Buying guitars from Japan

[proroby]

Does anyone here have any experience buying guitars from Japan? I recently sold my AVRi Jazzmaster to get a Jaguar. I am looking at either a Thin Skin (which would be American made and bought) or a Fender Japan Super jaguar Kurt Kobain model. The only way to get a HJG-66KC VI is from Japanese websites that I can't read. It also costs a few hundred more but comes with aftermarket parts that I would have to buy for the Thin Skin.

How has your experiences been with buying from any of the Japanese guitar stores online? Which one was it?

[Holy Schnikes]

I purchased a Jag Bass in Ice Blue Metallic a couple years back from Ishibashi. Can't remember who I spoke with but he was super helpful and transaction went VERY smoothly. I had the bass in about five days after placing my order, which was shocking! I'd recommend checking those guys out.

http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/eng/

[erik]

ishibashi does overseas transaction fairly well.
and they seem to have dedicated staffs to take care of such orders.
quick emails too.

but for the kurt cobain model, you are talking about the shop ikebe-gakki right?
never dealt with them but i think they will do it the same way ishibashi does?!
just send them an email and generally they will get back to you in a couple of days.

i think you can get by with google translate on their website without a problem.

[metalmariachi]

Ooo sexy

http://translate.google.co.jp/translate ... ibuya%2Fc1

http://translate.google.co.jp/translate ... ibuya%2Fc1

MM

[Mudfuzz]

I have twice but they were though ebay. One was Katana Guitars and I can't remember the other name off hand but I was very happy both times.

[proroby]

Thanks for the input so far. There are several stores that I found that have them. One is Amazon, but Japanese. The ones that are on EBay are $500 more for whatever reason. I have translated the pages and know how to do that. I just wanted some opinions of different stores, which I have gotten several of.

^________^

[Mudfuzz]

All I can say about that is I've only bought used, I did also get a Maxon AD900 from Katana and I got it a cheaper then they sell over here even after shipping

[Jero]

I have twice but they were though ebay. One was Katana Guitars...

Was that where the V came from?

[Mudfuzz]

Yep.

[Achtane]

I purchased a Jag Bass in Ice Blue Metallic

Got a pic of that?

[Monkeyboard]

How do you translate sites with google? That japanese site looks fairly reasonably priced!

[erik]

http://tinyurl.com/6haz2z9

these are the KC mod available, mustang included
i think Ikebe is the original shop that mod this.

[proroby]

Ikebe Gakki is the only place you can get the guitar at and they replied to my email saying they don't ship to America, but people have them here. How???

[maz91379]

They can ship "used" there are strange amounts of almost mint guitars in their used sections. I have a hunch there is probably some sort of service that would be happy to buy a guitar new and ship it out for you although that might be semi sketchy.