Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Butler
Speaking of music, many of the very old high-end string instruments found in the great orchestras of the world contain ivory in the body and bows.
I doubt that it's replacement with plastic would do the tone of the instruments much good. I can replace the front bead on a double and it would shoot just as well, but these great orchestras travel often and legally can not even cross state lines withy their instruments. The Berlin Philharmonic in NYC this week and I did not hear of any of their instruments getting confiscated by customs.
That smells like a double-standard.
Call me a naive optimist, but old ivory that makes up a small part of a vintage gun or guitar is one issue where I believe the Fed regulators will come to their senses and change the regulations.
Meanwhile, I am of the opinion that all of the white beads on my guns are plastic replacements-very good ones.
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Actually, part of the rant by James Julia on this topic was that, in fact, a visiting orchestra arrived in NYC had their instruments confiscated because of this on entry into the US. After much "to do" they got them back but the international music community has put it out that travel to the US with their instruments isn't a good choice. James said to google this and you will see that travel to the US with a Strataverious(sp?) isn't wise. I have not done that but somehow I believe it.