Music Man STEVE MORSE Y2D arrives
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Guitar finally landed today and turned up but not before some drama I can tell you! The thing is immaculate...not a mark on it BUT here's the pro's and con's of buying gear from another country.
Make sure you take out GOOD insurance in case of any mishaps. This came via the United States Post Office (USPS) which I had THOUGHT was part of UPS but it isn't. All went well from Dallas to Chicago as I had a tracking number. Everything was going SWIMMINGLY until it reached COVENTRY! Coventry is where Parcel Farce's main warehouse (HUB) is and after the 29th there was NO more info on the tracking. At this point I didn't even KNOW WHO it was going to be couriered by at this end so the guy in Texas found out for me...by the way, Parcel Farce wasn't a misspelling...they are USELESS!
When I phoned on Friday, I got an uninterested individual who told me it was lost...this after having spent £800 on the item and postage! My Monday I was told it was in Oxford and they'd tried to deliver it...tho someone was in ALL DAY and no card or whatever left...this also BEFORE they could release it as I had to pay import duty and, believe it or not, VAT at 24%! So they basically lied to say I wasn't inEVEN tho there was no way they could release it WITHOUT my payment!
So...finally it's here and all is well BUT here's my advice on buying abroad:
1. Make sure you go with a shipper who will deal with the instrument at BOTH sides of the Atlantic. It cuts down the chance of mishap.
2. Expect to pay about 26% on top of the cost for VAT and import duty as well as handling fees.
3. Insurance is a MUST!
4. DON'T use Parcel Farce!
Total cost at the end of the day was £950 on a guitar costing £1699 new so there are bargains to be had while the pound is so strong against the dollar BUT be careful.
As for the guitar, plays like a dream and the neck is perfect which is why I buy Music Man. Pickups don't sound as raw as the EVH...more focused? I'm gonna record something on video later on when I get a chance.
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Guitar finally landed today and turned up but not before some drama I can tell you! The thing is immaculate...not a mark on it BUT here's the pro's and con's of buying gear from another country.
Make sure you take out GOOD insurance in case of any mishaps. This came via the United States Post Office (USPS) which I had THOUGHT was part of UPS but it isn't. All went well from Dallas to Chicago as I had a tracking number. Everything was going SWIMMINGLY until it reached COVENTRY! Coventry is where Parcel Farce's main warehouse (HUB) is and after the 29th there was NO more info on the tracking. At this point I didn't even KNOW WHO it was going to be couriered by at this end so the guy in Texas found out for me...by the way, Parcel Farce wasn't a misspelling...they are USELESS!
When I phoned on Friday, I got an uninterested individual who told me it was lost...this after having spent £800 on the item and postage! My Monday I was told it was in Oxford and they'd tried to deliver it...tho someone was in ALL DAY and no card or whatever left...this also BEFORE they could release it as I had to pay import duty and, believe it or not, VAT at 24%! So they basically lied to say I wasn't inEVEN tho there was no way they could release it WITHOUT my payment!
So...finally it's here and all is well BUT here's my advice on buying abroad:
1. Make sure you go with a shipper who will deal with the instrument at BOTH sides of the Atlantic. It cuts down the chance of mishap.
2. Expect to pay about 26% on top of the cost for VAT and import duty as well as handling fees.
3. Insurance is a MUST!
4. DON'T use Parcel Farce!
Total cost at the end of the day was £950 on a guitar costing £1699 new so there are bargains to be had while the pound is so strong against the dollar BUT be careful.
As for the guitar, plays like a dream and the neck is perfect which is why I buy Music Man. Pickups don't sound as raw as the EVH...more focused? I'm gonna record something on video later on when I get a chance.
