Japanese second hand shops

[Annoying Twit]

Completely unrequested by anybody, here are some results of searching for second hand basses on the internet in Japanese.

[url="http://www.shimokura-secondhands.com/used_bass_list.html"]http://www.shimokura..._bass_list.html[/url] Look at all the Fender Japan basses for the low £200s.

Free postage to anywhere in Japan. It won't be free to the UK, but they do post! [url="http://www.shimokura-secondhands.com/kaitori.html"]http://www.shimokura...om/kaitori.html[/url] There is an English page, but it doesn't seem to mention posting internationally.

I'm going to continue searching and edit this page. If anyone wants to search, you can paste this into google: 中古　ベース

TC Gakki - really good range here IMHO. The Atlansia bass is sold out, but this Aria ProII SB700 is about £300. (Plus postage, plus duty, if they would sell it). [url="http://www.tcgakki.com/items06/tc064936.html"]http://www.tcgakki.c...6/tc064936.html[/url]

List of brands on the left is in English, click on a brand then you see the basses. [url="http://www.tcgakki.com/search/?result&cp=4&cc=21"]http://www.tcgakki.c...sult&cp=4&cc=21[/url] Atlansia was under Aria Pro II.

Komehyo - Not as impressive as the other shops, but there are some Fender Japan basses that match the other shop's prices (might not be comparing like for like). [url="http://komehyo.jp/disp/CSfDispListPage_001.jsp?dispNo=001010002"]http://komehyo.jp/di...ispNo=001010002[/url]

Amazon Japan sells second hand basses? [url="http://www.amazon.co.jp/エレキベース-中古品-ベース/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=n%3A2129914051%2Cp_n_condition-type%3A2226152051"]http://www.amazon.co...pe%3A2226152051[/url] I presume through shops.

Miki Gakki - the third and biggest pull down menu in the middle of the page is for brand, and the brands are named in English. [url="https://www.mikigakki.com/usedlist/used_list01.php?Cat_Id=04000000000"]https://www.mikigakk..._Id=04000000000[/url]

Double basses. (I guess no-one's going to try to buy one of these, but it looks interesting) [url="http://www.kurosawagakki.com/tags/search/7/0/41-1561-1663-4134.html"]http://www.kurosawag...-1663-4134.html[/url]

Ikebe Gakki. [url="http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/ec/srDispProductSolrSearchList.html?categoryCd1=11020000000&categoryCd2=&brandName=&colorCd=&priceFrom=+&priceTo=+&instrumentType=2&keyword=+&storeId=&x=53&y=14&registKeyword=true&sortKey=1"]http://www.ikebe-gak...=true&sortKey=1[/url] This link will show second hand. The third pulldown menu at the top marked ブランドを選択 chooses brand. An Atlansia for about £600 (plus postage plus duty) [url="http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/ec/pro/disp/1/421978"]http://www.ikebe-gak...o/disp/1/421978[/url]

Fender Japan for about £150? [url="http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/ec/pro/disp/1/422733"]http://www.ikebe-gak...o/disp/1/422733[/url]

I didn't even know that there was a Les Paul Junior bass. [url="http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/ec/pro/disp/1/419272"]http://www.ikebe-gak...o/disp/1/419272[/url]

White Aria Pro II SB1000 ST for the low £200s? [url="http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/ec/pro/disp/1/415309"]http://www.ikebe-gak...o/disp/1/415309[/url] Is this a Japanese made model?

Backdrop Music. Only three basses, but one is a Tune and another is an Atlansia. If you go down the bottom to the square labelled "新日本プロレス” you can buy pro wrestling stuff including a towel! http://www.b-drop.com/music/bass-used/

The wrestling towels: http://www.b-drop.com/nj-pw/nj-pw-towel/

Edited October 2, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[gjones]

Very interesting thanks for that. The first website says they don't ship overseas at the bottom of the page. [url="http://www.shimokura-webshop.com/products/detail.php?product_id=59023&category_id=630"]http://www.shimokura...category_id=630[/url]

Edited October 2, 2015 by gjones

[Annoying Twit]

Back to Ishibashi. Japanese made Greco bass for £70.

[url="http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/80-325491803"]http://store.ishibas.../1/80-325491803[/url]

It is a fairly basic PJ, however. Unless someone is a Greco collector or something, the postage and fees would make it quite expensive, surely more than doubling the listing price.

Something over £100 listing price for a Japanese Greco PB. [url="http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/80-325582703"]http://store.ishibas.../1/80-325582703[/url]

The white Aria Pro II SB1000ST is a modern model, which isn't top of the range. New price on it is £750 or so.

Cheapest Fender on Ishibashi is this one: http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/80-325648803 £120.

Edited October 3, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Skybone]

I expect that those links may end costing me dearly!

Brilliant stuff, thanks for putting them up.

[Kempy535]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1443861412' post='2878183']
Back to Ishibashi. Japanese made Greco bass for £70.

