Korean Job Discussion Forums

baldrick · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Location, Location

I need to replace my current banjo with something that has a little more style than some furry dice swinging around in your car.
Are there any particularly good places in Seoul - obviously there are plenty of music shops but its the 3 story music superstore I'm looking for, unless there is somewhere else MUCH better!
Thanks

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

baldrick · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: Location, Location

Hey cheers Lemon, useful stuff.

Hows the quality of the Korean made gi - tars I wonder?

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Korea has a long history of making guitars. Many big-named guitar brands in the US have actually been made in Korean factories for over 30 years. (Some Martin guitars, for example... some Fender Squires... Ibanez...)

Reputation in the 1980s was crap - cheap plywood, poor workmanship. It's improved a lot. Like everything else "made in Korea".

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

Jensen · Joined: 30 Mar 2003 Location: hippie hell

keithinkorea · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

I'm a MIDI and a guitarist guy and Nagwon arcade is pretty good, though it is not in the same league as places like London's amazing Denmark St (Tin Pan Alley). Some of the gear there is a bit overpriced but there is secondhand equipment available and the Korean or Taiwanese stuff is pretty cheap. Japanese, European and American stuff is pretty darn expensive.

Nagwon has just about everything you need whether you are an amateur or are trying to kit out a small studio.

Korean guitars are generally pretty good, I currently own a Sigma Martin copy acoustic and it sounds pretty good. It's loud and clear and was pretty cheap at 180000 won.

Harvard Material · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Baldrick...guitars are decent and cheap at Nakwon. Walk about for an hour or so and try them out. I picked up a nice acoustic/electric for 150,000; included 2 sets of strings, a strap, 20 ft' cord, case, capo. The salesman kept giving me free stuff to take home with the guitar!
Sounded good/played well...did me right.

Shop around there for a bit and you will get what you're looking for.

Keep on Rockin' in the Free World...

Joe Thanks · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Dudleyville

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Joe Thanks · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Dudleyville

dogbert · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: Killbox 90210

MIDI hardware is definitely more expensive here than back in NA. But what're you gonna do?

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

Nokwan market is the best place to go. Take a Korean with you so that you can ask questions (unless you speak Korean and for most foreigners that is pretty unlikely!). Look for a solid top guitar for acoustics. Solid sides and back are also a good thing to get but this will push up the price. remember, the more hardwood you have in a guitar, the clearer the sound and quality over time. Soft tops with laminated finishes are generally for beginners and not meant to last in terms of sound. I just bought my second Cort steel string guitar. They are great guitars for their price range. You will probably pay about 200,000 to 400,000 won for one but they sound like a 700,000 won guitar.

Nokwan is easy to find. When you turn from Jongno Road to Insadong, you will see a big concrete building that stretches over a road (which goes right through it). It has a theatre in it too so look for movie posters. The market is onte second and third floors.

Good luck!