Ah man, Ochanomizu was one of the spots I had to hit when my wife and I went to Japan; having so many guitar shops right next to each other was heaven. Watching this brought back a lot of good memories; can't wait to go back!
Went to Japan many times in the 90’s and 2000’s when I worked with Dentsu Canada (Japan’s biggest ad agency) on Toyota advertising. On Tokyo trips I always made time for a trip to Ochanomizu, and the motorcycle-equivalent neighborhood, Ueno. My best buys in Ochanomizu were a mid-80’s Tokai LoveRock Goldtop and many cool Boss pedals. Best Ueno buy was a late 80’s Yamaha TZR250 that is super-fast! I still have all that stuff. So many super-cool places and things to do in Japan. Thanks for posting this video!
Not sure it would be easy to import a motorcycle now, but back then I had a friend at Toyota in Nagoya put it in a wooden crate and ship it to Toyota Canada. Easy! Here’s a video with my Tokai Goldtop (sorry ‘bout the sleepy song): m.ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5Z-O_2lt81U.html
When I was in Tokyo, I also went to Ochanomizu and this street is just crazy, it drives you crazy as guitar player....If you want ot buy amazing guitars, you don't have to go to the USA or anywhere else, you have to go to Tokyo. Anyway, Tokyo is one of the most awesome places I have ever been.
i but a lot of guitars from Japan and it may be stereotyping but they look after them so much better then we in the west do , they are mostly pristine and almost factory new with the care taken
Totally concur! This makes you feel at ease knowing that they are in good condition too because most of the music stores in Japan only have their warranty valid in Japan.
I was buying Japanese Tokais (Ive got x2 VC75 Vivian Campbells) in the early 80s, these guitars are spot on and its good to see some love for them from an American guitar player, in the USA they are virtually unheard of or they are looked upon as just fake guitars, absolutely not the case. Their Love Rock was better than the Les Paul Standard.
Tokai’s are amazing guitars. The quality you get for the money is incredible. All of the MIJ guitars are really good. I’ve been playing Gibsons forever and just recently bought an ESP Eclipse Standard Series and couldn’t be happier with it.
Hey man, thanks so much. I am in Tokyo now and just blown away by the guitar shops. I live in Bangkok and travel through Tokyo twice a year. The guitar stores in Bkk are pathetic. I picked up a vintage Martin this time and next time I'll be on the hunt for the perfect flametop Les Paul. SO MUCH FUN! Thanks again.
i got a tip - in the stores and streets record like a minute or two of audio ‘buzz track’ doesn’t matter where camera is pointing you just strip out the audio … then mute the broll audio and lay the buzz track audio under the edited footage - so your audio is more consistent and doesn’t jump all over the place as you cut between shots
Been shopping at many of these places and seeing the art and creativity on display makes you realize just how much Gibson and fender choke out the advertising and marketing in the US.
Love the japan videos. Actually you gave me the idea to check ishibashi. Looking for a hot deal on a strandberg but everywhere the prices were basically just 100 o 200 Bucks off from the list price here in europe, but Ishibashi had several used ones (even if sold already) for WAY WAY less than list price. Not into vintage stuff at all but being a japan rock nerd i just love seeing all the signature ESPs, Edwards and Grass Roots in the back and recognizing all the japanese artists in the fender store (like Scandal, Larc en ciel's Ken or Hama Okamoto).
By the by, maybe it's worth checking out a Tak matsumoto Gibson (if you can find one) they are incredibly expensive but also quite the cool looking Gibson design.
👏 where did you buy it? and how did you carry it on the plane? next month i ll going to Japan and i l looking for a Greco or Burny LP Gold top mint collection. Do you think they are cheapest than Usa or Europe?
My old band played with Enter Shikari in a tiny pub in Norwich in 2004 - they all looked super young and I think one of their Dads was driving them around in the van.
@@aflashfloodofgear Been to Japan 5 times (so far). Daughter there as exchange student and then as a English teacher she did 2 years there. We went and toured with her since she spoke Japanese well by American standards. Travel there can be relatively inexpensive if you can speak the language and stay in the business hotels, not the foreigner hotels. Few amenities by near train stations. Only serve breakfast. The business guys eat and drink in the Karaoke bars with clients.
Hog heaven right there. To go to stores with a lot Japanese takes on Gibson and Fender (Greco, Burny, Tokai etc). Also to maybe find some unique Ibanez or ESP. Can’t imagine how much that all cost. You better go with a high limit card or some good savings.
Very cool. Loved that Metallica V.. Really loved the Black Strat with maple neck and trem too! The tokai were cool too.. Loved the JR's.. I built a custom JR for myself.. Love the shops there.. I've never been, but would be like a kid in a candy store.. Very cool video sir.. Thanks for sharing man! Regards from South Central Indiana. USA. Tim
Picked up a Greco EG-900 in Ochanomizu, brought it back on the plane. Almost bought a Greco Springy Sound strat as well, but it was a little more than I wanted to spend. Some really great Japanese guitars to be had there. Played some great Burny and Tokai Les Pauls but the Greco played just as well and was less $. I was fortunate in that when I was there the whole Japanese vintage guitar thing didn't really exist like it does now. I ended up importing/selling lots of Japanese guitars on ebay for a while, lots of Greco, Burny, Tokai, Orville/Orville By. The higher end Grecos were the best value, IMO, still have that EG-900 :)
Thank You Thank You Thank You for the eye candies. Would love to visit the shops you filmed. What an experience! Amazing! What is the name of that cool song in the background around 4:20" when you showed us Ginza?