The white Aria Pro II SB1000ST is a modern model, which isn't top of the range. New price on it is £750 or so.

Cheapest Fender on Ishibashi is this one: [url="http://store.ishibashi.co.jp/ec/pro/disp/1/80-325648803"]http://store.ishibas.../1/80-325648803[/url] £120.
[/quote]

They are a bit sneaky. If you try and by that bass and have it shipped out of Japan they will say no. [url="http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/eubox.php?word=2&key=Fender+Japan&equal1=&value5=&select5=down&sort=&print=40&T=gazo"]This[/url] link is where the sell stuff to customers out of Japan, we kind of get the left overs and stuff that doesnt sell. I have had ordered many guitars from Ishibashi always top service

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Kempy535' timestamp='1444030308' post='2879480']
They are a bit sneaky. If you try and by that bass and have it shipped out of Japan they will say no. [url="http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/eubox.php?word=2&key=Fender+Japan&equal1=&value5=&select5=down&sort=&print=40&T=gazo"]This[/url] link is where the sell stuff to customers out of Japan, we kind of get the left overs and stuff that doesnt sell. I have had ordered many guitars from Ishibashi always top service
[/quote]

That's because Fender won't allow them to sell new MiJ instruments for export. Anything second hand and pretty much any other make new is fine.

TBH I can't really see the point of buying anything new from Ishibashi because IME pretty much everything turns up second hand at some point most often still in excellent condition and of course much cheaper.

[PaulWarning]

don't forget about VAT and import duty if you buy from Japan, I looked at it once, I found that the savings weren't that great when everything was totted up, you need to do the maths first, plus if anything goes wrong you're more or less on your own

Edited October 5, 2015 by PaulWarning

[Annoying Twit]

How much would a £120 Fender bass (if we could buy that one) be landed in the UK. I thought it was £40 or so p&p, and then about 25% (very rough) on top for duties etc. That would make it £200 or so. Still seems a bargain. However, there is the question of why that Fender is so much cheaper than the other ones. I'm sure there will be a reason.

Could someone who has bought from Ishibashi Gakki please comment giving better estimates?

[Kempy535]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1444038283' post='2879574']
How much would a £120 Fender bass (if we could buy that one) be landed in the UK. I thought it was £40 or so p&p, and then about 25% (very rough) on top for duties etc. That would make it £200 or so. Still seems a bargain. However, there is the question of why that Fender is so much cheaper than the other ones. I'm sure there will be a reason.

Could someone who has bought from Ishibashi Gakki please comment giving better estimates?
[/quote]




That bass isnt a reissue model its just plain Jane bass. Think Mexican standard.

Use http://www.dutycalculator.com/

Total customs value (CIF): £207.37
This is the amount that customs values your import at
- Duty: £0.00
- VAT: £41.47
Total import duty & taxes due: £41.47
This is the amount that needs to be paid to customs
Total landed cost: £248.84
This is the total cost of importing, including product, shipping, insurance and import duty & taxes
at exchange rate of 1 GBP = 182.29 JPY
exchange rate of 1 GBP = 1.52 USD


I suspect the post office will sting you for another 20 quid for handling fee

[Annoying Twit]

Ah yes, I checked the postage cost to the UK and it's £76 or so. That adds a lot to a £120 bass, and of course bumps up the duty as well.

[PaulWarning]

not sure I'd fancy buying an unseen bass, with zero chance of returning it if it's not right, that's why I don't buy from the USA either

[BigRedX]

Ishibashi shipping costs are entirely dependent upon the size and weight of the item being shipped.

For example the Yamaha BJ5B which was big and heavy cost 18000¥ while the much smaller and lighter Fernades Pie-Zo was 12000¥.

I don't have any problem buying guitars or basses without playing them first. All my current favourite instruments were bought on-line. The last time I did spend any time with a bass before paying for it I ended up selling it 6 months later. I suppose if you are buying something mass produced in great numbers with well-documented variations in quality between examples then it makes sense to play it first but for anything more specialised, I feel completely safe buying without trying.

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444042903' post='2879645']
Ishibashi shipping costs are entirely dependent upon the size and weight of the item being shipped.

For example the Yamaha BJ5B which was big and heavy cost 18000¥ while the much smaller and lighter Fernades Pie-Zo was 12000¥.

I don't have any problem buying guitars or basses without playing them first. All my current favourite instruments were bought on-line. The last time I did spend any time with a bass before paying for it I ended up selling it 6 months later. I suppose if you are buying something mass produced in great numbers with well-documented variations in quality between examples then it makes sense to play it first but for anything more specialised, I feel completely safe buying without trying.
[/quote]being a lefty I always buy without trying, also I think you can't decide whether a bass is ok till you've tried it a few times in a band situation, but I kinda like the option of returning it if it's not right in some way

[ChunkyMunky]

I love this thread. Well played, OP!

