here in Australia, guitar prices are very high compared to the US. New US reissue JMs are close to A$4000 (US$3000, or 1600 pounds) I think; CIJs (if you can find them) over A$1500 (maybe even A$1995 list price). 2nd-hand, US reissues hold close to A$2500 or more, and people ask over A$1000 for used MIJ/CIJs (I think a realistic price is probably A$8-900 - but I'm a cheapskate!).
I bought my 2002 CIJ virtually brand new on eBay, from a US serviceman stationed in Japan who seemed to be running a little business on the side! I paid US$575 (or just a hair over A$1000 with the exchange rate at the time) including shipping and (10%) customs.
I'm a bit behind the times on US values, but a year or so ago CIJs were commonly being sold on eBay for US$450-500 - near-new or older, the values seemed pretty similar. The Musicians Friend US$399 blowout for brand new ones hit values for a bit, so I'm not sure if it's bounced back.
A lot of people on the Fender Forum (http://www.fenderforum.com) were (and presumably still are) buying direct from Ishibashi, or through Bluezey. The colour and model choice in Japan is amazing - block necks, matching headstocks on custom colours, humbucker-ed 'specials', Cobain Jags etc.
here in Australia, guitar prices are very high compared to the US. New US reissue JMs are close to A$4000 (US$3000, or 1600 pounds) I think; CIJs (if you can find them) over A$1500 (maybe even A$1995 list price). 2nd-hand, US reissues hold close to A$2500 or more, and people ask over A$1000 for used MIJ/CIJs (I think a realistic price is probably A$8-900 - but I'm a cheapskate!).
I bought my 2002 CIJ virtually brand new on eBay, from a US serviceman stationed in Japan who seemed to be running a little business on the side! I paid US$575 (or just a hair over A$1000 with the exchange rate at the time) including shipping and (10%) customs.
I'm a bit behind the times on US values, but a year or so ago CIJs were commonly being sold on eBay for US$450-500 - near-new or older, the values seemed pretty similar. The Musicians Friend US$399 blowout for brand new ones hit values for a bit, so I'm not sure if it's bounced back.
A lot of people on the Fender Forum (http://www.fenderforum.com) were (and presumably still are) buying direct from Ishibashi, or through Bluezey. The colour and model choice in Japan is amazing - block necks, matching headstocks on custom colours, humbucker-ed 'specials', Cobain Jags etc.
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