I’m just home from a four day trip to Tokyo with my wife.
Before I go any further, a big shout out and my sincere thanks to @howard . Following on from his excellent thread ‘Quick Guide to Buying MIJ Instruments from Japan - Quick Guide to Buying MIJ Instruments From Japan , I sought his advice on the whereabouts of any establishment that specialised in lefties. Howard did some research and leg work, and he found me such a place, namely Taniguchi Gakki. He paid them a visit to see what he could see and then dropped me a line with some photos. Also, Howard took the time to meet me there last Sunday to provide some much needed advice and guidance. Thank you Howard. You sir, are legend.
Now, a few important lessons to take from my bass shopping experience in Tokyo:
- If at all possible, try before you buy.
- Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
- Howard is a bad influence.
But more on these lessons later.
A couple months back, my wife was already on her way to Tokyo and I took the time to establish contact with Taniguchi Gakki to give them an idea of what I wanted, knowing that it was likely that my wife would be heading to Japan again before the year was out and that I’d be going with. My wife made her way to the store, had a chat and took some pictures. There was a pretty decent level of stock for all tastes and budgets and two in particular really jumped out at me, which they agreed to keep to one side for me.
Fast forward to last Sunday, and my wife and I headed to the store. We did take half hour to have a quick look in a couple of the music stores on Guitar Street first and the prices of some pretty amazing instruments are unbelievably affordable (compared to here, anyway). Pictures will follow in another post.
The first of those that was kept for me was an incredible Atelier Z M245 jazz bass, Japanese, hand-made, custom build, which was in the process of being traded in for something else. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was coming home with me. It is quite simply the most beautiful inanimate object that I have ever clapped eyes on. Nothing has stirred my soul like this since the Ducati 916 appeared on the scene back in 1994. I really didn’t care what it played like, I was having it. If I didn’t like it, then I’d wall mount it and stare at it.
The other one on hold for me was a T.S Factory 151A-MO, another hand made Japanese custom, this one being a PJ. In stark contrast to the Atelier Z, this one is brand new, has undergone the relic process and looks like it was found in a bin.
They also had in stock one of my dream basses, a Fender American Vintage II 1966 jazz bass in sea foam green. No real need of an intro this beauty, but the colour has now been discontinued.
I got down to test driving. I didn’t try and do anything clever, just some simple finger exercises that my tutor has had me doing over the past month , followed by a few simple riffs from a couple of my favourite songs that I like to play. I should add here that up until four weeks ago, I hadn’t picked up a bass in five months. Two trapped nerves in my neck back in June saw my right arm and hand all but useless. The nerves were released about six weeks ago after a nerve root block injection and I’m still in rehab, but I’m getting there. My middle finger is 100%, ring finger about 80% and my piggy finger is about 50% (it keeps folding under pressure).
Anyway, the Atelier Z was first up and it’s as beautiful to play as it is to look at. Howard said to me a couple of weeks ago that it would quite likely be one of the nicest J basses I’ve ever had my hands on. He wasn’t wrong. This beauty also came in a hard case.
Next up was the T.S Factory. Firstly, I can’t believe how small the body is! It looks like it’s been on tour for the past 20 years and then kicked around the stage for an hour after every gig. The point here is that it looks genuinely aged and used, not like it’s been deliberately subject to a relic process (I’ll touch on that a bit more later). It’s a riot to play and seems to lend itself to a faster style of play. It wouldn’t look out of place slung way down low on Dee Dee Ramone or Glen Matlock. Personally, it reminds me of my misspent youth, when I had THAT girlfriend. You know the one I mean, morals in the gutter, standards down the drain, probably a drug addict, could draw a golf ball through 100 yards of garden hose and you wouldn’t dare take her home to meet your parents. Problem was, she was so much fun you couldn’t stay away. This one came with a gig bag.
Next up, I played the Vintage. Lovely bass, beautifully finished but I found it totally underwhelming. It did not blow my skirt up at all. I was pretty disappointed, if I’m honest
I then had a wander round the store for a good look at what else was there. They had a Red House (another boutique Japanese brand, hand-built custom) five string; interesting but not my bag. A couple of Spectors and a beautiful Ibanez SR2605L were also on display. I also took a good look at another Red House that caught my eye when my wife was there taking photos back in October. Whilst it’s hand made, it’s basically a Fender jazz bass clone with some high end components. Unfortunately, it had also had the relic treatment but done, in my humble view, very badly. It looked like a beautiful, high end instrument that’s been set upon by a drunk six year old, wielding a screwdriver. It was bloody expensive, too.
I was then reminded of some advice my tutor gave me a while back when I asked his advice about what my next bass might be. He told me that it doesn’t matter what he thinks, nor my wife, my mother, my priest or my social worker. I have to play it and it has to be something that works for me. The only thing he said that I should do is test drive a P bass. Personally, I don’t like them. The look of the single pick up puts me right off. It’s a personal thing, it’s the way my head is wired. I much prefer the symmetry of the two pick ups of a jazz bass; I’m ok with a PJ but not a P, uh-uh, no way. I’d rather extinguish a camp fire with my face than buy a P bass. However, he told me to at least try it; what’s the worst that could happen other than waste ten minutes of my life I’d never get back? He knows what he’s talking about and I don’t, so I thought ok, fair enough, I’ll try one. Howard is a fan of the P bass and he agreed that I should at least give one a go…………………
On display was a Fender American Professional II P bass in beautiful mystic surf green. I did my level best to ignore that horrid pick up arrangement and concentrated on just playing the damn thing. I was playing Gary Moore’s Midnight Blues. I’m not a massive fan of the song but I love the bass line, it’s filthy, proper sleazy. Before I knew it, my wife piped up that it was the best she’d heard me play since we set foot in the store. It felt so comfortable in my hands, so right and, ahem, well, I loved it. At first, I thought my right hand had warmed up and was starting to find its way again, so I picked up the Vintage for another play. Nah, wasn’t happening. Back to the P and I was loving it again. As with all the Professional basses (unless I’m mistaken), this came with a hard case too.
At this point, I was having quite the dilemma. Did I choose the achingly beautiful Atelier Z? The T.S Factory? The Vintage, even though it didn’t do it for me? Or the P bass, you know, the one I swore blind I’d never buy?
My clear favourite was the Atelier Z. Took me all of two nanoseconds to decide. Thing is, I loved the little T.S Factory and I knew I’d have great fun playing it. I wanted the Vintage but, my wife intervened and said I’d only be buying it for the colour. Leaving looks out of the equation, I loved playing the Fender P. So what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t choose between either of the two Japanese basses and I was also very drawn to the Fender P bass. Buying three basses was extravagant to the point of being nuts, but Howard said it was ok by him. So half hour later, I paid the store and headed off back to our hotel in Yokohama with three basses. Mission accomplished!
As for the lessons learned, I’m so glad I tried the P bass as I’d never have bought one otherwise. I’m not experienced enough to buy a bass without trying unless it’s the same as what I already have but in a different colour, hence lesson No. 1. As for No. 2, I’ll never knock a bass again until I’ve tried it. The P bass taught me an important lesson. Finally, don’t ever, ever, ever, ask Howard if it’s ok to buy more than one bass!
Now here’s some pictures, starting with the AtelierZ
Next up is the dirty little T.S Factory:
Finally, the Fender American Professional P bass:
