The FRT-4 gains the front saddle blocks of Fernandes' own Head Crasher FRT-6. Fernandes adds saddle height adjustment to the original FRT-7/new FRT-4 and releases it as the Head Crasher FRT-5 (second use of the FRT-5 name.) The Floating Lock System from the original FRT-7 is transferred to the new FRT-5 and are together marketed as the new FRT-7. The '236 patent number is again displayed on their base plates.

1987: With Matsumoku closing in February, Burny production shifts to Dyna Gakki.

1988: Fernandes designs and produces arguably the most advanced Floyd Rose-style tremolo of its era: the new FRT-4. (Third use of the FRT-4 name.) It has horizontal fine tuners. Fernandes also releases a version with saddle height adjustment as the new FRT-5. (Third use of the FRT-5 name.) Both are made in Korea. The horizontal tuners are the same design as the Jackson JT-6, released the year before. While the JT-6 has "Licensed Under Floyd Rose Patents" on it, the Fernandes version has no acknowledgement of Floyd Rose patents.

March 1988: The new FRT-4 and FRT-5 debut in Volume 2 of the 1988 Fernandes catalog, published in March 1988.

1988: ESP uses Fernandes’ updated FRT-4 (1986 design) without branding, designating it “KLK-I,” on the 1988 Japan-only Kramer Japan EK Series. An unbranded variant of the Head Crasher FRT-6 is used on the companion LK Series, designated “KLK-II.” The only difference is the saddles. Some Greco guitars are also built with the KLK-II (none left-handed).

1988-1989: Fernandes begins shifting some export‑market and entry‑level models to Korean OEM factories such as Saehan Guitar Technology. U.S. brand Vester also uses Saehan. Export versions of the 1988 Fernandes ST-40 and 1989–1990 SSH-40 are sold in the U.S. and Europe as the Vester Maniac. Japanese market models continue via Kawai (L serials) or Fujigen (F serials).

October 1989. The Body Crasher FRT-8 gets a redesign and is now made in Korea. It first appears in Volume 2 of the 1989 catalog, published in October 1989. This version is uniquely a Fernandes product now.

October 1989: Only the FRT-4 and FRT-8 are featured on FRT-equipped guitars, despite the catalog still advertising the FRT-5, FRT-6 and FRT-7 as part of the "FRT Tremolo System.

October 1989: Fernandes releases the SSH-38 in Volume 2 of the 1989 catalog. Aside from slight finish and hardware colour variations, it is identical to the Volume 1 SSH-40 but Korean-made and lower priced.

1989: Fernandes starts incorporating the Sustainiac system licensed from Maniac Music in the USA on some guitars in the FR Revolver series, as the FRS series.

1989-1990: Ironically, in the United States, Floyd Rose sues Kramer for unpaid royalties and wins the case. Combined with huge debts to ESP and other poor marketing decisions, Kramer enters bankruptcy proceedings.

January 1991: Fender becomes the new exclusive distributor of Floyd Rose products.

1992: Fernandes opens an office in the United States, which eventually becomes a custom shop. The U.S operation has its own say on what guitars it wants, what specs, and whether there will be lefty models. As a result, some North American models are different from their Japanese equivalents.

February 1992: Fernandes introduces its own version of a Sustainer system called the FER. Sustainer, in Volume 1 of the 1992 catalog, published in February. There are 5 Japanese and 3 U.S patents pending. It is introduced on several models in the FR Revolver series. It replaces the OEM-supplied Sustainiac system.

March 1993: The FER Sustainer is now called "Fernandes Sustainer." It continues to be featured on several models in the FR Revolver series, as shown in the catalog published in March.

March 1993: Advertising ceases for the FRT-5, FRT-6, and FRT-7. The FRT-4 and FRT-8 continue to be the only FRT tremolos used on Fernandes and Burny guitars.

