Nah the Bocchi the rock guitar riff was sick fr, also I feel like it would be a nice change of pace for there to be less people playing because i feel like it gets chaotic shopping at a guitar store sometimes. Otherwise sick video!
TLDR: I lived in Japan for the thick end of a decade. Guitar Center cannot touch Japanese guitar chains. Maybe some of the mom & pop joints, but not many.
Great review! I'm going to Japan this February, so this video was perfect timing, I'm gonna check out these guitar shops while I'm there. Thanks, Jabezrtp! 🎸
Guitar shops in my area guitar selection is literally choose between 2-3 known guitar brands with barely any variation, and then other unkown local guitar brands. Not too mention overpriced and the sale is basically the guitar's normal price outside of my country
Yeah bro back in the day, every music store had picks in bins like that. I gave up on Guitar Center years ago, and the new CEOs' arrogant ass attitude towards new players and cheaper guitars is insane. While I have been playing for over 30 years, Sweetwater is by far 100% the way to go if you can wait a few days instead of have it now.
Read between the lines, japan doesn't want kids that have no intentions of buying hanging around turning off paying customers, generally as soon as I play a guitar they never bother me because I spent enough time learning my craft and know how to respect an instrument and that reflects in my playing.
Guitar Center is what had been in my area but after moving 2 years ago, I've been looking at small local stores a bit more. I sadly have not been to Japan however.
Guitar center vibe and customer service is great sucks when you sit down to test a sweet Gibson and one of the guys next to you takes pitty and says "I feel ya" handing me pick
The stores pick for this comparison is rather interesting. I might say even cherry picked. Instead of Guitar Planet, why not pick ESP BigBoss store which is right around the corner from Guitar Planet. At the ESP store, you can pick woods for your custom ESP build and they likely have a bigger selection of Strandbergs than Guitar Planet. Instead of Ishibashi (not one of my favorite stores), why not pick the Ikebe Shibuya store (same neighborhood, about 15 minute walk). The Ikebe is much bigger, more modern and have a better selection of interesting guitars or G-CLub Shibuya (a few blocks from Ishibashi). Ikebe has a full repair department with actual skilled craftsman working at the store. (thirdfloor by the basses). Shimamura is an interesting choice because they operate almost exclusively out of shopping malls. There are several key strengths in Japanese stores. The first is selection. Japanese stores have every brand that a GC or Sweetwater have but also the hundred or so Japanese domestic brands plus many European brands. Ever see a C.Gig in a US store? Good luck finding a Koca in a guitar store in the US despite Koca being based in Florida but you can find one in a retail store in Japan. Of course, this favors those with a higher budget because many of these brands are at the premium price level. Another advantage of guitar stores in Japan in the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka is the density of stores. Many of the Japanese stores are much smaller in physical retail space but in the big cities, they are conveniently clustered in groupings. It was a bit misleading in discussing Guitar Planet because Guitar Planet is located in Ochanomizu ie. "Guitar street". There are so many stores clustered with that 4-5 block area. There are three ESP store within two blocks of each other on that street. So if you don't find it in one store go next door to another store. In Shibuya, you can find stores from the big four, Ishibashi, Ikebe, Kurosawa, shimamura all in the same neighborhood. It is true that stores in Japan (and actually the majority of the world) do not have the GC play anything policy(assuming you can reach it). This point gets debated all the time about whether it is a good thing or not. It's obviosuly bad for tire kickers. One secondary reason why in Japan is that they like to store guitars tuned down to relieve tension. It''s uselesss to just pick up a guitar since it will need to be tuned. Most of stores in Japan have trained staff (not the random crew of pirates at GC). Sure some are not very good but there is an average level of competence that you don't find in most US chain stores. The ESP store staff have to attend ESP's Guitar Craft Academy for two years before they can even qualify to work at an ESP store.
Hey Ricky! Thanks for educating me on guitar stores in Tokyo. Unfortunately, at the time of filming I didn't know about certain stores and I would have checked them out. Especially the ESP store because that custom wood aspect is very unique.
