So, I'm buying a Violin.......sort of.
- Thread starter The Shark
- Start date
Pieman
New member
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.
Pieman
New member
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.
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.
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!
I‘d expect a very hollow sound. Pickups should have a shallower low end to elicit a brighter sound overall. Just thinking.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.
Very nice idea btw.
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.
