I actually had both of those basses (and got both back). I don't think they will charge you to bring it back if you pick it up from Maine but I could be wrong. I'd also recommend Thomann!
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Hey guys - same deal from thomann.de - as long as it is shipped from outside of Canada and into Canada, there are going to be crazy fees when it reaches the border. I'm curious if Sire would ship it via USPS for me instead of UPS - UPS always has insane fees that I can't get around!
Well... I'm gonna bite the bullet. I noticed the V7 Vintage is only CAD$550 on thomann.de so in total I'll be paying around $820, which is not bad in my opinion. Anyone wanna buy a Fender Deluxe Dimension IV? 
Hopefully customs doesn't throw too much in for taxes and duty. But keep us fellow canucks updated!
Is it any better if you order from Thomann rather than Sire USA? Or is that border similarly "protected"? And I'm not advocating trying this, but they can't charge you for it if they don't know it's in the trunk (and don't search). If they do search, well, you're scrod, not sure by how much.
Very screwed. Depending on how far they want to go, it can make crossing the border very difficult to impossible for the future. As someone who lives in a border town, it's something you just don't screw with.
The legal way around it is to stay in the States 48 hours, then you can bring back $800 duty free.
Take some $15 junk bass south into the US to "jam with your friends." Bring back a bass also. They gonna know the difference between them?
Haha I have considered all of these things and in the end I decided I'm going to stick to the safe and legal path. Don't want barred from the US for life over saving $120.
You are wise beyond your years. Although, right now, being barred from the US isn't the worst thing that could happen. Having to stay there might be.
I'm strongly considering a fretless 5-string M7, I want something that plays similarly to my main bass so 2 octave fingerboard, 35'' scale length, 18-19mm string spacing (I couldn't find specific info on that, but it doesn't look too tight) are pretty important. The M7 seemed pretty attractive and since I don't play that much fretless it'd be nice to keep the price a bit lower. I was also considering a V7 but they don't make that as a 35'' version sadly.
How are the stock bridge/tuners?
How are the stock pickups? Literally no fretless demos around as far as I could tell, the fretted version sounded good though.
Is the nut cut correctly for a fretless? I've seen on cheaper FL basses that the nut is way too high, as if it was cut for a fretted bass.
Is the rosewood fingerboard resiliant enough? I'd really prefer ebony honestly, but if it's fine and doesn't wear I don't think I can complain.
And lastly, what is the neck profile? I hope something along the lines of modern C or D profile? I really prefer necks that are more on the thin side.
How are the stock bridge/tuners?
How are the stock pickups? Literally no fretless demos around as far as I could tell, the fretted version sounded good though.
Is the nut cut correctly for a fretless? I've seen on cheaper FL basses that the nut is way too high, as if it was cut for a fretted bass.
Is the rosewood fingerboard resiliant enough? I'd really prefer ebony honestly, but if it's fine and doesn't wear I don't think I can complain.
And lastly, what is the neck profile? I hope something along the lines of modern C or D profile? I really prefer necks that are more on the thin side.
@bholder has an M7 fretless so he'd be a good person to ask. I think the neck profile is a C, if I am not mistaken. It's a thinner neck than the V7 for sure, and has a flatter board radius (12" vs 7.5" for the V7) so it's very playable and fast. Hardware and bridge seem good to me (on my fretted model), but I may not be as particular as some. I just look for overall playability and sound. M7 has that. I believe the rosewood board is epoxied or the equivalent so I'd think it would stand up just fine.
Telling US customs you're going over to jam, can cause issues if they think you are actually going to play. Then you need a work permit.
Theborder guards on either side basically think you're lying about everything, and will go as far as asking who you are jamming with and will even call them to confirm.
And coming back, they may look at your bass and ask you to provide proof that you brought it over to the US. You're supposed to register all returning goods with serial numbers. And then if they don't believe you they'll impound it till you can prove it. And tear your car apart in the meantime.
You just plain don't f around at the border.
Eff it. I am hiking through the woods and mountains with my new bass to cross in a remote unmonitored location, and living on berries and leaves until I emerge. I will not take any guff from a couple of glorified mall cops!
1 word.
Mounties.
They'll track you down like sled dog chasing a 3 legged caribou.
I wish I could answer all of the questions with something more specific than my personal impressions. I find the stock bridge and tuners just fine, though the tuners are of the compact type (same as on the M3) disparaged by some "US only" types here, I'm perfectly happy with them. The pickups are great, I like the switching options, unlike an earlier poster, I find all 3 settings useful. I don't find series muddy nor parallel weak as was claimed, but that's just me. I'll try to do a demo when I find time, but I have a pinched nerve at the moment that's affecting my playing (numb thumb and forefinger syndrome). I think the nut is cut properly for fretless, fingering isn't any harder in lower positions than higher. Fretboard radius is much flatter than the V7. The neck is much like the M3, it's a very sleek feeling C shape I guess. Can't speak to the fingerboard wear, I haven't been playing much lately and I have the stock flats still on there.
Ok, so don't be cruel, here's a fumble numb fingered sample, my hacked up version of "17 Come Sunday" from Ralph Vaughn Williams English folksongs arrangements (from 40+ year old memory, no sheet music). Two tracks, both active, eq flat, balance slightly to neck, both pickups in series setting, stock flats, straight into Scarlett 2i4 and Audacity. Timing and intonation suspect.
Anyway, you can hear the low B in several spots, does ok by me. (For the record, ought to be about 110 bpm, I just can't get there tonight, this is only 85.) So what file format is best to use? I tried as a .wav, apparently not allowed? Is there a better allowed choice than MP3 (I thought MP3 wasn't considered very hifi, no?)
Two more variations. Blend slightly towards bridge on these, all other settings the same. First both pickups in single coil mode, then both in parallel. The preamp already made it a tonal swiss army knife, but the switches add a lot more to the pallette...
Adding one more for the deceased equine floggers out there, this is the same low track as the first (both pickups in series), the high track is with the neck in parallel, bridge in single coil, balance slightly to neck. Just figured it'd sound better with a mix of flavors, get some mwah on top but keeping that big series bottom.
Adding one more for the deceased equine floggers out there, this is the same low track as the first (both pickups in series), the high track is with the neck in parallel, bridge in single coil, balance slightly to neck. Just figured it'd sound better with a mix of flavors, get some mwah on top but keeping that big series bottom.
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And I tell you, nothing will convince you your fretless intonation needs some work more than overdubbing doubling the same line.
