The History of Fernandes Guitars
Founded in 1969, Fernandes later opened an American operation. Its catalogs record both familiar guitar shapes and distinctive designs, with the Sustainer becoming a recurring part of the range.
The business stopped operating in July 2024. Formal bankruptcy proceedings followed in July 2025, a distinction that matters when reading older reports about the closure.
A brief timeline
- 1969
The business begins
Fernandes was established on February 25, 1969. Its 2013 catalog traces the early product line to flamenco guitars.
- 1970s–80s
Electric instruments and Burny
Fernandes expanded into electric guitars and basses. Burny became a related brand for classic-style designs; later Fernandes catalogs also included amplifiers and accessories.
- 1992
An American office
The company opened Fernandes USA in Los Angeles. The U.S. catalog history identifies this as the start of its American operation.
- 1996
Custom Shop expansion
Fernandes enlarged its U.S. Custom Shop. Artist instruments and Sustainer installations featured prominently in its subsequent catalogs.
- July 2024
Operations stop
The Japanese company ceased business. A bankruptcy application made at that time was subsequently withdrawn, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
- July 9, 2025
Bankruptcy proceedings begin
Following a new application in June 2025, the Tokyo District Court ordered the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings on July 9. Tokyo Shoko Research reported approximately ¥730 million in debt.
What happened to the name?
The July 2025 report says some trademarks had been transferred. It does not identify every recipient or establish a current production lineup. A company entering bankruptcy and a brand name changing ownership are separate events.
This archive preserves historical product information. Old catalog prices and warranty language describe the period of publication; they are not current offers from this website.
What the Sustainer changed
A neck-position driver feeds energy back into the vibrating strings, allowing long notes without standing in front of a loud amplifier. Fernandes sold factory-equipped instruments and retrofit kits for this purpose.
The system explains why an artist associated with Fernandes might appear holding a different make of guitar: a Sustainer installation does not make the whole instrument a Fernandes model.
Reading a Fernandes or Burny identification
Start with the exact model designation and a dated catalog from the relevant market. A familiar outline or a Japanese hardware brand cannot establish the factory that built a particular instrument.
Serial numbers, origin markings and construction details can support an identification. They need to agree with one another; this archive does not offer a universal serial-number decoder.
Using the catalogs when buying
Compare the bridge and control layout in a listing with the illustrated specification. Pickups can be replaced, and the same model suffix may cover different equipment across production years.
For a Sustainer guitar, request a demonstration of the available modes. For a bass, check whether a battery powers active pickups or an onboard preamp. Both questions tell you more about the instrument than a broad model-tier label.
Explore the instruments
Compare archived specifications and learn what to check on a used instrument.