@@Jabezrtpp It's all good. Don't mind me. I have fallen deep into the Japanese guitar and music scene. Out of my 27 instruments, 21 are Japanese. Guitar shopping in Tokyo can be very daunting. Last time I was there in 2019 and I spent 3/4 of a day and hit 6 stores. Finally bought the guitar at the last store, Miyaji Music south of Ochanomizu. You can find oddball stuff in Japan. There is one store in Tokyo that specializes in just Jazzmaster guitars. That's all they do. The next time you go check out some factory stores like Combat Guitars' Arms Factory.
I’m all Sweetwater for everything, in fact I’m waiting on my new Bass, that would make it my 4th instrument among all kinds of others things I have bought, No ANNOYING sales people wanting to sell me warranty like GC does.
I’m not going to axe anybody about guitars. There might be strings attached. Somebody might pick a fight. It all might amplify the situation. I might not have a case.
The first one that you go see what has musicians guitars and you saw the fender jaguar and that belongs to Kurt Cobain second is all the mustangs that Kurt Cobain have in the music video for smells like teen Spirit is one from the mustang it's a different mustang it's the 1969 fender blue mustang that cost 4.5 million back in 2022
One regret I have is that I didn't buy an electric guitar when I went to japan last year 😂.. Alot of people I know said japan guitars are very good at quality. Well imma just buy next year
Broooo you do have the freedom to play whatever you want in Japanese stores...consider the liability and everything, don't you want your guitar stores not to lose money???? Guitar stores are all the same with different people running, that's all.
Guitar Center Sucks. It seems they are geared to people who know nothing about guitars and hirer only nose pickers and mouth breathers! I wouldn't buy DIK from Guitar Center!
5:23 GIRLS BAND CRY MENTIONED
HELL YEAH BROTHA
WOOOOOOOOO
hell yea
Nah the Bocchi the rock guitar riff was sick fr, also I feel like it would be a nice change of pace for there to be less people playing because i feel like it gets chaotic shopping at a guitar store sometimes. Otherwise sick video!
Thank you and yeah that's understandable.
TLDR: I lived in Japan for the thick end of a decade. Guitar Center cannot touch Japanese guitar chains. Maybe some of the mom & pop joints, but not many.
Great review! I'm going to Japan this February, so this video was perfect timing, I'm gonna check out these guitar shops while I'm there. Thanks, Jabezrtp! 🎸
Awesome to hear! Also Fender has a store in Tokyo and it looks nice. Unfortunately, I only found that out after I got back from Japan lol.
but did you play wonderwall in them?
Nah, only in Guitar Center
@@Jabezrtppawww
It would have been funny if you played Wonderwall in those guitar stores
Get a load of this guy
less goo new jabez vid!
I love the editing in this vid. No time to waste, straight to the point, but great personality. 5 star hahaha
Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!
You should visit the used only guitar stores you can get Japan made fenders for like 200 dollars
Dang that sounds cool!
Bass? 🤔 I've heard of those. Micropterus salmoides can be found in ponds, lakes and rivers. Alternatively, you can try the bass pro shop.
Interesting, I'll check it out lol!
Yoooo this Jabez video is fire
Hey thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it
Awesome 🤘can't wait for future videos
Thank you!
The down side to guitar center is you can’t stack coupons
Guitar shops in my area guitar selection is literally choose between 2-3 known guitar brands with barely any variation, and then other unkown local guitar brands. Not too mention overpriced and the sale is basically the guitar's normal price outside of my country
A full video from the king
What is a good acoustic guitar on a quite low budget but still good guitar?
I don't play acoustic all that much but go to Guitar Center and test out different ones and see which one you like best!
Yamaha.
go for a Taylor
@@erick.0606 He said "quite low budget" so probably not Taylor as they start at $500. Yamaha has some very solid choices at half that or less.
