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Tim O'Sullivan

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Apr 22, 2003
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5,859
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Christiansburg, VA
Hey Spirkby,

Where you from the in uk? I live near Heathrow Airport.

Its a good time to buy from ebay from the states at the moment. The sparkly axis super sport I got only cost me £540!
 

spkirby

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Feb 3, 2004
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Hi Tim, I'm in Oxford.

I took advantage of the US/UK exchange rate a few months ago and got two mint axis/axi(?) off US ebay and still saved money over buying just one from the UK! Of course my wife still thinks I'll be selling one at some point...hahahahaa! ;)

Norm...sorry bud not this time...my guitar collection is happily full at the moment!

Tim do you play in a band? Any gigs coming up?

Other UK EBMM boardies out there?

Steve
 

Tim O'Sullivan

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Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
5,859
Location
Christiansburg, VA
The weak Dollar against the pound is a result isnt it?

I hope you told the missus the guitars cost 30% less than they did!

I play in a number of bands. Mostly with Mo'Rockan Soul www.morockansoul.com but I play with an original rock band called fREAK-1-C too www.freak-1-c.com, and we have just finished our first album which is set for release aparently. I also play with another function band called the Guilty Party, but they are not that busy these days.

Luckily I am doing 2-3 gigs a week at the moment, mostly in and around West London, though I just got back from a small tour of Lincoln this weekend.

Is the fire station still a venue in Oxford? Is it any good to play there?
 

spkirby

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Feb 3, 2004
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Tim,

not sure if the firestation is still a live venue anymore, however the most popular place for bands to play is the Zodiac club. It has 2 stages and attracts pretty big names as well as unsigned bands too. Worth checking out...

Checked out your websites...you have some nice gear and the new album sounds great! Your bands obviously keep you busy...is it a full time job...'cause if so I'm jealous as I'm stuck in an office right now!!!

Steve
 

dan ratcliffe

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Jan 27, 2004
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76
Location
birmingham, UK
Hey guys,

I have been thinking about ebaying up a new Axis, i was doing some calculations last night and the savings from getting a store bought one are insane at the moment....

what does the import tax generally come too?

I've seen a couple of Marillion gigs at The Zodiac in Oxford, what great venue!
 

spkirby

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Feb 3, 2004
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Location
UK
Dan,

The trouble with US ebay is most auctioneers will not send goods outside the US! Fortunately for me, my wife's an american and so I got the guitars shipped to her folks. I still have to pick one up as its just sitting there waiting for me (aarrgghhh!) and I wont be able to get it until thanksgiving in late november!

For customs rates if it was shipped, I'm not sure as I believe the import tax also includes a handling charge, but check out the govenments customs and excise website for official info. The tax / handling charge will be a fair bit but you will still make a HUGE saving over UK retail prices and probably still save over UK ebay prices!

Saying that though, I have seen a few Axis' on UK ebay that didnt reach huge values!! Search for ernie ball / musicman / music man / ernie axis and other obvious combinations and within a few weeks you'll find something reasonably priced which not many people have found ;)

As an example : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3720680296&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Steve
 

spkirby

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Feb 3, 2004
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And Dan, I'm a huge Marillion fan! Unfortunately whenever they play in Oxford I always seem to be somewhere else through work or family commitments and so cannot go. Frustrating! :rolleyes:
 

dan ratcliffe

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Jan 27, 2004
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76
Location
birmingham, UK
cheers skirby!

There are a few sellers that ship to the UK, but I have a friend with family in the US, so i'll try and convince them to do a hold for me, if I ever get the cash together (credit cards are dangerous, especially with the limit i have....). Do you have any trouble getting it back in the country via the airline?

Funnily enough, one of my Axes is the same colour as that Ebay link. Same recessed heel too, though mine has a prettier curly top.

Hopefully, you'll be able to catch Marillion on this tour. Wacky setlist so far though, not that i mind....

Dan
 

spkirby

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Feb 3, 2004
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Location
UK
For bringing the guitar back I put the hard case back into the snug fitting cardboard box it was delivered in, added lots of tape around the joins and set off! I found that with BA they wouldnt let it go into the cabin due to size so make sure you get lots of fragile stickers off of them at checkin to put all over the box...not that ground crew take much notice I guess...but so far so good!!!

First of all I was a bit nervous about putting it in the hold but then I realised to get it to my inlaws it was stuffed into a fedex plane anyway!!!

Any problems on the other side, report it straight away to airport authorities as that way you could claim on travel insurance!

Steve
 

Tim O'Sullivan

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Apr 22, 2003
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5,859
Location
Christiansburg, VA
spkirby, unfortunatley its not a full time job, and I still work in an office as well as doing the music. I have been considering doing some kind of music related 'money bringing in' type thing, like kids disco's or teaching or something, but for the moment I am still working in an office!

When I bought my sparkly Axis super sport on ebay from the USA, I had it sent to my friend in Virginia, and she sent it to me via UPS. I paid I think £120 for a 7 or so day service. My friend shall we say was 'creative' with the UPS paperwork, and there was not import duty or VAT to be paid.
 
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