1980's Kawai F-V (F-I Jr) - Neon Pink "Cherry" Fruits Color Series - All Original With Original Hardcase - Made in Japan MIJ

1980's Kawai F-V (F-I Jr) - In "Cherry" Neon Pink from the "Fruits Color" Collection - 5 Piece Neck Through Neck - All Original with Original Hardcase - Made in in Japan - MIJ

• Serial Number: None
• Body: Likely 1 piece mahogany wings
• Neck: 5 piece maple mahogany neck-through construction
• Fretboard: Medium brown rosewood
• Fretboard Radius: >7.25" < 9.5"
• Fret Edge Binding: No
• Inlays: Acrylic pearloid dots
• Frets: 24 x Medium Jumbo (1.1mm tall x 2.7mm wide)
• Nut Width: 41.6mm
• Width at 1st Fret: 42.8mm
• Width at 12th Fret: 51.4mm
• Thickness at 1st Fret: 22.1mm
• Thickness at 12th Fret: 23.7mm
• Nut: Corian or Plastic
• Tuners: Original Japanese made chrome non branded torque adjustable tuners
• Bridge & Tailpiece: Original Japanese made chrome L5.2 Harmonica bridge and LP-S tailpiece
• Pickups: Original double cream Kawai OP-11 humbuckers
• Neck Pickup Resistance: 7.63K ohm (3.83K ohm in single coil mode, 260K in "Funky Sound" mode)
• Bridge Pickup Resistance:  7.42K ohm (3.70K ohm in single coil mode, 257K in "Funky Sound" mode)
• Pots: All original Noble pots
• Strings: Ernie Ball Super Slinky 10-46 strings - E Standard tuning
• Weight: 8.42lbs
• Non Original Parts: None
• Case: Original brown fitted hard case with golden plush interior
• Truss Rod: Works as expected, with lots of room to tighten, but at the limit of loose

This is a rarely seen Kawai F-V model, also known as the F-I Jr. model, from the early 1980's, and was part of the "Fruits Color" series from Kawai, which offered the F-V (or F-I Jr. models) in different "fruit" colours, which were all bright neon colours, including: Lemon (yellow), Melon (green), Orange (orange), Cherry (bright pink, like this one), and Blue (blue - what fruit is this?).

And this colour just looks awesome! If you like pink. You won't go unnoticed with this guitar!

I don't know for certain what year this model is from - there is no serial number, no date codes on the original pickups or on the original Noble pots, but this model appears in at least the 1982 and 1984 Kawai catalogs, but none that I can find after 1984. So I'm assuming this one is from the early 1980's.

As far as I can tell, the F-V model and the F-I Jr. models are the same: the F-V was the model used in the English catalogs, while the F-I Jr. was the model used in the Japanese catalogs.

The F-V model was a lower cost version of Kawai's flagship F-I model, with the same body shape, with the main differences being that the F-V models have Kawai humbuckers, do not have the active EQ, and have a stop bar tailpiece and not a wrap around bridge/tailpiece. But the F-V models are built with the same high build quality and materials as the F-I models, including the 5 piece laminated maple/mahogany neck-through neck, with 1 piece mahogany wings. These models came with either mahogany or ash bodies, and although I don't know for certain that the wings are mahogany, I can see the grain slightly under the pink paint, and it does not look like ash, so I am assuming this is mahogany.

This F-V model arrived in very good condition, and appears to be all original with no replaced parts. Like any guitar that is over 40 years old, it has some minor dings, dents, scratches and swirling, but overall this guitar is in great shape.

The F-V, like the F-I model, is a unique shape from Kawai, but it reminds me a lot of the BC Rich Eagle model in the way it plays and feels while playing.

This model is equipped with 2 "Triple Sound Switches", the little black switches, one for each humbucker. The switch puts each pickup into the following modes:

• Humbucker mode (up)
• Single coil mode (middle)
• "Funky Sound" mode (down)

Both switches work properly, and each sound is usable. The "Funky Sound" mode seems to add a high pass filter onto the pickup sound, since each one has a small capacitor connected to the switch.

Each humbucker has it's own independent volume knob, and there is a master tone knob.

The original double cream double hex pole open Kawai OP-II humbuckers sound great - they use a ceramic magnet and are lower DC resistance, similar to a P.A.F. humbucker, coming in at between 7.42K to 7.63K ohm. This lower wind means these pickups are clear and articulate, but thanks to the ceramic magnet used, they still have a good amount of output, and can drive an amp easily, but also clean up well when you roll down on the volume. They can handle nearly every genre really well, and with the triple sound switches on both pickups, you have so many tone options at your fingertips.

All of the original chrome hardware looks good and still has lots of shine left in most area. There is some areas of tarnish, pitting, corrosion and/or rust, mostly on the bridge posts and and the bridge humbucker screws, but everything works as expected.

The neck has a medium taper "C" shape carve. It's a down the middle carve, not too thin, and not too thick, with a relatively narrow nut and fretboard. The fretboard is a medium brown rosewood with a a beautiful grain all the way up the fretboard, with acrylic pearlod dot inlays, and 22 medium jumbo frets.

The 22 medium jumbo frets that have been played, with most play wear on the 1st to 12th frets, but overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and this guitar plays great up and down the entire neck.

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

I setup all my the guitars I sell, 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).

Comes with the original brown fitted hard case with golden plush interior. The case is in useable condition, but does have some tarnish and corrosion on the metal, and some slight tearing and peeling of the vinyl/tolex exterior, but all of the hinges and latches are intact and working. Also comes with the original truss rod wrench, pickup pole piece wrench, and the torque adjustable tuner wrench/tool.

Overall, this is a rarely seen, incredible looking, playing and sounding guitar that looks and sounds like the 80's.

If you're looking for a professional grade Kawai guitar, grab this one for your collection today.

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

Overall it's in very good player grade condition.

I've tried to capture all of the flaws in the photos (if you want any specific shots just let me know).

Over the entire body of the guitar, top, back, sides, neck and headstock, there are some minor dings, dents, scratches, chips, and swirling, but nothing major. The guitar has been used, but not abused.

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

All of the original chrome hardware looks good and still has lots of shine left in most area. There is some areas of tarnish, pitting, corrosion and/or rust, mostly on the bridge posts and and the bridge humbucker screws, but everything works as expected.

All of the non branded chrome Japanese made torque adjustable tuners work properly.

The 22 medium jumbo frets that have been played, with most play wear on the 1st to 12th frets mainly on the plain strings, but overall there is lots of life left in these frets, and this guitar plays great up and down the entire neck.

The truss rod works has plenty of room to tighten, but is currently close to the limit of loose. This guitar is setup in E standard with Ernie Ball 10-46 Regular Slinky stings. Currently, there is 0.010" of relief measured between the bottom of the low E string and the top of the 8th fret with the 1st fret and 17th fret depressed. In this state, the guitar can setup easily with low action and plays without any buzzing or problems. This neck is really strong, and resists the pull of the strings on its own, without the need for the truss rod.

There no signs of a headstock, heel or any other repairs.

SHIPPING ------------  

Every shipment is expertly packed with great care and includes tracking, signature required on delivery, and full insurance coverage for both the purchase price and shipping.

Every guitar is fully wrapped in bubble wrap, in a cardboard box meant for guitars, with proper support inside. To reduce environmental impact, the packing material (paper, newsprint, gift wrap, bubble wrap, air packets, foam, carboard boxes and/or tube supports, etc...) used may be recycled.

Package dimensions are 118cm x 47cm x 17cm

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

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!