1993: Entry-level guitar production is close to being fully transitioned to Korean manufacturing while the FST and FR Series, which utilize the FRT Tremolo System, continue to be built in Japan. Export models that are available left-handed include the LE-2L, a modernized Stratocaster. This model is not advertised in Japan.

1994–1997: Proprietary tremolos discontinued

January 1994: Fernandes starts fitting its refreshed FR superstrat series with the licensed Takeuchi TRS-PRO. It is designated FRT5-PRO-TRS. It is used across entire FR and FST range.

1994: The FRT-8 undergoes a name change to FRT8-PRO.

1995: Fernandes publishes English catalogs for the U.S market with slightly different product names, eg, FR Series in Japan = AFR Series in USA. Burny H-Series in Japan is called Fernandes "Vertigo" in USA. A PRS-style range is released via the U.S operation as the APG Series. Stratocaster-style models not advertised in Japan domestic market are sold in export markets as the LE series, but with the headstock of the FR series (prompted by Fender legal threat.)

1995: Japanese catalogs start to feature USA models in a new section "Fernandes Guitars USA." These models are positioned as a premium range. The blurb says: "The 'U.S.A. Custom Shop' was originally established in Los Angeles for the purpose of musician support and new product development. In 1992, it added a sales section and had a renewal opening as 'FERNANDES GUITARS U.S.A.' > Product planning is carried out to match the American and European markets and to respond to requests from musicians. The 'U.S.A. Custom Series' is a lineup produced from this worldwide approach." In reality they are made in Japan by Tokai and Dyna.

1996: Despite being a superior double-locking tremolo, the Fernandes FRT-4 is discontinued, along with its FRT-5 sibling.

1997: The FRT8-PRO is discontinued.

1997–2024: Licensed Tremolos Only

1997: Higher-end Japanese-made models are now fitted with the Gotoh GE1996T supplied as an OEM product, branded as "Fernandes" with the model number FRT-10.

1997: Fernandes introduces the Schaller Licensed Floyd Rose tremolo on some models. It is designed SFRT-2.

1998: The U.S. APG (PRS-style) series is integrated into the standard Japanese lineup with no reference to or mention of its U.S. provenance. In export markets, the model undergoes a name change to "Dragonfly." The AFR Series disappears from the Japan catalog, as it is really just the FR Series anyway.

1999: The U.S Fernandes 25th Anniversary catalog explicitly states that the Vertigo (H-Series in Japan) and Native are available left-handed. These are one-year-only offerings, with the Vertigo available only in Dark Green, and the Native available only in Black or Silver finishes. Neither are available left-handed in Japan.

1999: The FR series is renamed "Revolver" series for export markets and reduced to two model variations.

2000: The Fernandes-branded Takeuchi TRS-PRO is discontinued and replaced with an OEM-supplied GE1996T clone by Ping Well in Taiwan, branded as "Fernandes" and designated FRT-11.

2000: Entry-level production shifts to China (Yako factory) including the lower-end FR Series.

2000: Fernandes introduces a formal and broad Custom Order System. Although it does not explicitly state that the system also applies to left-handed guitars, non-listed left-handed guitars are made through this system. Surviving examples from the first few years of the system indicate that they only accepted orders for FR or FGZ models.

2001: The Fernandes FR-48 is the last catalogued production left-handed guitar built with an FRT Tremolo system. It is one of the listed LH models in the January 2001 catalog, but is deleted from the October 2001 catalog.

2002: Most Fernandes guitars are fully made in China except for limited domestic runs.

2002 - 2003: U.S and International markets get the Revolver Pro which comes with a single EMG HZ pickup and the Fernandes Sustainer Lite (1 switch) system. It is also available left-handed. The Revolver series is the next iteration of the Japanese FR series for export markets.

2003: Fernandes lists a Hisashi Imai signature model as a production left-handed guitar in the 2003 catalog. Imai is a very famous Japanese lefty guitarist. This guitar is quite bizarre with limited appeal to anyone other than a fan, but it is fitted with a Schaller Licensed Tremolo.

