Buying Jackson Stars from Japan...

[QuantumRider]

I did not receive any sort of notification that import taxes were due on them, but then I don't know if that's because I received mine from individuals instead of companies. I certainly did not mosey on down to the taxman and ask about it, either

Guitars (up to some stratospheric price point) can be imported into the US without incurring any import taxes, regardless of whether an individual or a business sends it to you.

Japanese customs doesn't charge any import taxes if acoustic guitars are imported, but 5% on electric guitars.

My Jackson Stars RR-J2SP has jet black ebony though. And all the other J2SPs that I've seen at Yahoo auctions and other sites had jet black ebony too.

The RR-J2SP's were limited production models, and I believe that they came with ebony fingerboards. AFAIK, the J2's are striped ebony and not rosewood.

There are some lower end (=less $) Jackson Stars models in shops which are not pictured in the catalog or on their website, that I've seen with rosewood FB's.

Hope this helps!
QR

[Jackson-Charvel]

They are great guitars man, Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't Jackson Stars made by the same plant that made the famous Pro series from 1990-1995?

Aren't all current Japanese Jacksons still made from said plant? A rhetorical question don't answer, I already know the answer.

[Jackson-Charvel]

You can't get a Jackson Stars with Maple fretboard?

[Sunbane]

You can't get a Jackson Stars with Maple fretboard?

If you go custom you can.

[ambitotpuphang]

I've never understood people, who buy Jackson Stars. I dont even consider them being "Jacksons". "Jacksons" are USA models and you can get them for the price of Jackson Stars.

[Nazgul]

I've never understood people, who buy Jackson Stars. I dont even consider them being "Jacksons". "Jacksons" are USA models and you can get them for the price of Jackson Stars.

They have some options for the price of a USA select that you can otherwise get only if you go USA custom shop .

[Sunbane]

I've never understood people, who buy Jackson Stars. I dont even consider them being "Jacksons". "Jacksons" are USA models and you can get them for the price of Jackson Stars.

Errr...the USA models (USA Select) generally cost more than the equivalent Jackson Stars, don't they? As for the Jackson imports, they often lack the nice features of the Jackson Stars, while fact is that both are made in the very same factory.

Edit: Looked it up, and I stand corrected. The high-end Jackson Stars are close to the USA Selects in pricing. My bad. Nazgul makes a good point though.

[Newc]

I've never understood people, who buy Jackson Stars. I dont even consider them being "Jacksons". "Jacksons" are USA models and you can get them for the price of Jackson Stars.

Well, at one point - just before I got my JacksonStars NASL-160 - I was quoted a price of $1200 for a Semi-Custom JacksonStars Warrior in Blood Drip graphic, with a 24 fret ebony board with MOP inlays, Schaller Floyd, USA Duncans, and hardshell case, AND a 3 month build time.

There were NO US Select Blood Drip Warriors anywhere near that price at the time.

Since I was a bit short at the time, I went with the NASL-160 that was found in a display case in a shop in Tokyo that was on sale to make room for the new NASL model revision. I got it for $950 shipped in an SKB-style case, and it was in mint condition. It had been on display for about a year, and was rarely played, according to the person who bought it on my behalf.

This particular model is STILL not available in any USA-market Jackson (USA Select, Pro, etc etc), though if it was even made as a bolt-on Pro model, I'd have half a dozen at least



The quality is equal to the early 90's Pros I've had.

And the only way to get a real 24 fret Jackson RR with both pickups is on a JacksonStars RR24. You get ebony, MOP, binding, and a wider range of finish options than the new NAMM '07 24 fret one-hum-wonder.

Plus you get the option of Kahler, stringthrough/TOM, or genuine Schaller Floyd on the PRODUCTION models.

[QuantumRider]

Edit: Looked it up, and I stand corrected. The high-end Jackson Stars are close to the USA Selects in pricing. My bad. Nazgul makes a good point though.

What prices are you referring to? The ones listed on www.jacksonstars.com are MSRP. Knock off 25% for street prices, and you can haggle from there

[shadowcat]

I've never understood people, who buy Jackson Stars. I dont even consider them being "Jacksons". "Jacksons" are USA models and you can get them for the price of Jackson Stars.

You live in the USA. From your point of view, you are right.

I live in Germany.
My JacksonStars semicustom Rhoads, which is a variant on the 24fret neck-thru RR-J1B (ebony board, real MOP) with mahogany body and transgreen finish cost me about 1000 EURO less than a new USA RR1T. And that includes shipping, import taxes and bank transfer fees.

I don't even want to consider how much a USA Custom shop Rhoads with 24 frets and mahogany body would have costed me.

And I don't care whether my guitar is considered a "Jackson" by anyone. I myself call it a "Jackson Stars", and proudly so.

[Newc]

Hmmmmm....roughly $800 for an NASL-J1B in Trans Blue Sunburst.......just over $600 for an NASL-J2B in Snow White.........Hmmmmmmm

[AdRock]

Not bad guitars. However, I can't get the pages translated. Since I'm looking into buying something very soon I'd really like to find a way to get this stuff translated and find a place to order that can handle some english.

[ambitotpuphang]

You live in the USA. From your point of view, you are right.

I live in Germany.
My JacksonStars semicustom Rhoads, which is a variant on the 24fret neck-thru RR-J1B (ebony board, real MOP) with mahogany body and transgreen finish cost me about 1000 EURO less than a new USA RR1T. And that includes shipping, import taxes and bank transfer fees.

I don't even want to consider how much a USA Custom shop Rhoads with 24 frets and mahogany body would have costed me.

And I don't care whether my guitar is considered a "Jackson" by anyone. I myself call it a "Jackson Stars", and proudly so.

If i lived in Germany i would get Framus. Used to have Diablo Custom. Awesome guitar, expecialy for that money. They make great amps too. And prices for you are awesome too. Check'em out.

About Jackson Stars - my bad, i didn't know that they have so cheap semi-custom features. I looked at standard models.

[QuantumRider]

Not bad guitars. However, I can't get the pages translated. Since I'm looking into buying something very soon I'd really like to find a way to get this stuff translated and find a place to order that can handle some english.

Do a search for "Jackson Stars". There are a couple of threads in the Import Jackson section, in which JCF'er TheSteveMan and I posted translations of the custom and semi-custom order forms.

Forum members have bought JacksonStars from Ishibashi (http://www.ishibashi-music.com/) and Ikebe (http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/index.php). Both of these shops have employees that can communicate in EngRish, if not English

Hope this helps!
-QR

[AdRock]

Do a search for "Jackson Stars". There are a couple of threads in the Import Jackson section, in which JCF'er TheSteveMan and I posted translations of the custom and semi-custom order forms.

Forum members have bought JacksonStars from Ishibashi (http://www.ishibashi-music.com/) and Ikebe (http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/index.php). Both of these shops have employees that can communicate in EngRish, if not English

Hope this helps!
-QR

Thanks, I read through a bunch of the old threads last night. But I was also half asleep so my reading comprehension skills weren't exactly sharp. LOL