gearbasher Posted January 14, 2018 Share Posted January 14, 2018 Even though I'm not in the market for another instrument, I still surf Ebay just to see what's out there. Has anyone else noticed that a majority of new Gibson acoustics are from Japanese sellers? Are an inordinate amount of instruments shipped there? Or, is there a Gibson policy barring U.S. sellers from listing on Ebay? Any ideas? Opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Japanese guitar collectors are renowned to purchase, sell, trade, and hoard Gibson guitars. Seriously. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 That is because they are the only ones with enough money to afford them. According to this their economy is in 3rd place. https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/022415/worlds-top-10-economies.asp I would think Chinese people would be buying a lot, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Japanese guitar collectors are renowned to purchase, sell, trade, and hoard Gibson guitars. Seriously. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Not sure about the sell part. Take a look at the prices. I think many in the USA have moved to Reverb and left eBay because of their exorbitant fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gearbasher Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Actually, Ebay lowered their fees on musical instruments. It is now very close to Reverb's fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw3571 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 I've seen this and asked the question before. Supposedly it's illegal for Japanese Gibson dealers to ship to the US. The people on ebay are resellers who typically don't own the actual guitar they are selling. If you buy, they go buy from the store where it's much cheaper than US prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Japan is a huge market for Gibson apparently, the Japanese are far keener on the big G than any other acoustic manufacturer. Not altogether sure where the obsession springs from, but I can relate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 (edited) At the big Arlington, TX and Dallas, TX guitar shows ( essentially the same Three Amigos organized show takes place in adjoining communities every six months), some Japanese collectors rent booth space just so they can store all the spendy vintage guitars they buy throughout the weekend. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of vintage guitars stacked up like cord wood waiting to be shipped back to Japan. The Japanese have a reverence for certain facets of American culture, guitars being one of them. That, and their careful cratsmanship and close attention to detail is why Japanese made authorised versions of Gibson and Epiphone instruments, like Epiphone Elitists (or MIJ Fenders, or even copies made for other brands) are often so good. Gibson Acoustic has also made a number historic reissues specifically for the Japanese market over the years. Vintage style Gibson acoustics are very strong sellers in Japan. Red 333 Edited January 15, 2018 by Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle fester Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Even though there seems to be more guitars from Japan, I'm still not comfortable buying from overseas. Too many variables and too far to deal with them. Somewhere within N. America (maybe the UK) with a return policy is where I've settled on if push comes to shove and my next guitar comes from the mail order route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 (edited) A friend of mine who owns a small Mom & Pop store known for getting in some nice vintage guitars has a pair of Japanese buyers stop by twice a year. The rarely leave empty handed. Edited January 16, 2018 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mking Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 Not sure about the sell part. Take a look at the prices. I think many in the USA have moved to Reverb and left eBay because of their exorbitant fees. AMEN!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Paul Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 I lived over in Japan for 2 years and they love American products, especially Levi's, American Cigarettes (cause Japanese ones have charcoal filters instead of the whatever is in them now) and now apparently Gibson acoustic guitars. Was recently looking at eBay listings for Goodalls and at least half of the 3 dozen or so listings were from Japan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR GIBS Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) Even though I'm not in the market for another instrument, I still surf Ebay just to see what's out there. Has anyone else noticed that a majority of new Gibson acoustics are from Japanese sellers? Are an inordinate amount of instruments shipped there? Or, is there a Gibson policy barring U.S. sellers from listing on Ebay? Any ideas? Opinions? What you do is a GAS,not in an acute but in a chronic subacute phase... Does your woman know you are watching that porn' ? Edited February 3, 2018 by MR GIBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmignone122 Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 I'm Interested in selling my Mint 2000 Gibson Les Paul Custon. I've Have noticed that it's about 10:1 ship from Japan. Thanks for the info. I wasn't able to play much at all after I bought this Black Beauty. My 1998 Les Paul Standard was stolen when my apartment was robbed but Luckly, I had insurance that had a replacement clause. So, I bought the custom from A Great Dealer in Trenton that Begins with an Ru ss o s and also got the insane price quotes from Guitar Center and bought the Custom for less than their Standards quotes. I was deciding where to list it. But has anyone bought a guitar by mail? I still need to place it first, even with a quality like My Les Paul Custom. Just to insure the fell and I connect. I've have played so many identical guitars over the years and notices no two are the same, they all have a personality or playability of their own. I will be listing it soon and replacing it with an old beat-up replacement that don't have to worry about scratching or just wearing down the frets. I love my Les Paul custom; But Facing the Facts I'm just not that good a player. I'm more of an under a Grand player. I'm out on Disability and we really need the Money. Thanks for all the info and keep