mij confidential

Welcome to MIJ Confidential.

I’m Derek Rodgers—guitar dealer, author and an addict of Japanese guitars. This channel uncovers the history, craftsmanship, factories, builders and stories behind some of the finest instruments ever made.

We’ll explore brands including Navigator, Greco, Tokai, Burny, Fernandes, ESP and many others. Expect rare guitars, honest comparisons, vintage catalogues, buying advice, collector stories and a healthy amount of myth-busting.

I’ve owned more than 600 guitars, travelled to Japan in search of them and learned that price, reputation and the name on the headstock rarely tell the entire story. 

This isn’t about hype, paid praise or pretending every old Japanese guitar is magical. It’s about separating the remarkable from the ridiculous and preserving the stories behind instruments that deserve to be remembered.

Subscribe and join me as we investigate one of the guitar world’s best-kept secrets.

 MIJ Confidential.