Anyone tried bringing a guitar back from the US?

[uriel]

I'm off to the US early next year and have a real hankering for a Strat. I haven't settled on what I want yet, but nothing in the current regular range suits me, so I'm probably looking at Custom Shop or 2nd hand. These seem a bit easier to find and cheaper in the US, plus I'm sentimental and plan on this guitar being a keeper and like the idea of it being bought on a trip to California.

My concern is getting is physically getting it back (I'm sure I read you can take it on board as hand luggage if you clear it first?) and having issues with customs.

Anyone done it?

[militantmandy]

Buy yourself a second hand, beat up guitar case to put it in and make sure there's nothing to give away the fact that it's new! As for bringing it on as hand luggage, highly doubt any overhead locker is going to be long enough, maybe better wrapping the whole thing in rakes of cardboard or seomthing and sticking it in the hold.

[Sim89]

My dad brought a Gretsch back from Canada (bought new), it couldnt go in the hand luggage so went in the hold, it was fine when we got home.

However, when bought in Canada, you pay tax ontop and apparently you are able to claim this back at the airport before you fly home. This didnt happen due to various complications with staff not being available so we didnt bother. Got back to the UK and got through customs, naively went back to the airport a few weeks later to see about claiming tax back. My dad was almost arrested for not declaring it at Manchester and was up for tax fraud (applies over an object worth X amount).

I dont know the details of it exactly, but I hope this helps. Im sure someone less ignorant will clarify.

Sim

[Sir Snaz]

have done this many times.......if your flying business or first just take the case on with you as hand luggage and ask the cabinm crew to store it in one of the lockers.....US customes seem to be much more forgiving of musicians ......if you buy new and you are being uber cautious....remove all tags and send them, with the reciept, to yourself via post ......have bought 2 gibbos and a PRS back this way

Edited by Sir Snaz on Thursday 10th September 12:51

[anonymous-user]

I did this a few years back. Didn't even bother with an old case. I just got the dealer to give me loads of stickers and plastered the case in them so it looked like I'd had it a long time. No problem on coming back to the UK.

[Tvrtastic7]

I took off the neck of my new fender tele and wrapped it in a towel, wrapped the body with my clothes and stuck it all in a big suitcase. Arrived faultless, just had to bolt it together again.

[chevy-stu]

militantmandy said:

Buy yourself a second hand, beat up guitar case to put it in and make sure there's nothing to give away the fact that it's new! As for bringing it on as hand luggage, highly doubt any overhead locker is going to be long enough, maybe better wrapping the whole thing in rakes of cardboard or seomthing and sticking it in the hold.

I've been told this is the way to do it, but take an old guitar with nd leave it in the US, so there's the same guitar coming back...

(please note: I would never try or recommend to deceive UK customs and excise, and am only passing on information on a hearsay basis...)

[uriel]

Excellent. I had thought of taking and old Strat copy I have here and explaining to them on the way out that I was concerned about getting stopped on the way back to see if I could get something to clear me on the return journey and then just leaving that one out there.

Now just to start saving and make my mind up on what exactly it is that I want...

[Pothole]

most airlines have specific policies about musical instruments. check at time of booking which will let you hand luggage it...even in a flight case I'd hate to have something valuable handled by multiple baggae monkeys

[gingerpaul]

I looked into BA a while ago for carrying guitars on board and their policy was that you could carry it on board on top of your hand luggage allowance on the way out and as your hand luggage on the way back. It took a bit of searching their site to find that though. Some others will allow you to book a seat for it.

[crmcatee]

Took one back - new Strat and new case (admittingly with some UK stickers on it).

Not a problem - however I did get stopped by customs - reason - it was a hard case and they questioned me on if I knew the rules about bringing guns and ammunition into the country. Once I opened the case and showed them the guitar all wass well and I was let on my way.

[Dai Capp]

Never done the buying one thing but did carry a guitar out and back...

I checked it in as hand luggage, they gave me a tag marked 'delivery on board', I took the guitar to the plane, they took it off me and put it somewhere on board and when I landed it was by the plane waiting for me.

Cheers

DC

[obscene]

Brought back a shiny new Martin at the end of June with BA who were great with it, then walked straight through customs. Result.

[crofty1984]

Flying back with American Airlines I brought a guitar back as hand luggage no problem. The stewardess lady took it off me and put it in a cupboard somewhere I imagine. Then gave it back when I got off. Don't think I let them know first, but it's best to be sure.