[Dapper Bandit]

Ishibashi are really good to deal with IME. Plenty of used Fender Japan stuff on their ubox (as mentioned earlier the head Fender office does not allow the international export of new models) and the second hand market in Japan seems to lean towards pricing surprisingly low compared to RRP and even light cosmetic damage / wear seems to absolutely smash prices!

Even adding in import duties you can get one of these basses shipped to you for around about the same price as a used MIM with the added bonus of options that just aren't available to us normally and if you by through a reputable store you should get it in good - great condition.

[Twigman]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444034808' post='2879528']
That's because Fender won't allow them to sell new MiJ instruments for export. Anything second hand and pretty much any other make new is fine.

TBH I can't really see the point of buying anything new from Ishibashi because IME pretty much everything turns up second hand at some point most often still in excellent condition and of course much cheaper.
[/quote]

I had a similar problem getting some new car wheels out of japan (manufacturer was brokering a EU distribution deal and didn't want a grey market)....In the car world there are import/export guys based in Japan through which such a deal can be done insofar as he buys from the shop then ships on to you....there must be an opening there in the guitar world for a Japanese resident.

Edited October 15, 2015 by Twigman

[uncle psychosis]

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1444035896' post='2879546']
don't forget about VAT and import duty if you buy from Japan, I looked at it once, I found that the savings weren't that great when everything was totted up, you need to do the maths first, plus if anything goes wrong you're more or less on your own
[/quote]

For me the attraction of importing is to get something that isn't otherwise available. Cost wise, you're right that often you don't save much at all but the Japanese market tends to have a lot of things that are like hens teeth in Europe.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Dapper Bandit' timestamp='1444895473' post='2887000']
Ishibashi are really good to deal with IME. Plenty of used Fender Japan stuff on their ubox (as mentioned earlier the head Fender office does not allow the international export of new models) and the second hand market in Japan seems to lean towards pricing surprisingly low compared to RRP and even light cosmetic damage / wear seems to absolutely smash prices!

Even adding in import duties you can get one of these basses shipped to you for around about the same price as a used MIM with the added bonus of options that just aren't available to us normally and if you by through a reputable store you should get it in good - great condition.
[/quote]

I really don't get the obsession with trying to buy Japanese Fenders from Ishibashi. For me they are the least interesting instruments on the site.

[quote name='uncle psychosis' timestamp='1444910947' post='2887222']
For me the attraction of importing is to get something that isn't otherwise available. Cost wise, you're right that often you don't save much at all but the Japanese market tends to have a lot of things that are like hens teeth in Europe.
[/quote]

Exactly! Of the four basses I bought, 3 were simply not available outside of Japan and the other one although I had seen it for sale in a couple of UK shops the examples here were very expensive and not as well finished as the ones had previously seen in Japan.

It's the same when I have bough instruments from the US. I see little point in trying to save money on getting something that is fairly easily available in the UK, because ultimately by the time you've paid shipping VAT and import duty the savings are negligible. For me it's all about buying used equipment that doesn't normally make it to this country.

[Dapper Bandit]

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444914924' post='2887279']


I really don't get the obsession with trying to buy Japanese Fenders from Ishibashi. For me they are the least interesting instruments on the site.

For me it's all about buying used equipment that doesn't normally make it to this country.
[/quote]


Exactly. There is only one Japanese Fender I would buy which is a black/tort Precision fretless with PJ pickups and even then I wouldn't splash major cash out. I have just ordered an ESP Amaze in Lake Placid Blue which is kinda Fender-ish but the original jazz bass design has been (gasp!) tweaked. The non-export stuff is really quite amazing and you see risks taken by big manufacturers there that you wouldn't here. Case in point, can you see the Lakland Tetsuya signature bass doing well in Europe?

[ChunkyMunky]

Heading for Japan soon. You're an absolute gent for compiling this lot for me.

[Paul S]

I have bought 2 basses from a Japanese eBay seller. He used DHL to ship, who were initially a little more expensive. But it took 2 days door to door from Tokyo to Benfleet, I was able to pay the duty online (which somehow ended up being less than I had calculated), no £8 handling fee, no waiting at Coventry for a week for someone to rubber stamp the paperwork. So if you do take the plunge it is worth asking about this route. This was for two basses I was unable to get in the UK and when I finally moved them on I was able to do so at the same price it cost me without them hanging around for months.

[andytoad]

Great thread!

[Shambo]

Can I also add [url="http://www.hiranogakki.com/eb/"]http://www.hiranogakki.com/eb/[/url] to this list, which I came across whilst looking for a Japan Fender PB70 NAT,

[Shambo]

And [url="http://buyee.jp/category/yahoo/auction/2084019034"]http://buyee.jp/cate...tion/2084019034[/url] has lots of used instruments for sale, (auction and buy it now), but looks strongly orientated towards the Japanese domestic market. There appear to be some bargains there, if you can convince the seller to post. I've seen the bass I want for 68,000 yen (£500) but haven't got a clue how to approach them.