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

[099451057947]

I, too have both noticed Japan and the Russian Federation when looking explicitly for Warwick. I kinda gave up because I don’t think I’d really play (a lot) an unlined fretless P/J flamed maple body...

 

[Tom Bomb]

It's all a bit unsettling. Pays to get yourself into a good mood, beforehand. Ride it out. Some of the shipping fees alone boggle the mind, not just from Japan Some of the prices on offer will rot your bloody socks Tricky.

This is [This invalid link has been removed], an old haunt, where some of the madness abates, for me. Rarely, I'll get some similar satisfaction elsewhere. It's just a reassurance for me — a kind of grounding process. I like to see what's what, every now and again — but I'm glad I got in when I did. For the most part, I'm now out of the game. My humble needs have been met, more or less. I pity those who are desperate today for an axe or something. Soldier on, folks Be patient.

I just 'walked away' with aother drum, from Japan. Right now, it's winging its way over, ever-so-slowly — it's a whole new ballgame, these days. Delays are commonplace; EMS doesn't cut it here anymore, and we're no longer relieved here of any tax. It all mounts up. Everyone's up against it — understandably — but, by participating, if you can manage it, there's satisfaction in the knowledge that every little bit helps And, if you play your cards right, gratitude abounds, regardless, both ways
​

 

[Tom Bomb]

Markets are not really cyclical in the way people wish they were. Real estate just goes up - except in times when nobody (except institutional investors) has money. As a proportion of incomes, it just goes up. Same goes for oil and many other commodities; it cycles with ability to pay.

The prices and availability of low-end instruments -- the Squiers, Yamahas -- have not really budged. That's not what people are talking about on the forums. People are sore because the older/more rare instruments have been made (by them) into commodities. Like fine art, those prices are not coming down. This surge in prices is all about the really unseemly transfer of wealth to the upper middle class through fiscal stimulus. Nobody seems to want to admit that they are making out like a bandit from the pandemic -- y'all know who you are.

As far as Japanese sellers -- I haven't seen particularly high prices from them. The cost of shipping is somewhat high and they sometimes wrap that in. There is also a higher transaction cost when they have to deal with Americans, in English, like the guy above.

I don't pretend to understand all of this — the dismal science turns my brain to mush, at the best of times — but this is a good read and it does ring true, reflecting my own experience.

I'm not sore but,

… the older/more rare instruments have been made (by [us]) into commodities. …

… guilty as charged
​

 

[MAJOR METAL]

I've always heard that Japan has the world's best guitar shops.

 

[Wilmingtonian]

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

$2,117.20! But more insulting than the price is they had a chance to just make it $2112 and blew it.

 

[knumbskull]

I've always heard that Japan has the world's best guitar shops.

I visited some really good ones in Tokyo

As i recall the prices were similar to UK, which probably does seem insanely high if you’re coming from the US.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Seller response: it is the effect of the corona virus

LOL

 

[murphy]

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

@Malak the Mad is selling a grey one

 

[A9X]

I suspect there are parts of the world where you can't get stuff shipped from the USA

Even if they are blocked my distributor agreements selling into other countries, you can easily and quite affordable use a US based onshipper. I've done it many times for all sorts of items.