Anyone else notice how many guitars and basses are being sold from Japan?

[MustangMan78]

I’ve been cruising eBay and Reverb lately looking at various models of guitars and basses (mainly Fender and Ibanez). I’ve also been looking at Sam Ash’s stock, which is non-existent at the moment (I have a Sam Ash card). It seems like our Japanese friends may have bought up a lot of the available stock over the past year. It seems like almost every model I’m interested in is only available from a Japanese seller at a rediculously inflated price due to the exchange rate and Japanese domestic market. Has anyone else noticed this with other brands/models? Take a look for yourself and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I feel like there has always been availability, with a few listings overseas. It seems like the opposite is true now!

 

[Black Out Jazz]

I have seen mexican Geddy Lee Jazzes for 4000 on ebay. I think they are hoping for suckers with lots of money.

 

[jd56hawk]

I’ve been cruising eBay and Reverb lately looking at various models of guitars and basses (mainly Fender and Ibanez). I’ve also been looking at Sam Ash’s stock, which is non-existent at the moment (I have a Sam Ash card). It seems like our Japanese friends may have bought up a lot of the available stock over the past year. It seems like almost every model I’m interested in is only available from a Japanese seller at a rediculously inflated price due to the exchange rate and Japanese domestic market. Has anyone else noticed this with other brands/models? Take a look for yourself and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I feel like there has always been availability, with a few listings overseas. It seems like the opposite is true now!

Noticed it a few years ago.
Some crazy prices, just like here.

 

[Texaspandj]

Yep, I've noticed. The bigger problem is that those basses are actually NICE!

 

[el murdoque]

I don't think the number of sellers from Japan varies that much. I've always seen them, but never gave them a second thought. The Japanese prices seem to be inflated. A slightly used item is above the European MSRP - and that is before import tax and shipping.

These offers are usually found all the way at the bottom of the last page and I hardly ever scroll there - but when looking for rather exotic equipment where the list is very short, they usually crop up.
Right now, the list is short for lots of items, so the Japanese show up more often.

 

[micguy]

I find it interesting that there are Asian sellers of gear that often charge more than the list price - you can buy a new unit (stuff in production) direct from the manufacturer for less than the price the Asian seller has it listed at. I suspect there are parts of the world where you can't get stuff shipped from the USA - maybe they serve that market.

 

[Ghastly]

I HAVE noticed exactly this. Yes, there have always been a handful of Japanese sellers with rediculously inflated prices, but there have always been a healthy choice of alternatives here in the states. Now, not so much. Most of the basses I'm looking at are showing up only from the Japanese sellers.

 

[sleddogn]

I've had a good relationship with one seller there. I've had conversations with him about the inflated prices we see here from their listings. Its really about the market elsewhere as compared to here. The prices in Japan are just much higher than here, and they are pricing to sell there not really elsewhere. I do agree when searching ebay, seems 2/3 of the listings are there

 

[BearChunk]

I live in Tokyo and the prices here are insane. Basically MSRP. There is no “retail price” here. Deals can be had via second hand shops or Mercari/Yahoo Auction etc. But through a shop no way. And if you ever bring instruments to Japan do not ever try to sell them at shops. I had a shop here try to offer me $1800 for a $15k mandolin and say it was a “fair price.”

 

[B-Mac]

I’ve been cruising eBay and Reverb lately looking at various models of guitars and basses (mainly Fender and Ibanez). I’ve also been looking at Sam Ash’s stock, which is non-existent at the moment (I have a Sam Ash card). It seems like our Japanese friends may have bought up a lot of the available stock over the past year. It seems like almost every model I’m interested in is only available from a Japanese seller at a rediculously inflated price due to the exchange rate and Japanese domestic market. Has anyone else noticed this with other brands/models? Take a look for yourself and you’ll see what I’m talking about. I feel like there has always been availability, with a few listings overseas. It seems like the opposite is true now!

Yes, I’ve noticed and the only ones that I have been interested in are the Japanese non-export models.


Got my eye on two Fender Aerodyne’s

Gun Metal Blue
& a
White one

 

[Leonid Nidis]

It's a bunch of resellers who dont even own the instrument.
Relisting all kind of local stuff.
If a sucker bites they buy it and ship it to you making profit.
The real shops will have a more reasonable price.
Of course everything imported to Japan will be more expansive.
Buy Japanese made from japan,us made from the us,same for Europe.

 

[jd56hawk]

One way to solve the problem.
Buy a Japanese bass.
You know, something really nice that you can't find here every day of the week.

 

[mikewalker]

I have seen mexican Geddy Lee Jazzes for 4000 on ebay. I think they are hoping for suckers with lots of money.

You think eBay is bad - check out some listings on AMAZON. I swear there's a lot of money-laundering going on there... I often see items listed for 1,000% of retail

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I had a friend with a well-off father-in-law that participated in one of Eric Clapton's guitar auctions. He reported that a lot of the inventory was getting bought up by overseas buyers as investment pieces.

I also remember a few MI reps in the late 90s mentioning how all of the used guitars were getting bought up by people on other continents. So now, it seems like those 90s pieces are all getting resold back to North America.

Most of the guitars I see for sale are not too stupid price-wise. I am also pretty sure I saw one of my old guitars for sale by a Japanese broker. But I can't confirm that.

 

[Pings Bass]

The musical instrument market is commoditized, especially in a time of relative scarcity. As with any commodity, if you're speculating, you want to buy low and sell high. Right now is not the time to buy into the market.

Woe to those who just want to buy a sweet bass for a sweet price, but stick around. Markets are cyclical. As the supply chain loosens and new instruments start hitting the streets at or near pre-pandemic levels, the used market will ease and the speculators will need to start dumping their holdings lest they be caught at the bottom with excess stock.

 

[g-dude]

When I was shopping for my Spector, the ones for sale out of Japan were simply amazing. Top grade woods and finishes...and prices. Spector Euros costing almost as much as the USA made ones.

 

[tpaul]

Yes, many basses from Japan. Also I've often seen the exact same bass listed simultaneously by two or more sellers.

 

[micguy]

The title of this thread talks about how many guitars and basses are being sold from Japan. My guess is the number being sold is pretty small (due to high prices and the like), but there are a fair number being offered.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Double the list price for new MIM Geddy. More than a new USA Geddy. Fender Japan Geddy Lee Jazz Bass | eBay

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Double the list price for new MIM Geddy. More than a new USA Geddy. Fender Japan Geddy Lee Jazz Bass | eBay

87.1% positive feedback. Nice review--- "
Item came poorly packed and shipped with undisclosed damage. Seller did not respond to any of my messages, very frustrating.
Fender Japan Aerodyne Jazz Bass (#363332801466)"