Yeah bro back in the day, every music store had picks in bins like that. I gave up on Guitar Center years ago, and the new CEOs' arrogant ass attitude towards new players and cheaper guitars is insane. While I have been playing for over 30 years, Sweetwater is by far 100% the way to go if you can wait a few days instead of have it now.
Read between the lines, japan doesn't want kids that have no intentions of buying hanging around turning off paying customers, generally as soon as I play a guitar they never bother me because I spent enough time learning my craft and know how to respect an instrument and that reflects in my playing.
6:14 bocchi mentioned??
brooo you should have went to the fender flagship store there it’s amazing
I most definitely would have but I only found out about it only after I got back.
Really nice video! Nice Strandberg at 2:02! Did you test it out? If so what did you think? 🤘🤘🤘
Hey I did test it out. However, I'm not used to such big necks so it was a bit uncomfortable. When I get the chance I'll test one out again.
@ Nice! The Endure Neck may be uncomfortable at first but you may get used to it!
I love your videos jabez
Thank you!
@ your welcome
Guitar Center is what had been in my area but after moving 2 years ago, I've been looking at small local stores a bit more. I sadly have not been to Japan however.
Small local stores can be really special and unique. But hopefully someday you can come to Japan!
Bro, you are so underrated
love from India
Thank you!
Rating in Japan works differently a 3/5 Is good and a 5/5 is perfect usually a place won’t get a 5/5 even top restaurants sit around 3/5 to 4/5 stars.
Guitar center vibe and customer service is great sucks when you sit down to test a sweet Gibson and one of the guys next to you takes pitty and says "I feel ya" handing me pick
🔥 Japanese guitar shops have their own appeal, I've always preferred them to guitar center.
blurred imaged always make me think all about Japan.
Men of culture we meet again.
awesome!
thanks!
This video is so good
Thank you, I'm glad you like it!
How long have you been playing?
Love that vlog video form! It’s great!
Thank you and I've been playing for 5 years
I don’t have a guitar center near me 😔
Awe that stinks. Do you have any local shops?
The stores pick for this comparison is rather interesting. I might say even cherry picked. Instead of Guitar Planet, why not pick ESP BigBoss store which is right around the corner from Guitar Planet. At the ESP store, you can pick woods for your custom ESP build and they likely have a bigger selection of Strandbergs than Guitar Planet. Instead of Ishibashi (not one of my favorite stores), why not pick the Ikebe Shibuya store (same neighborhood, about 15 minute walk). The Ikebe is much bigger, more modern and have a better selection of interesting guitars or G-CLub Shibuya (a few blocks from Ishibashi). Ikebe has a full repair department with actual skilled craftsman working at the store. (thirdfloor by the basses). Shimamura is an interesting choice because they operate almost exclusively out of shopping malls.
There are several key strengths in Japanese stores. The first is selection. Japanese stores have every brand that a GC or Sweetwater have but also the hundred or so Japanese domestic brands plus many European brands. Ever see a C.Gig in a US store? Good luck finding a Koca in a guitar store in the US despite Koca being based in Florida but you can find one in a retail store in Japan. Of course, this favors those with a higher budget because many of these brands are at the premium price level.
Another advantage of guitar stores in Japan in the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka is the density of stores. Many of the Japanese stores are much smaller in physical retail space but in the big cities, they are conveniently clustered in groupings. It was a bit misleading in discussing Guitar Planet because Guitar Planet is located in Ochanomizu ie. "Guitar street". There are so many stores clustered with that 4-5 block area. There are three ESP store within two blocks of each other on that street. So if you don't find it in one store go next door to another store. In Shibuya, you can find stores from the big four, Ishibashi, Ikebe, Kurosawa, shimamura all in the same neighborhood.
It is true that stores in Japan (and actually the majority of the world) do not have the GC play anything policy(assuming you can reach it). This point gets debated all the time about whether it is a good thing or not. It's obviosuly bad for tire kickers. One secondary reason why in Japan is that they like to store guitars tuned down to relieve tension. It''s uselesss to just pick up a guitar since it will need to be tuned. Most of stores in Japan have trained staff (not the random crew of pirates at GC). Sure some are not very good but there is an average level of competence that you don't find in most US chain stores. The ESP store staff have to attend ESP's Guitar Craft Academy for two years before they can even qualify to work at an ESP store.
