looking for a Kamaka HB-2 DC Bell shape deluxe Ohta-san with cedar top
I have to agree with katysax on this, never seen one of these go second hand. And what about the exchange rate Trev? OMG...the ass has fallen out of our dollar. No more uke buying for me indefinitely. Heard such awesome things about these Ohta-San models though and if anyone can track one down it's you mate. Good luck brother.The exchange rate really hurts. I've never seen a second hand cedar topped Ohta-San. I have the feeling there are not lots of them out there.
Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, CA has a cedar top Ohta San for sale. www.gryphonstrings.com
Gryphon flatly refused to send this uke to Australia: "Unfortunately, we can't ship a Kamaka out of the US because of the paperwork required to ship anything with pearl out of the country. the headstock inlay is pearl". Couldn't believe the attitude.
Maybe they just did not want to do the extra paperwork required to ship anything with pearl out of the country.Why is that attitude? They know the rules and don't want to break it and potential get the uke confiscated or pay a hefty fine.
Why is that attitude? They know the rules and don't want to break it and potential get the uke confiscated or pay a hefty fine.
Why is that attitude? They know the rules and don't want to break it and potential get the uke confiscated or pay a hefty fine.
Trev and Katz, there's an easy way around all this stuff: line up one of your US uke friends/contacts to take receipt of the instrument for you - as a middle person - and get them to send it on. That way you not only purchase the instrument you want, but also avoid the mind-numbingly high customs duties we incur in OZ for goods declared at over 1000 dollars.
Why is that attitude? They know the rules and don't want to break it and potential get the uke confiscated or pay a hefty fine.
Maybe they just did not want to do the extra paperwork required to ship anything with pearl out of the country.
The shipping declarations and the paperwork for this type of thing is really complicated and requires certification from the manufacturer, too. So it's not just a pain in the neck, but it also carries a real risk that no matter how well you've tried to comply and fill out the forms that the instrument will be confiscated anyhow. It's not a great situation for anyone, really