Ordering a guitar from Japan on EBAY

[motorboy1]

Looking at a few EBMM Axis EVH. Anyone order a guitar from Japan to the states and have an issue with customs. etc. Free shipping from the seller and he has good feedback.

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

I ordered a Burny LP Custom years ago from eBay. Everything went really smooth, they shipped via EMS and it got here in like 5 days. I didn't have to pay any extra fees or anything.

From what I recall reading when I was buying some parts for my 300ZX from Japan, they can lie about what's in the package to help avoid fees and things like that, but it's not so good if they get caught. Though, I'm sure on as something as big as a guitar that'd be hard to do.

 

[Racerxrated]

I've ordered 3 LP clones from Japan Ebay, the first two were here in a week with no issues. The third I just ordered Sunday, a Greco EG500 for 450 shipped. Hopefully no issues as well. The first two were a Greco Mint collection Sykes, and an Edwards Sykes from the late 90s.

All are at least on par with a Gibby Standard/classic.

 

[motorboy1]

Cool thanks for the replies...

 

[PAULYC2]

I bought an Akira Takisaki (Loudness) Killer prime model on eBay Japan, no issues and shipping was quick.

 

[Inearthed]

I’ve done a few over the last 3 or 4 years. Zero issues. Shipping was also faster than east coast to west coast. If it’s listed on eBay I would also try double checking to see if it is listed on something like Ishibashi’s site for $200-$400 cheaper. There are a bunch of eBay gear re-sellers in Japan that just re-list items from local Japanese auction sites or gear stores for a mark up and don’t actually own the instrument. I snagged one axe this way for $300 less than the eBay auction making a good deal into a really sweet deal... obviously YMMV.

 

[Les Zombie]

I bought a esp george lynch kami limited 20th anniversary guitar and it came from a dealer in japan and i got it in less than a week and no issues. Ishibashi was the dealer and the communication was good.

 

[Rick Lee]

How does it work with US-made guitars coming from Japan? Do they mark on the customs form that the guitar was made in the US, so it's not considered an import? Doesn't anyone have to prove it once in a while?

 

[EXPcustom]

I’ve done a few over the last 3 or 4 years. Zero issues. Shipping was also faster than east coast to west coast. If it’s listed on eBay I would also try double checking to see if it is listed on something like Ishibashi’s site for $200-$400 cheaper. There are a bunch of eBay gear re-sellers in Japan that just re-list items from local Japanese auction sites or gear stores for a mark up and don’t actually own the instrument. I snagged one axe this way for $300 less than the eBay auction making a good deal into a really sweet deal... obviously YMMV.

I hate those Japanese resellers, they will take your money and if they can't get the guitar will lie and say guitar got destroyed and take forever giving your money back.

Just go to digimart and buy the guitar direct from the dealer you will save anywhere from a 100 to a 1000 dollars by doing this instead of using the middlemen on Ebay.

 

[shredhead7]

I've ordered 3 LP clones from Japan Ebay, the first two were here in a week with no issues. The third I just ordered Sunday, a Greco EG500 for 450 shipped. Hopefully no issues as well. The first two were a Greco Mint collection Sykes, and an Edwards Sykes from the late 90s.

All are at least on par with a Gibby Standard/classic.

I've thought about ordering some clones from Japan, how is the fit and finish? Are they Chinese/Korean, or Japanese builds and how are the pickups in them?

 

[Chris O]

I've ordered 3 LP clones from Japan Ebay, the first two were here in a week with no issues. The third I just ordered Sunday, a Greco EG500 for 450 shipped. Hopefully no issues as well. The first two were a Greco Mint collection Sykes, and an Edwards Sykes from the late 90s.

All are at least on par with a Gibby Standard/classic.

I've thought about ordering some clones from Japan, how is the fit and finish? Are they Chinese/Korean, or Japanese builds and how are the pickups in them?

There’s a little controversy as far as origin on some, but typically they are MIJ. There are some cases where they are MIK, but then assembled, set up, and QC in Japan.

I have 2 Edwards E-LP-130’s, and they are awesome. No complaints whatsoever, well - it would be nice if they were nitro rather than poly, but that’s nit picking stuff. The hardware is arguably better, and the frets are rounded nicely, unlike the sorta flattened crowns on Gibson frets.if G brand was making guitars like these, you can bet they’d be assigning a HANDSOME price to them.

I have a third on the way, BTW...

 

[Racerxrated]

I've ordered 3 LP clones from Japan Ebay, the first two were here in a week with no issues. The third I just ordered Sunday, a Greco EG500 for 450 shipped. Hopefully no issues as well. The first two were a Greco Mint collection Sykes, and an Edwards Sykes from the late 90s.

All are at least on par with a Gibby Standard/classic.

I've thought about ordering some clones from Japan, how is the fit and finish? Are they Chinese/Korean, or Japanese builds and how are the pickups in them?

There’s a little controversy as far as origin on some, but typically they are MIJ. There are some cases where they are MIK, but then assembled, set up, and QC in Japan.

I have 2 Edwards E-LP-130’s, and they are awesome. No complaints whatsoever, well - it would be nice if they were nitro rather than poly, but that’s nit picking stuff. The hardware is arguably better, and the frets are rounded nicely, unlike the sorta flattened crowns on Gibson frets.if G brand was making guitars like these, you can bet they’d be assigning a HANDSOME price to them.

I have a third on the way, BTW...

So, to answer the question about the clones, there is a lot of info out there so I'll just give my experience...

I've owned 2 and both, an 84 mint collection Greco Sykes and a late 90s Edwards Sykes and both are at least on par with a Gibby standard in fit, finish, playability..the Grecos came with Fujigen pickups, Dry 82s, and they sounded like a sweeter JB with less of a mid hump. The Edwards came with Duncan, Distortions I think. The ones to get are late 90s to early 2000s Edwards, as they split the production with China at some point in the 2010-13 time frame. Grecos got really good in the 79-82 time frame, and continued till the early 90s when some were made in Korea. Not that they aren't good, but the Magic period was 79-92 or so. Always try to find one with a serial number, as they are always the MIJ ones.
Most of these clones have 60s slim necks but the top of the line Greco Super Reals had real deal fat 50s necks, and are the largest of all Jap brand neck profiles. But, the other Greco customs like the Mint collection all came with slimmer profiles. Burnys can be harder to ID since many came without serials, but the Emblem under the name and the number of truss rod cover screws can give it away. The earlier Grecos had pups made by Maxon, and the U1000 pups in the Super Power Grecos are the same pickup as the Ibanez Super 70, made famous by EVH. Lots more info out there...but try to buy MIJ vs Korea/China for resale and better fit/finish.

 

[PAULYC2]

I need a good MIJ LP copy, never thought I’d say that lol

I remember being a kid in the 70s with all the “Jap” bolt on neck LP copies, Memphis, Kent, Ibanez, etc...boy, those were garbage. These Greco and Edwards being discussed above sound awesome !

 

[Rick Lee]

I have a close buddy who has been in the MI biz his whole adult life, worked at Fender, Gibson, etc. He has had every guitar you can name and his number one is his Edwards LP.

 

[Racerxrated]

For those of us that are strat guys, like me, but still want a decent LP at a price far less than the real deal, these MIJ LPs are the way to go. The 2 I've had are every bit as good or better than most LP standards/classics that I've picked up. Some even compare them to Customs but I wouldn't go that far.