PSA 2003 studio custom Natural, 2.5K, eBay, N/A

[topekatj]

She looks purt nice ( and is in Japan)

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/188485771762

[velorush]

Amazing!

[The Shark]

I prefer crowns...

[currypowder]

Here's the listing for that guitar from the actual owner/store:

https://guitarbuyermasuda.com/products/107477489?_pos=1&_sid=f8bd074d0&_ss=r

The ebay seller does not own the guitar and is charging about a 20% premium.

The store that has it, I believe, will ship this to the US (I'm pretty sure I've conversed with the store in the past). If so, you're probably looking at around $2,200 all in, including shipping and tariffs.

[velorush]

Vintage Carve neck! 0.89" 1st fret / 0.93" 12th fret.

Almost exactly 8.0 lbs.

[bry4321]

1 hour ago, currypowder said:

Here's the listing for that guitar from the actual owner/store:

https://guitarbuyermasuda.com/products/107477489?_pos=1&_sid=f8bd074d0&_ss=r

The ebay seller does not own the guitar and is charging about a 20% premium.

The store that has it, I believe, will ship this to the US (I'm pretty sure I've conversed with the store in the past). If so, you're probably looking at around $2,200 all in, including shipping and tariffs.

There MAY be no tariffs as the return of a US-made instrument to its place of birth. 

[Dave Scepter]

32 minutes ago, bry4321 said:

There MAY be no tariffs as the return of a US-made instrument to its place of birth. 

U.S.-made items returned to the United States are generally eligible for duty-free treatment under the American Goods Returned (AGR) provision, provided they have not been improved or advanced in value while abroad, and you can prove U.S. origin. However, standard customs entry procedures and carrier processing fees may still apply.

Conditions for Duty-Free Return

No Changes: The item's condition cannot have been improved, repaired, or altered while outside the U.S. (if repaired abroad, duty may apply to the value of the repair).Proof of Origin: You must provide clear proof that the item was originally manufactured in the United States, such as a serial number, original receipt, manufacturer certificate, or U.S. origin markings.

Customs and Shipping ProcessDeclaration: You or your shipping carrier must properly declare the item under the appropriate HTS subheading (such as HTS 9801.00.10) for returned American goods.

Carrier Fees: Even if the item qualifies for duty-free entry, private couriers (like UPS or FedEx) may charge independent brokerage or customs clearance handling fees to process the return documentation. Check details or file requirements directly with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Edited Monday at 04:39 PM by Dave Scepter

[Dave Scepter]

5 hours ago, bry4321 said:

There MAY be no tariffs as the return of a US-made instrument to its place of birth. 

Also this:

you are eligible to bring the guitar back duty-free under the American Goods Returned (AGR) provision, but you must formally declare it and prove its U.S. origin to avoid potential fees.

In other words, are you willing to go through all this mumbo jumbo?.. wait until all this nonsense ends?.. or wait till a comparable guitar shows up in the states? 🤷‍♂️

Edited Monday at 09:35 PM by Dave Scepter

[The Shark]

4 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

In other words, are you willing to go through all this mumbo jumbo?.. wait until all this nonsense ends?.. or wait till a comparable guitar shows up in the states? 🤷‍♂️

Precisely.  I'm not up for the "mumbo jumbo" either.

[velorush]

Seems pretty straightforward to me assuming the Serial Number on this Certificate matches the Serial Number on the guitar.

[Dave Scepter]

48 minutes ago, velorush said:

Seems pretty straightforward to me assuming the Serial Number on this Certificate matches the Serial Number on the guitar.

It's always easy, "straightforward" until you're the one, waiting "months" while your guitar is in limbo, just to pay all the nonsense, hidden fees that they hit you with... once some dumbass flags your guitar, it can pass through multiple supervisors "getting shipoed back and forth" for verification... God help you if that fretboard is made out of Brazilian rosewood. 🤷‍♂️

Edited yesterday at 02:38 PM by Dave Scepter

[currypowder]

Technically, I do believe you are allowed to re-import USA goods and avoid tariffs, at least under older rules. However, good luck getting a Japanese shipper to properly fill out Customs forms so that it gets through without tariffs being applied. Perhaps buying directly from a store gives you better odds. But I would not count on it.

I have been able to successfully get FedEx to remove import duties on a US Hamer, but that was years ago and I had been billed for those duties and chose to fight the bill. However, these days, duties/tariffs are paid upfront prior to being released. So now the fight is asking a company to refund tariffs already paid. Again, good luck.

If I were buying this guitar (I'm not), I would just factor a 15% tariff (about $260) and, if the price was still acceptable, just plan on paying it. If after the fact, you were able to avoid the tariff or get refunded, good on ya.

[currypowder]

On 7/28/2026 at 10:33 AM, Dave Scepter said:

God help you if that fretboard is made out of Brazilian rosewood. 🤷‍♂️

I'm not aware of any instance where a guitar has been held up by US Customs (or one of the carriers) due to an undisclosed CITES/Brazilian RW issue. I'm not suggesting that anyone should just ship or receive known Braz across international borders, but whether or not a guitar has it or not is not always 100% clear. 

It's only if the declared value is over $2,500 that a Lacey Form (declaration of all plant material) is generally asked for. And even then, I've been advised by customs clearing agents to just do the best you can in identifying all the different materials.

[Dave Scepter]

I hear horror stories all the time... my point is..  is it worth all the hassle during these times we're in right now?.. or can we wait it out a little bit or find a comparable guitar in the states?

Yes, buying a guitar from Japan with a Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) fretboard can cause a major hold-up at customs. Brazilian rosewood is listed under CITES Appendix I (the highest level of restriction for endangered species) and has no exemptions for finished musical instruments.

Regulatory Risks and Hold-Ups

Strict Permits Required: International commercial shipments of Brazilian rosewood require both a CITES export permit from Japan and a CITES import permit from the destination country (such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

Lacey Act Declarations: Shipments entering the U.S. require a precise declaration of all plant and wood materials; missing or inaccurate paperwork leads to immediate customs detention or seizure.

No "General Rosewood" Pass: While standard rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia, etc.) has exemptions for finished instruments, Brazilian rosewood does not and is heavily scrutinized by wildlife inspectors.

Best Practices Before Buying

Verify Documentation: Ensure the Japanese seller already possesses and provides valid CITES export documentation or proof that the wood was legally certified/registered pre-convention (before June 1992).

Expect Delays: Even with correct paperwork, processing through customs agencies adds weeks of inspection time. Never buy an undocumented Brazilian rosewood guitar internationally expecting it to breeze through.