Exotic Japanese Guitars

[melvin669]

Hi Guys,

See my post here in Merlion tales http://www.merliontales.com/2011/08/japan-music-haven-ochanomizu/
about guitar shopping in Ochanomizu, Tokyo.

Brands such as ESP, Navigator, VanDanzt, Combat etc.. they cost as much or even more than American Fenders and Gibsons.

Just wondering how many of you own such exotic guitars and are they really worth the money when compared to their American counterparts?

 

[ShredAddict]

End of the day, a good guitar will be a good guitar despite country of origin. We also have to take note of the hardware they use that adds up to the price. parts are getting more expensive nowadays.

OT, nice pictures!

 

[LadyInTears]

I love Japanese guitars, was at Ochanomizu as well, but made my purchase in Shibuya

Look at me, I look like a lost sheep staring at such a huge collection of beauties!!

EDIT: what?! the dude told me tax couldn't be waived!!!

 

[lifele55]

Hmmm wonder if my fiancé wanna go Japan for honeymoon...... Hmmm

 

[melvin669]

Combat Custom Tele

This is the rarest find i bought in my last trip...

http://www.combat-guitars.com/english/top.html
Cost as much as an American Tele and plays like a freaking dream!

Edit: it's a used guitar though... made of mahogany.
When i emailed Combat, they replied that it should be an older piece as they haven't made any mahogany teles recently

 

[faekildare]

I love Japanese guitars, was at Ochanomizu as well, but made my purchase in Shibuya

Look at me, I look like a lost sheep staring at such a huge collection of beauties!!

EDIT: what?! the dude told me tax couldn't be waived!!!

When I bought my guitar from Ishibashi, I also got no Tax waive loh. #@$@%@#$%@$

 

[melvin669]

I love Japanese guitars, was at Ochanomizu as well, but made my purchase in Shibuya

Look at me, I look like a lost sheep staring at such a huge collection of beauties!!

EDIT: what?! the dude told me tax couldn't be waived!!!

You have to give the dude your passport... then he'll help you fill up a form which will give you a 5% rebate. He'll then clip it to your passport. Anyway, nice shot of the store.. which store is that in Ochanomizu?

 

[melvin669]

Oh and guys... a must try is the black version of Fulltone's OCD Japan only edition.
I was having so much fun auditioning it that i forgot to take a picture... so here's a pic from Rakuten.

Maybe it's the Edwards that i was testing out, maybe it was the amp, maybe it was the place.. but the overdrive sounded.. err... beautifully oriental..

 

[dodgethis]

Loving my ESP Horizon Brett Garsed (I don't even know who he is) Signature and Eclipse I FT

 

[melvin669]

Loving my ESP Horizon Brett Garsed (I don't even know who he is) Signature and Eclipse II FT

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/dodgethis_sg/guitar/IMG_0577.jpg

ESPs are the shit man... they're keepers man.. envy....

 

[tyzjames]

The ESPs are looking good! Gassing for a horizon NT-2 right now, in natural quilt!

Here's my jap guitar

 

[ShredAddict]

^ wow that's really something you don't see everyday. nice!

 

[CyanideJunkie]

Oh and guys... a must try is the black version of Fulltone's OCD Japan only edition.
I was having so much fun auditioning it that i forgot to take a picture... so here's a pic from Rakuten.

Maybe it's the Edwards that i was testing out, maybe it was the amp, maybe it was the place.. but the overdrive sounded.. err... beautifully oriental..

That looks absolutely killer! Anything different about it specs-wise? Or is it just the colour?

 

[keithtan]

SHITTTTTTTTTT i went there to japan on free and easy and didnt went to this place ((((

 

[RayKnight]

Thanks for the post, will make it one of my destinations if I ever go there...which won't be anytime soon, gotta save up. But it's a nice blog with a lot of information, thank you for that.

 

[relinquish69]

That looks absolutely killer! Anything different about it specs-wise? Or is it just the colour?

Sounds closer to V1, 2, 3 or 4?

 

[XJAPAN]

The ESPs are looking good! Gassing for a horizon NT-2 right now, in natural quilt!

Here's my jap guitar

[IM]http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8490/imagebrje.jpg[/IMG]

[IM]http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/520/imagebdv.jpg[/IMG]

[IM]http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/9650/imagepjd.jpg[/IMG]

Wow, havent seen any other Deviser made like that. I own a BST-62V from them made under Bacchus though

My Burny RLG-70 made in 1998

 

[Nefianz]

Takamine GZ-340T

Made in Japan somewhere in the mid 80's

Research states that it was made out of high quality parts but sold at a mid-range price, as takamine wanted to break into the electric guitar market. However it was discoutinued only after a few years, as such it is very rare (especially this model)

Previous owner did not use it much and had it stored away in its original hardcase most of the time. Sustain on this is unbelievable too!

 

[relinquish69]

^the hardcase is totally smex man

 

[lifele55]

My only Japanese contribution... been on the hunt for the LPC-90 for ages and managed to snag one last year. A shot with both the LPC-80 and LPC-90 side by side.

The LPC-80 was sold though...