Members TheStoveMan Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 Hey dudes. I'm getting a bit more serious about playing classical instead of other types of music on guitar, and so I would like to upgrade to a decent instrument. What I have right now is a crappy Lucero LC-100 that I got from Guitar Center five years ago (when I was a senior in HS) for 100 bucks and some change. That was just a bad choice, for not much more I could have gotten something much better used if there was anything available, I know. So from that standpoint I would really like to have a nicer instrument soon. However, I anticipate that I will be moving out to Japan in April after I graduate. If I *do* get something now, it had better be something that is WORTH taking with me. Is it better to get something now and take it with me, or get something after I get there? I will probably wind up getting something new in the few hundred dollars range, I looked around craigslist and there isn't really anything too enticing listed in my area and there aren't any good shops around that carry used stuff that I know of...
Members Stackabones Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 I'd wait. One of the forumites, zenbu, finds some pretty good deals on older Yammies over in Japan. Plus, Japan may have models/brands that aren't offered over here. Also, the nightmare of traveling with a guitar (especially one you've just purchased) on a plane would be unendurable imo. So ... what's wrong with the Lucero?
Members TheStoveMan Posted December 28, 2007 Author Members Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks for the answer! I kinda thought getting one over there would be a little more practical, but I figured I'd get input from others. I've thought about travel guitars but I dunno if I really want one of those. If I did want one, I live in Eugene, which is where the Soloette guys are... The Lucero just doesn't sound all that good, and I feel like I could easily have something that feels nicer to play. But it IS functional, and all I do is practice/play for myself anyway, so I can definitely hold off. There is somebody in town selling a Yamaha for 150 that he says he got for 375 new. I might call him up and ask what model it is, because that might be worth getting and using for the next couple months, then I could leave it at my mom's house to use whenever I come back to visit. What do you think of that? I saw that Zenbu's location is listed as Sendai, that's actually where I'll be headed if everything goes through...
Members riffmeister Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 A lot of nice guitars are MIJ.......Yamaha, Kohno, Yairi, and more. If I were you I'd wait until I were in Japan and then look for a nice instrument over there. Here's one that I just learned about recently:http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=008272 .
Members Stackabones Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 Thanks for the answer! I kinda thought getting one over there would be a little more practical, but I figured I'd get input from others. I've thought about travel guitars but I dunno if I really want one of those. If I did want one, I live in Eugene, which is where the Soloette guys are... The Lucero just doesn't sound all that good, and I feel like I could easily have something that feels nicer to play. But it IS functional, and all I do is practice/play for myself anyway, so I can definitely hold off. There is somebody in town selling a Yamaha for 150 that he says he got for 375 new. I might call him up and ask what model it is, because that might be worth getting and using for the next couple months, then I could leave it at my mom's house to use whenever I come back to visit. What do you think of that? I saw that Zenbu's location is listed as Sendai, that's actually where I'll be headed if everything goes through... Might as well keep the Lucero for a beater ... either that or strip out the frets and go fretless! I've got the Aria copy of the Soloette ... great travel git imo. Have you heard about the Guitalele? ChiyoDad has just started posting around here. That used Yamaha may be cool. I'd guess you could haggle it a bit lower. Might as well try. Keep us posted!
Members C70man Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 You could always find out what they don't have in Japan or what guitars sell for over there in comparison to US dollars. You may be able to make yourself a sweet deal by bringing one with you. Just a thought. If you think yours is a beater, why not take it with you. Nothing to lose if it doesnt handle the trip ........only insure it to the hilt, just in case.
Members Alex Pareja Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 Check ebay, I'm in search of one myself. I've been coming across alot of good deals, but it depends on what specs you're looking for i.e. solid spruce top, ebony fretboard, good tuners, etc. I think you can get something decent for 4 or 500. The high end stuff will be like 1200. Cheers on the avatar. Stone brewery beer is the best; I can't find that double bastard anywhere by me.
Members Scott Fonseca Posted December 28, 2007 Members Posted December 28, 2007 Wait until you get there, there is much risk with moving guitars
Members TheStoveMan Posted December 28, 2007 Author Members Posted December 28, 2007 The guy in my town with the Yamaha sold it already.. bummer, but oh well. Actually I might think about ordering a Yamaha silent guitar to take with me. Can FOR SURE carry it by hand, so no need to be nervous transporting it. The soloettes look nice, but 800 bones is a little too pricy IMO for something that's not a full sound-projecting acoustic, and I don't know where to get an Aria copy. I can afford the Yamaha one now, and if I do indeed make it to Japan, I think I will be able to afford something much nicer if I am kind of careful and stash little bits of extra funding away for a couple months. Plus, I think I might end up living in some rather non-spacious quarters for the first year or so, so it could be nice to have something quiet so I can practice to my heart's content without disturbing the neighbors. Also that'll allow me to have something in hand to keep practicing when I get there since I won't have the money to pick something up right away.Alex, I'm almost exclusively an Arrogant Bastard drinker! There's even a fantastic pizza place right outside my back porch that has AB on tap! Why am I moving away from it? Double Bastard is only out around November, my store ran out of it so no more for this year... I do have one left in my refrigerator, though. And moving to Japan is going to be rough as far as the beer situation, that's for sure! I was over there when I first started drinking beer, so I was kind of "raised" on their beer, so to speak. Sapporo is better than Bud/Coors/Miller, but when I moved back, I got introduced to the world of West Coast micros, and my beer taste completely changed.... I'll have to pack as much Bastard as I can fit!
