Nice 1991 Alembic Essence on eBay

[sonicus]

Nice Bass !  
 
Read the ENTIRE auction  ad and you will read about  Customs confiscations of certain instruments made from the woods that our beloved instruments might be made from .  
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alembic-Essence-4-Boutique-Bass-SUPER-CLEAN-1991-/181626489011?ssPageName=ADME:SS:SS:US:1120
 
(Message edited by sonicus on December 28, 2014)

[slawie]

Read about it all here.  
 
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/manuals/ports/downloads/cites.pdf#page23
 
Slawie

[sonicus]

Slawie , Thanks for that link. I have read about this before and we have had a thread regarding this issue as well . The link that you posted certainly is very  inclusive and concise ( over 16mb of pdf.)
It will indeed take a bit of time to read through it all .  
 
  Wolf

[slawie]

Definately a cure for insomnia. 368 pages of bureaucratic waffle.  
I have read somewhere that if you can prove your instrument
was made before the banning period the wood is OK to travel
This particularly relates to classical instruments although I would call Alembics classic instruments.
One over zealous border control agent and you have a world of hurt facing you for instruments' entry/exit to the USA.  
I do however believe in the preservation of old growth forest timbers and banning the indiscriminate destruction of rare trees.

[keith_h]

You can travel with older instruments but,  as I recall, it takes paperwork from the US and the countries you are visiting to be safe. Even then as has been stated an overly zealous customs agent could make it a nightmare. I think some musician have just decided it is best to leave the good stuff at home and travel with similar but less expensive stuff when taking them out of country.  
 
Here is a link to the International Blue Grass Music Association article that talks about it.
 
Keith