Fender Japan Announces Rare Swinger Reissue & Silent Siren Signature Models

Tokyo's hosting the Olympics next year, but Fender Japan is already setting off fireworks of its own with two big announcements made on Twitter: the Silent Siren Signature Jazz Bass and Telecaster, and a reissue of the fabled Fender Swinger.

Let's start with the new signatures: these eye-catching numbers were made for vocalist/guitarist Sumire Yoshida and bassist Aina Yamauchi of J-Pop outfit Silent Siren. Not just impressive instruments, these new models are part of Fender's continued campaign to include more female artists in their roster and broaden their fanbase.

The Telecaster will come in a ghostly all-white finish that goes right up the fretboard and headstock—and sports the uncommon combo of a bridge humbucker and Tele neck pickup. On the low end, the Jazz Bass will come in an American Standard configuration with an MIJ Seafoam Green finish and psychedelic competition stripe. Both models will be available through Fender Japan in early 2020.

The other announcement is a big one, and will catch the eye of more than one Fender aficionado. When we interviewed Fender CEO Andy Mooney earlier this month, we asked if there were any oddities from Fender's past the company planned to introduce. He hinted at the Swinger and just a few weeks later, Fender has unveiled a 50th anniversary edition.

A bit of history: these angular creations came to life for a brief period in 1969 when odds and ends pieces from Bass V and Musicmasters were repurposed into one of, if not the most, abstract of the company's creations.

In this first-ever limited run for its 50th anniversary, the original strange body shape and pointy headstock are front and center along with new appointments like an added pickup and 22-fret short-scale neck.

While both the new Silent Siren Signature models and 50th Anniversary Swinger will only be for sale in Japanese markets when they debut, expect used models to start hitting Reverb not long after those first sales.