2004: U.S and International markets get the revised Revolver Pro (2 switch) with Active EMG pickups and full Sustainer. 2004 and 2005 verifiable left-handed examples exist.

2005: The official Custom Order System page is dropped from Japanese catalogs, but the system continues.

2002 - 2024. Fernandes and Burny guitars made in China have serial numbers that begin with "FG" followed by the last two numbers of year of manufacture, followed by a factory production run number. (Note, later entry-level builds have "FER" prefix denoting "export market."

2005 - 2010 Any and all mention of left-handed guitars vanishes from Japanese and international Fernandes catalogs.

2010 - 2012. Three Hisashi Imai Signature models feature in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Japanese catalogs with left-handed options. All three were available in 2010 and 2011, and two of the three models were available in 2012 (none are FRT.)

2005 - 2024 Fernandes and Burny models are otherwise produced sporadically in "spot runs" initiated by Japanese retailers, or as one-offs, or in small runs for export markets. Most are made in China with some additional production occurring in Vietnam in 2011 and 2012. Surviving examples are a mish mash of models suggesting a high degree of ad hoc production. Examples of export market models include this left-handed Vertigo made in 2005 with serial number FG050442. There are documented models of various Fernandes and Burny guitars and basses made in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2015. Others include this Burny RLC-60 (year?) and this Burny RLC-55 from 2018 with serial number FG18030167. Here is a left-handed Fernandes bass made in 2019.

2014: Fernandes U.S. custom shop quietly fizzles out.

April 26, 2023: Osaka Fernandes Co. Ltd, the wholesale and distribution company for Fernandes Co. Ltd. files for bankruptcy

July 9, 2024: Fernandes Co. Ltd. ceased operations and moved toward bankruptcy proceedings. Official reports state that as of the fiscal year ending January 2024, Fernandes Guitars had accumulated 433.89 million yen in debt. The company’s revenue, which peaked at 4 billion yen in 1999, plummeted to just 166.08 million yen by January 2022, with a final deficit of 24.14 million yen.

2024: Gotoh GE1996T remains on the last Japanese-built FRT-equipped models until Fernandes closes its doors in July 2024

2026: Author's note: In my personal, years-long exhaustive research of this subject, I have never found a Reverb, Yahoo Japan, Mercari, or Worthpoint listing for any left-handed Fernandes guitar with any FRT Tremolo System built after 2005. (Note that Reverb has been going since 2013.)

Fernandes Left-Handed Guitar Production - with Floyd Rose / Fernandes FRT Tremolo Systems 1982 - 2024

Note: Years showing “–” in both Production and Custom columns indicate that no left-handed guitars were offered with the listed tremolo, even if the tremolo appeared in the catalog that year.

