If you’ve been in the guitar world for a while, chances are you’ve heard of Fernandes Guitars—or maybe you even owned one. Look at this gorgeous Fernandes FR-55 MTV guitar of mine:
Whether it was a Strat-style copy, a Burny Les Paul, or their famous Sustainer-equipped axes, Fernandes was once a serious player in the global guitar scene. But what happened to them? Where did they go? Let’s take a walk down memory lane and unpack the rise—and quiet fall—of this iconic Japanese brand.
Fernandes Brief History
Fernandes started out in Japan back in 1969, originally as a flamenco and classical guitar manufacturer. But by the 1970s, they shifted gears and dove into electric guitars just as rock was booming. They gained attention for making incredibly well-built copies of American classics—Strats, Teles, and especially Gibson Les Pauls under the Burny brand.
The craftsmanship was solid. Fernandes guitars made in Japan during the ’70s and ’80s were known for their attention to detail, great necks, and sometimes even better build quality than the originals they were mimicking.
And let’s not forget their Sustainer system—a built-in, controlled feedback device that allowed infinite sustain without cranking your amp. It was ahead of its time and used by guitarists like The Edge (U2), Steve Vai, and Robert Fripp (King Crimson). Fernandes had tech that no one else did.
Global Expansion then… Decline
By the late ’80s and early ’90s, Fernandes had become a global name. They had offices in Los Angeles and began producing guitars outside of Japan (notably in Korea and China) to keep costs down for the export market.
The U.S. division marketed unique designs like the Vertigo, Ravelle, and Monterey, and even signed some cool artists like Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (remember his black Strat with stickers?) and Brad Gillis of Night Ranger.
But somewhere along the way—maybe in the 2010s—the brand started to lose momentum. New models stopped coming out. Distribution got spotty. Support became non-existent. Their U.S. website disappeared. And customers started asking, “Is Fernandes still in business?”
By the way, I feel so overwhelmed by this event since I am Fernandes guitar fans. I am still showing off this Fernandes FR-55 MTV guitar video to friends:
Turns out, the company never made a formal announcement—but they quietly stopped producing new guitars in many markets. The original Japanese branch still exists in some form, mostly selling accessories and parts, but the guitar side of Fernandes seems pretty much done.
There’s no official story why Fernandes Shut Down, but a few reasons seem likely:
Intense competition – Brands like Ibanez, ESP, and Schecter dominated the mid-range and high-end Japanese market. Fernandes couldn’t keep up.
Lack of innovation – Aside from the Sustainer, Fernandes didn’t evolve their product line much in the 2000s. Some say their designs began to feel outdated BUT, I have disagree. Their designs are pretty, eternal and still scream wonderful tones:
Poor global marketing – Unlike other Japanese brands, Fernandes struggled to build a consistent international presence, especially online.
Factory outsourcing – Moving some production out of Japan led to quality inconsistencies, which hurt their reputation. But, so far I collected theirs, those guitars are still superior in their price range.
Are Fernandes Guitars Still Worth Buying?
Absolutely—especially the older Japanese-made ones. If you find a Burny LP from the ’80s or a Fernandes Strat from the ’90s, chances are it’s a hidden gem. These guitars are known for killer tone, great hardware, and pro-level playability, Even their entry-level overseas products such like this one:
The Sustainer-equipped models are also still highly sought after. In fact, the Fernandes Sustainer circuit is still considered one of the best around. Some guitarists even buy old Fernandes just to gut them for the Sustainer.
Fernandes might not be around like they used to be, but their legacy lives on. They were a huge part of the vintage Japanese guitar boom, they innovated with tech like the Sustainer, and they helped shape the sound of countless players.
If you ever see a Fernandes guitar in a pawn shop or online for a good price, don’t sleep on it. You might just score a piece of guitar history.