I know this may seem weird,but try and nab a CIJ Fender when you're over there,they have all sorts that the Americans can't always get and us Europeans never see.
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Trip to Japan- getting a bass?
- Thread starter Tachyon
- Start date
I'll be going to Tokyo 10 days later (if everything works fine). And I'll be definitely checking the music stores (hush! actually that's primarily why I'm going there, but nobody knows this truth, japanese girls with mini skirt will be bonus 
). I'm doing my homework now and trying to locate all interesting instrument shops (e.g. ikebe and ishibashi). I also checked TB for what to do, where to see in Tokyo too (any more recommendation is welcome).
I'm planning to check and probably buy Fender Japan products. I'll check LTD (ESP are extremely pricey) Edwards, Grass Roots too. Atelier Z and Moon are also economically beyond my reach/plans. AFAIK Bacchus are made by the same guys who made Riverhead Basses back than (Headaway?) and I've already got a headless Riverhead (same model that Michael Manring used to play). I'll be checking Bacchus too but they are pricey too.
Kenjikun could you give the address of those stores that you've mentioned? Google Earth links would be even more than perfect. Because even locating Ishibashi shops on Google Earth was very difficult.
And now praying to Gods of Wind to blow from the correct direction
). I'm doing my homework now and trying to locate all interesting instrument shops (e.g. ikebe and ishibashi). I also checked TB for what to do, where to see in Tokyo too (any more recommendation is welcome). I'm planning to check and probably buy Fender Japan products. I'll check LTD (ESP are extremely pricey) Edwards, Grass Roots too. Atelier Z and Moon are also economically beyond my reach/plans. AFAIK Bacchus are made by the same guys who made Riverhead Basses back than (Headaway?) and I've already got a headless Riverhead (same model that Michael Manring used to play). I'll be checking Bacchus too but they are pricey too.
Kenjikun could you give the address of those stores that you've mentioned? Google Earth links would be even more than perfect. Because even locating Ishibashi shops on Google Earth was very difficult.
And now praying to Gods of Wind to blow from the correct direction
US made basses especially vintage ones are equal if not more expensive in Japan! I would stick to the Japanese made basses. Atelier Z and Moon definitely the ones to watch out for especially the latter USED are of pretty good price, check out the Ishibashi website.
If you really look at the highend stuff, then you need to look a bit harder, I accidentally found a shop on 2nd or 3rd floor in some building in Shibuya which sells exclusively on high end boutique and vintage stuff, namely F bass, Sadowsky (US), Fodera, Alembic, Custom Warwick, vintage Fender etc.
I went to Tokyo in Sep 09 and bought a USED Fender Japan 70s Precision, the Sid Viscous lookalike. I saved the hassle of it shipped back to Hong Kong, instead I asked the shop to take the neck, machine heads and the body apart and bubble wrapped the lot separately. The body went in the suit case and the rest was hand carried in a plastic bag.
The bass also came with a hard case, too, which caused a bit of a panic at the airport check-in counter. I told them that it is a bass guitar hard case but was only filled with dirty laundry
and the bass was with me in bits. They asked me signed a few bits of paper, just in case I might me from putting anything in Youtube if anything breaks.
I went to Ishibashi (in Shinjuku) and bought the bass, their service is excellent, polite and very patient, too, even though I do not speak Japanese and they don't speak much English and zero of Chinese (only read a bit). Ill definitely buy from them again overall a very happy experience. BTW, I also checked out their USED stock from their website before I went.
Rock Inn in Shinjuku and Ishibashi in Shinjuku and Shibuya are worth visiting.
If you really look at the highend stuff, then you need to look a bit harder, I accidentally found a shop on 2nd or 3rd floor in some building in Shibuya which sells exclusively on high end boutique and vintage stuff, namely F bass, Sadowsky (US), Fodera, Alembic, Custom Warwick, vintage Fender etc.