Year(s)	LH Production (Batch)	LH Custom Order only / Spot	Tremolo System
1982	–	FST‑90TH, FST‑70TH, FST‑70TH‑C, ST-130, EX-145, FV-135, ST-135VH (Eddie Van Halen, Musician's Limited Series), LG-135NS (Neal Schon, Musician's Limited Series)	Floyd Rose FRT-1¹
1983	–	FST-115, FST-120H, ST-120, ST-130, ST-160, EX-145	Floyd Rose FRT-3¹
1983	–	FST-95, FST-80, FST-75, FST-90H, EX-95	Fernandes Head Banker FRT-2²
1983	–	FST-155	Floyd Rose FRT-4¹ (Japanese production version)
1983	–	FST-135	Floyd Rose FRT-4¹ (Japanese production version)
1983	–	FV-135	Floyd Rose FRT-4¹ (Japanese production version)
1984	–	FST-155	Floyd Rose FRT-5¹ (Schaller)
1984	–	FST-135	Floyd Rose FRT-5¹ (Schaller)
1984	FST-85	–	Floyd Rose FRT-3¹
1984	FST-80	–	Floyd Rose FRT-3¹
1984	FST-65	–	Fernandes Head Banker FRT-2²
1984	–	BSV‑90	Floyd Rose FRT-3¹
1984	–	BSV-70	Fernandes Head Banker FRT-2²
1984	–	EX‑100	Floyd Rose FRT-3¹
1984	–	EX-85	Fernandes Head Banker FRT-2²
1985	FST-65	–	Fernandes Head Crasher FRT-6²
1985	BSV-60	–	Fernandes Head Banker FRT-2²
1985	–	FST-90	Japanese Floyd Rose FRT-7²
1985	–	FST-85	Japanese Floyd Rose FRT-7²
1985	–	FST-75	Floyd Rose FRT-3¹
1985	–	BSV-90	Japanese Floyd Rose FRT-7²
1985	–	BSV-70	Fernandes Head Crasher FRT-6²
1986	FST-65	–	Head Crasher FRT-6²
1986	FR-55	–	Body Crasher FRT-8²
1986	BSV-60	–	Body Crasher FRT-8²
1986	BX-60	–	Body Crasher FRT-8²
1987	FST-65	–	Head Crasher FRT-4²
1987	FR-65	–	Head Crasher FRT-4²
1987	FR-55	–	Body Crasher FRT-8²
1988	FST-65	–	Head Crasher FRT-4²
1988	FR-55	–	Body Crasher FRT-8²
1988	FR-65	–	Head Crasher FRT-4²
1988	FR-55T	–	Body Crasher FRT-8²
1989	FST-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1989	FST-55	–	FRT-8²
1989	FR-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1989	FR-55	–	FRT-8²
1989	FR-55T	–	FRT-8²
1989	FR-55X	–	FRT-8²
1989	FR-50X	–	FRT-8²
1989	FR-50	–	FRT-8²
1990	FR-50X	–	FRT-8²
1990	FR-50	–	FRT-8²
1991	FR-55	–	FRT-8²
1991	FR-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1992	FST-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1992	FR-55	–	FRT-8²
1992	FR-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1993	FST-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1993	FR-55	–	FRT-8²
1993	FR-65	–	New FRT-4 (Horizontal fine tuners)²
1994	FR-55	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1994	FR-65	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1995	FR-55	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1995	FR-65	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1996	FR-55	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1996	FR-65	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1997	FR-55	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1998	FR-55	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
1999	FR-55	–	FRT-5-PRO-TRS³
2000	FR-55	–	FRT-11⁴
2001	FR-48	–	FRT-11⁴
2001	–	FR-55S	FRT-11⁴
2001	–	FGZ-550S	FRT-11⁴
2002	–	Custom LH models	FRT-11⁴
2002	(Export market) Revolver Pro	–	FRT-11⁴
2003	(Export market) Revolver Pro	–	FRT-11⁴
2003	Hisashi Imai "Stabilizer"	–	SFRT-II⁵
2003	–	FR-55S	FRT-11⁴
2004	–	FR-55S	FRT-11⁴
2004	Hisashi Imai "Stabilizer"	–	SFRT-II⁵
2004	Revolver Pro (Export market)	–	FRT-11⁴
2005 ( - 2010?)	Revolver Pro (Export market)	–	FRT-11⁴
2005–2024	Export models (non-FRT)	Spot/Custom LH models	–

Classification Legend

¹ Genuine Floyd Rose (licensed production under Floyd Rose contract)

² Fernandes proprietary design (Japan domestic manufacture)

³ OEM – Takeuchi (Japan)

⁴ OEM – Ping Well (Taiwan)

⁵ OEM – Schaller (Germany)

