2008 Gibson LeGrand Natural FS in Toronto

[floatingpickup]

I remember someone here was looking for a Natural LeGrand, but I’m not sure who it was. You don’t see these very often and I just noticed one has just been put up for sale at The Twelfth Fret in Toronto. I have no connection to the guitar, but I have dealt with this shop before and was quite satisfied. Not sure if the link will work, but you can find the guitar on their facebook or instagram (it isn’t up on their website yet). I am assuming the price is CDN $.
Instagram

[tomvwash]

I remember someone here was looking for a Natural LeGrand, but I’m not sure who it was. You don’t see these very often and I just noticed one has just been put up for sale at The Twelfth Fret in Toronto. I have no connection to the guitar, but I have dealt with this shop before and was quite satisfied. Not sure if the link will work, but you can find the guitar on their facebook or instagram (it isn’t up on their website yet). I am assuming the price is CDN $.
Instagram

Thank you for this. Really the only guitar I ever regret parting with. Why! Financial panic at the time..now long passed.

[floatingpickup]

Thank you for this. Really the only guitar I ever regret parting with. Why! Financial panic at the time..now long passed.

Tom: I actually thought it might have been you that said you would like to find a natural one. Assuming it is priced in CDN $, it would be about $9K USD. Seems reasonable to me, considering how seldom you see one of these.
Keith

[tomvwash]

Tom: I actually thought it might have been you that said you would like to find a natural one. Assuming it is priced in CDN $, it would be about $9K USD. Seems reasonable to me, considering how seldom you see one of these.
Keith

Thanks, Keith. It probably was a long while ago. The IG post appears to be in dollars.

[floatingpickup]

Thanks, Keith. It probably was a long while ago. The IG post appears to be in dollars.

It appears to be priced at $12,500 CDN.

[tomvwash]

It appears to be priced at $12,500 CDN.

It's USA dollars. I put a ES 345 in my cart for check out.

12K+ is too high for a Legrand, even a blonde.

[RyanM]

It's USA dollars. I put a ES 345 in my cart for check out.

12K+ is too high for a Legrand, even a blonde.

Twelfth Fret posts in Canadian dollars.

[tomvwash]

Twelfth Fret posts in Canadian dollars.

You're right. Its on their page now. Does anyone have any experience with this store? I realize they get referenced here a lot.

[Hammertone]

You're right. It’s on their page now. Does anyone have any experience with this store? I realize they get referenced here a lot.

They are friends of mine. Great place. Buy with confidence.

[gandhi85]

One or two of the best deals I ever got came from this shop. I recall they REALLY worked with me in the price of a hight ticket item, but it was when their website was impossible to navigate and I think the guitar just sat and sat, probably somewhere protected from browsers in store.

[floatingpickup]

You're right. Its on their page now. Does anyone have any experience with this store? I realize they get referenced here a lot.

I posted this PSA because they are a very reputable business. I have done business with them and been very happy.
Keith

[Jabberwocky]

No tariff issues, I hope, crossing the 49th Parallel...

[Hammertone]

No tariff issues, I hope, crossing the 49th Parallel...

American-made goods returning to the US are not subject to tariffs or duties.

[pawlowski6132]

American-made goods returning to the US are not subject to tariffs or duties.

Really??? Are you sure???

[Hammertone]

Happy to confirm when I get off the road in a couple of days. Same for goods covered by the USMCA / CUSMA free trade agreement.

[pawlowski6132]

Happy to confirm when I get off the road in a couple of days. Same for goods covered by the USMCA / CUSMA free trade agreement.

Thanks

[Hammertone]

Pretty simple. American-made goods returning to the US are not subject to tariffs or duties.

The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”) subheading 9801.00.10 is used for re-importing U.S. made products back into the United States, duty-free. Previously, this classification only covered merchandise originally made in the United States and now reentering the country (hence “US Goods Returned”). [ed: the classification has since been expanded in some ways.] In order to qualify for classification under subheading 9801.00.10 and duty-free treatment, these products entering the United States have to be unimproved in condition or value. In other words, the products have to not been subject to further processing abroad. For example, subheading 9801.00.10 may be used when goods are being re-imported as returned product to the seller or for repair. Under subheading 9801.00.10, the importer has the burden to prove their claim for duty-free treatment. U.S.-origin products currently have no time limit to file a claim for duty-free treatment. ...blah, blah, blah...

Practically speaking, that means that Americans in the US buying American or Canadian-made guitars located outside of the US is quite similar to buying guitars located in the US. International shipping costs more, sometimes it takes a bit longer to clear the border, sometimes CITES certification may be involved, but I've never had any problems with any of that over the past 45 years.

[pawlowski6132]

I don't think it is pretty simple. Seems complicated and what does that mean? Assembled in the US using foreign parts? What percentage of foreign parts versus US? Assembled overseas using 100% American parts? How do you document it?

