| Author | Message | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1127 Registered: 1-2005 |
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, 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.:  You can also see a couple of Alembics:  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 - 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 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 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... | ||
| ccc
Junior Username: ccc Post Number: 14 Registered: 3-2012 |
Nice. Here's a direct link to the Alembics they have in stock with the official detail photos - sweet. Ikebe Alembics | ||
| bassman8416
Junior Username: bassman8416 Post Number: 20 Registered: 5-2012 |
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. | ||
| hieronymous
Senior Member Username: hieronymous Post Number: 1130 Registered: 1-2005 |
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? | ||
| hammer
Intermediate Member Username: hammer Post Number: 161 Registered: 9-2009 |
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. | ||
| hammer
Intermediate Member Username: hammer Post Number: 162 Registered: 9-2009 |
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. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1886 Registered: 9-2002 |
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 |
