WARNING! International shipping of Daions and other vintage instruments.

Due to some recent unusual legal wranglings concerning a 100yr old US government regulatory act, I would caution all sellers and buyers of Daions and other vintage instruments to avoid shipping into or out of the US until this situation is resolved. The Lacey Act was originally enacted to prevent the trade of illegally harvested ivory, endangered animals and animal products, but was amended in 2008 to include plant life (read rosewood, ebony and other exotic hardwoods used to manufacture musical instruments). This law is retroactive and inclusive. There is EVERY possibility that the beautiful materials our Daions are made of (African ebony and Brazillian rosewood, specifically) were harvested in the late 60s or early 70s (allowing a several years for the woods to season). This means your Daion is the same as a prohibited carved ivory Buddha in the eyes of the Justice Dept.  That said, US customs has the legal authority to confiscate any item containing these materials (YOUR DAION), if it passes through a port of entry.

Now for the worse news… This not only pertains to instruments being sold or traded, but to personal instruments being carried across borders for performance or other transit. If traveling internationally to play a show or visit, DON’T bring your vintage Daion, Gibson, Fender, Martin, Gretsch or any other valuable, high value vintage instrument with you. There is a VERY real possibility that it could be confiscated and held as contraband, never to see the light of day again. If it is confiscated as contraband you will NEVER get it back and it will never be played again.

I will update as things progress.