Rare Fernandes EX-85L Left Handed 1984 - Black - Explorer - Lightning Bolt Inlays - Set Neck - Made In Japan MIJ

Used Rare 1984 Fernandes EX-85L Left Handed Model from The Function Series - In classic gloss Black finish - Lightning Bolt inlays (Like Burny Angus Young SG model) - With new Gator gig bag - Made in Japan MIJ

• Serial Number: None
• Body: Multi piece Alder body
• Neck: 1 piece Maple
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: About 9.5"
• Fret Edge Binding: None
• Inlays: Acrylic Lightning Bolts
• Frets: 22 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.8mm wide)
• Nut Width: 42.8mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 44.6mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 52.7mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 21.8mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.8mm
• Nut: Gold Floyd Rose
• Tuners: New Gotoh SG381 tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original Gold Head Banker tremolo
• Pickups: Original Fernandes Dog Fighter pickups
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 9.83K ohm
• Bridge Pickup Resistance: 9.91K ohm
• Pots: Original 500K pots - 44 [April 1984] and 27 [February 1982] dates codes
• Strings: Ernie Ball Super Slinky 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 8.62lbs
• Non Original Parts: New Gotoh SG381 tuners, screw in body
• Case: New Gator GBE-EXTREME gig bag
• Truss Rod: Works as expected, but at the limit of loose

This a rarely seen 1984 Fernandes EX-85L (L for Left Handed) model, from the Fernandes The Function Series, and is based on the Gibson Explorer, but with a unique twist of adding Lightning Bolt inlays - like Angus Young's SG (features on the Burny SG-75AY model) - and adding a Head Banker tremolo bridge.

I don't know for certain that it's a 1984 model, since there is no serial number on the guitar (which is to be expected during this time from Fernandes/Burny) so I am basing the age on the pots, which are dated to April 1984 and February 1982.

From what I can tell, this was a short lived model, and only appeared in the 1984 catalog - although it's possible that it was made during other years - it wasn't uncommon for Burny to produce models outside of the catalogs.

The 1984 Fernandes/Burny Catalog has the specs of this model as alder body, with maple neck - which appears to be true in this case. It looks to be a 1 piece maple neck, with a nice chocolate brown rosewood fretboard.

When this guitar arrived to me, it was missing the original tuners - which should be Schaller style mini tuners. I tried to find direct replacements, but was unsuccessful, however I was able to find a new set of Gotoh SG381 gold tuners that work great. New holes needed to be drill for the mounting screws, and the original holes were filled (shown in the photo).

There was also a small hole in the horn on the top of the body when I received it - not sure what it would have been for. I installed a small gold tuner screw to close it up, but you could easily remove it, fill it, or swap that out for black tuner if you'd like.

Other than the tuners, and the small screw, everything else on this guitar appears to be original, and the guitar is in good players grade condition. It has been played, and there are scratches, dings, dents, and chips in the finish all over - especially being a gloss black guitar, it shows typically fine scratches and swirling in the finish.

All of the gold hardware, except for the tuners, including the pickup pole pieces, pickup rings, tremolo bridge, Floyd Rose nut, strap buttons, are all in usable shape, but all have varying degrees of pitting, corrosion, peeling and/or rust - particularly the pickup rings

The black plastics, including truss rod cover, back covers, and pickup bobbins are also in good shape, with the typical pick marks and/or swirling found on a gloss black plastics from this era. The spring cover is missing from the rear.

The truss rod cover appears to be original - although underneath it, it appears that it had been moved at one point (maybe without the string tree). The Truss rod cover is mounted in the original holes now, and the other holes are covered underneath the truss rod cover.

The set neck uses a long neck tenon, as seen in the photos with the pickups removed.

The neck on this one is a medium thickness - with a nut width of just under 43mm, and a thickness of 21.8mm at the first fret, it makes its way up to 23.8mm at the 12th fret, with a comfortable C shape rounded carve to it, and is a joy to play. It's probably closest to a 59's style Gibson neck.

