PRE-SALE: Fresher FL-400 4th Gen. - Tobacco Sunburst, '80s

PLEASE NOTE! This instrument is presented as a pre-sale item. It will undergo luthier work, including, among other things, polishing of the finish, refurbishment of the metal parts and shielding of the electronics. Depending on the assessment of the neck geometry, the original frets will receive an advanced levelling and polishing, or – if levelling (planing) of the fingerboard proves necessary – the instrument will receive a completely new set of frets. The final price includes the above work. This listing does not constitute a commercial offer within the meaning of Article 66 § 1 of the Polish Civil Code.

About the instrument

The Fresher Leo Nine FL-400 is a Japanese electric guitar from the 1980s. Leo Nine was a Fresher model line with a Les Paul-style body, and the FL-400 is one of the models within it. The example comes from the fourth logo generation, that is from the period of production at the Chushin Gakki factory. The guitar has a mahogany body with a two-piece maple top, a mahogany neck and a Tobacco Sunburst finish.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: Fresher (Kyowa Shokai), 4th logo generation
• Model: Leo Nine FL-400
• Year: 1980s
• Body: Mahogany / 2-piece Maple Top
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 22, Standard
• Pickups: 2x Gotoh TWB-20 Humbucker, 12 hexagonal pole pieces (Open-Coil)
• Electronics: Passive (2x Volume, 2x Tone, 3-Way Switch)
• Bridge: Tune-o-Matic, stop-bar tailpiece
• Tuners: Gold, Gibson-style (replaced)
• Hardware: Nickel-plated / Gold
• Cosmetic condition: 7/10 – scratches and chips in the finish on the back of the body
• Finish: Tobacco Sunburst (TBS)
• Weight: 4.37 kg

Body and construction

The Les Paul-style body is made of mahogany with a two-piece maple top and finished in Tobacco Sunburst. Scratches and chips in the finish are visible on the back of the body, documented in the photographs. In line with the pre-sale arrangements, the finish and the wooden parts will undergo cleaning and polishing in our workshop, and the electronics cavities will be shielded.

Neck and playability

The mahogany neck is paired with a rosewood fingerboard carrying 22 frets in standard size. Depending on the assessment of the neck geometry, the original frets will receive an advanced levelling and polishing, or – if levelling (planing) of the fingerboard proves necessary – the instrument will receive a completely new set of frets. This will ensure correct intonation and proper string action along the entire length of the fingerboard. The fingerboard surface will be cleaned and conditioned.

Sound

The instrument is fitted with two Gotoh TWB-20 humbuckers with twelve hexagonal pole pieces, in open-coil form, working in a passive circuit, with separate Volume and Tone controls for each pickup and a three-way switch.

• Character: Gotoh humbuckers with twelve hexagonal pole pieces, in a mahogany body with a two-piece maple top, give a voice with a clearly pronounced midrange and limited noise content. Independent control of both channels lets you set the pickups at different volume levels and use the middle position as a separate voice.
• Dynamics: The passive electronics respond in proportion to the strength of the picking attack. The planned servicing of the circuit and the shielding of the electronics cavities will reduce susceptibility to ambient noise.

Additional information

• Fresher was a trade brand – Kyowa Shokai of Nagoya, which introduced it in 1973, contracted production out to external manufacturers. In the early period (1973 – approx. 1976/77) the instruments were built by an association of manufacturers in Matsumoto, and from around 1977/78 until the end of production in the mid-1980s – at the Chushin Gakki factory.
• Fresher instruments are dated by logo generations. The third and fourth generations fall within the Chushin Gakki period and are associated with a noticeably higher standard of workmanship than the earlier series. This method makes it possible to establish the production period, but not the exact year.
• Leo Nine is the name of the Fresher model line with a Les Paul-style body, and the designations with the FL prefix (FL-400, FL-500) correspond to the individual models within it – in market materials they are sometimes mistakenly presented as two separate series.
• The pickups in this example carry the Gotoh TWB-20 designation (12 hexagonal pole pieces). Gotoh supplied humbuckers for Fresher instruments of this period; the TWB-20 designation itself is encountered above all in Tokai guitars, which is why we state it as a feature of this particular example rather than as a standard for the whole series.
• The tuners on this example have been replaced with gold Gibson-style machines – this is not the factory configuration.
• The guitar is offered on a pre-sale basis, which makes it possible to reserve this particular example before the full programme of luthier work in our workshop has been completed.

Hardware

• Bridge: Tune-o-Matic with a stop-bar tailpiece – a design with individually adjustable saddles, allowing intonation and string height to be set. In line with the scope of work, the hardware will undergo cleaning and refurbishment, and the bridge – a full intonation and string height adjustment.
• Tuners: Gold Gibson-style machines. These are not the factory tuners – they have been replaced. The hardware will be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated to ensure tuning stability.

Condition

• Technical condition: The instrument is currently being prepared for playing (pre-sale). Once the planned luthier work is complete, it will be fully functional mechanically and electronically.
• Cosmetic condition: We rate the cosmetic condition at 7 out of 10. There are scratches and chips in the finish on the back of the body – documented in the photographs.
• Setup and modifications: The planned service work includes: a setup (truss rod, string action and intonation adjustment), cleaning and polishing of the frets or – if required – levelling of the fingerboard with a refret, cleaning and polishing of the wooden and metal parts, servicing of the electronics.

Why choose this instrument

• Gotoh pickups: This example is fitted with Gotoh TWB-20 humbuckers with twelve hexagonal pole pieces.
• An example from the Chushin Gakki period: The fourth logo generation corresponds to the stage at which Fresher instruments were built in a factory with a noticeably higher standard of workmanship than the brand's earlier series.
• Condition stated openly: The scratches and chips in the finish on the back of the body, and the fact that the tuners have been replaced, are described directly, with no departures from the factory state left out.
• Pre-sale offer: Buying on a pre-sale basis means you can reserve this particular example and receive it directly after the luthier work in our workshop has been completed.
• Comprehensive service: Within the agreed price the guitar will undergo all the planned preparation work, which removes the need for any further outlay of your own after collection.