I went to Tokyo in Sep 09 and bought a USED Fender Japan 70s Precision, the Sid Viscous lookalike. I saved the hassle of it shipped back to Hong Kong, instead I asked the shop to take the neck, machine heads and the body apart and bubble wrapped the lot separately. The body went in the suit case and the rest was hand carried in a plastic bag.
The bass also came with a hard case, too, which caused a bit of a panic at the airport check-in counter. I told them that it is a bass guitar hard case but was only filled with dirty laundry
and the bass was with me in bits. They asked me signed a few bits of paper, just in case I might me from putting anything in Youtube if anything breaks.I went to Ishibashi (in Shinjuku) and bought the bass, their service is excellent, polite and very patient, too, even though I do not speak Japanese and they don't speak much English and zero of Chinese (only read a bit). Ill definitely buy from them again overall a very happy experience. BTW, I also checked out their USED stock from their website before I went.
Rock Inn in Shinjuku and Ishibashi in Shinjuku and Shibuya are worth visiting.
im pretty sure christian mcbride played an Atelier Z on the philidelphia experiment album, and it sounded really great, but i was never able to find more info on them..
If anyone is going to Japan, I definitely recommend the chain of Ikebe stores. The website is in Japanese, but here is a link to their selection of basses:
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(You'll see a list of different makers.)
Their stores are spread out through Tokyo. I would recommend starting out in a place called Shibuya. They have an Ikebe store there as well as the "Bass Collection" which deals with "serious" high-end merchandise (Ken Smith, Fodera etc.) (The Shibuya area has lots of other stores as well.)
Here is a map of the various Ikebe stores in Shibuya. It's all in Japanese though, but they are all bunched in the same area.
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I would also recommend going to a part of town called Ochanomizu. They have a couple streets with nothing but instrument shops. It's sort of like Denmark street in London, but on steroids.
And while you are there, you should definitely stop by the Ikebe Bass Revole store in Akihabara (very near Ochanomizu, you can walk if you know where you are going). They've got a very large selection of basses.
Map: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
There are many many instrument shops in Tokyo. I'll be happy to help any fellow bass players who come through Tokyo. It's always a good feeling when I'm walking with my bass and visiting foreigners will stop me and ask me where they can find cool gear.
Invalid Link Removed
(You'll see a list of different makers.)
Their stores are spread out through Tokyo. I would recommend starting out in a place called Shibuya. They have an Ikebe store there as well as the "Bass Collection" which deals with "serious" high-end merchandise (Ken Smith, Fodera etc.) (The Shibuya area has lots of other stores as well.)
Here is a map of the various Ikebe stores in Shibuya. It's all in Japanese though, but they are all bunched in the same area.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
I would also recommend going to a part of town called Ochanomizu. They have a couple streets with nothing but instrument shops. It's sort of like Denmark street in London, but on steroids.
And while you are there, you should definitely stop by the Ikebe Bass Revole store in Akihabara (very near Ochanomizu, you can walk if you know where you are going). They've got a very large selection of basses.
Map: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
There are many many instrument shops in Tokyo. I'll be happy to help any fellow bass players who come through Tokyo. It's always a good feeling when I'm walking with my bass and visiting foreigners will stop me and ask me where they can find cool gear.
Here are a couple of small maps I put together from my last trip.. These are VERY rough,. but a good start.
As people have mentioned.. Ochanomizu is a great one stop shop (good new and second hand stores).. from memory its a stop before or after Ginza (very famous tourist area).
But personally I like Shibuya, just next to the train station is a bus station (trust me, you'll find it and go 'oh the bus station!'), across from there is an over pass.. on the other side of the over pass is about 3 or 4 ikebe gakkis and a music land key.. all cool stuff, those are some of my fave 'new' shops (though Ikebes 2nd hand store upstairs is great)... so look for the bus station, look up at the over pass.. over the otherside!
