Frequently Asked Questions

Fernandes began in Japan in 1969. Its archived company history describes an initial focus on flamenco guitars, followed by electric instruments and related equipment.

The manufacturer’s U.S. catalogs record the opening of Fernandes USA in Los Angeles in 1992. Those catalogs describe the export lineup and should not be treated as a complete record of Japanese domestic models.

Burny is a brand associated with Fernandes, particularly familiar for instruments based on established single-cutaway designs. Model names and construction vary by period. Identify the specific instrument before drawing conclusions about its origin or specifications.

An internal circuit powers a magnetic driver, returning energy to the vibrating strings. Natural and harmonic responses let a player extend a note or develop controlled feedback without relying on a loud amplifier.

The driver occupies the neck pickup position. Battery power, correct wiring, and string damping still determine what the system can do in practice.

Billie Joe Armstrong’s blue Fernandes is documented in Green Day’s 2013 rig rundown. Fernandes catalogs also feature players such as Steve Stevens and Tony Campos.

Using a Fernandes-built instrument and using a Sustainer fitted to another guitar are different associations. The artist section distinguishes those contexts where the sources allow it.

The archive covers the Ravelle and Monterey families alongside double-cutaway and V-shaped designs. Fernandes also sold the compact Nomad with an internal speaker.

The Japanese ZO-3 and Burny lines extend beyond the U.S. catalog selection represented here. A familiar body silhouette alone does not identify a model tier.

The company stopped trading in July 2024. Tokyo Shoko Research subsequently reported that the Tokyo District Court opened bankruptcy proceedings on July 9, 2025, following a renewed application that June.

The closure of the former operating company does not make existing guitars disappear or settle every question about the trademarks. Instruments continue to be offered secondhand. Treat claims about renewed production separately from the historical company’s closure.

Yes, on the used market. eBay is the most reliable place to find them, with sellers who ship internationally. Before you buy, read up on the specific model and check the serial and country of origin, because the Japanese-made instruments are the most collectible and tend to command higher prices.

Start with a legible origin marking and a catalog entry matching the instrument’s details. A replacement bridge, bound frets, or a figured top is not proof of a particular factory.

Serial formats changed over time and cannot be reduced to a single universal decoder. Photograph labels and distinctive construction details before seeking a model identification.

Used drivers, boards, and kits may be listed separately from complete guitars. Ask whether the parts were tested together and whether the matching wiring instructions are included.

Retrofitting depends on the exact kit and the host instrument. Allow a technician to check space and electrical compatibility before committing to a modification.

Its catalog offered substantially different instruments rather than one shared specification. A fixed-bridge guitar with active humbuckers addresses a different playing setup from a Sustainer-equipped tremolo model.

This domain hosts an independent archive of Fernandes product information and guitar tools. It is not the former manufacturer’s customer-service department or an authorized warranty provider.

The downloadable catalogs are period documents. Their original addresses, prices, and warranty statements describe the time of publication.

A model-specific discussion is most useful when it includes the guitar’s complete name, clear photographs, and a description of any replaced components. Compare advice against original documents where possible, especially before rewiring a Sustainer.

Production location depends on the model and year. Japanese-made JP versions are identified in the export catalogs, but that label should not be applied to every instrument in a family.

Do not assign a factory from general brand history when the particular guitar lacks supporting documentation.

The ZO-3 is a compact Fernandes guitar with an onboard amplifier and speaker. Controls and additional features differ among versions, so check the model’s instructions rather than assuming every ZO-3 has the same headphone or effects connections.

A shared factory is not the same as a brand manufacturing for another company. The documents in this archive do not establish a complete list of OEM relationships, so they cannot support a universal answer for every era.

They distinguish versions within a product family. The suffix can suggest an equipment level, but bridge type, pickups, and construction must be read from that model’s specification. A change of catalog year can also change the details.

Judge the individual guitar’s fret condition, neck adjustment, hardware, and electronics. A higher original model tier does not compensate for neglected maintenance or undocumented repairs.

If possible, play the instrument across the neck and test every control before deciding whether its condition suits the asking price.

Collectors may focus on signature instruments, unusual finishes, or original Japanese-market examples. There is no permanent ranking that reliably predicts resale value.

Documented originality and condition make comparisons more useful than a broad claim that all instruments in a particular tier are collectible.

Use completed sales for comparable versions, then account for repairs and missing parts. An asking price is not evidence of the amount a buyer actually paid.

Separate the instrument price from shipping, taxes, and any expected setup work when comparing offers from different countries.

The saved catalogs list several body and neck materials, with different combinations even within one series. Electronics include Fernandes pickups, EMG models, and Seymour Duncan units.

The presence of a pickup-brand name does not establish whether the entire circuit is active. Read the pickup model and control specifications together.

The July 2025 Tokyo Shoko Research report mentions transfers of some Fernandes trademarks without identifying a complete ownership structure. That does not establish the present owner of every name, patent, or production right.

This archive does not claim to represent a successor business.

The historical range extended beyond electric guitars. The local PDFs include multiple bass families and accessories; the manufacturer’s own history also describes acoustic instruments and amplifiers.