Hi There,
I live in Hong Kong and the best choice is Tom Lee. The main showroom is in Kowloon. They have tons of guitars. All brands and models. At least equal to the Guitar Centers in Chicago, Seattle and Las Vegas. You can try anything out in the store no questions asked. The usual plethora of strats, telleys and gibsons. Tons of Jacksons and plenty of PRS and Ibanez's. They have one demo 2005 JEM7BRMR hooked on the wall for sale. If I remember I think the price is about $1200 USD. Amplifiers are mainly Marshall, Fender and Laney with a number of Mesa Boogies. No Peavey amps. The usual strings, straps and other gizmos. Pedals are mainly Boss and Digitech.
Prices are generally 10%-20% lower than the US. They have the new Ibanez Jemini Vai foot pedal thingy for $143. I think that is $50 cheaper than Guitar Center.
I was in the Kowloon
shop for about an hour last Sunday; just doodling around. Maybe 5-6 guys were playing different guitars and a few guys banging drums. Last month I went in and tried every Ibanez they had on the wall. Also tried a few Jacksons and some kind of special anniversary Flying V that had I think 27 frets. I was there for at least three hours and no one said boo. I eventually bought a Dimarzio
strap lock for $15 USD on sale. Last month I bought a new Boss Metal Core pedal for about $75 USD. In March I bought my 2008 JEM7VWH for a bit less than $1800 USD, case included.
There is no sales tax in Hong Kong so that will save you 7%-10% or so compared to the states.
Tom Lee also has a second smaller store in Wanchai. They have about ten Ibanez guitars on the wall with some Dean gear. Fenders as usual. Again you can try out whtever you want with no hassles. I stayed in there one afternoon for 3-4 hours while my wife and duaghter were at a ballet. I mean, I jammed on every single guitar in the store and no one batted an eye. I kept coming back to a light green RG1570, Something about the neck. It just played great. I also played on one of the Gieger RGs but the neck is so dark I couldn't see the dang fret marks.
Both stores have the glass cases with the over-the-top expensive guitars; reissue Les Pauls and Strats at stupid prices. The Kowloon store also has a reissue EVH Frankenstein, not for sale
Anyway I highly recommend Tom Lee in Hong Kong. Really nice people, no hassles to try anything. Prices are comparable or cheaper than the US.
The only other real music choice in Hong Kong is Parsons Music. They deal mainly in pianos. Guitarwise they carry mainly Washburn. They carry Orange Amps and a few low end Peaveys. Really not much of an option. I've only been there once.
Hope this helps
Rich Kozel
76stratman
Midlevels