Fernandes Policy on Left-Handed Guitar Ordering

Years	Japanese (original)	English translation
1980 and 1981 (before Floyd Rose contract)	●サウスポーギター 左用ギターは、常時生産していませんので機種に よっては、在庫のない場合があります。オーダー の場合は、約3ヶ月の納期が必要で、価格は定価 の20%アップとなっています。なお、FPB-40、BO-50、BO-60、FMT-50、およびこのカタログ にない機種の左用オーダーは受付けていません。あらかじめご了承お願いします	● Left-handed guitars Left-handed models are not in constant production, so depending on the model, they may not be in stock. If ordered, a lead time of approximately three months is required, and the price will be 20% higher than the list price. Please note that orders for left-handed versions of the FPB-40, BO-50, BO-60, FMT-50, and any models not listed in this catalog are not accepted. Thank you for your understanding.
1982 (Page 19 of catalog)	③サウスポーギター 左用は常時生産していませんので器種によっては在庫のない場合があります。新たにオーダーする場合は、約3ヶ月〜4ヶ月の納期が基本となっています。価格は本体価格の20%アップとなっています。 （注）左用の場合は、パーツの関係上基準仕様のパーツとは異なる場合もありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。	③ Left‑hand Guitars Left-handed models are not in constant production, so depending on the specific model, they may not be in stock. If you place a new order, the standard lead time for delivery is about 3 to 4 months. The price is 20% higher than the base price of the instrument. (Note): Due to parts supply constraints, some components on left-handed models may differ from standard specifications. We appreciate your understanding.
1982	④ 購入後、加工を要さないパーツ変更 ピックガードやツマミ、ブリッジ、ペグなどの変更はご希望のパーツを購入していただきます。フェルナンデス・リペアサービスでパーツ交換する場合は、技術料金をいただくこともあります。なお、パーツが新品の場合でも、下取りはいたしません。 ⑤ 購入後、木工加工及びその他の加工を要するパーツ変更 シングルコイルピックアップをハムバッキングピックアップに変更したり、回路変更などの場合です。料金は内容により異なります。フェルナンデス・リペアサービスにご相談ください。ピックアップが新品の場合でも下取りはいたしません。	④ After purchase, parts changes that do not require modification For changes to parts such as the pickguard, knobs, bridge, or tuners, you will need to purchase the desired replacement parts yourself. When parts are replaced by Fernandes Repair Service, a service fee may be charged. Even if the [replaced] parts are brand‑new, we do not accept them as trade‑ins. ⑤ After purchase, parts changes that require woodworking or other processing This applies to cases such as changing a single-coil pickup to a humbucking pickup or modifying the circuitry. Fees vary depending on the nature of the work. Please consult Fernandes Repair Service. Even if the pickup is brand new, it will not be accepted as a trade-in.
1983 (Page 38 of catalog) 1984 (Page 46 of catalog)	③サウスポーギター 左用は常時生産していませんので器種によっては在庫のない場合があります。新たにオーダーする場合は、約3ヶ月〜4ヶ月の納期が基本となっています。価格は本体価格の20%アップとなっています。 <注> 左用の場合は、パーツの関係上、標準仕様のパーツと異なる場合がありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。 ●印のものは生産していますが、常時生産しておりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。その場合、約3ヶ月～4ヶ月の納期が基本となっています。定価の20%アップになります。 ―印のものはオーダーできません。 無印のもの はオーダーできますが、特注となり、納期は4ヶ月～5ヶ月が基本となります。定価の20%アップになります。	③ Left-Handed Guitars Left-handed models are not in constant production, so depending on the model, they may be out of stock. When placing a new order, the standard lead time is approximately 3–4 months. The price is 20% higher than the list price. <Note>: For left-handed models, due to parts constraints, some components will vary from standard specifications. We appreciate your understanding. Items marked with ● are produced but not on a continuous basis, so availability will vary depending on the model. In such cases, the standard lead time is approximately 3–4 months, and the price is 20% higher than the list price. Items marked with ― cannot be ordered. Unmarked items are accepted for ordering, but they are treated as special orders. The standard lead time is 4–5 months, and the price is 20% higher than the list price.
