View Full Version : Help!
Gerry Cassidy
Dec-27-2005, 8:56pm
Someone, PLEASE buy the Sobell OM currently on that, that...Evil Bay! It looks to be a wonderful instrument and I am getting weaker by the moment! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
kyblue
Dec-28-2005, 9:12am
Holey Moley!
If I had any $ left that thing would be gone...
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Octave-Mandolin-Octave-Mandola-bouzouki-cittern_W0QQitemZ7377694814QQcategoryZ10179QQssPag
eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting" target="_blank">Sobell octave</a>
otterly2k
Dec-28-2005, 11:02am
oh my.
I'm just going to pretend I didn't see that.
Avi Ziv
Dec-28-2005, 11:18am
wow!
Steph
Dec-28-2005, 12:07pm
That looks like a very sweet deal - a new one will be at least twice that price and 2 years wait - pick up a cheap flight to Glasgow - spend a few days in the Highlands - meet up with Dagger, back to Glasgow for Celtic Connections - and you'd still be ahead.
Dano Reible
Dec-28-2005, 12:16pm
Now Steph knows how to live. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
jmcgann
Dec-28-2005, 12:28pm
sweet! may it fall into hands who will use it for the powers of good http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
PaulD
Dec-28-2005, 12:59pm
Gerry,
Am I reading correctly that you lost your will power and bought it? Beautiful, and if the description is accurate I doubt you would find a more pristine instrument! Congratulations!
Paul Doubek
craigtoo
Dec-28-2005, 1:00pm
its gone... not from me amazingly enough...
craigtoo
Dec-28-2005, 1:02pm
Looks like Gerry did get it...
Way To Go!
otterly2k
Dec-28-2005, 1:04pm
woof! barely escaped that one!
Gerry Cassidy
Dec-28-2005, 1:06pm
Well, I didn't really buy 'Myself' anything for Christmas and I've been a really good boy all year...well, for the most part
I just couldn't resist. It looks like something that isn't gonna come along all too often, so what the heck, I say! It's only money, right? You can't take it with you, right?... Now, my next step is coming up with this months mortgage payment! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
JM: I promise to do my best to use it for nothing but Goodness!
Now, I need to keep myself from goin' loopy as it travels from the Highlands to...well, the Lowlands!
craigtoo
Dec-28-2005, 1:09pm
You've got to promise to put some nice pics up when you get it! and maybe an mp3 or two!
craig
Gerry Cassidy
Dec-28-2005, 1:15pm
Thanks Guys. I'm still waiting for shipping/insured (believe me!) info. Does anybody have any idea what insured shipping from Scotland to Arizona should be?
I have a studio owner buddy who is working on becoming an expert at recording acoustic instruments, so I am sure he would be more than happy to record a few MP3's when, and if this all comes to fruition.
kyblue
Dec-28-2005, 1:38pm
Gerry,
Congrats (and thanks for removing the temptation!)
Not sure about shipping from Scotland but know when I got my Duff from Australia quotes ranged from $200 - 350 with insurance. #I think the seller was not near a depot so it was a bit higher than normal. #It was eventually shipped through auspost using express courier as they were the cheapest, and got here in 3 days (amazing). #Paul Duff said though that he would recommend a courier like Hellmann Intl and not the postal service, but everything turned out o.k. for me. #I had heard it can get hung up in customs depending on the country it's coming from and the declared value, so you may want to do a little digging on the customs web site. #In my case, AUS having favored nation status worked in my favor. #I didn't get hit with any customs tax.
Paula
p.s. I prefer Steph's idea - go get it!
craigtoo
Dec-28-2005, 2:11pm
Yeah...it's not the shipping.. it's the taxes once it get's there...! If you insure it for it's replacement value you probably won't sneak it in under the radar...at least I've never been able to. If you are gutsy you may only want to insure the instrument for a "significant repair" cost. Then your taxes will be lower. But if they lose it you're in trouble...
Figure (I think) about 15 - 20% tax hit when you get it... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif Sometimes the shipping company pays this and bills you later... sometimes you gotta "pay to play" and pick it up somewhere...
anyway.. great OM ...!!!
craig
craigtoo
Dec-28-2005, 2:14pm
one of the Zouks I got was indeed from Scotland.. Shipped to US.. I got hit with import duties... so sad.
you could send it to me here in Germany (no taxes inside EU), I could "hold" it until you came to visit or something...!!!!
please?
craig
Craig,
I'm just curious about what you recall paying for import duties. I'm looking at a tariff schedule here for "string musical instruments...other" (harmonized code 9202.90.60) and it looks like the duty is 4.6%, not too terrible. Maybe I'm reading this wrong...
craigtoo
Dec-28-2005, 2:53pm
Tom...
That could be right.. I've been in Germany now for about 5 years... so things change.. here it's 16% everytime I buy an instrument...
But it's good that you posted that for Gerry..... they might classify it as "god knows what" at 18% or something...
thanks!
craig
Mandobar
Dec-28-2005, 3:34pm
the import duty depends on what the shipper puts as a declared value and what agent clears it through customs.
could be anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand.
Gerry Cassidy
Dec-28-2005, 3:36pm
Wow! Great info. Thanks guys.
With this one, I'm not gonna mess around. I will insure it for what I paid for it (a little more, actually. I asked him to insure it for $4K/US). He has already emailed me and will have a figure for shipping cost tomorrow. He seems to be a very nice chap. I really liked the fact that he stated he will pack it with extra care.
