Period guitars

[plasticpigeon]

Anyone know how I can avoid paying VAT on imports???

http://www.hyperguitars.com/items/index02425.html

 

[LadyArowana]

If you live outside the UK and own the thing for a certain period of time ( 6 m ? ) then when it comes back it's "used" and I believe escapes being charged duty. Not sure it's a practical solution for you

the possibly more useful and less legal suggestion is to ask the seller to supply an invoice with a lower sales price than you have paid, in this way you won't not pay duty, but you will pay it based on a lower number

 

[plasticpigeon]

Thanks Lady A. Looks like it is probably sold already. Perhaps it is simpler to wait tioll one comes up in the UK or Europe.

 

[a twig]

First off, I am not an accountant or tax expert, I speak only from my personal experience.

I bought something online from a private seller in Hong Kong via a well known auction site. The customs paper work stated it was a "second hand mp3 player", with a declared value of £35, and no duty was required...

 

[Penners]

Do you have to have a Wes Montgomery?

You can get a Les Paul for about a tenth of the price (but I'm no guitar aficionado - I guess that's the difference between a Chippendale chair and a Ercol one)!

 

[plasticpigeon]

Hi Penners, it's not really a Wes Montgomery, it is a standard L-5, but it is almost the guitar he played. He had a single pickup on his guitars, and also played an earlier 1950s model. I'd love a 1950s model but they are super rare and expensive. Late 60s seem around the same price as new ones and are almost as nice as the earlier ones. I have other guitars, this is just something I've always wanted. I'd probably not play it, I'd see it as a muse to encourage me to get to a standard worthy of getting out of the box.

 

[Penners]

PP - I'm ashamed to say that my Harmony Sovereign (I'm more of a folk man) has lain virtually untouched for decades. I keep promising myself to "get back on the bike" but other stuff keeps intervening!