Anyone dealt with CITES?

[William Payne]

I recently thought it would not be a stupid idea to buy examples of preferred woods to have on hand with proper permits for when I may want to custom order a Gibson or something special. Things like Brazilian rosewood for fretboards for example. A lot of the things I read online make it sound like the CITES stuff is a huge impossible deal and blah blah.

I live in New Zealand which is like the king of endangered conservation rules so I figured this would be a really difficult thing.

I emailed the local office of the government that deals in CITES, explained what I was interested in doing and they couldn't have been easier to deal with. They said that it all depended on the wood involved and that they would be completely happy to work with me on whatever permits I might need when the time comes.

This made me wonder, has anyone dealt with the CITES stuff? Has this been blown way out of proportion as far as how difficult it actually is? Obviously they emphasised that with Appendix I it requires proper permits. But they didn't make it out like it was this impossible thing. You just have to do it properly.

I mean classical players make it work.

 

[F-Hole]

Yes, I moved 20 vintage guitars from UK to Australia….no problem whatsoever, particularly on the Australian side. Read the rules, particularly on age, and be honest.

 

[William Payne]

Yes, I moved 20 vintage guitars from UK to Australia….no problem whatsoever, particularly on the Australian side. Read the rules, particularly on age, and be honest.

That’s what I thought. I know people in the USA get quite up in arms over CITES. But as much as I love my American friends I do notice their avoidance of anything difficult.

I have had a number of experiences of people wanting to send me minor little things from the USA and I always offer to pay for shipping but when they hear the price or have to go at all out of their way to send it they throw their arms up in the air and just don’t bother.

 

[William Payne]

Though to be fair I have no idea if Gibson would let me supply my own woods for a custom build.

I’m stubborn and would try it anyway but it could be a lost cause.

 

[NickiC]

From my limited experience with CS Gibson, they won’t use customer supplied parts/materials.

 

[William Payne]

From my limited experience with CS Gibson, they won’t use customer supplied parts/materials.

That’s basically what I have been told as well but I’m so stubborn I’d still try it.

It’s very simple for me. They either build what I want or they build it their way then I have it stripped and made into what I want by someone else.