I went to Japan for about a week - had a family reunion in Iwate prefecture (north from Sendai) - but also made it into a few guitar stores in Tokyo & Kyoto. One place I went to was Ikebe in Shibuya - I used to go there all the time as a kid growing up in Tokyo, so I make it a point to try and get back there, kind of a pilgrimage. Now they have multiple stores in different buildings, each with a different specialty - new stuff, used stuff, woodwinds, etc. They have a bass specialty shop too, called the Bass Collection, with some amazing stuff, like a '70s Carl Thompson refurbished by Carl Thompson himself, some Ritters (first I've seen in person), an old Wal, THREE Walter Woods amps (never seen one of those in a store either), etc.:
 


 
 
You can also see a couple of Alembics:
 


 
 
Sorry it's not such a great picture, it's just a larger detail of the first one. I asked if it was ok to take pictures, he said it was ok to take a shot of the store, but not individual instruments. You should be able to see their official detail shots here - just click on the manufacturer and it should take you to their inventory page. The one on the right has a similar tailpiece to the one pictured in this thread where the ball end just clips on instead of being threaded through a hole.  
 
I like to come back with something, so I picked up a huge triangular pick by the Japanese company STR - I got the thickest one - 1.50 mm! It's a great pick, just hope I don't wear it down too fast...

Nice.
 
Here's a direct link to the Alembics they have in stock with the official detail photos - sweet.
 
Ikebe Alembics

Can one order one of these and have it shipped to the states, if so, how do I work with the language difference? I imagine many Japanese speak good English.

Ishibashi is pretty well known as having good English service - not sure about Ikebe. I don't see anything on their website advertising English services - which doesn't mean they don't have any. The only email contact page I can find is all in Japanese, so maybe just send them an email via info@ikebe.co.jp?

The walnut on the Signature Standard is outstanding although I've got to admit that, until I looked it up, I had no idea that there was something called Crotch walnut.

The walnut on the Signature Standard is outstanding although I've got to admit that, until I looked it up, I had no idea that there was something called crotch walnut.  After reading about it, it all makes sense.

ccc, since Ikebe is an Alembic dealer, I'd think Susan or Mica could suggest someone to speak to 'over there' who can speak English to a gaijin !
 
J o e y