It seems like many of you have purchased instruments from oversea dealers such Ishibashi and Ikebe. How much did you guys usually pay for the top of the line J custom models? I am thinking about getting RG8670.

I haven´t purchased from Japan yet, but especially Ishibashi-music seems to have a great reputation.
Their actual price is 176.000 YEN for the RG8670. Assuming that you live in the United States, you´d have to add 14.000 YEN for shipping and insurance. So, a total of 190.000 YEN which are 1750,- US Dollars right now. AND: you also might have to pay taxes or customs. As far as I know, Americans are supposed to pay those taxes, but my impression is that not many people actually get charged. But I can´t tell you for sure (I guess noone really can!).

I´ve also wanted to buy a guitar from Japan and my impression was that there is no to a very little difference in price. I am quite sure that Ishi and Ikebe will have almost exactly the same price.
Koichi offers special prices for students, but no other offers are made as far as I know, so the price I mentioned is quite sure what you´d have to calculate with.

Oh, and as I wanted to order a RG8527, Koichi told me that they will only order J-Customs upon reguest and building the guitar will take 3 months! Some weeks ago, another Jemsite member said that he even had to wait almost 6 months for his RG8527! Too long in my opinion; remember, you have to pay beforehand!

I hope I could help you a little

Hello,
I waited about 4 months for my rg8670. I didn't pay the full amount beforehand (192000 JPY), but I did pay about $140 for the down payment. No tax/custom fee was charged by the post office.
Hope this helps.
Aril

I emailed Ishibashi recently and they gave me the price that was mentioned above.My calculations came out to close to $1750.00. However, that model is not in stock and if you place an order for it, it wont be filled until 2004 sometime.So you will probably wait 1 or 2 months to get it.Perhaps more.

Ishibashi is the best place to go that I know of. I ordered the 970xl I have from those guys and everything went great.Except for the crap hard shell case that Ibanez sticks those guys with.

Rich has a 970xl in stock at Ibanez rules in flat black wit hwhite binding if you are into that.It's a excellent guitar if you are into 27" scale length. His price is ver good too.

You guys mind sharing what email address you're using to contact Ishibashi? I sent them an email over two weeks ago with no reply yet.

Try this one:

[email protected]

Always worked for me

Same thing her, i had to wait three month for my 8670