Official Luthiers Forum!

Here in Canada we don't have many options for obtaining shell products for inlays. I have ordered stuff from A&M here in Canada, and from Depaule. But I came across Australian Mother of Pearl Co and their prices don't seem too bad. Wondering if anyone here has any experience with them? Anyone in Canada have any experience ordering from them?

Thanks!

They've always served me well.

_________________
Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

used them and can say they are a good company

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

It's thumbs up from me.

Good company! The delivery took a long time, but that was not their fault (Canada post)

I use them for all my MOP and Abalone needs. Best prices around and good quality.

Thumbs up from me, but like Trevor I am Australian so postage is not an issue.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. I think I'm going to give them a try on a future project!

I've used them and been very satisfied, but postage is expensive.
For instance, 50 green abalone dots 6 mm diameter $7.00
Postage to France $20.13

We have used them for purfling and rosette stock on the last six 41 and 42 Style instruments....large orders beat the postage issue, and pieces are low enough to do the usual doubling or tripling of what is actually needed NOW to build a longer term supply. Good color consistency, and width was uniform on straight and curved segments.

_________________
For the times they are a changin'

- Bob Dylan

Canadians have to option of Timeless Instruments for shell. David Freeman imports reasonable large orders. A good source especially for those looking to inlay a small number of instruments.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

How do Americans deal with the Lacey declaration? Or do you?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Tim beat me to it but similar questions.

I've always bought shell in US from US vendors. Worried about regs and import issues, CITES, Lacey, all that.

I see they ship to almost anywhere. Are there any issues like permits you have to deal with when ordering shell internationally? Thinking if we can't ship out, how can others?

I'd love to have more options.

Thanks

_________________
Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I’m guessing we can’t ship it out due to Abalone poaching on the west coast.
I think it applies to all shell.

_________________
wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Yes and no. There is indeed poaching that threatens at least one species on the west coast, but requirements for Lacey declarations apply to ALL commercial sales of products containing wildlife, regardless of species, quantity, conservation status, etc. Quite unique to the US.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The reason I'm interested in ordering from Australia is price. Black mop from Australia is $25 can/oz compared to $100 can/oz here. Gold mop $31/oz from Australia compared to $59/oz here. Those are huge price differences! If you want to buy a few ounces of material for even a couple instruments it seems worth it to me.

Here's my experience. I've bought from MOP Supplies for many years. Great company. I'm in Hawaii. Maybe 10 years ago Fish & Wildlife called me from Honolulu saying they had stopped my shipment and asked if I had a license to import animal products. They informed me there is a stiff penalty for importing without a license. Luckily, they worked with me to make the whole thing legal. Now I have to pay $100.00 a year for the license and $93.00 import fees for any shipment size no matter whether it is 1 shell dot to 1,000 of them. Consequently I keep my orders to a $1,000.00 minimum or so to make the whole deal worthwhile. I sell a little to other builders and it all works out O.K.The bottom line is if you don't get caught, and I'm the only one I have ever heard of who has, then it's all good. So, you can take your chances and hope you get a friendly F & W person if it comes to that, or up your gme and do it legally. Good luck.-Bob

_________________
“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso