Ishibashi Music

[tfarny]

Anyone ever used them? They have a good variety of used Fender Japan and other products (MIJ Epis etc) they will ship int'l. and are not that available in the US. Some guys on TDPRI seem to think this is a good place.
http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/webshop/global/index.html

 

[old_metal_head]

I've bought from them.

Never had a problem.

EMS shipping is expensive ($150 USD) buy you get it in a couple of days.

 

[whitebison66]

I was just there last week. Ochanomizu, in Tokyo, is to guitar players what the Playboy mansion is to straight men. If you ever have the chance, go. Just leave your credit card, wallet and first born at the hotel. Otherwise they are not safe!

My (admittedly very limited) dealings with Japanese guitar vendors have always been top-notch. The language issue has occasionally been a hurdle, but in terms of quality and service, I've been very impressed.

"Used" in relation to gear in Japan is an incredibly relative term. People take care of their gear really well, so often 'used' can mean 'NOS with a minuscule scratch.' It's very hard to find 'beater' guitars for sale in Japan because so few people beat on them, and when they do, no one else will buy them.

I bought an Edwards LP copy that should have been 83,000 yen but was marked down to 59,000 for a scratch I could never find, and for fingerprints.

I think you'll be happy with Ishibashi.

 

[tfarny]

I lived in Japan for 5 years (Kyoto, Nova), so I know about the customer service and the fact that people take care of their gear, and the fact that used stuff sells for nothing - that's why this website caught my eye. I'll be working in Tokyo this summer for a few weeks, but may not last that long before the next GAS attack. Thanks for the info on the shop!

 

[vtpcnk]

is this non-reverse firebird sexy or what?

http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/

 

[vtpcnk]

>Ochanomizu

so if you are in tokyo, anybody can guide you there?

always wanted to visit japan since i am a huge fan of japanese movies (old and new).

hopefully i will soon.

hope to find a nice deal on an orville or epiphone elitist or mij fenders or tokai/greco/burnie etc.

in the ishibashi site, funnily even mexican fenders are pricier than mij ones. the foreign thing i guess.

i have a couple of usa gibsons - probably will take them with me and sell them there. maybe a warmoth body and neck as well.

 

[old_metal_head]

maybe a warmoth body and neck as well.

What body and neck do you have?

 

[Unwound G]

Only place I find where a fully assembled W equates the sum of the parts.

 

[whitebison66]

"so if you are in tokyo, anybody can guide you there?"

If you do a search for "Ochanomizu guitars", you'll see lots of threads on guitar forums about the neighborhood, as well as Shibuya and Shinjuku.

You can also get subway maps online. Get several, since there are lots of different lines.

If you go to Ochanomizu station on the (red) Maruonuchi (sp?) line, NOT the JR line, you'll exit the station and cross the river. If you go on the JR line, just exit the station You'll see the shops from there.

Attached are some maps I found online. There may be others by now. Do an image search for "Ochanomizu guitar"

One is Ochanomizu with some stores marked. The Google map image is the Ishibashi in Shinjuku.

Rock Inn is in Shinjuku as well, a few blocks away.

The last one is a map of Shibuya shops. There's quite a few around the station, and Ishibashi is not far away. It's near Book Off. Check out the Union Disk (used CDs/DVDs) upstairs too. If you stand on the corner in front of Tower records and go up the hill you see, you will find the ESP Craft House. Make sure you have a drool cup. And at least two hours. 

Hope that helps!

 

[vtpcnk]

maybe a warmoth body and neck as well.

What body and neck do you have?

are you in japan?

 

[vtpcnk]

whitebison66, thanks for all that useful info. appreciate it.

btw any tips on selling a used gibson lp out there? craigslist or directly to a music shop etc?

from the japanese movies i have seen, japs seem to be highly volatile - i don't want somebody to lop my head off (or even worse my fretting fingers) with their katana when i try to negotiate a good deal because i (unknowingly) offended them!

 

[tfarny]

Yeah it's hard to type at all with all the missing fingers from "the Japs" chopping them off when I unknowingly leave my shoes facing the wrong direction in the entry to a house or ask for a discount on a used guitar. That guy who lopped off my head was way out of line though!  :help: :help: :toothy12:

On what planet do you spend your time, vckntp?

 

[Superlizard]

Konichi-wa.

Sushi-hama.

Yokohama Rice Bowl.