I'd refer anyone to the back pages of The Economist magazine for slightly different figures...Cheers - C[/quote]

At least your approaching the question of the OP with some objectivity. For example: Alain remarked elsewhere, in support of my contention, that it would not be $-prudent to pursue that Clapton LE issue in the UK just to acquire that guitar at this time.

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"Another day in paradise!"

One could always say that where there's a will, there's a way?

My friend, Goran, is in Southern Sweden, and gets plenty of Fender guitars, parts, etc. He's just started a Tele project that you could follow in the Tele forum.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Yes - I've frequently noticed that price differentials increase in the lower volume parts of the catalog (which usually means the higher price items). That presumably has to do with the economics of international shipping.

Another thing I've noticed is that the UK is nearly always significantly cheaper for guitars than elsewhere in Europe, currency fluctuations not withstanding. Particularly compared with Germany - which is confusing, because for many other products German prices are lower. Even more confusingly, German parts (Schaller tuners and such) cost less in the UK than where they are made.

I have no explanation for that.

Shop hard, is the best advice.

Cheers - C

Hey paulpc, I enjoyed your rant.

I have always loved the British sence of humor...and the music.

If the American guitars are too much, you could alway pickup a nice Burns guitar. I am sure there are plenty of Hofners lying about as well. (No need to send any our way.)

There are.


There aren't.

Cheers - C

There are

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/garbagegate/item2/stealth.htm

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No no and no

paulpc wrote



That’s funny;…. I was thinking the exact same thing about, Marshall, Vox, & Orange Amplifiers. I hear there a dime a dozen over there.. At least in comparison to what we are paying here in the U.S.. Funny how the grass is always greener huh?
Cheers
Bill

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

I don't want to get too political here and I don't live in the UK but another European country with a similar welfare system in place BUT:

I'm glad that people over here don't have medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars because they cannot afford insurance / their insurance denied their claim.

I'm glad that if I become unemployed (let's face it, it's not always your fault) I can still lead a decent life until I find a new job.

I'm glad that I can pursue a university degree and start my career without a lot of debt (doesn't exactly apply to the UK but you get the idea).

I't not all black and white. There are advantages to living in Europe and the US isn't perfect and paradise (I can see how people would get that idea when the America they know is portrayed as such in TV programmes such as OC California etc.)

That is not to say that a single European country is perfect. It's not. Neither is the whole of Europe.

As far as guitars and gear goes. Yes, it's more expensive over here than in the US, some things more so than others. But the way I understand it there's sales tax (lower than VAT) in many states in the US, so the difference in price might not be so bad. I know the feeling though when you see something that's more expensive elsewhere and you wonder why you can't pay that and get it.

Chell are you happy to pay for the multitude of people that have no intention of ever getting a job that are prevelant in the UK? Trust me northern europe has nothing like the amount of lazy good for nothings that you'll find in the UK. As for welfare i've had to support my family since november purely on savings that i managed to accumulate through nothing but being prepared to work 18 hour days of back breaking labour and sleeping in rooms i'd just plastered. Theres no welfare for me being self employed, despite the tens of thousands of pounds tax i've paid over the years. The constant reply I get from the DSS is 'sorry its a temporary lapse in trade. You have to be prepared for it'. Thank God the mortgage is long gone, we'd be homeless. My 3 daughters would be living on the streets simply because dadyy's a grafter, its horrific. Yet our welfare state are more than prepared to pamper some dosser thats never and will never do a days work. Thats absolute theft. Free healthcare for the over 50's (which is a good way away from my age) that have paid into it all their lives, private for everyone else. It ought to be 3 months max unemployment benefit too, not the constant hand out. We need to end our nannying nature, if only to stop the flood of migrants into the country looking for free money, health and houses that the British taxpayer is being forced to give.

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No no and no

We have the same lazy types over here Niki. Always and forever looking for something for nothing!

Chell your absolutely right, not one of us has it 100% right. That wont happen until we start addressing problems rather than trying to whitewash over cracks.

Yes your right, there should be one international price for guitars to keep everything even. After all they shouldnt be subject to VAT. Its not like their a luxury item, their a necessity.

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No no and no

Paulpc, that was a spectacular rant and addendums and you are stunningly correct on veritably all your points.

Please add though to your fine rant, in the interest of fairness, that had not your country's own King George III and his parliment and military not bollixed up the situation in the colonies, you could be part of this grande land, or rather, we could be part of yours.

Perhaps if the USA annexes the UK, things will get back on track for all of us, in a convoluted way.

Niki, if they dont vote you in for PM over there mate- you come down here and you'll get the vote be our PM. Thats what the country needs- a ninja for a PM.. no-one would mess with you

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Yeah but here in American we can't buy the Marshall AVT Tribute Amp. I'd love to get one. And we have to wait for the Class 5 until probably November when it's probably already available over where you're at.