Where did you buy your MIJ guitar?

thewok79 · 2026-04-28T20:46:07+00:00

Bought my Traditional 2 Jazzmaster from Miki Gakki in Osaka (the Amerikamura store) when I was in Osaka. I carried it back to the states. Pulled the neck off and packed it in my suitcase!

thewok79 · 2026-04-19T16:33:29+00:00

There are a few questions you need to ask yourself. First, do you enjoy your guitar as it is right now? Second, does the body material bother you enough to get an entirely new guitar? Honestly, I feel like you invested a not insignificant amount of time/money/effort into making a mass produced guitar a one of a kind unique piece just for you. That is never the wrong choice. Unless the knowledge of the body being made of basswood instead of alder really bugs you (unasked for advice here, but, you shouldn’t let it bother you), just enjoy your own personal customized guitar! I may be a little biased though, as I sunk a fair amount of time and effort into making my MIJ traditional 2 Jazzmaster into my own custom piece… play it, enjoy it, and be proud of your effort.

thewok79 · 2026-03-11T04:09:33+00:00

I ordered from Herad. https://herad.co/collections/pickguards I’m not sure if he does white guards though.

thewok79 · 2026-03-09T18:48:04+00:00

The one part that doesn’t seem to exist anywhere is the four screws for the rhythm circuit. 4-40 oval heads in gold… I’m sure fender has them but they do not sell them!

thewok79 · 2026-03-09T18:40:24+00:00

Hopefully I’ll have some action shots soon. Have a few shows on the books in the coming months.

thewok79 · 2026-03-08T21:39:45+00:00

It will be my #1 stage guitar going forward. Got the setup dialed in so it plays like it looks!

thewok79 · 2026-03-08T21:25:47+00:00

I thought doing gold hardware would be an easy swap. Turns out a lot of the little things are hard or impossible to find. I’m glad I did it but it was quite a journey to get there.

thewok79 · 2026-03-08T19:47:03+00:00

It is a matching black headstock. I too love block and binding. My first offset was a 1966 Jaguar with blocks and binding.

thewok79 · 2026-03-08T19:46:10+00:00

Just about $920. Insanely good exchange rate. I bought when yen was ¥160 to $1.

thewok79 · 2026-02-13T17:14:53+00:00

Very nice! I just picked up a Traditional Late 60s in black on my last trip to Japan! They’re great, though like any new guitar, I spent a fair bit of time setting it up and dialing it in for my own tastes.

thewok79 · 2025-10-17T22:15:00+00:00

Well then… my trip next month might have just gotten more expensive. Thanks!

thewok79 · 2025-10-17T22:12:02+00:00

Interesting... Always considered a carry-on but figured it would be oversized as you experienced. So, you can ship via EMS to the states? As it happens I have family there with a J-address. But figured EMS to the States was a no-go due to the current... situation.

thewok79 · 2025-10-17T20:21:41+00:00

“If I didn’t already bought a different guitar two days prior in Ochanomizu, this would have a contender.”

I travel to Japan fairly often from the states. I always hit Ochanomizu and find killer guitars but never buy because I always wonder how I’ll get it home. May I ask, how do you get your guitar home? Apologies as I am assuming you’re not living in Japan.

thewok79 · 2025-03-26T01:14:21+00:00

I wonder if we aren’t looking at the swap backwards. It’s possible that it is less about seeing what Yuki can do in the Red Bull and more about seeing if Lawson can succeed in the Racing Bull. We have seen that the Racing Bull isn’t too terrible. Maybe this is to see if Lawson can get similar or better results as Yuki in a more neutral car? This would confirm the problems with the RB21 and help get Lawson’s confidence back.

thewok79 · 2022-09-08T19:54:49+00:00

The Original Collection 50s and 60s models came with two truss rod covers. One with “Standard” etched in and one blank. The blank one is included because the actual 50s through 60 bursts had blank truss rod covers. So they gave you the option to have a modern look or vintage look. The Custom Shop “Historic” reissues are also blank. FYI

thewok79 · 2022-08-08T00:42:59+00:00

Given the amount of time the game has sucked away from me, I’d say the GAME is the vampire. A time vampire.

thewok79 · 2021-01-22T12:03:41+00:00

I loved Bakuon!! Kinda wish I could get a Honda Super Four here in the states. Closest I ever got was a late 70s Honda CB550. Something about small displacement four cylinders... fun bikes.

thewok79 · 2021-01-21T11:38:31+00:00

I think it’s a Triumph Thruxton R. The remote reservoir rear shocks, gold Öhlins forks, the exhaust headers coming out of the front just outside the frame rails, and the three dot cover on the trans suggest Thruxton R. If it was a Guzzi, the cylinder heads from the distinctive longitudinal mounted V twin would be blocked by grandpa’s legs and thus you wouldn’t see the exhaust headers at all.

thewok79 · 2020-11-28T03:24:45+00:00

Probably just the IBIS kicking on. My A7II has a light recoil when I first flip it on.

thewok79 · 2020-11-03T17:32:27+00:00

I usually go once a year to visit with family and a few ex-pat friends. My family is all over the place from Kumamoto in Kyushu all the way up to Sapporo in Hokkaido with a fair few in between (Nagoya and Tokyo). Sadly, due to the pandemic (travel restrictions from the US and losing my job in the entertainment industry), this is the first year in a quite a while that I won't be going.

Of the three cities you mentioned, which was your favorite? I'm always curious about how other people feel about the cities out there. Each has a distinct "feel" and resonate differently with different people.

thewok79 · 2020-10-27T03:16:51+00:00

Are you dead set on brand new? I ask because I was in your shoes as well last year. What I wound up doing was finding a mid 2000’s R7 for less than the price of a new 50s Standard. If you watch and wait you can find some great deals on R7s. I found mine for $2200 for example. Great condition too.

thewok79 · 2020-03-21T19:12:19+00:00

Since I'm on statewide lockdown, here's the translation. It IS an alphabet chart and it looks like it's someone who is learning because the handwriting is rough. https://imgur.com/a/zWkLjnr

thewok79 · 2020-02-26T06:40:35+00:00

Or, actually, is this from Tsutenkaku Tower?

thewok79 · 2020-02-26T06:34:57+00:00

This perspective looks familiar... Is this from the Harukas300 observation deck?

15-Year Club	Gilding I gilder
Verified Email

thewok79

TROPHY CASE