Fernandes Guitars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fernandes is a guitar and guitar accessory manufacturer. Their brand of guitars carry the same name. Fernandes originated in Japan in 1969 building flamenco guitars. As the company grew it expanded production to include more acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, and accessories to become the biggest guitar manufacturer in Japan. During the 1970s, it became Japan's premier manufacturer of Fender copies; its Stratocaster copy, in particular, is generally considered a vastly superior instrument to the actual Fender Strats of the period. Fernandes also owned a brand for Gibson replicas: Burny.
Despite its high production figures, Fernandes is better known in the United States for its Sustainer system, which uses electromagnetism to vibrate a string for an infinite period, so long as the user continues to fret a note. Unlike the similar E-Bow, it can be used with a standard plectrum. Fernandes' custom shop has installed numerous Sustainers into guitars built by other manufacturers.
Fernandes continues to manufacture guitars that cover the range from inexpensive starter models to custom instruments of exceptional quality.
[edit] Famous users
- Ken Floyd former guitarist for the disbanded Eighteen Visions and is now in NEVER ENOUGH a.k.a.N3V3R 3N0U6H
- Keith Barney former guitarist for the disbanded Eighteen Visions and is now in a tribute band for The Misfits called Die Die My Darling.
- Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen): Uses the Sustainer in a number of his custom Peavey Wolfgangs
- Steve Jones (Sex Pistols): Used a Fernandes Burny Les Paul Custom
- The Edge (U2): has used several Fernandes Decades (and Native Pro and Retrorocket Elite models) since the PopMart Tour in 1997
- Joe Walsh (The Eagles)
- Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day): Uses a Fernandes Stratocaster copy named 'Blue'
- Steve Hackett
- Neal Schon (Journey)
- Matthew Bellamy (Muse) Uses the sustainer system in 3 of his custom made Manson Guitars.
- hide (X Japan)
- Hisashi Imai (Buck-Tick)
- ken (L'Arc~en~Ciel)
- Peter Steele, Kenny Hickey (Type O Negative)
- Robert Fripp, (King Crimson)
- Jake Pitts, (The Perfect Victim)
- Priestley Pring, (The Perfect Victim)
- Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica)
- Dave Kushner (Velvet Revolver, Wasted Youth)
- Chris Day (Norma Jean)
- Mike Riggs (Rob Zombie, Scum Of The Earth)
- Kasper Eistrup (Kashmir (band))
- Steve Vai
- Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
- Dave Bainbridge (Iona)
- Reeves Gabrels (David Bowie, Robert Smith, Ozzy Osbourne)
- Nick Hipa (As I Lay Dying)
- Phil Sgrosso (As I Lay Dying)
- Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction)
- Tony Campos (Static X, Asesino)
- Jason Mraz owns and occasionally uses a Fernandes Nomad
- Zim Zum Had custom Fernandes guitars made for him while touring with Marilyn Manson
- Daniel Ash
- Kirk Hammett (Metallica) in the mid 80's
- Tyler Foran (BurningTireSmell, False Noun, Folded Hand)