Went to a lot of great guitar stores when i was in tokyo! A lot of them would not let you pick up and try out the guiars though, which i found very strange. Trying before buying is a real big staple of guitar shops in Canada where I grew up, even with high end guitars
Japan is very stern on their etiquette. It's custom to ask for assistance before handling instruments, after that all good to go! (I found out many years ago when I moved there) Cheers
Pretty cool to see Ishibashi Music. I have a Tokai LS85S (I think) ‘56 goldtop style that I ordered from them back in 2003. It’s my desert island guitar (provided said desert island had electricity I suppose).
Tokai’s are my favorite guitars. I have 4 of them. I have an Indigo Blue LS 148. I just finished modifying a Tokai Goldstar Sound (Strat) it turned out so goooood! Great video! My next vacation is Japan. I’ve heard really good things. Looking forward to it.
youre in guitar heaven there,im a bit of a mij nut too,love the tokai/burny/greco stuff,but have you checked any of the deviser stuff like momose/bacchus,or pgm stuff moon/van zandt etc or combat,crews maniac,for acoustic flambeau mij are great,official george lowden designs,or morris,also worth looking out for are the mij 80/90s levinson blade strat/teles,said to be made by deviser,as many have momose in neck pocket,real killer guitars,lots of people think they were made in switzerland,as thats what it says on neckplate,but originally had mij sticker on back of headstock,which either got lost or peeled off over time,production moved to korea end of 90s,still quite good,more production line,not on par with the 80/90s mij blades.the mij blades can be distinguised by their fender style headstock,also a few with suhr like beak headstock mij for usa market,so not to piss of the big f.the later korean ones have a different fugly headstock,the early made in japan levinson blades were hand made
I did a overnighter in Japan in 2017 but hope to go back to visit for a few days but last year my wife and I spent three weeks in Asia including the Philippines , Singapore And Taiwan , Singapore was just amazing by the way , we stayed at Marina Bay Sands , really enjoyed this video and all the Cool gear you got !
Tokia sunburst LP was my favorite - I have recently been drawn to LP guitars have never owned one - just purchased a Firefly LP and totally dig it - now I'm looking for another one - Japan is awesome
Love Ochanomizu, I got one of my main electrics, by a company called Killer, at Big Boss. I also got an Edwards LP, I think that was at Ishibashi. I played several Orvilles including the Joe Perry signature-I don't know, I understand the value for collectors but they didn't do much for me playing-wise. I should mention as well that, Japan is a paradise for buying instruments. If you need the services of a luthier or guitar tech, the U.S. is vastly better. There is no standard even for a basic setup here.
19/11/23 Last night in Osaka before going home.Went to Tokyo,Kyoto and Osaka.Checked out about 6 Guitar stores but didn't see a real lot of Second hand Fender Strat's.Maybe next time.....
PLEASE TELL ME YOU BROUGHT BACK ANOTHER YAMAHA SG! The Revstars and Pacificas are cool too but it would be so awesome if you brought back a factory fresh SG to the US!!!
I'm seriously thinking to get there for a hunt of my dream guitar Gibson Les Paul custom black beauty. Enjoy all of your the instruments in good health. Thanks for the video
I like that 148 myself, I been looking at red les pauls a lot lately, hoping to score a burgundy costom or something like that eventually, as prices climb law suit guitars are becoming more and more popular by the minute.
Gotta be nice to not only have the $$$ to travel & hang out in Japan for some time, but to also have the $$$ to purchase & ship several instruments home; I can't even imagine doing that.
You should check out the shops in Seoul, S Korea next time you're in Asia! I bought a cherry burst Tokai LP and a crazy Tokai Talbo! Another city Daegu also has a music street with tons of vintage guitar shops!
Love the video, BUT, why the high speed flipping from one scene to the next? I needed Dramamine half way through the video. Anyway, thanks for showing us what’s in Japan gear wise!
Great vid! How would you recommend somebody to ship a guitar or bass bought in Japan back home over seas. I really want to get a bass in Japan but I don't want to take it on the plane.
Buy a hard case with it, slacken the strings a bit, add bubble wrap or paper in the case so there's no movement, ship with Yamato Transport. I have brought many guitars back in good gig bags as hand luggage. They fit in overhead bins no problem. Or if the guitar or bass has a bolt-on neck just wrap it well and stick it in your suitcase or duffle bag. If you decide to ship by boat make sure to add some silica bags in the case. I can also recommend Seven Seas Worldwide. Shipped a bunch of Ibanez guitars in hard cases from Perth, Australia to the U.K. no problems at all. Good luck! Live the dream!!
Sucked when I went there looking for all the vintage squires and fender Japan models that stopped making. they had all got bought up by the aussies by the time I got there. Sadly.
Did you find an Edwards LP Custom? I saw what looked like an Edwards black 335 or 355 on one wall. Also amazing to see a '90s CIJ Jazzmaster with the 'ground beef' pickguard just like mine going for 158,000. Prices have sure gone up.
i was guitar shopping in Tokyo 5 days ago. the warehouse like area at the end of the video... what/where is this?? it looks like you're rifling through stuff thats been lost in delivery or something???
Real question and not even trying to be snarky: you can buy that Billie Joe Armstrong Gibson literally anywhere. Is there something different about the Japanese version? Was it a total steal?
Currently the dollar is very strong in Japan plus throw in a good deal on top of that plus just personally a Green Day fan too, so couldn't pass it up!
