Guide / SELECTED VINTAGE GUITARS
Fernandes and Burny: company history, Mark Knopfler and the Sustainer
From classic-inspired guitars to artist models and the Sustainer: Fernandes helped shape Japanese guitar history alongside Burny, reaching internationally established players.
A business that reached beyond Japan
Fernandes was established on 25 February 1969. Tokyo Shoko Research records sales above ¥4 billion in the year ending January 1999, with guitars, basses, amps, effects and US exports. Manufacturing was primarily outsourced.
Tokyo Shoko Research — raport o Fernandes, 16.07.2025 ↗
Fernandes, Burny and the early 1970s
The 1973 catalogue carries Fernandes and Burny names, showing FST-60 and FSG guitars alongside Royal amplifiers. Burny’s instruments are also explored in our dedicated article.
Fernandes / Burny — oryginalny katalog 1973 ↗
Mark Knopfler: John Suhr’s account
In October 1985, John Suhr wrote in International Musician & Recording World that he met Mark Knopfler when the guitarist bought several Schecter and Fernandes instruments from Rudy Pensa. Custom builds followed later. This first-hand account documents purchases, not an official Knopfler signature Fernandes model.
John Suhr — Knopfler’s Knecks, International Musician & Recording World, 10/1985, s. 23 ↗
About the source: An account by Knopfler’s luthier.
Sustainer: sustaining the string itself
The battery-powered Sustainer routes the pickup signal to a driver that maintains string vibration. It lets players shape sustained notes and harmonics at the instrument itself. The 1995 catalogue explains this system alongside guitars with conventional electronics.
Fernandes — zasada działania Sustainer / Sustainer diagram, 1995, s. 4–5 ↗
hide and the distinctive MG models
A 1995 catalogue spread features hide of X Japan, including the colourful MG-120X, the black Sustainer-equipped MG-125S and the white MG-115C. These instruments document a close connection with Japanese performers, with differences extending beyond their finishes.
Fernandes — hide / X Japan, 1995, s. 40–41 ↗
From Hotei’s guitars to the compact ZO-3
Tomoyasu Hotei’s TE family is recognisable by its geometric graphics. The 1995 catalogue includes both TE-340HT and TE-95HT, showing several versions of a distinctive stage design.
Fernandes — Tomoyasu Hotei, 1995, s. 38–39 ↗
ZO-3: a guitar with its own speaker
The compact ZO-3 took another approach with a built-in speaker. The catalogue lists the basic version with a 609 mm scale, 22 frets and a 5 W amplifier: a different answer to where and how a guitar can be played.
Fernandes — ZO-3, 1995, s. 90–91 ↗
Fernandes at Selected Vintage Guitars
Our instruments include a The Function FST and a 1986 PJR-45 Boxer bass. Boxer B25144 has a passive PJ layout and received fret dressing and electronics shielding in our service department. We regard a well-prepared example as a worthwhile alternative to a new standard-series instrument. Check each listing for availability and completed or planned work.
We consider well-prepared Fernandes guitars and basses a worthwhile alternative to current standard-series instruments. We value their workmanship and practical design.
Selected Vintage Guitars — Fernandes PJR-45 Boxer, B25144 ↗
The company’s later history and vintage instruments
Tokyo Shoko Research records operations stopping in July 2024 and bankruptcy proceedings beginning in July 2025.