what are your thoughts?

i've got this g&l bass and guitar that i'm crazy about and i'm thinking of shipping it over

gonna bring some pm1000 modules..

gonna bring my mics...

my rnla...

my adi-2

gonna bring my senn 770s

a g4 ibook wif interface...don't know which one yet...

seriously what will i wish i had brought...?

thanks in advance..

as much duty free as i could carry!

at least 100 reels each of 2" and 1/2" GP9

bring transformers..... and plug adapters for your 110 plugs..

if you need a transformer, shoot me a PM ..i have a ton of em.

Speaking as a moron who has plugged a bunch of expensive 120V front-end gear into 240V outlets, my advice is to identify anything you're taking that will be killed by the EU mains voltage, and use a banding tool to attach a power converter to its power cord so that it's physically impossible for you or anyone else to plug it in without a proper converter in front of it (or do something else to that effect).

Get a modem for your computer that is happy with European phone systems.

-synthoid

well the good news is that i'm definately bringing my 70's Ludwig Marching Snare..
Choke On That european snares!

i thought the old shure ribbon and EV 664s would be a nice thing as well...

should i bring my casio cz1000?

how about the roland r-70?

i'm soo confused...

p.s.
most of the modern stuff i'm bringing like the firewire drives and the adi-2 will have automatic switching power supplies no?

and the old synth stuff will need a european wallwart....ug...hate the wallwort...
those buggers will want 9v dc...not the hardest powersupply to find....

the only thing i'm having trouble sussing out is the ibooks power supply....
but the wireless should do the trick for the interweb, one would think...

high-end Martins, PRS, Mesa Boogie, Kurzweil, Crane Songs, GMLs
All in Europe hardly available and over the top expensive.

A return ticket, and a good story to tell immigration as you come into the UK.... They sometimes seem to exist ONLY to rain on your parade.. and to turn folks back..

If you are here on a tourist visa, they will slap you down quick if you happen to mention 'work' here, and may send you back on the first plane home..

They can go through your luggage to unravel a BS story you told them, so be mindful what documents you pack.. If they find documents that contradict what you told em initially.. you can be deported.

Don't come through with a pair of drumsticks sticking out of your jeans back pockets..tutt

Either you are a TOURIST or have a work permit..

Get your story straight.. to avoid disappointment...

Jules? That is probably the best advice he will receive.

thanks for the replys..

i'll be coming (read moving) in with a few items of clothing and a laptop...
that's about it.....all tourist items, as they are light and i'll be couch surfing for the 1st week or so...
everything else will be shipped over later as i want a decent apartment if not a studio before the heavy **** shows up...

now what about showing up with a guitar?
how about a cz1000?
i'd like to take advantage of the 50 kilos or so that you can check on board if possible..

will they be soo confused by my beatbox that i will be escorted to the cooler?
i'd like to avoid a body cavity search...

what small items will pass threw without incident....
this is not a weed question..

i guess i was wondering more about what will be hard to come by that is easier to acquire in the states..

Ala GYang's post...

what about the drums...
what about the G&Ls...
what kind of kit will i regret not having..

p.s....what kind of a dip walks around with drum sticks sticking out of his pocket...
they don't even fit...
that's like walking around with a "I Don't Brush My Teeth" T-Shirt

uk immigration isn't that intense coming from the us. tell them you are visiting old friends or family, or whatever you are doing, and have your specific address ready and your story straight.

uk immigration are much much much more friendly than us customs immigration...but heed jules's words. if they think you are not just there for a visit but to earn money or use the nhs you can probabl;y expect a latex glove up yer bum--or at least a quick trip home.

i've traveled to the uk about 15 times in the last decade--always with a guitar and some musical equipment. lot's of people travel with guitars- that's not a problem. just consider carefully what you tell them is your occupation.

i've really got to get my british passport. i qualify for one and can have dual us/uk citizenship but have been too ffiiiing lazy to fill out the forms. how lame is that? : /

gotta get me one of those!!!

Take your G+L guitar...and some food ;-) the englishmen have a different taste. And do what Jules told you.

i'm in milwaukee...
the only food worth taking is bratwurst..

i'm guessing germany will be better for that...

fok the food in milwaukee...

rotten pizza..

now when i tell them my occupation is "bum" they will be out of sorts to say the least...
i guess i'll go with "student"

p.s...you should've heard what i thought the t-shirt would say...it was hardly g-rated...
something about v.d.

i'm glad good sense prevailed

The drumstick thing was just an analogy, if you are very 'transparent" in your desire to arrive one European shores to 'make music' - immigration will f**k with you. What they want is

You to have a return ticket
You to have clearly enough cash to support you until your return
You not to fall off their radar and run off having fun doing music with no plans to return home

They can be nasty and give you a 2 week visa - so that when you leave, 3 months later. you are in big trouble, not allowed to return.

This is an old 'you got us - so we will get you situation'

Brits aren't allowed to live in the US and work without special permission, so the UK gets Americans back by messing them up for being able to work working here..Australian & South Africans and perhaps Canadians have special agreements, but Japanese (who seem to LOVE London) get messed around a lot too...

