Who Tours Internationally With A Vintage Bass?

[OldFenderPlayer]

First, this post is not intended to be about the wisdom of touring internationally with a vintage instrument, but about the chance an instrument with a Brazilian Rosewood fretboard might get flagged under CITES regulations when you go through US Customs.

Are there any known artists who regularly go to and from the US with, let’s say, an early 1960s Fender Jazz Bass with prohibited wood in it? What does Sting do, since he seems to spend some time in New York City?

Are there any confirmed instances where an instrument was confiscated because of the wood in the fingerboard?

 

[Minimalist]

I'm not touring but have traveled several times with an instrument with a rosewood board to and from the EU. Nobody ever even asked.

Reading the regulations I don't think if you travel with your bass you have to worry. I read that if you have less than 10 KG it is perfectly legal.

 

[mikeswals]

Are there any known artists who regularly go to and from the US with, let’s say, an early 1960s Fender Jazz Bass with prohibited wood in it? What does Sting do, since he seems to spend some time in New York City?

Obviously Bobby Vega goes everywhere with his stack knob Jazz. But Sting only tours his mid 50's P (maple board), if he even still plays the original at all these days and not a CS duplicate.

 

[tb-player]

City and Colour is one of my favorite bands. They're from Canada. Their bassist, Erik Nielsen, has traveled the world with his '67 Fender p-bass w/ rosewood neck.

 

[micguy]

Yo Yo Ma travels with a cello that is 290 years old, and worth $2.5 million. That's vintage. Herbie Hancock tours with a piano worth $290K. Joe Bonamassa tours with Les Pauls that go for that much. Guys that refuse to take a 60 year old solid bodied bass on the road because it's too "vintage" or "valuable" are poseurs.

There, i said it. ;-)

 

[r_bnks]

Yo Yo Ma travels with a cello that is 290 years old, and worth $2.5 million. That's vintage - guys that refuse to take a 60 year old solid bodied instrument on the road because it's too "vintage" or "valuable" are poseurs.

Exactly. If I'd tour, I'd take my favorite vintage bass in a heartbeat.

 

[ajkula66]

Instrument passports are a thing, for the CITES reason. There are a few hoops one must jump through in order to obtain one AFAIK, but for someone who actually travels with a '59 Les Paul or something along those lines it's well worth it IMO.

Musical Instrument Passports: A New CITES Provision - Fretboard Journal

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I think Cliff Williams of ACDC still travels with his vintage MusicMan StingRay.

 

[Lowendchamp]

Sex drugs and rock n roll don’t care about rules