DetroitBlues Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 So what's the prices like for a Heritage guitar imported into the UK compared to other American made guitars?
H Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 A rough guide is to take the $ price and swap the currency symbol to £. Then add 20% for VAT (sales tax) then add around 3.5% Customs Duty. Round to the nearest 50 and you're about done. We pay through the nose for anything made outside the EU
mooonpi Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 A rough guide is to take the $ price and swap the currency symbol to £. Then add 20% for VAT (sales tax) then add around 3.5% Customs Duty. Round to the nearest 50 and you're about done. We pay through the nose for anything made outside the EU That right there ups the price considerably doesn't it...ouch!
DetroitBlues Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 I sort of figured as much. I guess that might mean UK residents buy American versus mexican or other mid-level/mid-quality instruments because the import tax makes them about the same anyway.... I always see many UK vid's of guys who have actual Gibson and American Fender guitars rather than Epiphone and Mexican Fender instruments.
bobmeyrick Posted May 23, 2011 Author Posted May 23, 2011 nice!!! what year is it? Looks like it's seen a bunch of light: you can see the finish is darker under where the bridge and pickguard are. It's a 1998 model. I actually like the way the finish has faded, it gives it a nice golden colour rather than a yellowish hue. After restringing and setting up I noticed a slight buzzing around the 8th fret, so I've taken it round to my local luthier (Colin Keefe in Long Eaton) for a spot of fret-levelling! I should have it back in a few days.
H Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 I sort of figured as much. I guess that might mean UK residents buy American versus mexican or other mid-level/mid-quality instruments because the import tax makes them about the same anyway.... I always see many UK vid's of guys who have actual Gibson and American Fender guitars rather than Epiphone and Mexican Fender instruments. Personally, I look at it like this: a guitar is a tool to do a job. If I can find a tool that does the job I want for a lower price I'll buy it. Brand names don't excite me so much; an instrument that sounds and looks the part is what makes me spend the money. In terms of 'bang for buck' Heritage does that for me very well. And we're used to paying a lot for non-EU stuff so it's not a big problem As I said once in another thread, we should have joined NAFTA.
jjkrause84 Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 I sort of figured as much. I guess that might mean UK residents buy American versus mexican or other mid-level/mid-quality instruments because the import tax makes them about the same anyway.... I always see many UK vid's of guys who have actual Gibson and American Fender guitars rather than Epiphone and Mexican Fender instruments. Nah, man...other way around, in my experience. Way more guys with Mexican guitars because American ones are just out of reach!
peteraltongreen Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 And I bought a guitar from Montana, Don! I bought a G 335 from Market Street,San Francisco in 1982,and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.To take on a salesman,who was from New York,and get the guitar at the price I wanted to pay was a real achievement ! I still use that great guitar. I also bought a G 'Melody Maker' (1981) in Los Angeles,& a Fender Precision in New York (1979).In those days,you could finance a U.S. trip simply by haggling & buying a popular American guitar,then selling it in the U.K. Days gone by ! The attached photo shows me using that guitar in a 'Pub' ( Bar ) gig I had at the time.( 1980's) Notice I had hair in those days. Ha ! Peter Alton Green
DetroitBlues Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 I bought a G 335 from Market Street,San Francisco in 1982,and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.To take on a salesman,who was from New York,and get the guitar at the price I wanted to pay was a real achievement ! I still use that great guitar. I also bought a G 'Melody Maker' (1981) in Los Angeles,& a Fender Precision in New York (1979).In those days,you could finance a U.S. trip simply by haggling & buying a popular American guitar,then selling it in the U.K. Days gone by ! The attached photo shows me using that guitar in a 'Pub' ( Bar ) gig I had at the time.( 1980's) Notice I had hair in those days. Ha ! Peter Alton Green I'm noticed the 80's porn star 'staches... LOL!
peteraltongreen Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 I'm noticed the 80's porn star 'staches... LOL! Yes,'porn star' staches were popular then I made the mistake of having one when I got married,and it's on all the photos.Now,I play in a band with a John Holmes . He's without stache,but nice big,pink.... 'Strat' ! Peter Alton Green
bobmeyrick Posted May 24, 2011 Author Posted May 24, 2011 nice snag!! what kind of pickups? Seymour Duncan 59s. I have no plans to change them... at the moment!
pegleg32 Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 And I bought a guitar from Montana, Don! Howard, the next guitar you buy from Montana, I think you should come over here and take delivery. I'll show you the country!!
Hfan Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Yes,'porn star' staches were popular then I made the mistake of having one when I got married,and it's on all the photos.Now,I play in a band with a John Holmes . He's without stache,but nice big,pink.... 'Strat' ! Peter Alton Green You have some great musical history Peter and what sounds like a great collection. I am sure the Strat is salmon not pink.
Hfan Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Howard, the next guitar you buy from Montana, I think you should come over here and take delivery. I'll show you the country!! Brings to mind a question, what if a friend traveled with a guitar to the UK and then magically returned without it. What that bypass the extra customs duty or what ever that was?
H Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 I'll take you up on that, Don! I'm going to get a J-45 to partner my Hummingbird one day and I'll pick it up from Bozeman personally
H Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Brings to mind a question, what if a friend traveled with a guitar to the UK and then magically returned without it. What that bypass the extra customs duty or what ever that was? I think that would bypass Customs Duty and VAT rather nicely When are you coming over, Pete? I'd like a nice new 530 at US prices
donnie Posted May 26, 2011 Posted May 26, 2011 Hate to bear bad tidings boys but the customs people are pretty much on to that scam. You will likely have to declare it leaving and if it ain't there when you return they figure tax is due. Got busted trying something similar many moons ago with some Rolexes. 'Course, things could have changed or I could just be plain wrong...
mark555 Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 If Nottingham is "the North", what does that make Yorkshire?? The centre of the known universe... Essex is south, Nottingham is almost east Midlands, by the airport at the start of the M42 going south. But by Southerner's definitions, Nottingham is well in the North because it is north of Watford. By the way Bob, if you decide to sell that, I claim first refusal on it, it's a gorgeous guitar. I wonder who is the Northernmost member of the HOC here in the UK? I think there is a member from Newcastle who doesn't post.
mark555 Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Not allowed to forget Robin Hood.There's an airport bearing his name near me ,and a beautiful bay with the same name about 1 hour away,plus I visited Clumber Park as a kid & saw his Oak tree ! A six years old,I was Robin Hood ! Peter Alton Green ( a.k.a. Sir Guy of Gisbourne. ) Yes, Robin Hood airport just out of Doncaster. We have a roundabout just off Junction 25 on the M62 called Robin Hood roundabout, there's a monument to Robin Hood because he his supposed to have died somewhere near there.
mark555 Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 By the Way, Peteraltongreen and myself are next door neighbours, only sixty miles between us. In a couple of weeks time, My wife and daughter are out for the day, I just might invite any one who has a Heritage to visit my house for an hour or two and we can have an English get together on the day.
jjkrause84 Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Hate to bear bad tidings boys but the customs people are pretty much on to that scam. You will likely have to declare it leaving and if it ain't there when you return they figure tax is due. Got busted trying something similar many moons ago with some Rolexes. 'Course, things could have changed or I could just be plain wrong... I've had no troubles bringing guitars back and forth (well....lots of forth, no back really) for the past 5 years. They see an American, with an American passport, carrying an American guitar and don't think twice about it.
plexirocker 68 Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 Nice guitars !!! Hows the availability of older Marshalls in the uk? plexi
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