New York Trip

I'd imagine you'll pay a hefty duty whatever it's called....or does that only apply when it's shipped?

 

Well, there are threads on this when people have it as a carry on...do a search...

 

I bring back my Sadowsky to Italy as hand luggage. No problem. No duties.

 

... and I envy you, man!

 

I'm off there next week and I'll be picking up my new Spector - now, I have two ideas about doing this. I can either take a bass hard case over with me containing a crappy, £5 pawn-shop guitar, ditch the guitar while I'm out there and bring the Spector back in it, or just carry the bass in its gig bag straight onto the plane and forego the taking of the hard case altogether. What do you reckon? Will most airlines let you take a bass on as hand luggage (considering I'll have another bag as hand luggage too)?

Russ

 

I doubt you'll get it on as hand luggage, where you going to stow it once onboard?? It aint going in a overhead compartment. You could take an empty hardshell case, why worry about ditching a cheap guitar when your over there??

If you don't declare it when coming back into the country you are guilty of smuggling. If you do declare it you will pay 17.5% VAT and roughly 3% import duty. I have heard that customs are pretty clued up on what to look for when you come through and the correct prices for things like musical instruments so be careful. With the exchange rates as they are at the moment it's still probably going to be cheaper than buying most instruments over here (in the UK).

All the best.