(x) 75-183

[allgood]

Mica, sorry, posted elsewhere and realize it should be here.  So sorry for the double post.   Can you provide any info on this one? Thanks to another member, I believe the sn is 73-183.  I may have registered it, but don’t remember.  I owned it from aroun 91 to around maybe 98. Your dad redid the electronics a year or so before.  Elderly had it for sale around 2011.  I think I found it in Japan.  Would like to know if anyone else registered it, particularly in Japan.  Thanks!,  Allen

[room037]

Hi,

The bass is here on the shop in Tokyo.
https://www.digimart.net/cat03/shop26/DS04892609/

Eiji

[allgood]

Thanks, I emailed the shop twice last week but no response.  I may try calling, not sure how the language will work out.

[tx196059]

Not sure if this will help, but here is the listing from the store's site. Digimart is like eBay in Japan, and you may have been writing to them. I have experience buying in Japan. Let me know if you need more assistance. Best of luck!!


Joe


http://shopping-kurosawagakki.com/shop/shopdetail.html?brandcode=000000152089&search=alembic&sort=

[edwin]

Looks like a fantastic bass! Good luck!

[allgood]

Joe, thanks.  I saw the same listing you showed me, so I believe I was emailing the shop, not Digimart.  I emailed again, but am not getting a respond, even though their ad seems to invite people outside of Japan to email them. I emailed to Ike@kurosawagakki.com   We know it sold for $3,500 not too long ago.  I assume I can negotiate with them, as I would in the US? I have an idea of an offer I would like to make, but I would really like to see the photo of the serial number first.  Another club member has offered the services of a Japanese speaking friend, he may be able to call the shop for me.  Were your purchases made via email?  Any other advice?  Thanks for your help.  Allen

[allgood]

The store in Japan emailed me last night.  The sn is 75-182.  They said they cannot ship because the fretboard is rosewood.  I will search the forum, and elsewhere, to see if there may be some exemption that would apply, or if anyone has any ideas.  Thanks

[mica]

I believe this bass is 183. I pulled the files for both instruments, and the one for sale is a medium scale with Vermilion neck laminates. 182 is a long scale with Walnut neck laminates. Here's the details for 183:

top: Zebrawood
body: Mahogany
back: Zebrawood
neck: Maple and Vermilion 5-piece
scale: 32" medium
fingerboard: Rosewood
inlays: Abalone

There was a new registered owner of this bass in 1999 in Michigan. It was upgraded in 2001.

[tx196059]

Best of luck with your acquisition Allen. My purchases were made in person when I was in Japan, and also through the stores via email and PayPal. The rosewood is a problem with CITES regulations. There is a way to do it, but it is complicated. The store will not ship it, due to the regulations, however, there are private services in Japan that would buy it for you, then send it for a fee on top of all the CITES fees and paperwork, which you would be responsible for getting. Another downside to doing this, is that you will need to pay sales tax, which is about 10%. Shipping via EMS/USPS or DHL is usually around $150, plus insurance. It would have to come via air delivery, and through a hub that has CITES qualified personnel from US Fish and Wildlife. EMS will probably ship through Chicago or LA, and DHL through Cincinnati. It could be held there for up to 3 months, even after the wait time to get the paperwork completed. Another option is to fly to Japan, buy it, and get a CITES passport for the instrument, since it will be for your personal use. And yet another easier option, horrible as it may seem, would be to have the store's luthier remove the fingerboard, and ship without it. You could have it shipped directly to Santa Rosa for a new fingerboard, and checkup.


https://www.fws.gov/international/cites/how-cites-works.html
https://digimart.worldshopping.global/en (scroll to the bottom for worldwide shipping)


As far as dealing with the Japanese, they are pretty firm on price. There could always be some wiggle room, but not much. Eventually, they will lower, but only if it has not sold over the course of a year or more. Again, it sounds complicated, but it is possible. Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help further.


Joe

[edwardofhuncote]

Boy, talk about a long, strange trip...

[allgood]

Thanks Joe, Mica, Greg, everyone.  That’s a lot of good info Joe.  My mistake seems harder and harder to undo.  I did speak with Elderly today.  They were nice and provided some information which verified that my bass went to Japan.  Since they had a connection, I asked if they would help facilitate buying tha bass for me, but they said that is beyond what they do.  Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.  I’ll enjoy my Essence for now, and will keep my eye on 183.  A trip to Japan would be pretty cool!  Thanks again to everyone.  Allen

[allgood]

Well, I am considering taking a trip to retrieve ole number 75-183.  Not sure my wife is on board yet, but working on it.  I’m not sure the shop would remove the fingerboard, but I am not sure I would want to do that anyway.  Joe, you mentioned you made purchases in Japan.  Have you, or anyone else,  gone through the CITES process and brought an instrument into the US from Japan?    All I can find is a form to apply for an application for a permit, but it says for “export or re-exporting” the instrument.  Will I not be importing the bass?  Also, does anyone know if Japan will require some type of permit to leave the country with the bass?   Of course, if any reader is making a trip to Japan anyway, perhaps they could buy the bass, bring it home, and I could buy it from them (nudge nudge wink wink say no more😉.). For an upcharge, of course.  Also, FWS did tell me that whether I need a permit depends on the species of Rosewood my bass contains.  I have sent a note to Mica, but do we know if Alembic used a Brazilian Rosewood?  Or some other species?  Thanks, Allen

[allgood]

Joe, or any one else... you mentioned that a service could buy the bass and ship it, and they would need the permits, and it would have to go through some inspection.  But if an individual is shipping it to me, or to their self ((back home in the US) would the bass still have to go through the inspection and FWS port?  If an individual just goes to say a FedEx office in Japan, are they asked to declare if something contains rosewood?  I found I have a contact there who is willing to buy it for me and wants to just ship it.    Thanks

[Picure]

I have bought a Mosrite Mark 1 bass that has a rosewood fingerboard out of Japan before. I brought it back to Taiwan in person and nothing happened. I am currently playing a show in Japan and I have my Series 1 with me. I’ll let you know if I get into any problems on the way out next Monday when I leave. I assume there will be no problems because Japan is a favorite spot for Taiwanese musicians to come over to buy instruments back and I never heard of anyone having a problem... at least getting the guitar out of Japan.

[allgood]

Great to hear, thanks!