Hey Ricky! Thanks for educating me on guitar stores in Tokyo. Unfortunately, at the time of filming I didn't know about certain stores and I would have checked them out. Especially the ESP store because that custom wood aspect is very unique.
@@Jabezrtpp
It's all good. Don't mind me. I have fallen deep into the Japanese guitar and music scene. Out of my 27 instruments, 21 are Japanese.
Guitar shopping in Tokyo can be very daunting. Last time I was there in 2019 and I spent 3/4 of a day and hit 6 stores. Finally bought the guitar at the last store, Miyaji Music south of Ochanomizu. You can find oddball stuff in Japan. There is one store in Tokyo that specializes in just Jazzmaster guitars. That's all they do.
The next time you go check out some factory stores like Combat Guitars' Arms Factory.
Nice video bro
@@axgunner6060 thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
Whats the first song?
Bro u need to go to sweetwater next! I think it would be wayyyy better than guitar center
Hey Brook! I just searched for some photos and it looks really nice. I think I'd enjoy it also.
Go to Norman’s rare guitars it’s in California
And they have a bunch of vintage guitars
I've seen that online it looks amazing when I get the chance I'll check it out
GIRLS BAND CRY MENTIONED
I’m all Sweetwater for everything, in fact I’m waiting on my new Bass, that would make it my 4th instrument among all kinds of others things I have bought, No ANNOYING sales people wanting to sell me warranty like GC does.
I want to visit their place in Indiana it looks fantastic
I’m not going to axe anybody about guitars. There might be strings attached. Somebody might pick a fight. It all might amplify the situation. I might not have a case.
the japanese guitars are very nice
Cool review 👍 Thanks for sharing.
Thank you and thanks for watching!
The first one that you go see what has musicians guitars and you saw the fender jaguar and that belongs to Kurt Cobain second is all the mustangs that Kurt Cobain have in the music video for smells like teen Spirit is one from the mustang it's a different mustang it's the 1969 fender blue mustang that cost 4.5 million back in 2022
Kurt Cobain mustang and his fender Jaguar 1:15
Interesting!
@@Jabezrtppalso if watch the teen Spirit music video
Cool vid
thank you!
One regret I have is that I didn't buy an electric guitar when I went to japan last year 😂.. Alot of people I know said japan guitars are very good at quality. Well imma just buy next year
bro forgot about hard off :(
First video !!!
Thanks for watching!
W channel find
Welcome!
3:44 whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
what is something wrong???
CHONN❤❤!!!!!! 4:21
Let's goo!!! I'm glad someone recognized it
the way my face lit up instantly when naoki started playing bocchi the rock is actually insane
Glad to to hear it! I wanted to try the black version but they were out of stock.
251 views in 8 hours on a 153k channel? Damn
This is his first full video and ppl subscribed for his shorts so they prolly just haven’t seen it on their feed lol
@ ohhhh that makes sense
Long formmm!!!!
I wish it was less same ol' same ol 'boring Amerian more crazy vintage Fujigen ,Matsumoku, stuff
les gpooooooddeododo
Try Longamquade, 100% better then This “Guitar Center”
doesnt play one guitar
I played during the rating. The video is just blurred a bit.
Lets goooo
Broooo you do have the freedom to play whatever you want in Japanese stores...consider the liability and everything, don't you want your guitar stores not to lose money????
Guitar stores are all the same with different people running, that's all.
Pro video
thank you!
FIRST EVER LONG ON VID THIS CHANEL
Not appreciating bass slam
And I suppose you want subs
Nope
Guitar Center Sucks. It seems they are geared to people who know nothing about guitars and hirer only nose pickers and mouth breathers! I wouldn't buy DIK from Guitar Center!
let's goooo,2nd comment
396 views, 11 hours, bro fell off HARD ☠🙏