My Mother got a call from UK immigration once asking if she knew (Name here) she did, it was her god daughters brother from the US who liked to play in Irish music bands that toured the UK.. He used my Mother as a 'reference' when questioned - and told immigration officers that he was staying with her (but neglected to tell my mother of his plan) My mother who has George Washington - I will not tell a lie' morals - said the 'staying with her' part was untrue. That sucker was bounced back to the US on the next plane (FULL PRICE air fare charged to his parents no doubt` - you pay for the deportation flight, it ain't free!) - his drum stool for the UK tour was occupied by another drummer..

Having a senior person in the UK that DOES know you and of your 'touristic' plans can help.

The more you look like a 'rebel' musician, the higher your risk of getting stopped and questioned...

An umbrella.

beef jerky! lots of it! heh

oh and vinyl, and any piece of gear you ever thought of buying, the stuff is so much cheaper out there in the states.

Can we place our orders?

Pack lightly! Switch to harmonica as your main axe. Really! Take the smallest/best instrument with which you can make a living. Have someone ship you the other stuff when, and if, you have settled. I took my trumpet and then sent for my synths later. Do what Jules said. I'm speaking as someone who was deported from Norway. Oh yeah...get yourself a rich girlfriend.... heh

well not a rich girlfriend, but she does qualify for Lithuanian Citizenship...
should make my time in europe easier...especially after we get hitched...

mmmmm......that's a hot girlfriend...

god...just looked into u.s. postal service charges...
it's gonna be pricey....$$$$ucks..

just thinking about the 2feet of records i'm bringing...ugh..this is gonna hurt...

on the plus side...spain doesn't seem to restrict electronics....though they don't want you to ship playing cards....

very strange...

If you have a lot of stuff, DON'T use the U.S. Postal service! Shop around on the internet for shipping companies. It's cheaper and saf...wait....faster... BUY THE INSURANCE!!! I had about $20,000 worth of equipment "disappear" somewhere on the docks in Jersey. Mob jerks.... But, after 6 months and a threatening letter from my lawyer I got my money.

Dude, do you know what you are doing??? Another tip: If you end up in a non-English speaking nation, learn the language. You'll be WAY more accepted into the culture.

BTW, I grew up across the lake from you. Ludington, Mi. My grandfather worked on the C&O ferries. Damn I miss those bratwursts...

Bring ICE!!!!


why is there a shortage of ice in england and france??? not like the recipe is that hard

is it that the brits like their drinks not so cold or is it that with ice it takes more room and leaving u with less drink?

just curious.

btw, if u say u are going to be a student in the uk inmigration , then i think u have to prove with documents that u are enroll somewhere. for inmigration u fall into ...
either... student, turist or working and maybe refugee. for any of those u need to have the corresponding papers. cant say.. well ill be turist for a while then maybe student. or ill be looking to study here maybe..then work..or waterver crosover story.

also, what documents u need to live and work in england for example? in the states is a social security number/card, drivers license or tax ID number for business.
what for england? is it the same for all EU?

Actually the food in London is pretty goddammmed decent these days--and i'm a food snob, living here in san francisco. it's just expensive. everything is expensive in london. expect to pay in pounds what you would pay in dollars.

you will be hemmoraging money.

here's a tip: marks and spenser hummus and taramosalata yummm yumm!

have fun.

well i always hemmorage money...

gearslut and all

and the outdoor market in barcelona should fill my food needs quite nicely..

now what am i gonna miss in Music gear?

Hmmm... It's a long walk to Barcelona from London... Where are you going? England? Lithuania? Spain? Please don't tell me that you're one of the majority of Americans that think that Europe is like Epcot Center....

Barcelona...

and Barcelona IS like Epcot...
except for the toughs with daggers...
and therein lies the problem with Epcot..
no Knife weilding maniacs..

but that'll happen in due time..

seriously...what about OLD European amps..not UK amps..
what about OLD European Synths...

what's the Japanese instrument pricing like...read 80's Casios..

who's taken a trip to the former soviet states and picked up a Polivocs (sp?)
what about the Lomos?

and thanks all for the Replies...

sturdy gents you all are...

Flight cases...
and LOTS of money to ship them!

If you can't carry it on the plane, it's going to cost you an arm and a leg to check it, there are now SERIOUS size and weight limitations, if it's not "baggage" you have to ship it through a freight-forwarding company ($$), and if it's of value you may have to declare it and pay import taxes on it.

I brought 4 guitars, three flight cases (ProTools rig/monitors/speakers/racks of compressors), snowboards, clothes... freight-forwarded it on a boat (six weeks) with insurance and it cost about $1300. I still have 2 'fridge sized racks, three big amps, and about 15 guitars waiting in the US. Rockit Cargo was around $1200 for EACH RACK!

Life is expensive.

A snese of humor and a lot of patienceheh

thanks again all..

i think there's gonna be a flight case about 4' x 3' x 2'

maybe a bass case (crazy about that G&L)
maybe a keyboard case? casio cz1000 in europe?
maybe show up with my Ludwig Marching Snare...(that's a great carry on.)

except the snare (?) all this will be shipped...

what about my G&L sc-3?
surely there will be cool crap guitars galore in the eu