Feds raid Gibson offices (Gibson guitars)

Nashville Post ^ | 17 Nov 09 | J. R. Lind

[Drew68]

Federal agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local police today seized wood, guitars, computers and boxes of files from Gibson Guitar's Massman Road manufacturing facility.

Sources say the Nashville-based guitar manufacturer is being investigated for violating the Lacey Act, a key piece of environmental law, for importing endangered species of rosewood from Madagascar.

Rosewood is widely used in the construction of guitars and sells for $5,000 per cubic meter, more than double the price of mahogany. The island nation off Africa's east coast is a key producer of the hardwood, the export of which has links to international criminal activity.

A statement from Gibson released late Tuesday afternoon says the company is "fully co-operating" with the investigation.

"Gibson Guitar is fully cooperating with agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service as it pertains to an issue with harvested wood. Gibson is a chain of custody certified buyer who purchases wood from legal suppliers who are to follow all standards. Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO [Henry Juszkiewicz] sits on the board of the Rainforest Alliance and takes the issue of certification very seriously. The company will continue to cooperate fully and assist our federal government with all inquiries and information," the company's statement said.

Madagascar has struggled financially since a January coup and new President Andry Rajoelina issued an executive order in September legalizing the export of rosewood and ebony. The move was decried by environmental groups and political leaders worldwide, as hardwood forests are key to Madagascar's unique ecology and serve as a habitat for a dwindling lemur population.

Sources tell NashvillePost.com Gibson was involved in a scheme that shipped the wood from Madagascar to Germany and then to the United States.

[FreedomPoster]

>>Crime: Possession of wood. Check my tag line.

Or check the first quote from my FR profile page:

“Did you really think we want those laws observed?” said Dr. Ferris. “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against... We’re after power and we mean it... There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s the system, Mr. Reardon, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll be much easier to deal with.”

- Ayn Rand, ‘Atlas Shrugged’ 1957

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Sources tell NashvillePost.com Gibson was involved in a scheme that shipped the wood from Madagascar to Germany and then to the United States.

That "unnamed source" guy sure gets around, doesn't he?

How much you want to bet on the source being a bitter, terminated employee?

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Or the ones growing marijuana and fabricating meth in the heart of our national forests? I guess it’s easier to push around a legitimate guitar company than to shut down illegal drug rings.

Far easier, with greater return compared to the tax money and civil rights violations tied to the failed war on (some) drugs.

i don't look for much to come from this incident. The company was far too willing to cooperate. Sounds as if a disgruntled former employee decided on some creative revenge. The Feds won't find anything.

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

Fender Fined for Hazardous Waste Violations (September 23, 2009)

i could have let the Gibson thing go, but now i'm going to war! Somebody contact General Eric Clapton.

[anglian]

January coup and new President Andry Rajoelina Well the phrase looks familiar.

[Lady Jag]

The whole Obamaco thing is a sad joke, Bamahead.

[Landru]

Glad my Gibson Les Paul Custom's body is Maple.
Sure wouldn't want to get in any trouble.

If my two neighbors --within sight-- were to observe Blackhawk helicopters with jack booted thugs repelling onto the property? There'd be talk! LOL

Good grief, haven't the idiots any 'terrorists' to chase?
Or would they prefer are waiting for another slaughter.

[Landru]

Glad my Gibson Les Paul Custom's body is Maple.
Sure wouldn't want to get in any trouble.

If my two neighbors --within sight-- were to observe Blackhawk helicopters with jack booted thugs repelling onto the property? There'd be talk! LOL

Good grief, haven't the idiots any 'terrorists' to chase?
Or would they prefer waiting for another slaughter.

[kbennkc]

Get all the records and track down the owners of these poached tree products , go Waco on they behinds .

[Jo Nuvark]

So what else are precious woods good for?

[FBD]

-unreal... jackbooted thuggery over friggen *wood*.

[Landru]

"-unreal... jackbooted thuggery over friggen *wood*."

Yea. LOL

Directly after posting that to you, went back in the woods and cut a rick.
To burn. LOL

[Fresh Wind]

It’s a plot by Fender to wipe out the competition.

[Redbob]

You’d think the feds could better devote their time to real crimes, like illegal immigration.

[Southbound]

As a long-time professional guitarist & banjo picker, I can assure you that rosewood is not the most used wood for fingerboards. It IS used, but ebony is more popular, esp. for fancy inlaid necks, which show off the inlay work better, and is a harder wood anyway; wears better. Rosewood IS used in a lot of guitar bodies, particularly high-end Martin and Alvarez. Years ago, Martin stopped using Brazilian rosewood as it became illegal, and the price of one of those guitars now is scary. For an interesting view, go to Frets.com and look at the history of some of the fancy instruments, or look at some of Martin's custom work.