EIR sets for $45-55 US

[peter.coombe]

Just a heads up for anyone interested in purchasing some Indian Rosewood for a very good price.

Randy Allen has A grade Rosewood guitar sets on sale at the moment for $55ea for 3 sets, $52ea for 5 sets, and $45ea for 10 sets. I just got 5 sets and am not disappointed. They need some more seasoning, hence the low price. By the time I get around to using this stuff it will be ready. Note that this is not the really dark resinous Indian Rosewood, but that is not what I wanted becasue I hate the way it clogs sandpaper. Just put the 5 sets through the sander to clean it up, and have not needed to change the belt, although it is pretty much stuffed by now. Randy takes credit cards or Paypal. He is a reputable dealer, I have been buying Ebony fingerboards from him for many years. Go to http://www.allenguitar.com/sale.htm

I also purchased 10 pencill trrimmed blank Ebony fingerboards for $5.50ea and am not disappointed with these either. AQUIS picked up on these though and I had to pay $42 to get it all fumigated. There was a bit of rot in some of the Ebony boards.

Peter

[liam_fnq]

Sounds good pete, remember not long ago Randy didn't want to ship internationally. What's happened?

[peter.coombe]

I am not sure what happened. There has been a great deal of confusion in the USA about the Lacey Act requirements, and it looks like Randy has managed to sort it out as it applies to his export business. I got an email from him just before I ordered this wood. Like all the other US suppliers, he is now exporting wood, but not shell.

[Kim]

Thanks Peter

Good to hear Randy has the Lacey thing sorted and is shipping out again.

Cheers

Kim

[kiwigeo]

Thanks for the info Peter. How much was freight on your order? I notice they use FedEx with the associated risk of additional customs clearance and other exorbitant fees and charges. Is there an option to use US Postal Service or DHL?

[peter.coombe]

They used USPS. Postage was a killer because of the weight. It is all rough sawn, so weighs a bit more than the sanded stuff I got from Allied. Overall it cost me around $500 in total. The way I look at it is I got 5 EIR sets for $100AUD ea (not too bad, and it is exactly what I was looking for), and 10 mandolin fingerboard blanks plus some Indian Ebony for tuning knobs thrown in for free. I might even get a couple of guitar fingerboards out of the ebony if I am careful.

[kiwigeo]

Thanks Peter

[Allen]

I place an order for 20 ebony fingerboards and they came back to me wanting another $80 for postage. So postage all up was $120. More than the wood was.

[peter.coombe]

I place an order for 20 ebony fingerboards and they came back to me wanting another $80 for postage. So postage all up was $120. More than the wood was.

Yep, that is no surprise to me. Ebony is heavy so it costs in postage. I have seen postage costs escalate to ridiculous levels such that it is becoming difficult to import wood, particularly any of the heavier species. Postage costs don't seem to have come down with the Aussie $ going up. Is a good incentive to use local species.

Peter