Fellow Flying V users

All I know when I ordered my Mayones Hydra 7 string guitar from a EU dealer it was a custom order gone bad
I offered 50% of asking price they went for it but it was held in customs until I paid 3.5% Customs fee
I thought I paid all the fees live and learn
 
67plexi said:
All I know when I ordered my Mayones Hydra 7 string guitar from a EU dealer it was a custom order gone bad
I offered 50% of asking price they went for it but it was held in customs until I paid 3.5% Customs fee
I thought I paid all the fees live and learn
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Does the seller typically pay these? I’ve bought 2 guitars and an amp from over seas (Spain, Greece, Italy) and never paid custom fees. :unsure:
 
Don O said:
Does the seller typically pay these? I’ve bought 2 guitars and an amp from over seas (Spain, Greece, Italy) and never paid custom fees. :unsure:
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I was told the Customs charge applies to non US made items over $2500.00 USD it started in 2020
When buying US made guitars from Japan I was not charged the Custom fee.
The last tube order from Russia was overnight shipping only NOS USA made and UK made would not ship Russian made.
 
chilipeppermaniac said:
This got me to wondering. If I were to go to Europe and took a guitar with me, I would not be subject to import fees or customs to bring my guitar back home with me, right?
How would an airline know if I was bringing a $100 Squier guitar vs a $500-$2500 Jackson, or a $2000 Gib Flying V, or a $25000 V etc back home?

I seem to remember that SG John got a hand made John Cipollina copy like this back home with him. If I remember right, it was a gift. Maybe he can shed some light on how this works.
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My experience of travelling with guitars and other music or related stuff goes two ways.

1. My first wife was from New Brunswick, Canada. Whenever I travelled with a guitar I had to get a green card for it at the border to make sure I would be returning with it, and not selling it while in Canada. But when returning from Canada, into the US, they do not care. They will scrutinize you and ask you a million questions of why you are in Canada. Especially Winnipeg in the middle of winter. Canada is the worst place to travel in and out of with anything more than a change of clothes. Even then, they want to know where you got them, and are not missing out on any tax revenue.

2. Flying between Europe (or the UK) to and from the US, no one has batted an eyelash to anything I've travelled with. Taken guitars, tube testers, electronics, parts, and other stuff over, and brought guitars, vintage NOS tubes, and other stuff back. The only questions at customs were, "Where you coming from, why were you there, any tobacco or liquor?" Brian did give me a "Bill of Gift" that stated where the wood was sourced (mostly old building renovations), and sources for the abalone inlays. He wanted to make sure I would not have the guitar confiscated under CITES Treaty violations. I've brought back many NOS Mullard tubes that seem to go for a much more reasonable rate in the UK than here, so I have them shipped to Brian and then collect them later.

Also, every time I've gone to Germany for several weeks at a time for work, I bring a Strat with me. Also a small amp, a few sets of strings, cables, etc... No one has given me a hard time. They don't even ask if I'll be performing or making any money from performances.
 
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When I moved to Alaska 11/83 you couldn't find a place to rent I had the grand idea to buy a new 44' boat and live on it
Customs Canada to US got searched the RCMP didn't care for my spare parts 4 spare propellers starter alternator gasket set sea water pump
he backed off when I showed him 12 wasted propellers up in the bow locker and told him I got the extra propellers from a dealer in Canada.
 
Thanks JohnnyGoo and Bdon. There is a little bit of info on the web about Chapman guitars and a number of their body shapes, artists they endorsed, how they progressed etc.

However, I find very little about any of the V models. If I read right, the company had a transition in where the guitars are made, name changes of the models and a number of the artists leave for other pastures.


This was his only picture of the guitar, so I could not see the back of the body, neck, head stock, neck etc. So, in talking to the seller, I asked questions like if it is a set neck or bolt, what pickups, active or passive, etc. He said it is a set neck with a James Hetfield set of pups. I am sure it would be a decent player with the EMG's and Floyd, but I guess my reservations are in the brand and value for the money asked. He listed it for $750 including case. With my normal price ranges being $1-$1000 being my comfort zone, it fits. But if I can get a Gibson, PRS, Jackson, Charvel, ESP type V, LP, SG etc guitar for that same money, I usually aim in that direction, but might be swayed to give the Chapman a shot if you guys think of reasons I haven't thought of to go for it.

Any thoughts on pro's or cons of going for the Chapman if it is clean and can get it for $500-$750 range?

To clear things up or muddy the waters, I am also considering Gibson V's, LP's, SG's such as a 60's RI, or 70's model Gib, or even a Faded V with Moon Inlays if the prices are right. Also, I'd like the Jackson's like a King V, etc. They can come as a hard tail or a with trem depending on the model and condition. I am aiming for the $500-$1500 range with any > $1000 ones having to be in killer condition or be a killer example of the model and with a case included.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice.
 
Mitch Pearrow SJMP said:
The body looks very similar to the Jackson king V
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I'm leaning in a different direction now even though I saw a ML1 ( non V) and a couple other Chapman guitars at the local guitar store yesterday.

I got to try out about 6 V's there and for my skill level, ALL of them are fully capable of making good or terrible music.
The prices ranged from 899-1999 but the salesman told me he was needing to move guitars because in his memory, there has never been so many come in to their store from the used market. Amps too. I asked him about the 2 I thought I could afford, Dean, Black Gold V, and a green Kramer Dave Mustaine V. Both of these are non trem guitars. He said he could knock 200 off the Dean, and the Kramer I think he said he's be right around 1k or $100 off.

I am thinking that if I am going to get a hard tail/ string thru, I would like it to be a Gibson. And at that particular store, I like this one that is a 2018 in a beautiful color. Aged Red ( Think Wine red) like on the LP's. The only problem is that it began life as a hardtail and now has a Washburn WonderTrem on it. With that being installed, I can still see the bushings for the bridge, also some extra holes drilled in the body just visible below the lowest edge of the Trem. There are also slight impressions in the wood on the edges of the trem, almost like another trem had been installed in the past.

This might be a good time to negotiate even harder to lower the price. As it stands on Reverb, it is like $1519.xx
I wish it was a Floyd, or Stets, or something other than this Washburn Trem. Also, this guitar has Burstbuckers in it.
 
I have had so many chances to buy Gibsons “V’s” at better than current prices.
The 2006 I tried I could not bond with, it had the big strings on it.

I ended up with a Dean Blue Water V like Headache has from the same Dean forum group design/buy

I have no regret and I bought another Dean V that is stock.
I know zero about the Chapman but as close as you can get to the Gibson is obviously epi
 
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