Basses from Japan- often different than models in the US?

[knumbskull]

I snapped a few a while back:

 

[knumbskull]

 

[knumbskull]

 

[knumbskull]

 

[knumbskull]

Argh, they’re sideways. I’m in a rush now, will try and fix a bit later.

 

[mb94952]

Those are some KILLER basses, @knumbskull . Every single one looks amazing. What color choices.

Here's another bass I've never heard of, and Danny says it's cream of the MIJ crop. He always makes basses sound amazing. He's got such a good imagination and ear.

 

[knumbskull]

Ah i missed one:

 

[Confunk]

Pics are from the website, but I visited there. Not your local Sam Ash, eh?

The procedure for trying a bass:
You ask clerk, clerk removes, tunes, and polishes bass, then hands it over.

Reverse process when you're done.
Reverance!


Grundy Base Tokyo - Store Information | Ikebe Musical Instrument Store (ikebe-gakki.com)

 

[klejst]

I've had a number of basses shipped from Japan w/ 0 issues.
Custom Fees are a crap shoot, with the odds in favor of the buyer- Only rarely does the US Customs tag a parcel for fees, its arbitrary.
(That is direct from US Customs agent.)
Happened to me only once, from England IIRC. Bummer, but only once is not bad at all. Plus, its not a deal breaker for an otherwise unobtainable instrument.

Retailers like IKEBE etc. have experience & take great care in packing & shipping, No problems there either.
EMS is fast and effective, around 5 days for me to the West Coast. Costs of ALL shipping these days is crazy high (what isn't?); last I paid was around $120 insured. No doubt it's increased, but I've seen Japan-made basses ship from Reverb dealers e.g. for around $150.
Again- if you find a Japanese bass you like, IMO well worth the added costs & time. Sure there are great builders here, but some of the Japanese products- Wow.

Outside shops may be bad, but shipping containers are probably ok. Internal changes of temperature and humidity will be slow, and avoid acute stresses. My Westones see humidity swing between 46 and 100 percent on a daily basis throughout nearly 6 weeks of the year, and I like to practise outside in sunlight with headphones on. None of this seems to bother them, even the tuning stays solid. I used to think I'd miss a graphite neck for this reason, but I don't. So long as there's no condensation on the wood and metal, they're ok.

Sure, all true and Japan makes some awesome stuff. I was more so just letting the OP know of experiences and things I have encountered to also possibly consider is all, not hating on Japan or their bass stuff at all!

 

[Confunk]

Sure, all true and Japan makes some awesome stuff. I was more so just letting the OP know of experiences and things I have encountered to also possibly consider is all, not hating on Japan or their bass stuff at all!

With world-wide shipping delays for the last year or so, I certainly would also advise due diligence when purchasing anything overseas (or domestically for that matter.)
If the seller is experienced and in touch- they know what to expect as far as getting the goods to where they're going,and they should provide that info to any interested buyer in advance.

 

[knumbskull]

Pics are from the website, but I visited there. Not your local Sam Ash, eh?

The procedure for trying a bass:
You ask clerk, clerk removes, tunes, and polishes bass, then hands it over.

Reverse process when you're done.
Reverance!


Grundy Base Tokyo - Store Information | Ikebe Musical Instrument Store (ikebe-gakki.com)View attachment 4820047 View attachment 4820048

nice, pretty sure i visited that one too!

 

[knumbskull]

There were a couple of shots i took that were not specifically Japanese models but i snapped them as i’d never seen an Alembic or Pedullas before:

 

[knumbskull]

 

[knumbskull]

… anyway, i guess my point was there are some pretty interesting bass models to be had, and the bass shops out there are very nice indeed!

I didn’t buy anything for logistical reasons but was pretty seriously tempted.

 

[mb94952]

@knumbskull , so bassically (misspelled on purpose) you go to visit what Bass Heaven looks like. Every single bass in Japan that you showed us is world class. That Alembic Stanley Clarke has a cocobolo top and is one of the prettiest wood Alembic uses for tops. I've never seen so many Pedulla's in one place. Thanks for that little vacation to Japan.

 

[Slapndbayass]

The Stanley is my fave Alembic design. Nice photo!

 

[Slapndbayass]

The procedure for trying a bass:
You ask clerk, clerk removes, tunes, and polishes bass, then hands it over.

Reverse process when you're done.
Reverance!

Yeah they're like that with everything.

Ever see how they pack an apple for shipment with special made expanded foam "mittens?"

I spent all day in Ochanamizu just to find an 88 weighted piano controller going from store to store.

 

[mb94952]

The last time I saw a documentary about Japanese labor compared to the rest of the world, the KFC staff would do jumping jacks in a row with the shift manager leading it like a gym class. That's their work ethic.

I don't know what they did at Burger King...

 

[Confunk]

I don't know either, but in Harajuku, I saw a Shakey's Pizza and TGIF. In addition, one of my "guides" worked at a local Outback Steakhouse.
On the other side, they took me for the best Tempura ever (forget the restaurant's name) where I was the only American in the place.

 

[mb94952]

I don't know either, but in Harajuku, I saw a Shakey's Pizza and TGIF. In addition, one of my "guides" worked at a local Outback Steakhouse.
On the other side, they took me for the best Tempura ever (forget the restaurant's name) where I was the only American in the place.

Mmmmm Shakey's Pizza.