Fender has debuted the first of its 2020 female-artist signature guitars - for J-pop band Silent Siren
Japanese pop-rockers land themselves eye-catching Telecaster and Jazz Bass models
With Fender CEO Andy Mooney’s recent tease that the company is set to introduce more signature guitars for female artists next year than in its entire 70-year history, speculation has been rife about who’s in line for their own custom electric guitar - but Fender Japan has jumped ahead of the USA’s 2020 launches with a pair of signature models for J-pop-rock staples Silent Siren.
Lead vocalist and guitarist Sumire Yoshida has secured an especially striking Telecaster, equipped with an all-white finish that goes right across the fretboard and headstock, and even a painted-on F-hole.
HS-configured Teles are surprisingly rare, so we’re pleased to see Yoshida opts for the Shawbucker bridge humbucker and vintage Tele single coil in the neck, all fitted to an alder body.
Bassist Aina Yamauchi, meanwhile, opts for a new take on the classic MIJ competition stripe design, with this Seafoam Green design, based on Fender’s American Standard Jazz.
Pickups include a pair of V-Mod Jazz Bass single coils, while there’s a maple neck and fingerboard, HiMass Vintage bridge and alder body.
Both clock in at ¥112,500, which is around $1,000. Sadly, they’re only available in Japan right now - with legendary guitar mecca Ikebe Gakki the most prominent retailer - but boy, we’d love to see that Tele in the States.
What's New : SILENT SIREN のVo&G.すぅとBa.あいにゃんのこだわりが凝縮したシグネイチャーモデルが発売決定!詳しくは👉 https://t.co/SZ96H4UUEy#SILENTSIREN #サイサイ @staffsaisai @sumiredooon @aina0703 pic.twitter.com/yLGhVtwOq7November 13, 2019
Fender Japan is no stranger to signature models for female artists, of course, with all-female Japanese rockers Scandal securing a signature Telecaster, Stratocaster and P-Bass back in 2017.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
We’ll have to wait until NAMM to see who’s next in line for a Fender signature model, but we’ve already been taking our best guess.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month**
Join now for unlimited access
US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year
UK pricing £2.99 per month or £29.00 per year
Europe pricing €3.49 per month or €34.00 per year
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.
“A great-looking guitar that’s just a few minor tweaks away from being as good as its style suggests”: Gretsch Electromatic Pristine Ltd Jet Single-Cut with Bigsby review
“Billy Corgan literally said he wanted the ‘Sabbath note.’ He wanted that midrange that Tony Iommi has that really cuts through”: Reverend Guitars’ founders on their wild signature collabs with Smashing Pumpkins, Vernon Reid and Reeves Gabrels