The Shark Posted October 15, 2025 Posted October 15, 2025 A guy in Indonesia that builds cellos and violins as well as cool guitars is building me this... The top and back laminate. A finished product. Mine will have a tuna-matic and Carondolet Greg Wind pickups. 15 2 Quote
RobB Posted October 15, 2025 Posted October 15, 2025 I like it. Looks like a 60s Italian EKO, albeit a very high-end version. Quote
Pieman Posted October 15, 2025 Posted October 15, 2025 Curious. How will it be shipped and are there tariff concerns? Last week DHL delivered to me three boxes of textbooks from a university in Europe. Two were delivered tariff free. A third box, valued at about $560, would not be delivered without payment of $70 in duties. Textbooks are supposed to be exempt. The seller was outraged. Since India is on the doo-doo list, what have you been told? Quote
The Shark Posted October 15, 2025 Author Posted October 15, 2025 38 minutes ago, Pieman said: Curious. How will it be shipped and are there tariff concerns? Last week DHL delivered to me three boxes of textbooks from a university in Europe. Two were delivered tariff free. A third box, valued at about $560, would not be delivered without payment of $70 in duties. Textbooks are supposed to be exempt. The seller was outraged. Since India is on the doo-doo list, what have you been told? Good question! Indonesia is under a 19% tariff. So, the builder says that he disassembles the entire guitar and ships in a couple boxes. He lists the value at a reduced rate, but I'll still have to pay "duty" on the shipment I'd guess. I think I'll be in the guitar for less than $1,600, when all is said and done. 5 Quote
Pieman Posted October 16, 2025 Posted October 16, 2025 My experience. The books came into the US in Atlanta. All three boxes were the same size almost exact weight on the same day. One valued at 500 euros and the other two about 400 euro each. Only one was trapped by US Customs. Then again maybe staffing was shorthanded due to government shutdown. Who knows. If the tariffs get thrown out, maybe I’ll get the money back - - in 2030. Quote
velorush Posted October 16, 2025 Posted October 16, 2025 My most recent customs experience was a box of tea shipped from Japan. I paid the 15% tariff and everything was going swimmingly (the vendor ships only by FedEx Overnight which is funny as, due to the date line the tea arrives in Memphis before it leaves Japan, but I digress) until it hit Memphis. Apparently, Customs is overwhelmed due to the removal of the value de minimus, so it was held up. The vendor and I get an email a couple of days later asking a ton of questions about the shipment. Before I could respond, the Vendor emails back to the effect of "every one of your questions is answered on the export documents provided prior shipment." This told me the Customs staff was inexperienced and likely pulled in due to the sudden increase in volume. Took about a week and it was finally cleared. Quote
The Shark Posted October 16, 2025 Author Posted October 16, 2025 12 hours ago, Pieman said: My experience. The books came into the US in Atlanta. All three boxes were the same size almost exact weight on the same day. One valued at 500 euros and the other two about 400 euro each. Only one was trapped by US Customs. Then again maybe staffing was shorthanded due to government shutdown. Who knows. If the tariffs get thrown out, maybe I’ll get the money back - - in 2030. I wouldn't hold out hope!😇 Quote
The Shark Posted October 16, 2025 Author Posted October 16, 2025 24 minutes ago, velorush said: My most recent customs experience was a box of tea shipped from Japan. I paid the 15% tariff and everything was going swimmingly (the vendor ships only by FedEx Overnight which is funny as, due to the date line the tea arrives in Memphis before it leaves Japan, but I digress) until it hit Memphis. Apparently, Customs is overwhelmed due to the removal of the value de minimus, so it was held up. The vendor and I get an email a couple of days later asking a ton of questions about the shipment. Before I could respond, the Vendor emails back to the effect of "every one of your questions is answered on the export documents provided prior shipment." This told me the Customs staff was inexperienced and likely pulled in due to the sudden increase in volume. Took about a week and it was finally cleared. Well, I'm in no rush. It's not like I don't have another guitar to play until it arrives! 2 Quote
gorch Posted October 17, 2025 Posted October 17, 2025 On 10/15/2025 at 5:19 PM, The Shark said: A guy in Indonesia that builds cellos and violins as well as cool guitars is building me this... The top and back laminate. A finished product. Mine will have a tuna-matic and Carondolet Greg Wind pickups. I‘d expect a very hollow sound. Pickups should have a shallower low end to elicit a brighter sound overall. Just thinking. Very nice idea btw. 1 Quote
The Shark Posted October 17, 2025 Author Posted October 17, 2025 6 minutes ago, JGale said: That looks Phishy… Yes.. Quote
Camstone Posted October 17, 2025 Posted October 17, 2025 I like it. I bought this early 90's Yamaha Aska model about a year and a half ago, and it gets lots of attention when I bring it to a gig. Curious, how did you connect with a luthier in Indonesia? 4 Quote
The Shark Posted October 17, 2025 Author Posted October 17, 2025 1 hour ago, Camstone said: I like it. I bought this early 90's Yamaha Aska model about a year and a half ago, and it gets lots of attention when I bring it to a gig. Curious, how did you connect with a luthier in Indonesia? That's cool. I found Ahmed on Reverb. He posts pics of previous work as for sale items and then custom builds whatever you want for the price. The same way I met Paolo Sulcuni in Italy that built my Korina Vee and Explorer and, subsequently a Les Paul style. My bass player is already in touch with Ahmed to build a matching bass. 2 Quote
Camstone Posted October 17, 2025 Posted October 17, 2025 My Yamaha is a solid mahogany body with faux F-holes. Your instrument looks like it's the real deal, built like a violin. Looking forward to a tone report. Quote
Menehune Posted November 9, 2025 Posted November 9, 2025 (edited) On 10/17/2025 at 1:32 PM, Camstone said: I like it. I bought this early 90's Yamaha Aska model about a year and a half ago, and it gets lots of attention when I bring it to a gig. Oh, thank you so much, Cam. Now there's another guitar for me to lust after. Edited November 9, 2025 by Menehune Quote
Jack C Posted November 10, 2025 Posted November 10, 2025 That fretboard looks really cool. As does the rest of the guitar. Quote
The Shark Posted November 10, 2025 Author Posted November 10, 2025 12 minutes ago, Jack C said: That fretboard looks really cool. As does the rest of the guitar. It's Sonokeling (an Indonesian "rosewood"). The body and neck are Mango. I'm cautiously optimistic. It really didn't cost that much. Quote
Biz Prof Posted November 10, 2025 Posted November 10, 2025 "Scatter Lee" of TDPRI fame has hand built a few like that--"Scattervarius", he calls them. Dude is a tradesman and sort of self-taught savant who lives in Florida and watches gators from his back deck. His build threads are equal parts amusing and impressive. Quote
ARM OF HAMER Posted November 10, 2025 Posted November 10, 2025 Well the builder has certainly taken the whole "Violin" guitar concept to a whole another level. Pretty cool for sure, I've seen other makers with violin shaped guitars with the f holes but nothing like that one. Be interesting to hear your comments when you get it in hand. BTW didn't Hamer make a Violin shaped guitar? I know they made a bass version. Quote
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