Recent content by taconeko

Right on! I grew up around the 5 boroughs and spent most of my life there before moving to Tokyo a few years back. I love it here :hyper:

I remember having a similar impression. I think the original poster would be happy with a Three Dots bass. Whether Three Dots, Black Smoker, or other brands that sell basses for over $2000.00, they are all incredibly well made. Personally, I want to try one of these from a newer builder -...

The market for boutique jazz basses in Japan is hot. There are so many options, with Xotic probably being the most popular for the past couple of years. There's also Black Smoker that's starting to gain a bit of popularity, too. Anyway, here is a sound clip of a Three Dots bass that is...

I am originally from New York City but have been in Japan for the past few years with my family in Tokyo. I work remotely for an international company and play bass whenever the kids let me :)

The first run of the RSD line was disappointing for the price. They sound nice but they are in a competitive space, especially if you consider used options. It is still possible (in Japan) to find made in Japan Metro basses for 165,000 JPY which is around $1500. That is not even factoring in...

That’s a nice situation to find yourself in :) If I were in your situation, I’d think about electronics (or the sound of the instrument), looks, string spacing, ergonomics (does it neck dive or balance awkwardly?), and weight in that order. Given that Smith’s are known for a specific sound...

That I am not sure. I learned this from a post that is from 2010 that I have seen referenced in other places as well - ｷﾞﾀｰﾒｰｶｰのEDWARDSの製造国は中国だけですか？例えばアーティストモデルなどの金額の高いｷﾞﾀｰなどは製造国は日... - Yahoo!知恵袋 pardon the fact that it is in not in English

Edwards is made in China with final setup and inspection taking place in Japan. They are quite nice. I have owned an Edwards and a Grassroots bass. Very good for the money :thumbsup:

Strange that the original owner ordered the bass without a preamp. I cannot say that I have come across that model without a pre. In terms of modifications, go wild if it were me, I would probably replace the bridge for something lighter and thinner. For the pickups, I am not so sure. I...

My favorite modifications have been adding EMG J pickups to a vintage style jazz bass, along with a Ray Ross bridge, and a finger ramp between the pickups. I love the results. I also swapped the bridge on another bass from a dense brass bridge to an aluminum Hipshot A and am happy with that as...

It seems that they were made by Fujigen in the 80s. I found a few auctions for those basses going for around or less than $100.

It is on Invalid Link Removed as for the credibility of the seller, I cannot say. I would encourage overseas buyers to stick with brands like Kurosawa Gakki, Ikebe Gakki, or Danny Stewart at Bass Japan Direct

Regardless of which brand you choose, the build quality will be excellent. It all depends on what you are looking for, as I feel that Bacchus, Momose, Atelier Z, and Dragonfly target different players. Bacchus is a modern approach to traditional designs. They make all sorts of instruments from...

It depends on what you are looking for and how much you’re willing to spend :) If you have specific questions about any of the brands mentioned above, ask away. Deviser makes great instruments from production to hand made (Bacchus, Momose, STR). I have owned all 3, still own a Momose and STR...

Bacchus: multiple product lines from low cost to hand-crafted high end instruments that are made in Japan. Bacchus experiments with different body shapes, headless offerings, finishes, and more. The global series is made overseas (in the Philippines, if I’m not mistaken). If you are looking for...