Purchased a bass from Japan...

[iTzPrime]

Thanks for sharing. I eventually want to buy a p bass. Used and made in Japan. Nice bass you have there.

I recently bought a Momose P Bass. it's insanely good

 

[Jari Kurri]

I'm heading to Tokyo in a couple weeks and while I'm not *looking* to buy a bass... well, you know. If I was to find a great P bass in a store, like the many I see on the Ishibaski site, is it customary to haggle? Are there fees associated with buying something in person and flying back home with it to the states?

 

[urkel3000]

I'm heading to Tokyo in a couple weeks and while I'm not *looking* to buy a bass... well, you know. If I was to find a great P bass in a store, like the many I see on the Ishibaski site, is it customary to haggle? Are there fees associated with buying something in person and flying back home with it to the states?

I can't answer your question. But I can tell you that I have an Edwards P bass that is phenomenal and I would highly recommend trying one

 

[shadven]

I just remembered a purchase I made about 5 years ago from Japan - I bought a Marahall 8x10 Bass Cab for $1000, including Free Shipping. It was a crazy big and heavy beast of a cabinet, and it arrived in pristine condition. I couldn't; believe that was even possible.... shipping must have been at least $500. It took less than 10 days to get to me.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Ishibashi and Ikebe have online stores on Reverb in addition to their own websites

https://reverb.com/shop/ikebe-music#

https://reverb.com/shop/ishibashis-...b0H_hUYkNh7rWaPyUZUfFbIC-kkKTwS8aAoYXEALw_wcB

 

[AltecGreen]

I'm heading to Tokyo in a couple weeks and while I'm not *looking* to buy a bass... well, you know. If I was to find a great P bass in a store, like the many I see on the Ishibaski site, is it customary to haggle? Are there fees associated with buying something in person and flying back home with it to the states?

There's no haggling in Japan. While not impossible, it is very unlikely for a tourist to get a discount. Even a long time client of decades might get only a few percent off.

There is no fee for buying in person and they will take off Japanese VAT that is already included in the price. (make sure to bring your passport). So thats 10% off the listed price.

 

[AltecGreen]

The big stores in Japan are Kurosawa, Ikebe, Ishibashi, and Shimamura. Each of the big stores have different business models. For example, Shimamura operate out of large shopping malls. Kurosawa have smaller stores. In Tokyo Kurosawa have G Club Shibuya, G Club Tokyo, Kurosawa Ikebukuro for guitars and basses. Kuroasawa have other stores for things like violins, etc. Ikebe have a big store in Tokyo but also have smaller speciallized stores all over town like the one for pedals, one for drums, etc.

Other medium to big stores include the ESP owned stores and Yamano music. The ESP stores do not ship internationally. Not sure about Yamano.

For smaller stores, check out Bass in Geek and the MPC van chain of stores (Blue Guitars, Red Guitars, Green Guitars, and Black Guitars. White Guitars was closed). Both stores have English website.

After that you have a slew of medium to small stores. Many of these stores have english sites and sell directly internationally.

As noted above, Ishibashi and Ikebe have Reverb storefronts. Kurosawa also has a reverb store front but that is listed under the individual stores like G Club Shibuya,

The eBay sellers are a sourge and should not be encouraged.


For instruments at stores that do not sell directly, one can use a proxy service. Someone already mentioned Buyee. But there are hundreds of these companies because Japan has a lot of goods that are available. I use Zenmarket and Rabbit Japan. The reason to buy from Japan is the selection. There are so many brands that are available there that are not available in the US.

It's 11/11 and it's Bass Day in Japan (yes is a thing). So here are the Japanese basses I own.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

The big stores in Japan are Kurosawa, Ikebe, Ishibashi, and Shimamura. Each of the big stores have different business models. For example, Shimamura operate out of large shopping malls. Kurosawa have smaller stores. In Tokyo Kurosawa have G Club Shibuya, G Club Tokyo, Kurosawa Ikebukuro for guitars and basses. Kuroasawa have other stores for things like violins, etc. Ikebe have a big store in Tokyo but also have smaller speciallized stores all over town like the one for pedals, one for drums, etc.

Other medium to big stores include the ESP owned stores and Yamano music. The ESP stores do not ship internationally. Not sure about Yamano.

For smaller stores, check out Bass in Geek and the MPC van chain of stores (Blue Guitars, Red Guitars, Green Guitars, and Black Guitars. White Guitars was closed). Both stores have English website.

After that you have a slew of medium to small stores. Many of these stores have english sites and sell directly internationally.

As noted above, Ishibashi and Ikebe have Reverb storefronts. Kurosawa also has a reverb store front but that is listed under the individual stores like G Club Shibuya,

The eBay sellers are a sourge and should not be encouraged.


For instruments at stores that do not sell directly, one can use a proxy service. Someone already mentioned Buyee. But there are hundreds of these companies because Japan has a lot of goods that are available. I use Zenmarket and Rabbit Japan. The reason to buy from Japan is the selection. There are so many brands that are available there that are not available in the US.

It's 11/11 and it's Bass Day in Japan (yes is a thing). So here are the Japanese basses I own.View attachment 7075158

Great info