1985	③サウスポーギターについて ●印のもの は、ロット生産していますが、常時生産しておりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。その場合は、約3ヶ月-4ヶ月の納期が必要となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップになります。 ▲印のもの は、ロット生産していませんが、特注で受付できます。その場合納期は、約3ヶ月-4ヶ月以上の納期が必要となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップになります。 ×印のもの は、オーダーを受付けていません。 無印のものもオーダーを受付けておりますが、新たな治具が必要となる場合がありますので納期及び料金は、機種によって異なりますのでご注文以前にご確認ください。	③ Regarding Left-Handed Guitars Items marked with ● are produced in lot runs but not continuously, so depending on the model, there may be no stock available. In that case, a delivery time of approximately 3–4 months is required. Please note that the price is 20% higher than the standard list price. Items marked with ▲ are not produced in lot runs but can be accepted as special orders. The lead time is about 3–4 months but may be longer. A 20% surcharge is added to the instrument's list price. Items marked with × are not accepted for ordering. Items with no mark [left blank] are also accepted for ordering, but since new jigs or tooling may be required, lead times and costs may vary depending on the model, so please confirm these details before placing your order.
1986 (Vol. 1) (Page 71 of catalog)	① サウスポーギターについて ●印のもの／ロット生産していますが、常時在庫しておりませんので、機種によっては品切れの場合があります。その場合は、約3ヶ月〜4ヶ月の納期となります。定価は本体定価の20%アップになります。 ▲印のもの／ロット生産していませんが、特注で受付できます。また、新たな治具が必要な場合がありますので、納期は製品の種類や形態によって異なります。ご注文以前にご確認ください。 （注）空白の欄のものは受け付けておりません。 ●左利きMODELについて／メーカー仕様と若干異なる場合がありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。	① Regarding Left-Handed Guitars Models marked with ● are produced in lot runs but not always kept in stock, therefore some models may be sold out. In such cases, the lead time is about 3–4 months. Please note that the price is 20% higher than the standard list price. Models marked with ▲ are not produced in lot runs but can be accepted as special orders. Additionally, since new jigs/tooling may be required, lead times and costs may vary depending on the model and its design. Please confirm these details before ordering. (Note) Items with no marking [blank entries] are not accepted for ordering. ● Please note in advance that for left‑handed models, some parts used may differ slightly from standard specifications.
1987 -1990 (usually Page 71 of catalog)	② サウスポーギターについて ●印のもの／ロット生産していますが、常時生産して おりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合が あります。その場合は、約3ヶ月-4ヶ月の納期が必要 となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップになります。 ＜注＞空白の欄のものは受付けておりません。 ●左用はMODELによってパーツ仕様が若干異なる場合がありますので、あらかじめご了承ください。	② Regarding Left-Handed Guitars Items marked with a ● are produced in lot runs but are not part of regular production, so depending on the model, they may not be in stock. In such cases, a lead time of approximately 3–4 months is required. The price is 20% higher than the standard list price. Note: Items with blank fields are not accepted for ordering. Please note that for left-handed models, parts specifications may vary slightly depending on the MODEL.
1991 - 2004 (list usually on last page of catalog)	● サウスポーギターについて 下記の機種については、左用の生産をしております。ただし、常時生産はしておりませんので、機種によっては在庫のない場合があります。その場合、目安として約3ヶ月〜4ヶ月の納期が必要となります。定価は、本体定価の20％アップです。	■ Regarding Left-Handed Guitars We produce left-handed versions only for the specific models listed below. However, these are not manufactured continuously, so depending on the model, there may be no stock. In such cases, please allow about 3–4 months for delivery. Additionally, the price is 20% higher than the instrument’s list price.
