Christmas in Japan = Gear Hunt! Advice needed

[dase]

haha I'm doing the exact same thing at the exact same time! There's a great little store tucked away in shibuya near one of the bigger guitar shops, that I can't remember the name of, I'll try and dig it out for you. There's also a great shop in Ochanomizou that has a small upstairs room full of pedals, including literal crates full of old japanese stuff just piled on top of each other. If you're in Osaka the big shop right in the middle of america mura is worth a look if you're after old boss stuff and second hand japanese guitars upstairs.

[HorseyBoy]

^ Hey, dase - that's awesome. Really starting to get excited about the trip now. If you see any Yamaha SG-2s or SG-3s while you're there, PM me ASAP
Names of stores would be ace.
Unfortunately we're not going to Osaka. Only big city will be Tokyo. But it's a good city.

[dase]

sure thing! You've been to Ohcanomizou (sp?) before yeah? I'm so excited. Last time I was there I damn near had a panic attack at all the cool shit haha.

We're there for our honeymoon so it's just two weeks, one in Kyoto, one in Tokyo with a night in Osaka on the way.

Will defs keep a look out for Yamaha SGs for you! If you see any Gibson or copy S1's, Marauders or L6s let me know in return okay?

[HorseyBoy]

^ Will do! And congratulations. Cool place to go for your honeymoon.

[HorseyBoy]

Spent a few hours today checking out guitar shops in Shinjuku, powered by Krispy Kreme green tea donuts. Fun, fun, fun. Didn't take me long to remember how much I fuckin' love Tokyo.
Saw the most amazing array of vintage US Gibsons and Fenders at Hyper Guitars - all original, all pretty much immaculate. So many non-reverse Firebirds, 60s Strats, Teles, SGs I almost started to hyperventilate (which may explain how the store got its name).
And naturally I found a guitar I might have to bring home - a 1980 Greco SE-700 Super Real Strat. It has everything I like in a Strat - rosewood board, big headstock, bullet truss rod. A lovely copy of a 72 or so Strat. Played a Fender Japan ST 72-58 US which was very similar, but the Greco was way, way better. Might need a fret dress but otherwise looks the goods.
Anyone had a Greco Strat? I've still got a few days up my sleeve and would love to find a Yammy SG-2 or 3 but the Greco really impressed me.

[12XU2A3X3]

i've got a lavender head, it's okay, it's just a ram's head (as far as i can hear) with a cray tone stack. some of the other MASF is a little more worth while. you should track down some vintage roland goodness.

[dase]

Greco strats are awesome, do it.

I picked up a fender Japan bass vi in ochanomizou, and my wife bought me a mu tron III+ from rock inn in shinjuku for my borthday (!!!!). We leave this evening so I'm heading back to ochanomizou today to blow my leftover cash on cheap boss pedals. Definitely saw a few Yamaha sg's there as well.

[tuffteef]

god i want to go back to japan

[HorseyBoy]

Greco strats are awesome, do it.

I picked up a fender Japan bass vi in ochanomizou, and my wife bought me a mu tron III+ from rock inn in shinjuku for my borthday (!!!!). We leave this evening so I'm heading back to ochanomizou today to blow my leftover cash on cheap boss pedals. Definitely saw a few Yamaha sg's there as well.

I did it, man! And I saw that Mu-tron yesterday! Also saw an original Mu-tron Bi-Phase where I bought the guitar, at TC Gakki, just outside Shinjuku. And the shop below it, Hyper Guitars, even had an all-original 1966 Lake Placid Blue Jazzy. One of the prettiest things I've ever seen.
Did Ochanomizu today and didn't really enjoy it, probably because I knew I wanted the Greco. Wasn't a lot of old Japanese stuff, which is what I was looking for, but the Bass VI is an awesome score. Nice!
Also managed to walk in on a three-day sale on the Wren and Cuff White Elk (cost $160 instead of $270) in Shibuya so I picked that up, too. Really nice muff, and the colors match the guitar.
Here's a crappy iPad shot of the loot. The guys at TC Gakki were awesome - gave it a full setup, threw in a hard case, bubble wrap, a shipping box and a roll of packing tape. I knew it was coming home with me as soon as I played it. Don't know why I spent a day fighting it.

[phantasmagorovich]

Wow.

I want to go to this sacred land now too.

[Chankgeez]

Yes, The White Elk!!!

Guitar looks pretty too.

[HorseyBoy]

Yeah, the White Elk was a perfect match for the guitar. And the price was too good to pass up. Played through the Elk with a Japanese Strat in the store for a half hour or so (took that long for my fingers to thaw out) and I really liked the way it was voiced - lots of tones in the sustain and tone knobs. Really nice pedal all round.
Wren and Cuff pedals were well represented everywhere I went - lots of Caprids and Tall Fonts in stores. Whoever it is doing the distribution they're doing a good job
And the Greco is just plain awesome. Still can't get over how clean it is and how nice it is to play.

[HorseyBoy]

Dragged the family out to Hachioji this morning to visit the big Hard Off store there (yes, Hard Off) and scored a beaten up old Boss HM-2 and a Maxon D&S (version 2, with the LED and DC jack) for the grand total of $70. Bit of a trek but worth the ride. There's a Hobby Off (toys) and Mode Off (clothes) in the same complex, so everybody was happy. But I suspect I'll now be required to spend all my time with my family.

[phantasmagorovich]

That's some nice loot there, dude. Congratulations, now go and enjoy your family holiday. Isn't there some kind of super-weird (read: japanese) fun fair you could visit or something?

[Chankgeez]

... But I suspect I'll now be required to spend all my time with my family.

Not such a bad thing, you've made a few prime acquisitions.

(BTW, dibs on that The White Elk should you ever decide to sell it.)