BajaNomad

Bringing a Guitar Down?

BCSTech - 1-16-2009 at 10:24 AM

I'm flying down for the Jammin' For The Animals Benefit Concert and packing my acoustic guitar. I haven't tried to carry my music gear on the plane before. I'm also bringing a couple of microphones, cords, stands.

Will Mexican Aduana give me trouble about this? Do I need to produce receipts? It's all clearly used gear.

I'm coming in on Mexicana Airlines, and the plane doesn't look like it will be full. The mikes and stands will go into my checked bag but do you think they'll let me carry the guitar on and put it in an overhead, or does it need to be stowed in the cargo hold?

[Edited on 1-16-2009 by BCSTech]

Mango - 1-16-2009 at 10:31 AM

I'm not sure about if they will let you carry it on or not.

The music gear should be no problem at customs if it is just stuff for you. I've brought an acoustic guitar back on forth a few times.

I never tried to carry it on. I just use a hard case and check it. If you had to check a soft case it would be the end of your guitar.

Have fun and I hope others can give you better advice.

Mango - 1-16-2009 at 10:35 AM

Also, If you are performing for the "Jammin For The Animals" you might want to bring some correspondence/letter along to show customs if they do hassle you. Once they find out you are playing for free for a benefit, it should be no problem.

Don't let them know if you are going to get paid.. as I think you would need a special visa to perform for pay.

BCSTech - 1-16-2009 at 10:41 AM

Thanks for that.

No payment. This is a benefit. Everyone is playing for free.

Forgot to mention I have a hard shell case.

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 10:45 AM

Just check it with your luggage and you should have no problem. You did say that you wanted your luggage to go to Bogota, correct???

:spingrin::spingrin::spingrin:

BajaGeoff - 1-16-2009 at 10:48 AM

A friend of mine was taking a flight with his guitar and he was adamant about letting him carry it on instead of checking it, as it was a very expensive one. It took a few minutes, but eventually the ticket agent allowed him to carry it on. Good luck!

Musical instruments are exempt from duty

Dave - 1-16-2009 at 12:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BCSTech
I'm flying down for the Jammin' For The Animals Benefit Concert and packing my acoustic guitar. I haven't tried to carry my music gear on the plane before. I'm also bringing a couple of microphones, cords, stands.

Will Mexican Aduana give me trouble about this? Do I need to produce receipts? It's all clearly used gear.


Check item 13 below.

http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/pasajeros/1...

BajaGringo - 1-16-2009 at 12:41 PM

Will a guitar fit in the overhead???

BCSTech - 1-16-2009 at 12:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave Check item 13 below.

http://www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx/aduana_mexico/2008/pasajeros/1...
Oh Cool, Dave, that does it right there. Thanks!

Thank God the Mexicans love music so much. :cool:

Everyone?

Dave - 1-16-2009 at 01:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BCSTech
Everyone is playing for free.


Never known De Hoyos and DePue to play for free. Are they sick? :rolleyes:

BCSTech - 1-16-2009 at 01:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DaveNever known De Hoyos and DePue to play for free. Are they sick? :rolleyes:
Nope, everyone in this year's line up are volunteers. Alex and Miguel volunteered to play last year and had a great time. They had never played Todos Santos, and the 200+ crowd there had never heard them before. The crowd absolutely flipped out, and Alex and Miguel sold out all their CDs. Then, they had only been playing together a few months. Most likely will do well again as this year since they now have a new CD of the two of them.

One of our local B 'n Bs, Flora Del Mar, offered to put them up while here. And one of our mutual friends is also busy getting them a follow up paid gig in the area.

For our part, we've been doing our bit to promote them thru The Baja Western Onion, and we'll follow up after the event to give them a bump with their other gigs.

But bottom line is, they're a couple of great guys who like animals and were willing to help out.

Wonders never cease

Dave - 1-16-2009 at 03:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BCSTech
Quote:
Originally posted by DaveNever known De Hoyos and DePue to play for free. Are they sick? :rolleyes:
Nope, everyone in this year's line up are volunteers.

karenintx - 1-16-2009 at 05:35 PM

BCSTech...for what it is worth, my brother goes to Jamaca annually for their "jazz fest" and he always carries his bass guitar on board the plane. He tries to get a seat toward the back of the plane which allowes him to board before the crowd...that way he can find an empty overhead bid for his guitar. He told me that you can't travel with a hard case...that you would need to use a "gigg bag".

Depending on the value of your guitar you may want register it with US customs before leaving the country. Several years ago we were returning back to the USA from a scuba diving trip with our underwater camera. At that time the camera was valued at around $1200 USD but the customs agent suggested for "your protection and to prove you did not buy the camera out of county and would owe duty on it" you should register it with customs. At first we weren't going to do it but then my husband decided to make things easier and not run the risk of one day getting an agent that wanted to make things difficult for us...if you know what I mean...we did as suggested. The only reason I mentioned this...Mexico does make guitars and most custom agents would know the difference of one made in Mexico or some other place.

I would also check with Mexicana Airlines to find out if there is a problem or not.

BCSTech - 1-19-2009 at 10:09 PM

OK, wanted to close the loop for anybody who stumbles across this thread so they won't wonder what happened.

Thought I'd really press it and also put my little Yamaha six-channel PA top in the suitcase. Made copies of the page from the aduana site Dave posted. Also found the info in Spanish and printed that out to take as well.

No problems at check in. Couldn't get into US Customs to get a pass for my gear coming back because they were closed (no incoming Int'l flights on Sundays in Sacramanto). Figured that would be my excuse coming back without it.

I checked my suitcase packed with the mikes, stands, cords and PA top. I also paid the extra $15 fee for a 2nd bag and checked the guitar. Even though the plane wasn't full, I didn't want to take a chance I'd be fighting to cram it into an overhead. I didn't measure them but they looked like they might not be big enough for an acoustic guitar in a hard shell case.

At San Jose Del Cabo, the XRay screener flagged my suitcase. Another agent asked me what I had in there. I said "musical accessories" and hefted the guitar. She simply said "OK" and asked me to press the button. I got a green light, relieved but wondering what would have happened if I'd gotten the red.

"Accessories" seems to me to be a pretty darn vague term, and I was ready to pull out the pages I was carrying and argue the point that it could mean anything from picks to PAs. Figured it could go either way, depending on whether or not the customs agent had had a good breakfast that day...

BTW, the customs form they give you on the plane reads "one musical instrument," not two as it reads on the website. Website says their info was updated April 2008. Paper says Nov 2006, and to consult the website for latest info.

Now on to .Jammin' For The Animals. Ten groups playing, should be a good day...

[Edited on 1-20-2009 by BCSTech]

Mango - 1-20-2009 at 12:12 AM

Glad to hear things went well.

FYI - Getting a "Red light" just means they go through your bags more than usual. It's really no big deal; but, it can be a hassle as you are left to repack everything after they search through it. (It's "supposed" to be random; but, everyone is pretty certain there is a trigger switch somewhere - if they want to "red light" you.. they will.)

I bought a acoustic guitar and case in Mexico once, checked it, declared it, and brought it back no problem. I did not have to pay any duties or taxes on it.