Hello Mandolin cafe forum, my name is Yannis and I would like to sell my Gibson F2 Mandolin. I wish this mandolin to go back home (USA) and I need advice, is this possible? and how to do this?
Hello Mandolin cafe forum, my name is Yannis and I would like to sell my Gibson F2 Mandolin. I wish this mandolin to go back home (USA) and I need advice, is this possible? and how to do this?
PS. A few decades ago (1995) the Mandolin Bros evaluated that instrument by images and offered $1700 to $1800 and a easy way to go (even packing advice). This year an international instrument shop based at USA said that this is a mission impossible
What reason did the shop give for saying this was impossible?
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
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Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
According to this, mother of pearl is not listed under CITES and may be freely traded on musical instruments.
https://artisanguitars.com/products/...of-pearl-shell
Certain types of abalone could be a problem:
https://acousticmusic.org/research/e...cites-and-esa/
Ebony doesn't appear to be a concern either, unless it is Madagascar ebony:
https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/sh...ctions.439590/
You can ship from Europe to the US for a couple hundred US dollars, and the US import duty is only 3% (quite low compared to Canada & European countries).
I'm sure someone who knows more than I do will jump in here, but I think you got some bad information.
Emando.com: More than you wanted to know about electric mandolins.
Notorious: My Celtic CD--listen & buy!
Lyon & Healy • Wood • Thormahlen • Andersen • Bacorn • Yanuziello • Fender • National • Gibson • Franke • Fuchs • Aceto • Three Hungry Pit Bulls
Madagascar abony is so rare and wood hardly distinguishable from gabon ebony (I think some botanists consider it just a variant of gabon) so that would not be a problem.
I've seen some old Gibsons with wood that looked much lke Brazilian RW or African blackwood (species of rosewood) which may be problem.
Pearl in few dots is not going to raise any attention especially in vintage instrument.
Shipping to US will cost several 100's of EUR and you risk damage so selling locally or within EU might be best option for you. There's so many of them in the US and folks in Ireland or UK or some scandinavian countries often use old Gibsons for their music so there's good market there and prices can be even higher than in the US especially for vintage Gibsons.
Adrian
Gibson instruments have been sold in Europe- certainly, the UK since not long after the firm became established while shipping costs to the USA from Europe can be high. As already suggested, you might want to sell your F2 in Europe as it is probably worth more in Europe than in the USA itself simply down to supply and demand. If I buy from the USA on top of the shipping cost, the whole cost including that shipping attracts a 20% tax and a relatively small amount- 3% for duty and a handling charge. This means that a bargain in the USA is not much of one when it arrives here!
Okay, I had an F4 shipped internationally last year. Took three months to get the CITES paperwork.
All about the pearl - nothing wrong with pearl. The CITES stuff was to PROVE IT WASN'T WHITE ABALONE.
Most people think CITES is about certifying what something is, but often it's about certifying what it's not.
To the OP - getting it to the USA can be done, but costly and time consuming. Do you think you wouldn't get as much for it locally, in Europe?
If someone in the USA could get one locally for $3000, they wouldn't pay $2000 for yours because of the extra cost of CITES, shipping and tax.
I'm certain there are people in Europe who are desperate to own one of these who can't afford the shipping, CITES and tax to get it from the USA
I am in Europe and interested in your F2
would need to see some pics and what your asking price is
Carl Martin - Everyday I have the Blues
My gear : 1927 A0/Ajr , JM-11 , Fender 346 white XH
If this were an F-5 from '23 or thereabout, we'd send C.J. Lewandowski over for it
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