Yeah you have to really dig. Then again, primarily Japan market models and 20 years out of production at this point. Still popular here, lots of them turn up and they have a bit local cult following. Outside of Japan even 550s are hard to find and you’re really lucky to have snagged a J1, the J1 and J2 are rare even here.
BJB’s are unobtanium and so I was shocked when John and I found two on the same day just walking around 
Looks awesome!
Beautiful guitar. None of my basses have a pick guard and I played for years with a pick or fingers and not once made contact with anything but strings or the pup cover. The action is like 3X higher than a 6 string so don’t worry about scratching it should you change to using a pick.
The truss rod cover was loose and missing a screw when I bought this and I picked up a new cover and a bag of screws to fix this. Whoever tried to get rid of the backbow had no idea how to adjust the truss rod and I picked it up for short money with a hard case. Not a scratch on it and plays/feels like a $1,000 bass. I really like the tape wound strings I put on it.
Nice score! 400E Qm?
I really like the SRs.
Personally, I love Fender.
Anyway, I test drove the Dark Knight at their flagship store in Tokyo last year and it’s a real beauty. If they made more lefties in colours like that, it might encourage more left hookers to play left instead of defecting to the right.
Awesome choice, well played.
For someone who complains (just like me 
) that lefties are scarce, you’re not doing too bad.
Do I hear the sound of a gauntlet being thrown?
As do I. If they produce the American Pro P, or a subsequent model, in a natural then I will be adding it.
Daddario’s NYXL nickel bass strings are even better than their standard strings and definitely worth a try.
Nothing at all wrong with their instruments.
Those are the ones I just put on. I usually use XL165’s but will definitely be switching to the NYXL’s now
I’ve got those on my Stingray. Been very happy with them. I say go for it.
NYXL’s are my favorite overall strings, or tied for favorite with Elixir Nanoweb Stainless. I go back and forth between those two.
I’m willing to bet that Thomastik-Infeld rounds would be even better but they are very difficult to find here and ridiculously expensive (around double the price of the Elixirs or NYXLs here). So, never tried them.
Out of curiosity, could someone mail a set of strings from the States to Japan without there being a fee or duty to be paid by either party?
Also, generally, what would it cost to mail them?
Yes both came with a Yamaha original case.
They fancy.
There are two for sale in Japan right now.
One is on reverb and mint, the other on ebay and way way too overpriced.
And then add the F’ing tariffs and right now overpriced shipping it makes it impossible to buy. I would have bought it to complete the collection, but, alas.
https://reverb.com/item/85969649-yamaha-sbv-j1-2003-jane-red-75-100-limited
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=sbv-j1&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4624852.m570.l1313
Receiver always pays duties so no worries for the sender there. Mailing them would work (as opposed to shipping) as they would fit in a normal airmail envelope, so that would be inexpensive (under $10). To be legal, the value would need to be declared on the total value and for Japan this would potentially be under the de minimis (¥10000, about $65) so likely little or no duties.
It’s a kind offer, much appreciated 
Just checked current US prices for NYXL and Elixir bass strings. The lowest I found was $45 for Elixirs and $30 for NYXLs.
The current lowest price for TI Jazz Round Super Long is 111 clams!That’s over 40 bucks more than the lowest I’ve ever bought mine for. Fucking worthless tariffs.
The TIs on my first Jabba are over three-years-old and still sound great.
How much does a set of TI JR364 cost in the Land of the Rising Sun?
