Interesting Japanese-only Fender 2x8" combo

[Mick Bailey]

I've just got a Fender Studio Valve combo in for some work. Never seen one before and it comes with a 2-pin 100v connector, though this particular amp is running off UK 240v mains via an auto transformer. When I checked I was surprised to find that Japan only uses a mains earth for heavy-duty appliances. So this is a risky setup with the non-isolated supply and metal chassis.

Aside from that it's quite a decent sounding amp and I wonder what the thinking was behind not making this an international model? The 2x8" configuration is something I'd never considered, but it works pretty well with the stock Celestion-branded speakers that look like they're from a cheap home-entertainment setup.

[J M Fahey]

Oh, I see them all the time.

Logic behind Japan mains voltage choice was that "up to 100V it's safe" or some similar nonsense, so they chose it.

I think the real reason behind that is that it becomes just *another* "non tariff barrier".
Japan claims to accept GATT and other free/easy trade agreements, but then applies 1000 trade delaying tricks, to protect their own industry; non standard Electrical Safety rules are one of them.

Now nobody can dump cheap undersold elsewhere merchandise into Japan, it has to be specially made for them and pass strict tests.

I see many of these because neighbouring Brazil has the largest Japanese community (around 1.5 Million pleople) outside Japan, and it's customary, sort of "growing up" tradition, to go to Japan for 1 year after High School and/or after University graduation, to work there (generally in some Car factory or assembling Electronics equipment, I have friends who worked at Sony, Toyota, Honda or Nissan.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilians_in_Japan

Typically it's the first time they earn "big money" (by their standards) and in "international currency" , plus prices of Tech products in Japan are about half those in Brazil (which applies high Tariff to protect its own Industry ) .
Being young people most are Rockers and happy to buy "A MAAAAARSHAAAALLLLLLL !!!!!!!" for 1/2 to 1/3 the Brazil price ........ and those are 100V models.

Big trouble when they go back to Brazil, doubly so because now nominal "110V" lines are being converted to 127V ones, a gross difference.

I always suggest them to use a "brown down" 24V 4A transformer connected in series with 127V, out of phase.

There's an guy who specially winds 127>100V autoformers,which is basically the same, properly made.

[loudthud]

Anything on the amp to indicate where it was made?

[J M Fahey]

Google is your friend

Studio Valve SV-20CE. This is a Fender Japan model, manufactured in ROK for the Japanese market (power supply: 100V 50/60Hz). It is a hybrid solid state/tube amp, with a 12AX7 on the drive channel ............ Date of manufacture: 1999 (for 2000 catalog)
Output (@4 ohms): 20 RMS@10% THD, 40W peak
Clean ch. controls: volume, treble, bass
Gain ch. controls: volume, gain, contour, treble, bass, reverb
Switches: channel select
Jacks: 1 x input, headphone, ch. select foot switch, pre-amp output, power amp input
Tubes: 1 x 12AX7
Speakers: 2 x 8" Celestion PG8A-15

So it's a "Fender Valvestate" made in ROK for the Japanese market, only available in 100VAC ... and with OEM Celestions.
Weird mix.

[Jazz P Bass]

Hah!

SGM would probably be tickled pink.

"See, it's made to run on 100VAC."

Oh, that was an Ampeg wasn't it?

[Mick Bailey]

This one is also marked ROK. You'd think that with the vast electronics industry in Japan it would have been made there, given its a Japan-only model.