K-On! has proved a big hit for Kyoto Animation, but it also seems to be turning into a hit for Fender, who make the prominently featured bass guitar Mio Akiyama wields.
In fact, even the Fender staff are watching with approval…
Their informal blog post runs along these lines:
Wow! “K-ON!” is awesome.
Sakurakou Keionbu looks like hot stuff.
What’s more, the bass player Mio-chan is using quite a vintage jazz bass (the 62 JAZZ BASS), and she’s a lefty as well… it’s so moe.
I predict a break [?].
Adios!
Could this presage a Mio-Fender tie-in at some point? This would be sure to have a crushing impact on the finances of those otaku obsessively hankering after the show’s instruments for use as trophies or display pieces…
Via the Fender Staff Blog.









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Apparently ブレーク can mean "suddenly becoming popular" So I think he is saying that he predicts the instrument will see an increase in popularity as a result of the show.
Lefties need to be crucified because they are possessed by the devil, it is the word of god.
well if mio aint in heaven i dont think i'd want to go anyway
By Break i think the staff meant that either the guitar will break (which i doubt)... or their will to resist the moe powers of Mio will break.
Nice pantsu *thumb up*
I wonder if its just a coincidence that tissue-hime happens to also use a '62 American Jazz bass...
If Fender is smart, they would.
haha awesome! :3
Mio's bass goes for $622 on amazon.co.jp Of course the fun part is Fender Japan cannot export their models to the US.
And I guess no one is otaku enough to plunk down $2500 for Yui's Gibson LP.
I've also caught comments by some musicians who can't even touch a Gibson after playing guitar for 20 years,see Yui get one as a "starter."
If they make a signature Mio Jbass, it will be the first ever fender signature model for a fictional character!
Crazy.
62 Jazz Bass...
Man I would kill for that fine Lady!
Mio!!! XD
I smell limited products coming, or at least K-On related "official" instruments.
Even if Fender releases a Limited "Mio Edition" Jazz Bass, it'll probably be from Fender Japan and as such for the most part confined to the Japanese market.
A newbie buying expensive guitar is a nonsense. Besides, most important guide for buying an instrument is knowing if it suits your playing style and your hands. Then comes the look
Why the fuck is he using the word moe?
...you are aware the text is translated from Japanese, right?
Because he or she is one of us.
You fail. That is all.
@Michio: That really is all you are capable of doing isn't it?
I also love how everybody is so damn serious about this K-On stuff that they've fallen into a pattern of attempted flaming of a person for poking fun at a business' staff blogs comments about it. "No...no, OMG STFU YOU! GTFO! K-ON IS SRS BSNS WAAAAAAAH!". Actually Fender is srs bsns....well outside of the staff blog at least.
Mio :3
@Kaoshin
STFU
and GTFO?
I just noticed, according to the staff blog there, being left-handed is apparently moe now too....as well as playing Fender Guitars. I can't tell if they are just trying too hard to sound excited and to sell the link between their product and the character or if it really is that simple to make something moe.
New ad slogan idea for when they stop beating around the bush, "Fender guitar is the approved guitar of K-On fans, lefty's and moe otaku all over Japan, brought to you by Fender. All rights reserved customer satisfaction may vary. Check out your favourite retailer for more details and your chance to own a Mio approved Fender Guitar. Fender guitars, because if it's not a Fender, it's not moe enough."
I'm left-handed... Yay! I'm moe!
how can lefty be moe?
3D can't be moe.
Bullshit! - 3-D can be MOE - just look at the voice actress
>just look at the voice actress
you just proved anonymous' case.
^__^
Oh shut up man, it doesn't affect you at all.
I suppose they could have stuck with the Fender kick and set up Yui with a vintage Telecaster, but the Les Paul is a nice touch.
K-on sucks. *flamebait*
Love the way she's almost humping the bass in the end credits... ^_^
I BUY!!!
It seems the majority of K-On! fans in the West are girls, for the time being.
Please pardon my ignorance, but how did you come to that conclusion?
Because 86,423% of all statistics and generalities are made up on the spot.
Though, some of those made up generalities can turn out to be quite true. Though, I get the feeling that K-On!'s audience in most places is made up of Male viewers. Though, I could be wrong.
I can tell you safely than K-on watchers in the rest of the world at least is 71% male. this stat is coming from the facebook Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/K-on/66446273202
but still..... I am inspired to learn the Bass.. a little bit more...
and DOH! only when a Music related event comes up will all the people who play music will crop up :3
sounds like a marketing ploy to me
My Yui plays Gibson... GIBSON LES PAUL I said!.. T_T
... but... OH SHI-, even I can't resist shimapan! XD
Oh yeahh! Shimapan! And it's even teal-colored, like Miku's.
My fav~ *drool*
Why the hell do they buy lefty bass guitars? They should just buy ordinary models and learn the damn instrument instead! ;_;
Thats kind of a good news for lefty like myself, when the otakus got fed up with the guitar I bet people like me can get them in a quite good price. =D
They could always just pull a reverse Jimi Hendrix.
Mio related news is good news.
But only Yui related news is great news!
agreed!
You mean like this????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye-iHgPUZGM
It's ALL about Mio
AGREED
AGREED BY AUTHORITY (FENDER!)
XD
Looks like Mio's epic moe skills left the other girls a little envious: http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/17787/Akiyama+Mio+Tease.html [http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/17787/Akiyama Mio Tease.html]
The rest of the band appears to be a little envious of Mio's moe success:
http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/17787/Akiyama+Mio+Tease.html [http://www.dannychoo.com/detail/mac/eng/image/17787/Akiyama Mio Tease.html]
Is this spam? It certainly seems like it.