Combat
Since 1988
Founded in Tokyo, Japan in 1988, Combat Guitars is one of the most revered independent boutique custom workshops in the Tokyo luthier tradition. Defying modern mass-production trends, Combat crafts its instruments entirely by hand using manual lathes, hand-guided routers, and traditional bench chisels—rejecting automated CNC duplication in favor of the luthier's direct physical touch. Renowned among elite Japanese session players, jazz virtuosos, and progressive metal masters, Combat creates bespoke one-off electric guitars and basses—including the warm chambered ST WARM, the Classic ST Custom, and the powerhouse Modern Pro DJB-5 active bass—celebrated for extraordinary wood resonance, surgical fretwork, and complete sonic personalization.
38
Years in Business
25K+
Guitars Sold
$8M+
Annual Revenue
Complete Combat Guitar Price & Valuation Guide (2026)
Comprehensive market valuation ranges, mint vs used condition pricing, tonewood specs, and historical price trends for Combat guitars.
Combat Price Overview
Combat covers a wide range of instruments from entry-level to professional models. Typical used prices vary by condition, series and year. Higher-end USA models and limited editions retain value better than mass-market lines, while rare or vintage pieces often command significant premiums.
When evaluating value, consider originality (pickups, hardware), structural condition (neck, frets, finish) and documentation (serials, receipts, setup reports). Price dispersion across platforms is common; local stores offer service and inspection, whereas online marketplaces provide broader selection and price transparency.
For detailed buying advice, model comparisons and condition-based pricing, read the full guide linked above.
Market Overview
Average Price
$1,580
+4.5% vs last year
eBay Listings
75
Active listings
Sold This Month
16
+2.9% vs last month
Price Range
$780-$3,600
Current market range
Data sourced from eBay, Reverb, and Guitar Center used listings
Combat Timeline
Tokyo Custom Workshop Established
Combat Guitars was founded in Tokyo with a strict commitment to 100% manual benchcraft, eschewing automated CNC routing for pure hand tools.
Session Musician Acclaim
Recognized across Tokyo recording studios for crafting tailor-made instruments matching individual artists' hand sizes and harmonic preferences.
Launch of the ST WARM Series
Engineered the groundbreaking ST WARM guitar, uniting hollow chambering and selected Honduran mahogany to eliminate strident top-end treble harshness.
Modern Pro Bass Line with Darkglass
Pioneered production integration of Darkglass Tone Capsule preamps in 5-string active basses for progressive metal and gospel bassists.
Extended Range & Evertune Mastery
Introduced custom 7-string and multi-scale instruments paired with Evertune bridges and boutique Bare Knuckle pickups.
Tokyo Handcrafted Legend
Combat Guitars endures as an elite beacon of artisanal Japanese luthiery, where every single instrument is built as a unique work of art.
Complete Combat Product Lineup
In a world of mass-produced CNC guitars, stepping into Combat's Tokyo workshop is like entering an Old World violin atelier—every curve is sculpted by human hands.
ST WARM & Classic ST Series
Handmade S-style masterpieces tailored for organic warmth, acoustic bloom, and velvety touch-responsive dynamics.
Chambered mahogany or alder body paired with Seymour Duncan Antiquity or Curtis Novak pickups for lush acoustic sustain.
Traditional vintage 50s/60s S-type specs featuring hand-selected lightweight alder, slab rosewood boards, and thin nitro finishes.
Punchy swamp ash or mahogany T-style platforms loaded with boutique hand-wound pickups and compensated brass saddles.
Modern Pro Bass Series
Ergonomic 4-string and 5-string studio basses delivering ferocious low-B clarity, active headroom, and tactile slapping responsiveness.
Heavyweight ash body loaded with Darkglass Tone Capsule 3-band EQ and Nordstrand or Combat custom soapbars.
Hand-applied semi-gloss satin finishes, vintage bone nuts, and warm passive thump voiced for recording sessions.
Bespoke custom commissions tailored for specialized professional performance requirements.
Progressive Metal & Singlecut Series
Extreme precision weapons featuring drop-tuned calibration, multi-piece laminated necks, and exotic exhibition tops.
Solid hand-carved flame maple cap over lightweight African mahogany body, deep tenon set neck, weighing around 4.1kg.
Bare Knuckle Nailbomb or Warpig pickups paired with constant-tension Evertune bridges for uncompromising metal tracking.
Player-commissioned hybrid body shapes blending offset ergonomics with superstrat shred access.
"In a world of mass-produced CNC guitars, stepping into Combat's Tokyo workshop is like entering an Old World violin atelier—every curve is sculpted by human hands."
Model-Specific Buying Guide
Each model has unique characteristics that affect both tone and value. Here's what to look for when buying specific models.
The Connoisseur's S-Type ($1,450 – $2,100 Used)
Acoustic Chamber Resonance
The ST WARM's precision acoustic chambers round off harsh treble spikes, giving single-coil bridge leads a smooth, singing flute-like sustain.
Verify One-Off Build Specifications
Because Combat instruments are custom-ordered, verify the specific pickup model (Seymour Duncan, Bare Knuckle, or Combat hand-wound) and wood species.
Hand-Dressed Nickel or Stainless Frets
Inspect fret crowning; Combat's master luthiers polish fret ends into silky semi-hemispherical beads for frictionless vibrato.
Progressive Low-End Monster ($1,150 – $1,650 Used)
Darkglass Tone Capsule EQ Integration
Features dedicated Low-Mid (500Hz) and High-Mid (2.8kHz) boost/cut circuits rather than traditional treble rolloff, delivering surgical mix cut.
Solid Neck Stability & Quarter-Sawn Maple
Rigid multi-laminate or quarter-sawn maple construction maintains dead-straight relief across seasonal temperature shifts.
High Custom Depreciation Value
Custom builds cost ¥300,000+ new, making clean used examples on Digimart and Reverb some of the greatest bargains in boutique bass.