[Hammertone]

All I can say is that if you ever buy a guitar from me (I have several for sale on this forum), I'd be happy for it to arrive at your door at an agreed-upon price and time-frame, without any need for further thought. That seems pretty simple to me.

Hammertone’s guitars have no tariffs, duties or taxes added. Hooray for me!

[tomvwash]

All I can say is that if you ever buy a guitar from me (I have several for sale on this forum), I'd be happy for it to arrive at your door at an agreed-upon price and time-frame, without any need for further thought. That seems pretty simple to me.

The Legrand arrives Thursday--thank you again for the lead, Keith. If I pay VAT or Duties or Tariff, or whatever it's called, I will fess up. I bought a MIJ Greco just two years ago, shipped from Japan, and never paid any fees on that as an import.

Tom

[floatingpickup]

The Legrand arrives Thursday--thank you again for the lead, Keith. If I pay VAT or Duties or Tariff, or whatever it's called, I will fess up. I bought a MIJ Greco just two years ago, shipped from Japan, and never paid any fees on that as an import.

Tom

I hope the importation works out well for you and that you are happy with the guitar . It sure looks great in the pictures.
Keith

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I bought a MIJ Greco just two years ago, shipped from Japan, and never paid any fees on that as an import.

There's been an under $800 exemption from import duties on items shipped from abroad to private individuals in the US for many years. If the Greco was valued at $800 or less, there would have been no import duty. That provision was just ended as part of Trump's tariff wars - it's officially gone as of August 29th, per an executive order. He may well change his mind a few more times in the next 3 weeks, given his fickle nature and total lack of an identifiable plan or strategy. But as of today, I'm pretty sure that the August 29 deadline is still in effect.

This is a major blow to small businesses around the world. It reduces the profit from and/or raises the price on anything that's valued at $800 or less that's shipped to a US buyer from out of the country. The exact tariff varies from country to country (and even from day to day, the way Trump is bouncing all over the place with his threats and attempts at intimidation). But we will all feel it within weeks. Every cent passed on to buyers is a tax, pure and simple. You don't miss your water 'til the well runs dry. We're about to hit a wall of rising prices on much of the gear we've taken for granted up to now (along with food, furniture, paper goods, etc etc).

The tariffs on "100% MIUSA" guitars imported back into the US are not so straightforward, since there are a lot of foreign made parts in American guitars. Much of the wood is Canadian. Pots, switches, wire, jacks etc are most often made abroad. As I understand it, they're planning to use parts charts to determine how much of a MIUSA guitar is actually made here and tax accordingly. I can't imagine that our government has or has bothered to go out and find or hire much knowledge of this level of detail. It's probably going to be a mess, and you know in your hearts that we will not be the beneficiaries of any doubt.

[Stringswinger]

The tariffs on "100% MIUSA" guitars imported back into the US are not so straightforward, since there are a lot of foreign made parts in American guitars. Much of the wood is Canadian. Pots, switches, wire, jacks etc are most often made abroad. As I understand it, they're planning to use parts charts to determine how much of a MIUSA guitar is actually made here and tax accordingly. I can't imagine that our government has or has bothered to go out and find or hire much knowledge of this level of detail. It's probably going to be a mess, and you know in your hearts that we will not be the beneficiaries of any doubt.

California no longer allows Fender to stamp "Made in the USA" on their guitars made in Corona, California. I have read that is due to all of the foreign made parts on the Fender guitars. Perhaps all the Feds will have to do is get the information from California?

These tariffs are a consumption tax on foreign made goods. If you do not want to pay them, stop consuming foreign made goods. Of course, that is easier said than done.

[Hammertone]

Here's more to confuse some of you, courtesy of the US Government. This applies to goods that, for the most part, accompany you on a per-person basis when you return to the US from being away in overseas destinations like Canada:

CBP Customer Service
"The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1,600) apply if:
- The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts.
-They are in your possession, that is, they accompany you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your $800 duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
- They are declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting it. If in doubt, declare it.
- You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. For example, if you leave the United States at 1:30 p.m. on June 1, you would complete the 48-hour period at 1:30 p.m. on June 3. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands. (See also the section on the $200 exemption).
- You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days. For example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items, you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another $800 exemption. (See the section on the $200 exemption.)
- The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items in the "Know Before You Go" If you would like a hard copy of the publication, please order it through the CBP Publications Catalogue. Note: The CBP Catalogue is for online and mail orders only. Some publications are only to be downloaded from the website.

Please reference our publication"Know Before You Go" for duty exemptions.
Article Number - 000001402
Date Published - 2025-05-01"
...and so much more, all written in E-Z to understand English on the government's various web pages regarding this very subject.

[skykomishone]

That is a beautiful guitar!
Enjoy it heartily!
Looking forward to hearing more about it.