US proposes 'musical instrument passports'

[The Straight Story]

BANGKOK — Musicians, take note: Next time you travel abroad, you might need a passport - for your instrument.

Delegates attending a global biodiversity conference in Bangkok this week are debating a U.S. proposal to streamline international customs checks for travelers with musical instruments that legally contain endangered wildlife products like exotic hardwoods, ivory or tortoise shell.

The goal is not to burden musicians, but to make foreign travel easier by doing away with cumbersome import and export permits and ensuring legal instruments aren't confiscated, said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe, who is leading Washington's delegation to the 178-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in Thailand's capital, Bangkok.

The proposal is expected to be voted on as early as Friday. If approved, travelers would be able to carry a "musical instrument passport" valid for three years.

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/07/2545991/us-proposes-musical-instrument.html#storylink=cpy

[customerserviceguy]

1. Good

I hate it when the TSA gropes my flute.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Not a bad idea

A lot of early parlour guitars are brazilian rosewood and some early banjos still feature their original carved ivory pegs and tailpieces. There are issues with exporting loose celluloid binding and pearl from the US both of which are already fitted to many current instruments so should cover that too.

Not that I've ever heard of anyone being picked on / checked.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

3. I read an article recently...

That discussed how Eric Clapton won't bring his vintage Martin to Germany due to the woods it's made from. Apparently German Customs can destroy it if it doesn't have all the required info for "importing" those woods into the country. Not sure what the validity of said article is. I work in music instrument sales (as well as being a working musician), and I read a LOT of trade publications. At one point, NAMM was backing Gibson during their dispute with Fish & Wildlife, and most of the articles coming from trade publications were biased as such (which is funny because Fender, Martin, and Taylor all spoke out AGAINST Gibson, but they received more MSM press than they did in the trades).

[dipsydoodle]

4. For what you said about Clapton to be so

would seriously disrupt the antiques trade furniture usually containing considerably more wood . A luthier friend was considering making a depression era Martin from a mahogany washstand

As far as I'm aware the issue with Gibson involved illegally logged Madagascan ebony which was a serious issue. Martin, and Taylor etc were just getting the oar in.

With regard stuff coming into the UK its whatever we say it is for convenience. Frequently visiting US 5 string players usually have banjo stored here permanently for convenience - save carting one around.