mail order Trinity college mandolins

Subject: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 10:23 AM

Just wondered if anyone knew of a mail order site in Canada where I could get a Trinity College Octave Mandolin TM-325? I found plenty in the states and the prices are good but I'd probably get nailed with import duty. Anyone have any similar experience they can relate. Any help appreciated, thanks Den.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 12:43 PM

I'm guessing...12th Fret (Toronto), Folkway Music (Guelph), Long & McQuade Music (coast to coast). Google takes you there...

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 01:13 PM

Thanks Mooh. I sent an email to 12th fret. Just waiting for a reply. I looked at Folkway and Long and McQuade without any luck. I was wondering if anyone had heard of an outlet like Folk of the Wood in Canada.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 03:02 PM

Don't know of any, but if you find one let me know. Thanks and good luck.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 03:28 PM

Just had an email back from 12the fret and they want $699 Canadian plus $35 shipping plus tax for the mando and a hard shell case. This is the best Canadian price I've seen.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 08:33 PM

I don't know if that's reasonable or not, but have you tried the Mid Missouri (Mid-Mo) mandolins? Every one I've tried has been better than the TC mandolins I've heard and played, and I think the money is comparable. For a bit more money you can get a Moon, but the Mid-Mo is as good, likely. Happy shopping!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: HiHo_Silver
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 08:45 PM

For what its worth: I enquired on bringing guitars into Canada from U. S. A. and was advised that when the instrument is made in U. S. A. it enters duty free. However, if it carries a lable made in Japan etc. there are duties involved.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: GUEST,Willie-O
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 08:10 AM

That's NAFTA in action, hi-ho. Duty-free transfer of instruments made in Canada, USA or Mexico (more of these are showing up, those most so far are low-end) between those three countries.

However nothing is ever as simple as that. For one thing if you are a Canadian resident and purchase a big-ticket item in the US and bring it into Canada, you're supposed to pay 7% GST on it.

Furthermore, there are potential complications with CITES regulations on importing instruments that have regulated materials like Brazilian rosewood or ivory. If the instrument can be shown definitely to be made before CITES came into effect (early 90's), there is no problem. If it's newer than that and has any regulated/prohibited materials, there is additional paperwork and you maybe can't get it...as usual, the 12th Fret people are the expert reference on this.

Does mid-Mo have an Octave mandolin, mooh?   

W-O

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:43 AM

Willie...Yes I think so. There's probably a web site. Mooh.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 09:55 AM

Mooh/Willie-O, I just checked the prices of two Mid Mo octave Mandolins here the M70 is $1150 Canadian no case and the M80 is $1200 Canadian no case. So almost twice as much as the TC. Do they play that much better. The other thing is I couldn't find a Canadian distributor so maybe there would be extra charges on top.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Mooh
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 11:13 AM

Jensen Music in Owen Sound Ontario carries the Mid-Mo stuff. Good folks, ask for Larry or Kate. Mooh.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 15 Feb 05 - 12:36 PM

What do you think of Johnson octave mandolins? Anyone heard of them or played one?

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 03:11 AM

I haven't played the Johnson octave, but I have a Johnson regular mandolin & it is junk.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: mooman
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 11:29 AM

Den,

Having tried both Trinity College and Mid-Missouri instruments I would say the latter are considerably better and are much more likely to improve with age. TC tend to be a bit variable...I have played some reasonable ones but others have been somewhat thin in tone. Really I suppose it comes down to what your budget is at the end of the day.

Peace

moo

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:26 PM

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Mooh your right, it comes right down to economics, that and a good ear for superior quality maybe. Neither of which I have in abundence. I'm really not a great mandolin player so I guess the question is could I even do a good instrument justice anyway. Micky Cochran from Folk of the Wood, who appears to be a fair authority on the Octave Mandolin gave the TC a decent rating. Now maybe his mandate is to sell instruments. He seems to be a decent guy though from what I can tell. Maybe I'll get lucky and get a good TC. Hopefully I will have fun with it either way. Thanks again folks.

Subject: RE: mail order Trinity college mandolins
From: Den
Date: 16 Feb 05 - 02:29 PM

Whoops sorry mooman, meant to include you in that. Got my Mooh's and mooman's mixed up there.