Guitar shops in New York, and general USA guitar question

[_tom_]

So this years holidays gonna kick ass, we are going to NY for a week, then Hawaii for a week. Whilst in NY I wanna go to some of the good guitar stores there to try and pick up a good deal on a guitar/pedals so long as the exchange rates are good. I know some forum members are from NY so I wondered if someone could tell me where the best shops are to go?

Also a general USA guitar question. Which brands are normally much cheaper to buy in the US? And how would I go about getting a guitar back safely?

I have a mate who bought one when in Florida, and just bought a hardcase with it, and told the people at the airport he took it with him, got on fine no questions asked but I'm not known for having the best luck ever  :lol: I dont wanna get charged crazy import tax. Maybe its best to just get a few pedals  :lol: but then again will pedals bought from the US work with a standard UK power supply?

That was a bit long!

[monkeywalker]

ive never been to ny but i have a frend who lives over there.the only info i can give you is price.the prices of gibsons,fenders and rickenbackers wer about the same in dollars as they are in pounds over here the last time i had a convo with him bout it.that was bout a year ago.i know his lp standard was $1200.

hope that helps you in some way.

[sambo]

i reckon the man to ask about bringing stuff back is dakine as he's about to come back to the U.K from the U.S with a bundle of guitars and stuff. i think he lives in a completely different area of the states to NY tho.

[38thBeatle]

TO and/or Phil will help. I was in NYC a few years back and went to Manny's in 48th St. I wouldn't say it was the greatest shop on earth but I had to do it because of it's legendary status ( I had to by a whole load of picks for various friends too). There are a few shops in the area too so you can spend a bit of time mooching around.,Prices were quite keen compared to here but they can clobber you with duty/VAT when you come back so I gave it a miss. I am sure you will have a great time.

[PhilKing]

I have been travelling backwards and forwards since 1980.  I am originally from Bradford but moved to New York in 1980.  I have lived here since, but worked in London from September 1988-Jan 1991 and April 2004-July 2005.   I have taken many guitars back and forth.  When you take one into the UK you are liable for duty on it.  It is best to have the receipt with you to save any aggro on the price.  It is your choice whether you declare it or not.  I never declare mine because I live in the US and so they all come back here eventually.  I have been stopped perhaps 4 or 5 times in at least 50 trips with guitars (they didn't stop me one time when I had 2 cases and one was a J-185 accoustic!).

A word of warning though, don't lock the case.... Homeland Security will break the locks on it (same if you lock your luggage).  They have done it to me and ruined an almost new PRS case.  They put a little card inside that says they are not responsible for any damaged caused in checking your bags -  

Nearly all guitars in the US have the case included.  A regular hard case is fine for flying, depending on the airline.  BA pretty much never charge extra for them, others do.  You might have to pay to take it to Hawaii.  I would look at a PRS or Gibson.  You can expect to pay the price in dollars that you would in pounds in the UK.  In other words if it is 1,000 quid, it will be 1,000 dollars, sometimes less.  Another thing - BUY GUITAR STRINGS! , they are so much cheaper here - a box of 25 sets of D'Addario's is about $60.

For effects in New York, go to 30th Street Guitars.  For other guitar shops, call me or Ben (TwilightOdyssey).  He was born in NY and I have lived here for over 25 years.  We will also take you for some good beer too!  Just let us know when you are coming over.

[Dakine]

Hey Tom
my 0.01 cents worth.

Jackson, B.C.Rich,Kramer,Charvel,Heritage,Gibson are ALL US guitars which command a MUCH higher price in UK than US. Case in point I quit bidding on a B.C.Rich Gunslinger for $660 (which it has hours to go on now, as I thought it was too much for over here) when Feline (and am SURE he has it right) is selling a Gunslinger for 899 pounds, so work it out yourself.

I would def. speak to the airline and either a.get it insured first or b.buy a flight case.

I am coming back with 1 x guitar and shipping others (as am moving back after 6 years, so bit different as am resident here and citizen in UK and import then is less of an issue).

Pedals, no worries, most are 9volt and I am gonna buy a Godlyke power supply (bout $29) which powers from 110v-240v!

I would check some Pawn shops while here (course may find too many bargains and then get too much stuff lol.) Your main prob. is (to my mind) you are going to NY first and will fly home from HI (via LA ?) so will be carrying round a guitar?

Anyway, do some checking first (BTW, personally hate NY, too busy for this country boy, but lived and worked in HI for years so any questions I would be HAPPY to answer!).

I have seen GOOD flight cases for $200 and less.
For example (bought HBE Big D for $150 new and Dunlop Crybaby from Hell for $120 new).
My Jackson SL4 thru neck natural body seymour duncan was about $500 and my Gibson was $1400.

Good Luck and let me know if I can be any help, pm me or I will even talk to you on phone if you wish.
As much as I can give back to you friendly/helpful lot is my pleasure :)

Nick

[_tom_]

Yeah I'm starting to think bringing a guitar back isnt worth the hassle now, I wish we were going Hawaii first but my parents want to go to Hawaii afterwards to "chill out after the busy NY week"  :lol: I might just go try some pedals out then as I will definately be able to fit em in my hand luggage/suitcase, so its easier!

Do you think any shops would be able to get it shipped back to England via UPS or something?

PhilKing, about the beer, I'm only 17, isnt the drinking age in America 21? I dont think my parents would want me drinking with two strange men either  :lol:

[Dakine]

Most shops will ship, and why shop, just take the guitar to UPS or FeDex and can ship it yourself and put whatever "value" you want on it . Just a thought.

[_tom_]

Most shops will ship, and why shop, just take the guitar to UPS or FeDex and can ship it yourself and put whatever "value" you want on it . Just a thought.

I guess I'd need to make sure theres a UPS or FeDex near the guitar shops then, or close enough to get to via cheap taxi or something. Would I still get charged import tax on the guitar though? I'm guessing yes..

[indysmith]

If yu send things as a gift then yu don't need to pay tax. :lol:

[willo]

If yu send things as a gift then yu don't need to pay tax. :lol:

I think they changed that rule now, it's only if its a gift and less than $10 that you don't have to pay tax - I think.

[Dakine]

Thing is
sending it+insurance + tax may still be LESS than UK price.

[tewboss]

i'm guessing that US prices + UK import duty is still cheaper than buying an instrument over here, because shops must have to pay import duty on instruments anyway?

Oh if you do buy a guitar in NY then loosen the strings before you send it as you don't want to risk the neck getting snapped etc.

[PhilKing]

PhilKing, about the beer, I'm only 17, isnt the drinking age in America 21? I dont think my parents would want me drinking with two strange men either  :lol:

Yes, the drinking age here is 21  :P   Well in that case you should certainly walk on West 48th street between 6th (Ave of the Americas) and 7th Avenues.  This is the home of Manny's, Sam Ash and Rudy's.  There used to be a lot more, but Sam Ash bought a lot of them out!  Also check out Guitar Center (that's how they spell it!), on West 14th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues.  Pedals are no sweat to use in the UK, unless you get a mains powered one, even then Maplin, Dixons and even some smallers shops and some larger Tesco's all sell adaptors/power convertors which should have enough juice to run a pedal power adaptor.

[Skybone]

I think import duty is around 22% all in. That's 17.5% VAT and around 4-5% for import duty (done a bit of research on it myself).