When I received the guitar, the high E side fretboard had a crack in the finish running along where the paint meets the fretboard, and small part of the finish under the nut was loose. There was no movement in the joint/glue between the fretboard and the neck, so it appears to have only been in the finish itself. That crack has been filled and sanded & buffed smooth, so it feels comfortable when playing.

The fretboard is a beautiful chocolate brown rosewood, with nice grain from the nut to the 22nd fret, with very little signs of play wear on the frets or fretboard.

The 22 medium jumbo frets have some minor play wear on them, but not much, and there are lots of life left in the frets.

The original black speed volume and tone knobs are in good shape, and the pots work as expected.

The dog fighter pickups use a double thick gold rail pole pieces and a ceramic magnet. Although the DC resistance is in the high 9K ohm range, they are high output pickups, although still retain clarity.

Like all the guitars I sell, I test, thoroughly clean, and setup my guitars completely before I list them. Anything that is missing, damaged, or non original is mentioned in the listing.

I setup all my Gibson style guitars to Gibson factory specs - including neck relief, action, pickup height, intonation, and tailpiece height. So this guitar will be ready to play out of the box (after you tune it up - I ship my guitars with the strings loosened).

This one is setup with Ernie Ball 10-46 strings in E-standard. The truss rod is at the limit of loose - it cannot be loosened anymore. There is lots of room to tighten it. Right now, there is about .005" of relief in the neck as measured from the bottom of the low E string to the top of the 8th fret, with the 1st fret capoed and the 17th fret depressed. Right now, the guitar plays as it should. If you wanted more relief than this, you'd need to increase the thickness of the strings. If you play with super light gauged strings, the neck will become even more flat.

Comes with a new quality made Gator GBE-EXTREME gig bag.

Overall, this is rarely seen & unique Fernandes model that offers incredible build quality during some of the best years of Japanese made guitars from one of the best companies during that time.

If you're looking for a vintage explorer, you'll want this 1984 Fernandes EX-85L in your collection today.

CONDITION ------------

Overall it's in good player grade shape.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos and in the description.

The tuners are new and not original. There is a small screw added in the horn on the top of the body.

New screw mounting holes were added for the new tuners, and the original holes were filled.

The spring cavity cover is missing.

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, neck and headstock, there are many dings, dents, scratches, chips, swirling in the finish. There is a chip in the finish underneath the high E side of the bridge.

On the high E side of the neck, near the nut, a finish crack was repaired.

All of the black plastics, truss rod cover, control cavity cover, switch cover, and pickup bobbins have typical scratches and swirling on them.

The gold, chrome and black hardware, bridge, tailpiece, pickup pole pieces, jack, Floyd rose nut and string tree are all in usable shape, with only minor signs of corrosion, pitting, scratches, and rust on most, but heavier on the pickup rings.

Around the strap buttons there's some typical strap marks/swirling.

There is very minor play wear the fretboard, but overall there's lots of life left in these frets, and they play well.

This one is setup with Ernie Ball 10-46 strings in E-standard. The truss rod is at the limit of loose - it cannot be loosened anymore. There is lots of room to tighten it. Right now, there is about .005" of relief in the neck as measured from the bottom of the low E string to the top of the 8th fret, with the 1st fret capoed and the 17th fret depressed. Right now, the guitar plays as it should. If you wanted more relief than this, you'd need to increase the thickness of the strings. If you play with super light gauged strings, the neck will become even more flat.

SHIPPING ------------  
Will be shipped, fully insured with tracking, and fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars. There will be proper support inside. In order to reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 132cm x 46cm x 18cm

Total shipping weight will be around 18lbs.

Shipping within Canada & United States via UPS Standard from Ayr, ON, Canada. (some exceptions apply)

Shipping everywhere else - contact me for a precise quote on shipping.

Note: if you want an exact shipping quote, just send me a note with your postal/zip code, and I'll get a proper quote for your address. 

Note: If you're buying from outside of Canada, you as the Buyer may be required to pay import duties or taxes upon delivery, depending on your location and the purchase price.

QUESTIONS ------------

Any questions? Want more photos or detailed shots? Measurements? Shoot me a message, and I'll be happy to answer them, or send more pics, or take any measurements you want/need.

Thanks for looking!