Members Stackabones Posted December 29, 2007 Members Posted December 29, 2007 The Yamaha Silent Guitar is very nice. Check on the size of it when it's disassembled and in its gig bag -- I seem to recall that it was not great for carryon. I found my Aria used at GC. Nobody knew what it was, but I did and made them an offer that they guessed was about right. Speaking of beer ... Stone Brewery also makes a Porter. Haven't tried it yet. Any opinion? Oh, and while you're in Japan, you'll just have to go native with sake. I've also heard that they really like Scotch.
Members TheStoveMan Posted December 29, 2007 Author Members Posted December 29, 2007 I cannot STAND sake or shochu, haha. I lived in Tokyo before and was ok with it at first, but then one night I had a little too much of this piss poor quality shochu and it ruined ALL shochu and sake for me. The stone porter is quite nice, if I remember right, but I almost always go for Arrogant Bastard, it's just my favorite. They also make a killer Imperial Russian Stout, for a limited part of the year. Big to that!I'm still *kind of* thinking about upgrading now and taking it with me, I will only have one flight to worry about and if I can carry on or gate check, it could be ok. It's just that if I go guitar-less, I might stay guitar-less for a month or two.There is a place in town that has these Kremona guitars from Bulgaria, which seemed considerably nicer than what Guitar Center has to offer, are these ok guitars? It was 600-ish for something with a solid spruce top and walnut back/sides, looked sharp, played very nicely, and sounded good for the limited playing time I had...
Members TheStoveMan Posted January 2, 2008 Author Members Posted January 2, 2008 Hey guys.. I decided to go with a Yamaha SLG100N for now, should be easy to cart with me and a good practice guit' that I can play whenever I want without bugging my neighbors... when I get to JP I will also keep my eyes peeled for a good deal on a regular acoustic Yamaha or something else, as well
Members Stackabones Posted January 2, 2008 Members Posted January 2, 2008 Did you already get it? If so ... please start a thread about it!!!!
Members TheStoveMan Posted January 2, 2008 Author Members Posted January 2, 2008 Did you already get it? If so ... please start a thread about it!!!! No, I just ordered it, so it'll be here next week. Musician's Friend and others are backordered and they keep changing the date of when they expect to get it but I e-mailed Elderly and asked if they had any, since I saw it on their website, and they said they had one left so I decided to go for it! I'll hopefully be able to stay home most of the day when it ships, and post a thread when it comes in, and maybe record some clips direct to my computer, if I can get it to sound ok that way...
Members Samilyn Posted January 3, 2008 Members Posted January 3, 2008 WhooHoo - NG on the way! Can't wait to read your NGD post and see some pics. Congrats!!
Members Scott Fonseca Posted January 3, 2008 Members Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats on the new guitar can't wait to hear about it!
Members totamus Posted January 3, 2008 Members Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats on the new guitar! For what its worth, you are probably better off to buy here. Two reasons: 1) Guitars purchased in Japan will not have their warranties honored by Yamaha America, and 2) the prices will be less here than in Japan (doesn't make sense, but is true)
Members Tony Burns Posted January 3, 2008 Members Posted January 3, 2008 I know its too late but : Lucida Concerto 777 -
Members TheStoveMan Posted January 3, 2008 Author Members Posted January 3, 2008 Congrats on the new guitar! For what its worth, you are probably better off to buy here. Two reasons: 1) Guitars purchased in Japan will not have their warranties honored by Yamaha America, and 2) the prices will be less here than in Japan (doesn't make sense, but is true) Actually from what I've seen, a lot of music gear in Japan has pricing that's similar or not too much higher than what we pay, except for MIA stuff, which can get pricey. As for the warranty thing, what about the other way around? Will Yamaha Japan take care of any problems for this one that I purchased here? I'm guessing no, but I won't worry too much about it either way. Actually I'm not sure how long I'll be there, it could be a few years, or could be a few more than a few years, so I don't know what I'll want to do as far as getting a full acoustic later. TonyBurns, maybe not too late on the Lucida-- That model was something that I kinda had in mind, and I do still want to get a regular acoustic at some point.
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