cost to get a Sadowsky into the UK

**Chimera1to1** · 02-20-2013, 10:05 AM

Sadowsky only sell direct. Anyone able to assist on the costs for getting one imported?

**Bill C** · 02-20-2013, 10:46 AM

a few years since I've imported from the US but I think it goes something like this ...

add price of guitar and shipping
add customs duty to previous total (check rate with HMRC)
add VAT to previous total
pay the delivering courier company £10 or so for handling the customs clearance for you.

so say around 25% on top of the original guitar price?

**PTChristopher** · 02-20-2013, 10:53 AM

In the mid 80's it was very cheap to fly Boston-London-Boston and the pound was very low against the dollar.

People would fly to London for a few days to shop. Not being much of a shopper at all, I still went a few times for the fun of it.

What I wonder is why not fly cheap to NYC in the winter, then bring the guitar back with you?

Would you need to prove that the guitar was not new (to the UK/EEG) to avoid VAT?

I have flown back and forth for the day a few times. It is not nearly as bad as it sounds in either direction so long as you can sleep on a plane designed for the very short.

What would a LHR to an NYC airport return fare be in February?

Chris

**kris** · 02-20-2013, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Bill C

a few years since I've imported from the US but I think it goes something like this ...

add price of guitar and shipping
add customs duty to previous total (check rate with HMRC)
add VAT to previous total
pay the delivering courier company £10 or so for handling the customs clearance for you.

so say around 25% on top of the original guitar price?

Same cost in Europe...I Think.

**disco~juice** · 02-20-2013, 12:53 PM

I would say 30% just in case

**jazzbow** · 02-20-2013, 04:28 PM

Get someone state side to buy it and send it over to you as a gift! I think that would be tax free but more research on that one.

Get your teeth into this.....

HM Revenue & Customs

**kris** · 02-20-2013, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by jazzbow

Get someone state side to buy it and send it over to you as a gift! I think that would be tax free but more research on that one.

Get your teeth into this.....

HM Revenue & Customs

Not sure!...:-(

**Bill C** · 02-20-2013, 04:58 PM

regarding gifts ...

HM Revenue & Customs: Tax on goods ordered from or bought abroad

**jazzbow** · 02-20-2013, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by Bill C

regarding gifts ...

HM Revenue & Customs: Tax on goods ordered from or bought abroad

"Customs Duty is payable if the value of the gift exceeds £135, but will be waived if the amount of duty is £9 or under"

Hmm, Sadowsky is out of that ball park then!

Buy it in bits, post it over and then glue it all together, just like that ole' Johnny Cash tune, 'One piece at a time.'

**Chimera1to1** · 02-21-2013, 01:18 PM

Hhhhmmm! My brother goes to NY on business a couple of times a year.....

**David B** · 02-21-2013, 01:53 PM

There's a Sadowsky LS-17 on eBay UK at the moment. Auction ends tomorrow. Starting bid of #1950. No bids so far.
Sadowsky LS-17 Archtop Jazz Guitar | eBay

**Philly112** · 02-22-2013, 12:09 PM

I see this ended with no bids...

It's been re listed at a slightly lower price:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1409205723...84.m1438.l2661

**IbanezAS100** · 03-01-2013, 03:20 AM

There's also a Jim Hall up for sale (as well as the LS17) on eBay UK at the moment for anyone interested:

Sadowsky Jim Hall archtop guitar | eBay

**2bornot2bop** · 03-01-2013, 03:39 AM

Originally Posted by IbanezAS100

There's also a Jim Hall up for sale (as well as the LS17) on eBay UK at the moment for anyone interested:

Sadowsky Jim Hall archtop guitar | eBay

you folks in the UK won't buy a Sadowsky Jim Hall for $2400 pounds??? is the economy that bad over there or is there simply no demand for archtops in the UK?

**IbanezAS100** · 03-01-2013, 04:55 AM

Well, demand is not huge but reasonable...and I imagine this will sell pretty soon as it's fairly priced. I think the OP has found something else but hopefully it will go to a forum member.

**Philly112** · 03-01-2013, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

you folks in the UK won't buy a Sadowsky Jim Hall for $2400 pounds??? is the economy that bad over there or is there simply no demand for archtops in the UK?

I would say that the guitar might go if someone really wants one. To put it into context, you guys pay around £2700 for a new one. This guy wants £2400 for one which is some years old. Of course, we aren't comparing like with like due to import taxes etc. I actually have both in my watch list, togther with an Eastman John Pisano (bids over £2000). I won't be buying any of them as I'm not good enough to justify it and I'd be getting divorced the next day if I did, but I'm interested to see whether they all sell or not.

Out of interest, what would a S/H Hall model go for in the USA? I am presuming these guitars hold their value pretty well?

Cheers
Phil

**Flat** · 03-01-2013, 05:23 AM

I bought a Sadowsky Jim Hall in great condition on eBay a couple years ago for $3,000. I think I got lucky. The going rate seems to be at least 10% more these days for a used one from a private party. Maybe more.

**Flat** · 03-01-2013, 03:53 PM

And this one sold a few days ago for $3,300, just for another example:

2007 Sadowsky Jim Hall Signature Model Guitar | eBay

**2bornot2bop** · 03-01-2013, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by Philly112

I would say that the guitar might go if someone really wants one. To put it into context, you guys pay around £2700 for a new one. This guy wants £2400 for one which is some years old. Of course, we aren't comparing like with like due to import taxes etc. I actually have both in my watch list, togther with an Eastman John Pisano (bids over £2000). I won't be buying any of them as I'm not good enough to justify it and I'd be getting divorced the next day if I did, but I'm interested to see whether they all sell or not.

Out of interest, what would a S/H Hall model go for in the USA? I am presuming these guitars hold their value pretty well?

Cheers
Phil

wow, so a Pisano sells here used for $1700 and used there for $2k, and yet a Sadowsky Jim Hall is commonly found used here for $3500 but it's new there for $2700...very interesting.

**chipmonk78** · 03-04-2013, 02:19 PM

Sadowsky LS-17 Archtop Jazz Guitar | eBay

It's still there at £1850, which is a good price. May be worth a trip to Brighton!

Sadowsky Jim Hall archtop guitar | eBay

Here's another, in London - more money.

**Philly112** · 03-04-2013, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by chipmonk78

Sadowsky LS-17 Archtop Jazz Guitar | eBay

It's still there at £1850, which is a good price. May be worth a trip to Brighton!

Sadowsky Jim Hall archtop guitar | eBay

Here's another, in London - more money.

The LS17 is advertised as 'pristine'. I emailed the seller re the 'fret marks' comment. He sent a picture showing some fret wear and a grubby neck.
Now I'm not great guitarist. But pristine to me means 'as new'. Not an 'as new body but played enough to wear the frets'.

It should have been described as great condition, but well played with some moderate fret wear. It's not pristine by any stretch of the imagination.
Still probably worth the money though; but if you are going to bid, email the seller re the fret wear and ask for the photo.

Phil

**chipmonk78** · 03-04-2013, 02:59 PM

I'm not in the market for a guitar!

I don't often buy new, so sorting out wear and tear goes with the territory. If the frets are worn, they can be levelled and crowned, so may be worth negotiating. (Unfortunately with Fleabay, the terms "pristine", "rare" and "mint" are misused.)