Official Luthiers Forum!

I am having a friend bring one of my guitars to the US, but it has abalone, so can he get in trouble if caught?

What are the legal ways to bring it over?

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

As long as you know the genealogy of the mollusk in question, you should be fine.

_________________
Pat

Hahahahahaha!!!!!

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Can't I just make it up? How are they're going to prove that I was wrong?

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

DNA!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

They're going to DNA check some shell pieces just over a lacey act violation? That would be over the top...

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

You're having your leg pulled.

I don't think Lacey applies to shell, that's US Fish and Wildlife.

As for your guitar, if it's his personal property (it is, right?) you should be fine. Lacey really only applies to commercial shipments.

Before proceeding on that, you'd be we'll served to wait for a second opinion from someone who knows for certain.

Anyone?

Tai, it may be time to check the batteries in your sarcasm detector. . .

I wish I had an answer for you. Hopefully someone will come along and second what Meddlingfool said.

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I'm sorry... I am very bad at picking up sarcasm. It's not just a broken battery, but more like a missing unit.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Why don't you email US F&W to be sure? I found them to be quite helpful when trying to negotiate the Lacy Act minefield.

The Lacey Act most certainly does apply to shell. As I understand it from the emails I received from US F&W, if the guitar is a commercial transaction then the importer will need to get an import permit and fill out all the Lacey Act paperwork. If it is personal (i.e. not commercial) then no permit is required. So long as the guitar contains no CITES listed materials it should be fine if carried as personal luggage. There is a legal definition of commercial, but you need to be a lawer to understand it properly. Suffice to say that if money changes hands it could be considered to be commercial.