Taking a guitar to and from Australia: Any CITES issues ?

[vinylguy]

Hi Guys, We are in the process of moving to oz, for how long im not too sure but I want to take my new Davy Stuart 00 with me which is Engleman and Brazillian. I will be taking it as personal luggage. are there any cites issues I am likely to fall foul of, and if so how do I mitigate these ?

Thanks for any assistance.

[GrantB]

Between nz and Aus I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. It was/is a euro thing and they’ve wound it right back on instruments. At least, that’s what the northern hemisphere forums are saying.

[olegmcnoleg]

I'd be nervous about the Brazilian. Probs ok though, I've never had any questions about what kind of woods my guitar is made from. And I usually take a guitar with me when I travel overseas.

[GrantB]

Can you take it on as hand luggage? That’s what I have done with higher end guitars, incl Braz board.

[opsguy]

I have just moved 20 or so guitars and basses from Melbourne to Auckland. Most through a shipping company and a couple as luggage on Air New Zealand. Lots of rosewood. No issues at all. No questions about what type of wood etc It seemed as if it wasn’t even on the radar for customs anymore.

[vyfster]

Found this on the Andertons website - https://www.andertons.co.uk/cites-law-guitarists

TL:DR - generally CITES doesn't apply to instruments anymore, however further down towards the bottom of the page there is the following:

However, some rarer forms of the dalbergia wood family such as Brazilian rosewood are still affected by the law.

Doesn't really answer your question though, sorry.

[Kris]

Can you take it on as hand luggage? That’s what I have done with higher end guitars, incl Braz board.

iIdid the same,but i unbolted the neck.Rocking up to the gate with a guitar length package (jb) is asking for trouble.

[vinylguy]

Can you take it on as hand luggage? That’s what I have done with higher end guitars, incl Braz board.

iIdid the same,but i unbolted the neck.Rocking up to the gate with a guitar length package (jb) is asking for trouble.

Not really a possibility with an acoustic....

[vinylguy]

Thanks for all your answers guys: So I guess in a nutshell nothing to be worried about.

[Mr Bungle]

Can you take it on as hand luggage? That’s what I have done with higher end guitars, incl Braz board.

Hi Grant. Hoping you or any other experienced NZG chaps could help with advice on importing vintage from USA to NZ. I’ve wanted a vintage Jazzmaster since I was 15. Now I’m in the position to get a nice looking ‘65, for a reasonable price considering what most of them sit for an age at hoping for a sale.

I’m struggling to get a definitive “how to” on importing Brazilian rosewood and CITES. I have heard of dealers who import vintage acoustics to NZ from US need them sighted and signed off in the USA with an export certificate. But there are only a handful of locations in the USA that can do it?

[GrantB]

I don’t think this is a thing anymore for instruments made pre initial law changes. I’ve never really thought about it - just ordered, and it’s been delivered. Someone else might have a more carefully thought through response, but I’d be just buying and making sure it was with PayPal so you have a disputed mechanism if something weird transpired.

[Mr Bungle]

I don’t think this is a thing anymore for instruments made pre initial law changes. I’ve never really thought about it - just ordered, and it’s been delivered. Someone else might have a more carefully thought through response, but I’d be just buying and making sure it was with PayPal so you have a disputed mechanism if something weird transpired.

Thanks. What sort of guitars have you imported recently from the US?

Rosewood has been relaxed, although Brazilian still requires certification. You could have issues even getting out of the US, don’t think NZ would have much clue.

From Reverb…

[clubhouse]

I imported a Gretsch 6122 from the US in 2019 and partially went through the process of getting the CITES exempt docs in order via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. They said it would be a minimum of 30 days before they'd have processed the application, but said most are between 60-90 days.

I paused for thought. Checked the CITES list again to see if ebony species (I was worried about the fretboard) were included to find that they aren't! So I nixed the application and just went for it...turned out foin.

Something about what Grant wrote above rings a big bell...I think there was a recent review (2021???) on the CITES agreement and musical instruments containing species of concern are now exempt from restrictions in international trade and importation. Best check...just to make sure

[GrantB]

That Reverb excerpt says it all. The need to get documentation for finished instruments has ceased.

[Mr Bungle]

That Reverb excerpt says it all. The need to get documentation for finished instruments has ceased.

It says the Brazilian Rosewood restrictions remain in place. Aug 28 was the CITES conference. Nov 26 it was implemented.

From Studio 1 Vintage guitars who I emailed recently:

We need to get them sighted and signed off in the USA with an export certificate. Sounds easy but there are only a handful of locations in the USA that can do it.

Frustrating to find the correct path of box ticking and form filling. It’s an expensive enough purchase that I’m not prepared to leave to chance.