Not to fuel the GAS but most of these places will ship internationally 
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You’re mean!
I have to be on my best behaviour for the time being! 
Plus… tax and duties for instruments are scary in Ireland.
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It’s basically like a heavily modded bass, right?
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Yeah, it’s the right decision, even if it is a work of art (and it is )
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The funniest thing is I have only bought one instrument here. Ikebe in Shibuya is just a lot more convenient for me and also has a great selection.
So you have bought more instruments in Ochanomizu than I have, and Jerry and I are tied 
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Well, yes, but with “mods” that you cannot do on your own… well, technically you could, but then you might as well become a luthier.
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And it’s actually more than that as the Luthier is building a new instrument around exactly what you ask for, not hacking up an existing instrument.
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@Megatronpt - Unrelated to my outing, this AtelierZ Beta6/32 EMG-P5/EMG-40DC just popped up on the used market for $1600.
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What’s the stripy one? Looks lovely!!
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Looks awesome… even with “natural” not being my thing… so tempted… … … quick calcs… would cost a total with 2.4k to put it here… excluding insurance and a secure travel case… 
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That’s a nice Edwards J, an E-Amaze.
ESP basically sells several levels of instruments under different branding, the most common being these (in roughly increasing order of quality; all are great though):
GrassRoots (domestic) / LTD (for the export market)
Edwards
E-II
Navigator
ESP
ESP Custom
GrassRoots, LTD and Edwards kind of align with Sire and Yamaha production models in terms of quality and price range.
They have several other brandings too but those are the most common.
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So it’s a ‘level 2’ on your scale? Looks like ¥200,000, or £1,000. Pretty pricy, in you add input duties etc… or have I got the price wrong?
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Bear in mind that for ESP that “level 2” is quite a nice bass. And those guidelines are just rough, not rigid. An Edwards is an outstanding instrument.
Navigators and ESPs run about double that, and like most custom shops, there’s no upper limit on the custom shop.
For example, this ESP Bottom Bump is about ¥500k (~$3000):
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The answer is no. A truly custom instrument is far more than just swapping out parts or applying paint.
Becoming a luthier is a long and arduous process of dedicated study and application, kinda like the basic steps of becoming a bassist — to whatever degree of proficiency…or lack thereof.
In contrast, being a master luthier is like being a James Jamerson or a Marcus Miller — not just a better-level player, but a true artist that transcends the mundane to create unique, truly artful expressions of the art form.
Much has been opined and written on this forum and elsewhere about the wisdom, or lack thereof, of buying a custom instrument. That’s fine, as far as it goes: “My [mass-produced brand/model here] has/does everything a fancy-wooded, overpriced [custom bass here] has/can do.”
Yeah, that’s kinda true. To a point.
After all, a Buick can roll down the same road as a bespoke Bugatti, and the difference in sticker shock between the two is legitimately as inconceivable to most drivers as it is astronomically high.
On the other hand, having a custom build created by a master luthier, along with its extremely long wait time and expense, yields something that didn’t exist before, and arguably will never exist again in the exact same way: it creates art.
It’s not just about beauty that inspires me to pick it up; it delivers playability far beyond what other basses can offer me. This is light-years beyond what parts modding could ever achieve: it is true ergonomics attuned to my left hand.
Personally, I couldn’t care less about resale — but there’s that pesky subjective perspective again. Your mileage may and, entirely possibly, could vary. And that’s as it should be. Buy what you want. Spend how you want. Mod if you must. It’s all good. In the meanwhile, I’ve got a bass made for me, and I love playing it. To me, it doesn’t get any more worthwhile than that.
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I totally and absolutely agree with you!!!
If I had the money, I would do the same. Well, probably I would sit on the luthier’s lap while he made my instrument and ask if I could help somehow (I already did that with my punky funky luthier around the corner … he said NO!).
Think of modding as a poor man’s version of getting an expensive custom made bass.
Remember this bass, made by 13gosts? He is an IT guy, who made it in his free time.
He is an inspiration to me … and one day I’ll do the same…
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99 posts were split to a new topic: Talent and Skill? Talent vs Skill?
So it looks like that works out to abut $300 USD. That’s just a great price. I’m surprised you weren’t tempted by the Moon that they’ve got. I love the color btw.
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No kidding of all of the Yamaha series beside the BBs I was really looking at the RBX well exactly that model and color. Kudos @howard.
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Tomomi!
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