Buying guitars in Japan

When you buy a guitar in japan and take it back to the USA, do you have to pay duties when you bring it back?

it depends on the customs agents at the USA... just try to pretend you had the guitar when you left the USA... the best way should be carrying with you as hand luggage and attach some stickers to the hard case (asuming you will carry it in a hard case)

If the duty is only $50 on a $1000 guitar, I am okay paying the tariff rather than risking losing the guitar, getting arrested and getting a fine. Anybody know what the duty really is?

You wouldn�Lt lose the guitar, be fined neither!! If they stop you just say you didn�Lt know you had to declare it and pay the duty.

How many US dollars worth of merchandise are you allowed to bring back? If it is more than the guitar is worth, than no you won't have to pay any duty. If its more, well, I would guess that the US Customs and Immigration would have information on what you would have to pay.