J-Custom Dealers in Australia?

[HeavyMetal4Ever]

Does anyone know of a J-Custom vendor in Australia?

This is probably in the wrong place. If so I apologise.

Any help would be most appreciated

Rock on!

[Ki swordsman]

i've heard of a few random ones coming into stock, but no vendors. but if there were, you can guarantee it would have a massive BS price and it would still be more worth your while importing from japan instead

[David McCarroll]

Drum Music in Sydney apparently get a few in - expect to pay $4500 - $5000 for one (which, when you think about it is a little more than a Gibson Les Paul and a little less than a PRS - go figure!)

Cheers

David

[David McCarroll]

Oh, yeah, Venue in Sydney have an Ebony 'board JEM 7VWH in for around the $3000 mark at the moment - that's also a J-Custom by the way! Venue will definitely deal hard on cash too.

[Petie]

Any Prestige dealer can order a J Custom from Australis. They tend to only get a handful in each year as inventory but if you want one, they will get it, at least so I've been told by one of the Australis sales reps.

[Ki swordsman]

sorry to correct you there David but a VWH is a Jcraft (''prestige''), the Jcustoms are the next tier in quality above prestige/Jcraft, above the jems..

[HeavyMetal4Ever]

Thanks for the info folks

On the Japanese Ibanez site they show the J-Custom RG8470F is worth 283500 Yen, which is currently $2655.69 in Australian dollars.

That seems like a pretty good price for a topline guitar

If I add $500 for import costs the price is still "only" $3155.69.

That looks too good to be true. Where am I going wrong here?

As before, any help...thanks

Rock on!

[kaizzen]

http://www.guitarsfromhell.com.au/in...ort=20a&page=4

Those guys have them. They currently have zero in stock. I emailed em for a price quote and it was roughly 4000-4990$ if I recall correctly.

I wasn't impressed, the guitars looks magnificent I think but the price is a slaughter considering what it retails for in Japan.

goodluck

-Edit- They said they would have some in towards the end of July-August.

[David McCarroll]

$2655.69 plus say $400AUD to ship = $3055.69 - add import duty and GST (payable on retail price + shipping and insurance = 15%) +$458.35 = $3514, and you can probably chuck in another $100 or so for unforseen things like quarantine inspection fees (yep, no joke) and you are now at about $3620, which is about what you'd land it in your hand at, no warranty and possibly no recourse if damaged in transit - you have to decide whether the risk is worth what you potentially save.

I have seen two friends import guitars recently, and both arrived damaged - albeit totally and invisibly repairable (in both cases it was the pickup selector switch which had been pushed into the guitar - in one case, a Dan Armstrong Plexi reissue the resultant shrapnel from the switch caused a few nasty scratches in the plexiglass, the other, a Guild Jazz box was un-marked), I have brought in five or so solid body guitars without a single issue. The best things to go for are in fact things like J-Customs, PRS's and sort of boutique stuff that gets a pretty big mark up here due to low volume sales, so, it's up to you to decide whether the risks justify the means.

By the way, there is no import duty or GST on items under $1000AUD (inc shipping) - some dealers/sellers will artificially mark the instrument as having cost sub $1k - BUT, if it arrives in a million pieces, guess what you are insured for?

[sugizo_esp]

PM you about this matter

[Ki swordsman]

$400 shipping is waaay too much

i've bought 2 guitars from ishibashi in japan. both came undamaged and one was without a case, only a wrapped box and great packing.

without case shipping was- 14000 yen = $131 AU
with case RGA ibanez- 16000 yen = $149 AU
that price includes insurance by the way.

soo..
guitar- 283,500yen = $2653(hmm it converts better already!)
shipping with insurance -16,000 - $149
customs at %15 = $420
+extra $100 buffer just incase

drumroll..........

it's a spanktastic new Jcustom for = $3322!