what guitars to look for in JAPAN???

Horrorflicked

New member
i'll be making a short trip to tokyo in june.
and ive heard of great buys there.
anything you guys can recommend me to look out for??
will they be cheaper off? how about pedals??
 
if i were you, i'd check out the Caparisons:

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i'll be making a short trip to tokyo in june.
and ive heard of great buys there.
anything you guys can recommend me to look out for??
will they be cheaper off? how about pedals??

Go to Ikebe Gakki and Musicland Key in Shibuya...

Look for Sugi guitars, ErnieBall Musicman (Look for the Japan only Axis EX!!!), Zemaitis Guitars, Parker Fly (I mean the US made fly deluxe. Not the bolt-on crap), Gretsch, Rickenbackers and CHEAP US GIBSONS!!!!!!! (PRS there is bloody expensive). There's also a fantasitc Japan made brand in Shinjuku Rock Inn called Combat. Very well made.

Caparisons to me feel just like Ibanez... no big deal. Sorry to burst a few bubbles here, but when I tried them there in the shops, I didn't understand what the fuss was about, especially for those prices. Go try them and judge for yourselves.

The ESPs on the other hand, are a different story...:twisted:
 
re:

there are some gibsons meant for the japanese market only with better features and construction. This is what i've heard, you can do a google to check - Yamano Gibsons.
 
Hi there! I have relatives in Japan and i've been there a couple of times!

There are guitar shops EVERYWHERE, shibuya, shinjuku etc but THE PLACE to go to in Tokyo for guitars is Ochanomizu, its a few stops away from Shinjuku via the "Chuo Sen" (Central Line) in the JR Railways network.

This place is guitar heaven for us all. Imagine, orchard road, but every single shop selling guitars!!! I bought several guitars there already, they have new instruments, japanese brands, weird and out of this world accessories (things that make your guitar SMELL GOOD!?) and 2nd hand vintage instruments. I suggest you take a walk there!

The good thing is, customer is KING there. So try all the guitars you want, you can walk out empty handed after trying and they'll still bow down and kiss the ground etc.

I tried PRSes, Gibson and Fender Custom Shops, Tom Andersons, John Suhrs, Tylers, vintage yada yada... everything expensive. Have fun! if you need more directions PM me.
 
There are guitar shops EVERYWHERE, shibuya, shinjuku etc but THE PLACE to go to in Tokyo for guitars is Ochanomizu, its a few stops away from Shinjuku via the "Chuo Sen" (Central Line) in the JR Railways network.

THANKS FOR THIS!!!! I've always been trying to figure out how to get to Ochanomizu... If the Shibuya shops are already that good, I can't imagine what the Ochanomizu ones are like... I've heard so much more about those.

BTW, don't miss the Musicvox store in Akihabara!!!! This store lets you claim tax free!!!!!
 
The good thing is, customer is KING there. So try all the guitars you want, you can walk out empty handed after trying and they'll still bow down and kiss the ground etc.

This is what I love about guitar shopping in Tokyo. To get you really bond with the instrument, they'll be very happy to let you plug into a nice H&K Triamp and let you blast it... heheheh... No strings attached somemore... I had a wonderful shopping experience there 3 times already... I came back with 2 EBMMs... heheheheh...:twisted:
 
yeah.. music vox at akihabara rocks my world.. for 4 days every day I walked in and try a couple of guitars..tax free (5%) without a hassle.
 
a shit ochanomizu's the diggity! everyone has to make a trip there. its guitar heaven. i got my CIJ Fender Strat there. No complaints. You get out of the train station, turn left. and there you are. the whole street full of music shops. i spent a whole day there the last time i went just checking out all the guitars amps and effects. lovely. just don't bust your wallet.
 
EBMMs are good. Get the Axis Ex. A more affordable but equally quality range comparable to their US counterpart. Ya - dont forget those prestige RG 6s or 7s, in black onyx or red flame top with vine inlays, definitely cheaper than what most of the shops are offering here.
 
thanks for all the comments!!
cant wait to check out ochanomizu.. my friend have given me directions there..
when im there i think i'll go crazy!! heard so much about that place..

but would the guitars being sold there be cheaper than if i bought it anywhere else?
what brands would be cheaper?

i presume MIJs are cheaper?
 
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