1991 - 2024	ギター購入前 木工加工を必要としないパーツの変更 基本的には、一本単位の特注となりますので、見積金額を確認の上、オーダーをしていただくようお願いいたします。 ギター購入後 木工加工を必要とするパーツの変更 シングルP.U.をハムバッキングP.U.に変更したり、回路変更などの場合、内容により料金が異なります。フェルナンデス・リペアサービスにご相談ください。なお、購入後の場合パーツが新品でも下取りはいたしておりません。 木工加工を必要としないパーツの変更 ピックガードやノブ、ブリッジ、ペグなどパーツの変更は、ご希望パーツを購入していただきます。フェルナンデス・リペアサービスがパーツ交換する場合は、技術料金が必要となります。なお、パーツが新品の場合でも、下取りはいたしておりません。	Before Guitar Purchase Parts changes that do not require woodworking modifications In principle, these are treated as custom orders on a per-instrument basis. Please confirm the quoted price before placing your order. After Guitar Purchase Parts changes that require woodworking modifications For changes such as changing a single-coil pickup to a humbucking pickup or modifying the circuitry, the fee varies depending on the work involved. Please consult Fernandes Repair Service. Note: In the case of post-purchase changes, we do not accept trade-ins, even if the parts are new. Parts changes that do not require woodworking modifications For changes to parts such as pickguards, knobs, bridges, or tuners, you must purchase the desired parts yourself. If Fernandes Repair Service performs the part replacement, a service fee will be charged. Note: Even if the parts are new, we do not accept them as trade-ins.
2000- 2024	Custom Order System 御見積り まず、オーダー内容を詳しく伺って仕様を決定していくことから始まります。使用するパーツや加工内容によって価格が変わってきますので、オーダー・シートに仕様を書き込んで下さい。オーダー・シートは最寄りの楽器店で受け取ることができます。主な項目は以下の通りです。（楽器店を通しての御連絡となります） ボディー・ヘッドシェイプ 本カタログに掲載されている商品で、ミュージシャン・モデルを除く全てのものが対象です。 ＊なお、オリジナル・シェイプ、スケール（弦長）、ネックジョイント方法等の変更は承っておりません。 --- some information omitted --- セットアップ サスティナー取り付け、特殊配線、パーツ・セッティング等について、ご希望の内容を記入してください。 全てのスペックが決定された後、楽器店を通して具体的な価格を御連絡いたします。御見積りは何度でも無料です。また、ご不明な点や特にこだわりたいポイント等ございましたら、弊社スタッフまでお気軽にお問い合わせ下さい。 ② 発注・製作 ●御見積り内容がまとまり、御確認いただいたのちに楽器店を通しての発注となります。 ●納期は発注後4ヶ月から6ヶ月程度で、内容によっては多少の遅れが生じる場合がございますが、ご了承下さい。 ●製作途中のスペック変更は、進行状況によっては不可能な場合があります。 ＊発注後のキャンセルについては、お受け致しかねます。	Custom Order System Estimate First, we start by discussing the details of your order to determine the specifications. Prices vary depending on the parts used and modifications required, so please fill out the order sheet with your specs. You can obtain the order sheet from your nearest musical instrument store. The main items are listed below. (All communication will be handled through the music store.) Body & Headstock All items listed in this catalog are eligible, with the exception of Artist/Musician models. * Please note that we do not accept changes to original shapes, scale length, or neck joint methods. --- some information omitted --- Setup Please fill in your desired details regarding Sustainer installation, special wiring, hardware setup, etc. Once all specifications are finalized, we will inform you of the exact price through the musical instrument store. Estimates are free of charge, no matter how many times you request one. Also, if you have any questions or specific preferences, please feel free to contact our staff. ② Ordering & Production ● Once the estimate details are finalized and confirmed by you, the order will be placed through the musical instrument store. ● Delivery time is approximately 4–6 months after ordering. Please understand that slight delays may occur depending on the order details. ● Changes to specifications during production may not be possible depending on the progress of the work. * We cannot accept cancellations after an order has been placed.