Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Swap Shop and Wish Lists => Seen on craigslist, eBay, and elsewhere => Topic started by: hieronymous on June 18, 2012, 01:43:27 PM
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I went to Japan for about a week - had a family reunion in Iwate prefecture (north from Sendai) - but also made it into a few guitar stores in Tokyo & Kyoto. One place I went to was Ikebe in Shibuya - I used to go there all the time as a kid growing up in Tokyo, so I make it a point to try and get back there, kind of a pilgrimage. Now they have multiple stores in different buildings, each with a different specialty - new stuff, used stuff, woodwinds, etc. They have a bass specialty shop too, called the Bass Collection (http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/realshop/bass-collection/index.php target=_blank), with some amazing stuff, like a '70s Carl Thompson refurbished by Carl Thompson himself, some Ritters (first I've seen in person), an old Wal, THREE Walter Woods amps (never seen one of those in a store either), etc.:
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/133954.jpg)
You can also see a couple of Alembics:
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/133955.jpg)
Sorry it's not such a great picture, it's just a larger detail of the first one. I asked if it was ok to take pictures, he said it was ok to take a shot of the store, but not individual instruments. You should be able to see their official detail shots here (http://www.e-basscollection.com/ target=_blank) - just click on the manufacturer and it should take you to their inventory page. The one on the right has a similar tailpiece to the one pictured in this thread (http://alembic.com/club/messages/395/130314.html?1336402812 target=_blank) where the ball end just clips on instead of being threaded through a hole.
I like to come back with something, so I picked up a huge triangular pick (http://www.str-guitars.com/modules/products/index.php?content_id=10 target=_blank) by the Japanese company STR - I got the thickest one - 1.50 mm! It's a great pick, just hope I don't wear it down too fast...
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Nice.
Here's a direct link to the Alembics they have in stock with the official detail photos - sweet.
Ikebe Alembics (http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/shopping/goods/goods.php?key=alembic&action_Shopping_Goods_ListGoods=%8C%9F%8D%F5&category_id=&sub_category_id=&sub_category_list=&price_min=&price_max=&brand=&type=&store=&view=&count=12&sort=1®_day=&update_time=&search_status=&collection=&fair=&check_0=&check_1=&check_2=&check_3=&check_4=&check_5=&check_6=&check_7=&check_8=&check_9=&check_10=&check_11=&check_12=&check_13=&check_14=&check_15=&check_16=&check_17=&check_18=&check_19=&check_20=&check_21=&check_22=&check_23=&check_24=&check_25=&check_26=&check_27=&check_28=&check_29=&check_30=&check_31=&check_32=&check_33=&check_34=&check_35=&series=&color=&madeyear=&interest_rate_pattern=)
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Can one order one of these and have it shipped to the states, if so, how do I work with the language difference? I imagine many Japanese speak good English.
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Ishibashi is pretty well known as having good English service - not sure about Ikebe. I don't see anything on their website advertising English services - which doesn't mean they don't have any. The only email contact page I can find is all in Japanese, so maybe just send them an email via info@ikebe.co.jp (mailto:info@ikebe.co.jp)?
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The walnut on the Signature Standard is outstanding although I've got to admit that, until I looked it up, I had no idea that there was something called Crotch walnut.
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The walnut on the Signature Standard is outstanding although I've got to admit that, until I looked it up, I had no idea that there was something called crotch walnut. After reading about it, it all makes sense.
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ccc, since Ikebe is an Alembic dealer, I'd think Susan or Mica could suggest someone to speak to 'over there' who can speak English to a gaijin !
J o e y