Current Archtop production Gibson CS

[Hjalmiz]

Hi

I’m looking for a Gibson L5 CT and a Byrdland. This is not a easy task if you live in the north of Europe.
As I’m sure most of you know customs fee will add 30% to a $9K guitar. That hurts.

Can I get some opinions on the Custom shop L5s / BL guitars made 2017-current ?

Also , anybody know any good dealers within the EU for these kinds of instruments.



All the best /H

[jads57]

Wildwood Guitars, Dave's Guitars in Lacrosse Wisconsin, both have a couple of used recent Gibson archtops. Not sure about Europe,but my Elferink Tonemaster archtop is basically a Gibson L-5C heavier build.

[Hammertone]

Get on a plane, buy what you want in the US, fly back with the guitars. Total cost will be less or similar, I suspect. And it will be way more fun.

[Hjalmiz]

U know we have this thing called border control in Europe now :-) me and others have tried ! It’s expensive .... it’s not so fun.

[Hammertone]

Except that he risks being hit with a fine and a 30% VAT charge, if they catch him in customs on his return.

You misunderstand. Declare the guitar. Show a receipt for a transaction for an, er, ah, appropriate amount of money from a legit vendor. Even with VAT, I suspect he'll still save $$$.

It's not hard to find a Byrdland in North America for much less than 7-8k euros. L-5 CT is a bit more obscure, but available with a bit of networking through the members of this forum, I suspect.

30% VAT? Holy shit! Who screws their citizens that hard?
I checked here: https://taxfoundation.org/vat-rates-europe-2019/

[Hjalmiz]

Actually its 21 % Vat and some additional customs fee that adds up to 3o%. It goes for the entire EU.

Anyways, travel to the US and taxes ad up. Can you really find me à nice Byrdland for less than $4500 K ?

Anyways , my questions was about the modern line of archtops from Gibson CS. Any thoughts?

//H

You misunderstand. Declare the guitar. Show a receipt for a transaction for an, er, ah, appropriate amount of money from a legit vendor. Even with VAT, I suspect he'll still save $$$.

It's not hard to find a Byrdland in North America for much less than 7-8k euros. L-5 CT is a bit more obscure, but available with a bit of networking through the members of this forum, I suspect.

30% VAT? Holy shit! Who screws their citizens that hard?
I checked here: https://taxfoundation.org/vat-rates-europe-2019/

[Gitterbug]

VAT is well over 20% in many European countries: 24% in Finland, Croatia and Greece, 25% in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, 27% in Hungary. Luxemburg is the Continent's tax haven with 17%, and then there are offshore exceptions, such the Canary Islands, with a 5% +/- sales tax. Germany's web traders, like Thomann, benefit from a 19% VAT, but once the volume to a given country exceeds a substantial limit, they have to pay the VAT to that particular country. Such is life ze Old World, but in exchange there are low or no tuition fees, fair to excellent public health care etc. And better fees for touring musicians, I'm told.

[jads57]

Elferink Archtops 3200 Euros and up. Easily as good as the top Archtops out there.

[Cunamara]

Or Daniel Slaman. There are guitars being made in Europe that are every bit as good as Gibson if not better. However, some people just have their heart set on a Gibson.

Forum member DutchBopper seems to have a line on finding nice old Gibsons on Holland:

Dutchbopper's Jazz Guitar Blog

One dealer he mentions is The Guitar Company:


https://theguitarcompany.nl/en/

[Fred Archtop]

Hi

I’m looking for a Gibson L5 CT and a Byrdland. This is not a easy task if you live in the north of Europe.
As I’m sure most of you know customs fee will add 30% to a $9K guitar. That hurts.

Can I get some opinions on the Custom shop L5s / BL guitars made 2017-current ?

Also , anybody know any good dealers within the EU for these kinds of instruments.



All the best /H

VAT + custom taxes give 24% total taxes in France.

In Paris, one of the best

vintage

guitar shops is now owned by Jérôme Casanova, formerly held by François Charle.

Recently he had a nice 1940 L5, non cut, for about 8k.
Edit: it’s still there for 8,2 k€

Galerie Casanova – Luthier Expert

Nice place to visit.

Cheers.

[Hjalmiz]

Thank you. Good info.
I will look into GC for sure.


/H

VAT + custom taxes give 24% total taxes in France.

In Paris, one of the best guitar vintage shops is now owned by Jérôme Casanova, formerly held by François Charle.

Recently he had a nice 1940 L5, non cut, for about 8k.
Édit: it’s still there for 8,2 k€

Galerie Casanova – Luthier Expert

Nice place to visit.

Cheers.

[Hjalmiz]

Thanks. Yes i know Slaman and his work. Very nice guitars. About the same price range as a Gibson.

The guitar Company Was New to. Ill look in to them.

All the best/Peter

Or Daniel Slaman. There are guitars being made in Europe that are every bit as good as Gibson if not better. However, some people just have their heart set on a Gibson.

Forum member DutchBopper seems to have a line on finding nice old Gibsons on Holland:

Dutchbopper's Jazz Guitar Blog

One dealer he mentions is The Guitar Company:


https://theguitarcompany.nl/en/

[David B]

Macari's here in London have a sunburst new old stock CS Byrdland in the window for £7999.

king od short scale jazzers

[Gitterbug]

If you are in Sweden, as I suspect, have a look at AJL Guitars in Gamlakarleby across the Gulf of Bothnia. Master Luthier Ari-Pekka Luomaranta is known for his gypsy guitars - Andreas Öberg, Olli Soikkeli etc. - but he makes archtops, too. I believe there's a 19" Stromberg readily available.

[Hjalmiz]

I know or have had contact with most European luthiers. I already own or have had guitars from from the best of them.

However , I’m looking for a Gibson this time.

Btw, Andreas makes (a good living) K-pop these days.

//P

If you are in Sweden, as I suspect, have a look at AJL Guitars in Gamlakarleby across the Gulf of Bothnia. Master Luthier Ari-Pekka Luomaranta is known for his gypsy guitars - Andreas Öberg, Olli Soikkeli etc. - but he makes archtops, too. I believe there's a 19" Stromberg readily available.