As people have mentioned.. Ochanomizu is a great one stop shop (good new and second hand stores).. from memory its a stop before or after Ginza (very famous tourist area).
But personally I like Shibuya, just next to the train station is a bus station (trust me, you'll find it and go 'oh the bus station!'), across from there is an over pass.. on the other side of the over pass is about 3 or 4 ikebe gakkis and a music land key.. all cool stuff, those are some of my fave 'new' shops (though Ikebes 2nd hand store upstairs is great)... so look for the bus station, look up at the over pass.. over the otherside!
But personally I like Shibuya, just next to the train station is a bus station (trust me, you'll find it and go 'oh the bus station!'), across from there is an over pass.. on the other side of the over pass is about 3 or 4 ikebe gakkis and a music land key.. all cool stuff, those are some of my fave 'new' shops (though Ikebes 2nd hand store upstairs is great)... so look for the bus station, look up at the over pass.. over the otherside!
I think this is the one went to in Shibuya, small shop but packed with plenty of highend goodies.
This is like 5 shops packed into one block, there is also an Ishibashi (which has loads of REALLY expensive vintage gear) in the Beam centre in Shibuya.. from memory there may be an Ikebe Bass store somewhere nearby as well.
Yes, this is the area. As. mr. mow said, there are like 5 stores packed in one block. The store with the "serious" highend goodies is called the "Bass Collection" but is actually one of the Ikebe stores. (Maybe sort of like what Lexus is to Toyota?
)FWIW, here's the link, but it's all in Japanese:
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The "regular" Ikebe stores have plenty of highend stuff as well, but also have their share of MIJ Fenders as well.
The Bass Collection has Foderas and the serious boutique stuff. IIRC, didn't see any Japanese basses here, but I guess Japanese basses might be rather "common place" in Japan, so this store might be going for the exotic "foreign" instruments.
If your after Atelier Z, Moon, Bacchus (i.e. the jazz basses which aren't readily available outside Japan), you would have no problem locating them in the other Ikebe stores, or in just about any store in Tokyo.
Wait until you get there and have to play a place to stay and eat! You won't have to worry about the temptation to buy anything because you'll already be broke.
Seriously though, go check out all the places you can, because the stores are so much better than anything in HK or the US!
Seriously though, go check out all the places you can, because the stores are so much better than anything in HK or the US!
Guys, please ......... Japanese Yen is so high!! :
I couldn't belive how expensive gear was in hong kong man! Went to I think it's called Tom lee or something in wan chai (off Nathan rd?)
I mean really amazing custom shop stuff but sooo expensive!
To the other guys saying japan is expensive to visit.. Everyone told us that on our first trip and we just didn't find it true at all.. It's the same for any foreign country, avoid the tourist areas, eat with the locals.. The food is better and cheaper, don't stay in the tourist areas, the best hotels in Tokyo are in the suburban areas ( and I'm talking some of the best hotels I've stayed in the world, not flashy but ultra hip modern and cool.. And well priced). Eating in japan though, it's no more expensive than anywhere else.
Buying basses.. I recommend buying Japanese brands second hand, it's a strange thing there where they dong seem to want domestic stuff second hand, talking $2500 ESP basses 2nd hand for $600, Bacchus for $400 etc, crazy deals.
2nd hand, look out for obscure brands like P-project, it's the fernandes custom shop, picked one up for $400, it's phenomenal..
everything mr.wow said is 100% correct! For cheaper meals ... go to YOSHINOYA, its a budget small eatery scattered almost everywhere.
Sample of P-Project bass (Roger Sadowsky would be interested)
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That's just like mine! Except it's sunburst..
think it was about 43,000yen from ishi, stainless frets, 2pc body, pre amp and one of the nicest necks I've ever felt. Very nice bass. I've seen fretless versions too.. On the lookout for one!
I'd really love to get my hands on those japanese fenders, especially the models we don't have around. I'd really like to hear this beast Link Removed
