ChunkyMunky Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I am about to go on a hotel gig in Asia and I'm looking for something to use whilst I'm over there. I intend to use my first months pay ($2000USD) to purchase a 5 string. Has anyone had any experience over with our friends in the east? I'd idealistically like to hunt down something like a Sadowsky or another MM Bongo. Any ideas, chaps and chapettes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 How about a Moolon? Great basses and hand made in Korea. Tim Lefevbre plays one and it sounds great in his hands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I need to get my eyes tested. I read the title of this thread as "Getting a bass in Asda?". I have nothing useful to contribute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 These look promising. In terms of purchasing a bass, I meant where in any of the countries like China, S.Korea etc... would I find something decent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) [quote name='ChunkyMunky' timestamp='1407953151' post='2525732'] I am about to go on a hotel gig in Asia and I'm looking for something to use whilst I'm over there. I intend to use my first months pay ($2000USD) to purchase a 5 string. Has anyone had any experience over with our friends in the east? I'd idealistically like to hunt down something like a Sadowsky or another MM Bongo. Any ideas, chaps and chapettes? [/quote] Asia? A very big place is Asia. Edited August 13, 2014 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share Posted August 13, 2014 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1407963099' post='2525909'] I need to get my eyes tested. I read the title of this thread as "Getting a bass in Asda?". I have nothing useful to contribute. [/quote] I wouldn't worry, that made me laugh heartily. [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1407963780' post='2525920'] Asia? A very big place is Asia. [/quote] Yeah, I was being horrifically unspecific, right? I'm looking at any of the big cities because I'm not sure where my first contract will be, so at the risk of seeming a bit vague, I might as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swanbrook Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I spent a month I vietnam in Hanoi. One of the guys who worked in the hotel brought me to a few stores ( a street with about 4o huts ) and I picked up a bass that I still use the odd time ! No idea what it's called He also read the classified adds for me to see if I could pick up amps and stuff. My advice get to know the hotel staff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgie Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 [quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1407963099' post='2525909'] I need to get my eyes tested. I read the title of this thread as "Getting a bass in Asda?". I have nothing useful to contribute. [/quote] Is that because you know how to get a bassin Asda and not Asia? BTW I do that a lot as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted August 13, 2014 Share Posted August 13, 2014 I found a couple of guitar shops in Bangkok. They had the usual Fender and Gibson offerings and some Parker Fly basses. The prices were a lot better than here in the UK, VAT being only 7% and import duties much cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Thanks for all of the responses so far, guys. Keep 'em coming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Just a thought but Japan websites might be able to help. Basses can be imported to Thailand quickly. It might be worth looking at some of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgie Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 [quote name='Bassman Sam' timestamp='1407972389' post='2526013'] I found a couple of guitar shops in Bangkok. They had the usual Fender and Gibson offerings and some Parker Fly basses. The prices were a lot better than here in the UK, VAT being only 7% and import duties much cheaper. [/quote] Hmmm might check those out. Got addresses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimryan Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Whilst I was out there, we found music shops all over the place. In Shanghai there's street that is solely instrument shops, With pretty decent bass sections. Also in Manila there was a good selection. Whilst out there I went in to this one shop and the bass section was 2-3 times larger than the bass section, all decent prices where the owner didn't have a clue. Failing that, there's an exclusive bar in Manila and a guy called Jericho part owns it. Get in touch with him. We played the club and I had a chat with him, he's one of the biggest distributors over there and has a very nice collection of gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 [quote name='gadgie' timestamp='1407971636' post='2526005'] BTW I do that a lot as well. [/quote] Ha! I often do that lot too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrammeFriday Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 My experience is limited to South Korea and Japan. In Seoul, [size=4]Nakwon Music Arcade is massive, but I prefer [/size][size=4]Music Force (http://basscollection.co.kr/) as they have loads of lovely Roscoes and MTDs as well as the usual suspects.[/size] If you will be visiting Tokyo I can heartily recommend a trip to [size=4]G-Club Shibuya (http://www.kurosawagakki.com/tags/search/4/0/2969.html). More lovely Roscoes and MTDs, and a shedload of other quality basses, all on one dedicated floor.[/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChunkyMunky Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Excellent suggestions, everyone. I must admit, they sure are coming up as rather expensive. Though I haven't checked Thailand, I saw the basses in Japan and South Korea are probably more expensive than the US counterparts. I must be missing something, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razze06 Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 There's some nice music gear shops in some of the malls on Orchard Road in Singapore. Don't expect very cheap though Plenty of high end Ibanez, Warwick and Musicman in the one shop I briefly perused while on holiday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 (edited) I picked up a Sadowsky Tokyo in Japan about ten years ago while on a show ( In Tokyo funny enough..lol..). It's pretty expensive out there, but a huge amount of high end basses in the shops. If you go to Tokyo, check out this place (Sadowsky). Oh, and take your debit visa card. http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/web-ikebe/Sadowsky_IKEBE35th/index.html http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/ec/srDispProductUpdateSearch/10379/3/11010000000/20140814/ Edited August 14, 2014 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 [quote name='gadgie' timestamp='1407987473' post='2526034'] Hmmm might check those out. Got addresses? [/quote] Sorry, I didn't get the addresses. I just came across them while shopping with the OH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 (edited) S2, double post. Edited August 14, 2014 by Bassman Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Count Bassy Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Clout John Wetton over the head and take his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fun size nick Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 I generally wouldn't recommend buying music gear in mainland China as it's far too expensive to buy it (and many other kinds of foreign goods like that) here - the import taxes bump things up pretty significantly. I do my shopping (albeit mostly strings, accessories etc - I'm good for basses at the moment!) in Hong Kong, where there's the giant Tom Lee shop in Tsim Sha Tsui (lots of Fender, Music Man, Warwick too I think) as well as a number of smaller shops that stock some of the high-end US brands. I haven't had experience in Japan or Korea but I've heard good things, and there are a few decent places that I've been to in Bangkok but you'd want to ask someone local for specific shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2004gdavi Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Getting a bass in Asia? Has anyone thought of asking Greg Lake? Apologies for being flippant, can't help myself sometimes. hope you get the problem sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 [quote name='gadgie' timestamp='1407987473' post='2526034'] Hmmm might check those out. Got addresses? [/quote] Would only make a difference if you bought them over there and snuck them back in. If you purchased from there to send to UK, fairly sure you would have to pay our 20% VAT on full price including shipping. You would also need to pay UK import duties. Think it's the same as buying from States, add about 25% to cover shipping VAT and import. Back at OP, could you not buy a cheapie, then get a proper one sent to your hotel from an Internet dealer in the same country as you are working, if that makes sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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