NotYou Posted November 29, 2008 Report Share Posted November 29, 2008 I just got ahold of a big stash of ivory for inlays. They're recycled pieces from an old piano. I was wondering about the legality of selling a guitar I made with ivory inlays. Would it be legal since I'm recycling the pieces? This is a pretty big stash and I'd hate them to go to waste. Also, does anyone have any tips for using ivory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anderekel Posted November 30, 2008 Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 As far as legality goes, I believe it's only illegal if you got the ivory off an elephant after it was banned. As long as it's recycled from something else it should be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarter Posted November 30, 2008 Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 Pre ban ivory is legal, but the sticky point can be documentation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cSuttle Posted November 30, 2008 Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 Pre ban ivory is legal, but the sticky point can be documentation. Yes, exactly. You are suppose to have any ivory you use documented by a licensed reseller. Whether someone would come after you for a few guitars you make is questionable, but if they did the fines are bad and jail time is possible. How much do you have? How many guitar would it make? I use Mamoth ivory myself and I keep documentation on all of it. Old ivory though is GREAT stuff. Naturally yellowed. Beautiful. You can cut, sand and glue it just like any other material you use. But, it doesn't smell that good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jemmyell Posted November 30, 2008 Report Share Posted November 30, 2008 Pre ban ivory is legal, but the sticky point can be documentation. Yes, exactly. You are suppose to have any ivory you use documented by a licensed reseller. Whether someone would come after you for a few guitars you make is questionable, but if they did the fines are bad and jail time is possible. How much do you have? How many guitar would it make? I use Mamoth ivory myself and I keep documentation on all of it. Old ivory though is GREAT stuff. Naturally yellowed. Beautiful. You can cut, sand and glue it just like any other material you use. But, it doesn't smell that good. All elephant Ivory that is currently in the country is assumed to be pre-ban. The burden of proof is on fish and game. The only Ivory seller license that I know of is from New York, I have one, but I don't sell Elepahnt Ivory anymore since it is very illegal in California since 2007. There is even an 'illegal to posess with intent to sell' clause in the penal code. It is also illegal to import into California. So, I also only use and sell Mammoth Ivory now. It could be implied that a guitar that has any elephant ivory on it cannot be brought into California, even to return from vacation! The true authority on this is David Warther, of IvoryBuyer.com. -James Leonard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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