I paid something like $25/US duty on a guitar I bought ($2K)in Canada.
Right now, I'm not too worried about the cost. I am more concerned for it's safe arrival. I would be seriously bummed if something were to happen to it.
Stefan is building me a cedar topped mandolin, when I last discussed taxes etc it was cheaper for me to let him export it to me in the US at the 4.6% import tax Tom quoted that pay UK VAT at 17.5% - roll on spring/early summer.
Congrats again to Gerry, I'm sure that you wont regret your descision, I recently had "Luthier" Don Kawalek do a setup on my Sobell 10 stringer - he raved about the construction/balance etc for the entire time he had it. Please post some more pics and let us know how the tax issue played out.
Gerry Cassidy
Dec-29-2005, 3:34pm
Thanks Steph. It still hasn't quite sunk in what I am actually getting... 4.6% Tax? That would be okay. I can swing that.
It's to be on it's way to me tomorrow!
I am having it sent first class, priority with Fedex. Quite a little chunk of change, but it's worth it to me.
I've been getting cool things in the mail lately; my tickets to see Mike Marshall and Chris Thile in Sedona just came yesterday!
my tickets to see Mike Marshall and Chris Thile in Sedona just came
Yeah... rub it in! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Gerry Cassidy
Dec-30-2005, 3:54pm
Yeah... rub it in! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Sorry... not intentional. I have an extra ticket! Anybody wanna join me? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
The Sobell is on it's way! The seller has turned out to be a really nice fellow. $341 shipping costs *GASP!* FedEx, First Class, Priority + insurance. I guess I could expect it to be pricey?
Happy New Year to all!
Martin Jonas
Dec-30-2005, 4:06pm
Speaking of Sobell, you guys have seen that there is a 10-string long-scale cittern in the classifieds (#16762)? Sounds like the seller might agree to a price not too far above Gerry's Ebay deal.
Martin
Gerry Cassidy
Jan-11-2006, 1:43pm
It's here! Haven't had the time to really sit down with it yet....more to come.
otterly2k
Jan-11-2006, 1:47pm
Gerry, you big tease!
we are awaiting pics and a full report, please...!
Gerry Cassidy
Jan-11-2006, 7:50pm
As soon as I opened up the case, tuned it up and started playing my living room turned into a cobblestone cottage with a thatch roof! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Honestly, what a vintage tone. It's very simple. No super fine detail. Plays like a dream. The scale is 21" by my tape measure. Very easy to hit all the notes.
Here is a pic (disclaimer: I am not a photographer, quite obviously):
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/107_0800.jpg
More pic's here:
Sobell OM (http://photobucket.com/albums/y82/arcopizz/)
Taking it down to a seisiun at the Irish Cultural Center tonite. Can't wait!
Gerry, I think you may well have got one of the best deals you could get - please post a report of the session and your playing impression (even though it's after one session).
Otterly, that offer to let you try my Sobell is still open - let me know.....
otterly2k
Jan-11-2006, 8:49pm
whooo-eee! That is lovely. I agree with Steph... one of the best deals ever. tell us more when you've had a chance to get to know the instrument a bit.
Steph... yes, indeed...as soon as my Dean OM comes, let's make a date to get together over mandos. I think Judith and Lee might be interested also...
kyblue
Jan-11-2006, 9:22pm
That is one gorgeous instrument. I am jealous, jealous, jealous!
Paula
jasona
Jan-12-2006, 12:07am
Nice score!
Gerry Cassidy
Jan-12-2006, 5:40pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
NOT AGAIN!!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
Look at this:
<a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/1998-Stefan-Sobell-cittern-bouzouki_W0QQitemZ7381104805QQcategoryZ623QQssPage NameZWDVWQQrd
Z1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">Another One?!?!?</a>
Dear Lord, give me strength. Lead me NOT into temptation.... not to mention bankruptcy
This is getting weird - did these people overspend at Christmas or all lose their jobs or what? (of course,I hope neither). As Gerry noted when he got his instrument - Stefan doesn't really do "fancy" so I'd have to assume the other instrument was Brazilian rosewood with the more ornate binding or something. This looks like another phenomenal bargin if it goes for anywhere the current price.
Anyway Gerry we still await you report from the session last night.... (I think you need a 10 string).
otterly2k
Jan-12-2006, 8:58pm
It's got 6 days plus left to go... that price will DEFINTELY spike.
I'm kind of glad to say that my mando fundage is totally depleted right now, so I'm not even tempted.
Gerry Cassidy
Jan-12-2006, 10:01pm
Sorry 'bout that, Steph. The first thing that I fell in love with was the neck. It's pretty wide and has a flat back (I believe that's a 'C' neck?) and the fingerboard isn't radiused (is that a word?), so along with the 21" scale, the left hand stuff is really a dream.
I solo'd on Bonaparte with the guitarist and it cut very, very nicely. Not brash in any way. That must be the Cedar Top, I would imagine.
The E string has a bit of a buzz, so maybe a little set up might be in the mix, here soon.
As I told my cohorts last night: "I have a new bestest friend!" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
I think I'll be able to resist the Cittern. I have enough trouble with four courses. Don't need to add another.... and that 25.5" scale?!?!? Too much for these hands.