Ordering from Japan...

Jack-Flash-Jr

It's difficult to find some parts for MIJ guitars in SA, particularly some Fenders where the specs are slightly different. My MIJ Jazz Bass was born with a white scratch plate, removed by the previous owner (don't blame him, white on burst is not my favourite either 'cept for teles) and replaced with a ill fitting black one (basically trimmed with garden shears to fit around the control plate).
My attempts to replace were not successful here, the official and unofficial ones I tried didn't line up with the screw holes (and were one under string hole short)... not a train smash but the non-alignment with the control plate was a deal breaker.
I found what I was looking for on:
http://www.mijguitars.jp/

Had them ship the plate via eBay using paypal (Amazon only does courier, unnecessary for this type of thing). Ordered it on 27 Oct, arrived at my local post office in Kalk Bay 16th Nov. Shipping was USD 4.99... that's right R40!
And it fits perfectly ?

epictring

I've bought numerous equipment from ebay, incl. a heavy (30kg) Vox VT100 amp from the UK.

Never had any problems, as long as you keep the extra costs in mind and buy from a Gold rated seller ?

I'm also soon ordering a Nova Delay from ebay, a lot cheaper than locally.

kayDUB

I'm always tempted by Ishibashi's bound lake placid blue MIJ teles with bigsbys ☹ Beauties of note!
Maybe one day...

singemonkey

kayDUB wrote: I'm always tempted by Ishibashi's bound lake placid blue MIJ teles with bigsbys ☹ Beauties of note!
Maybe one day...

Unfortunately Ishibashi won't ship new instruments. But they will ship used ones... which are cheaper ?

kayDUB

singemonkey wrote:
kayDUB wrote: I'm always tempted by Ishibashi's bound lake placid blue MIJ teles with bigsbys ☹ Beauties of note!
Maybe one day...
Unfortunately Ishibashi won't ship new instruments. But they will ship used ones... which are cheaper ?

Yeah, I'm talking about the ones that pop up in the used box now and then ?

Tokai-SA

Problem is, Ishibashi charge 28 000 JYen shipping.
I've bought many new Fenders from Ishibashi, the last was about 2 and a half years ago, at that time shipping was 28 000 Yen, may be more now.
They only use EMS Japan, and that's the price.

So people want bound MIJ Tele's with bigsbys...really?, I didn't know that. ?

selbydoodl

Ishibashi definitely sells new guitars, and ships them here.

Trouble is shipping from the yellow perils tends to be a bit expensive.

However you can get some superb bargains which probably offsets the shipping costs