playing while your young and enjoy yourself, I was trying to be Randy Rodes or Eddie VanHalen instead of myself. It's must more enjoyable and fulfilling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Life has a way of interrupting our dreams. Guitar playing always plays second fiddle to things like eating, , family, health, etc. In general, used guitar prices have risen in the past 2 years - so do some research. Don't let on you are selling it because you need the cash. Consignment in a music store may take some time, but is the least hassle for a reasonable price. Look at asking prices on Reverb. Get examples as close as possible to yours. Also look at what they sell for, deduct the fee, shipping, insurance, etc. Go to a GC and see if they'll offer that much. Others here have great experience in selling used guitars and will provide you with better insights. G'Luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sevendaymelee Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 My only two concerns with Japan is Chibsons, and the radiation that's still circulation as a result of their nuclear power plant accident several years ago. That stuff can leach onto things like guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted September 19, 2022 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Russos is my home store. Well… Asbury Park anyway. you can list for sale yourself for no fees in most guitar forums… like TDPRI or gearpage. Or CL. listing on Reverb will eat about 10% including shipping, and you might have someone insist on a return, and reverb will side with them. you can also consign it at Russos for 25%. I’ve done that. They deal with the shipping and nonsense. good luck… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 6 hours ago, Sevendaymelee said: My only two concerns with Japan is Chibsons, and the radiation that's still circulation as a result of their nuclear power plant accident several years ago. That stuff can leach onto things like guitars. Wouldn’t they be Japson’s from Japan? I have bought about 75% of all of the guitars I’ve ever owned by mail, but all from the USA, and all are/were American made. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the other side Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 Why would anyone in their right mind want to buy any Gibson guitar that ships from Japan, knowingly the only plant in world is in the U.S.? It makes no sense for someone in Japan to buy a (example) Gibson Hummingbird in the US sent to a Gibson dealer in Japan and turn around and ship it back for the same price you buy it for in the U.S. or even cheaper? Too many holes in the air here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 I was 4 years away from retiring when this thread was started. Carry on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 Yep ... the world has changed in the past 4 years too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 14 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Wouldn’t they be Japson’s from Japan? I have bought about 75% of all of the guitars I’ve ever owned by mail, but all from the USA, and all are/were American made. I will be the first to admit I have been about as lucky as it gets when it comes to guitars. The majority of those I own just popped when I was going on my merry little way with no thoughts about buying any guitar. Then the phone started to ring, an email would arrive, or somebody would be knocking on the door and I would hear those words - "hey, I got a guitar which you might be real interested in." The only time I changed my lazy approach to guitar shopping was with the last guitar I ever bough being the Fairbanks Roy Smeck. And even though I had gotten assurances from folks whose opinion I trust that Dale nails Old School Tone and the seller provided me with every spec under the sun I was still a nervous wreck waiting for the box to show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustystrings Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 I would expect to see VINTAGE guitars come back from Japan. The last time I went to a guitar show, Gary Burnette/Bee Three's show in Spartanburg SC c.2000, I walked in two hours after the doors opened. There was a dealer from Tokyo right inside the door and he already had two chest-high stacks of guitars that were outbound. That sight, and the then-outrageous $3k price on a rebuilt and refinished Gibson built Ray Whitley Recording King (same model John Fahey played!), convinced me that there was too much money involved for vintage guitars to be fun for me anymore. I hate to think of how much that Ray Whitley would bring today .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 4 hours ago, rustystrings said: I would expect to see VINTAGE guitars come back from Japan. The last time I went to a guitar show, Gary Burnette/Bee Three's show in Spartanburg SC c.2000, I walked in two hours after the doors opened. There was a dealer from Tokyo right inside the door and he already had two chest-high stacks of guitars that were outbound. That sight, and the then-outrageous $3k price on a rebuilt and refinished Gibson built Ray Whitley Recording King (same model John Fahey played!), convinced me that there was too much money involved for vintage guitars to be fun for me anymore. I hate to think of how much that Ray Whitley would bring today .... when I was at Bee3 King of Prussia in 92/3 The Japan buyers had 3 40 foot trailers full of purchases. Chinery was visiting our table , , Gruhn beside us., Jim Danz from Island guitars across the isle had all there minions asking , excuse me. Whats in the case as the Japanese are throwing out the cash. , quite a show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted September 23, 2022 Share Posted September 23, 2022 (edited) On 9/19/2022 at 11:15 PM, the other side said: Why would anyone in their right mind want to buy any Gibson guitar that ships from Japan, knowingly the only plant in world is in the U.S.? It makes no sense for someone in Japan to buy a (example) Gibson Hummingbird in the US sent to a Gibson dealer in Japan and turn around and ship it back for the same price you buy it for in the U.S. or even cheaper? Too many holes in the air here! Just saw this. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/boomers_are_driving_vintage_guitar_sales_in_japan_report_says.html Edited September 23, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.