Guitar Street Japan

[stratjacket]

On my way to Guitar Street (Ochanomizu) today. 2nd year in a row. Last year I picked up an incredible deal on a brand new Ibanez Pia.

It’s my 1 free day away from the wife and family on this Japan visit. I’m hitting Guitar Stores, sushi and then getting drunk somewhere…should be a helluva good day.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

Oooooh that sounds like a ton of fun! Bring us back some souvenirs.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

On my way to Guitar Street (Ochanomizu) today. 2nd year in a row. Last year I picked up an incredible deal on a brand new Ibanez Pia.

It’s my 1 free day away from the wife and family on this Japan visit. I’m hitting Guitar Stores, sushi and then getting drunk somewhere…should be a helluva good day.

If you turn left up that street outside the train station and walk up where the restaurants are, near the little shop part with the record store, there is a restaurant downstairs somewhere that has those sucken table setups. I remember achieving both your last missions there. Food and sake. Lots of it.

Sorry can’t give specifics of name or anything.

 

[stratjacket]

Torn!! I’m torn, so many good deals….

 

[Eazy-ESP]

Torn!! I’m torn, so many good deals….

Yes. I know the feeling. I fell in love with several. Being from Australia I’m not used to even having access to many of the things other countries have, let alone that street.

Maybe do what I did and force yourself to choose something you don’t have and serves a goal. Mine was getting a guitar more suited to rhythm. So even though I loved some of the shreddier guitars, I bought a fixed bridge baritone that when I listened, had great tone.

 

[stratjacket]

Torn!! I’m torn, so many good deals….

What a great day. Walked through all the stores, settled on about 5 that caught my eye, narrowed down to 2 that tugged my heart. Walked down the road and drink a bunch of beer…checked out some Anime for my son in Akihabara….drank some more. Then said 2 tears in a bucket, fuckit. And got the one I’ve wanted since they were announced.

2025 PRS Custom 24 Satin Standard in Pearl Black.
It’s so damn delicious in person not sure this pick serves it justice.

Got it out the door at $621 less than US prices. Just couldn’t pass it up at those savings.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

What a great day. Walked through all the stores, settled on about 5 that caught my eye, narrowed down to 2 that tugged my heart. Walked down the road and drink a bunch of beer…checked out some Anime for my son in Akihabara….drank some more. Then said 2 tears in a bucket, fuckit. And got the one I’ve wanted since they were announced.

2025 PRS Custom 24 Satin Standard in Pearl Black.
It’s so damn delicious in person not sure this pick serves it justice.

Got it out the door at $621 less than US prices. Just couldn’t pass it up at those savings.

View attachment 399747

That’s my kind of PRS! Beautiful score man. Congratulations!

 

[xzyryabx]

I was there yesterday as well, wonder if we saw each other!
Congrats on the find, that's a cool guitar!

 

[cardinal]

Congrats! We had to scrap a plan to see Tokyo this year since it conflicted with my son's football season, but someday.

 

[Geo]

What a great day. Walked through all the stores, settled on about 5 that caught my eye, narrowed down to 2 that tugged my heart. Walked down the road and drink a bunch of beer…checked out some Anime for my son in Akihabara….drank some more. Then said 2 tears in a bucket, fuckit. And got the one I’ve wanted since they were announced.

2025 PRS Custom 24 Satin Standard in Pearl Black.
It’s so damn delicious in person not sure this pick serves it justice.

Got it out the door at $621 less than US prices. Just couldn’t pass it up at those savings.

View attachment 399747

It's kinda funny that you went all the way to Japan and bought a guitar made in Maryland.

 

[Eazy-ESP]

It's kinda funny that you went all the way to Japan and bought a guitar made in Maryland.

That was the only thing I was a little saddened by. There are more American guitars than Japanese in that Street.

 

[stratjacket]

It's kinda funny that you went all the way to Japan and bought a guitar made in Maryland.

Yep, what was strange is how much cheaper I got it in Japan than I could have in Maryland. I wasn’t even thinking PRS or any US guitar at all. I had scoped out several Ibanez, T’s Guitars, ESP and a few others online that I was looking for. I was only planning to buy something I couldn’t get in America OR an incredible deal.

 

[Gitfiddler]

Sounds like a great trip. Killer guitar, and the bird in the case looks so cool.

 

[PBGas]

What a great trip! I would love to go there someday!

Nicely done!

 

[Devin]

Do you speak Japanese?

 

[stratjacket]

Do you speak Japanese?

Just a little, not very much. My wife is Japanese and we’ve been together since 1992. I can listen and understand the jest of the conversation for the most part but hard to come up with the words when speaking.

 

[Devin]

Do you think that someone with essentially no knowledge of the language (me) could still have an enjoyable time there?

 

[NowYou'rePlayingWithPower]

Do you think that someone with essentially no knowledge of the language (me) could still have an enjoyable time there?

Yes, many speak English.
You can stay with my cousin in Katagami until your Shinzen Kekkon.

 

[Devin]

Yes, many speak English.
You can stay with my cousin in Katagami until your Shinzen Kekkon.

I have heard they're having a bit of a population crisis.....I can save them

 

[Orvillain]

Ughhh.... I hate to be a weeb... but Ochanomizu doesn't mean guitar street. It means tea water; some old boy made a cup of tea from the river flowing through the area once, and that's how it was named.

I love Ochanomizu though. I go there at least 2 or 3 times whenever I'm in Japan. English will get you some of the way, but rudimentary Japanese will help.

I bought a lovely Tokai Les Paul from Yamano Gakki last year. Was hell getting it back to the UK on two planes, but I managed it!!