Gibson Sticks Thumb in Obama Administration's Eye with 'Government Series' Guitars

Breitbart ^ | 2/1/14 | Jeffrey Poor

[Impala64ssa]

In 2011, the Department of Justice raided Gibson Guitar facilities in Memphis and Nashville, alleging a violation of the so-called Lacey Act, a law that bans the importation of certain kinds of wildlife, plants and wood.

At the time of the raid, Gibson Guitars CEO Henry Juszkiewicz told Hugh Hewitt on his radio show that the feds confiscated tonewood imported from India for the guitar Gibson manufacturers which would result in a cost of $2 to $3 million for his company.

At a great expense in legal fees and time, Juszkiewicz fought the federal government tooth and nail. But in August 2012, he settled with the Department of Justice by agreeing to pay a penalty of $300,000 and a $50,000 community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

At the time, Breitbart News suggested that the federal government targeted Gibson because of the conservative ideological stance it had supported. But according to the Gibson Guitar website, the tonewood was returned and made into the Government Series II Les Paul guitars:

[RBW in PA]

Let’s see what high profile musicians have the balls to publicly use the Government Les Paul.

[RKBA Democrat]

“F the government”

You WILL learn to love BB. ;-)

[NittanyLion]

“the tonewood was returned and made into the Government Series II Les Paul guitars”

The guitars are sold with one string, cannot be tuned, and cost ten times the amount of a typical instrument.

[Scoutmaster]

They'll use it only to make a political statement, unless it comes through The Custom Shop. I think they may be concerned about quality control.

The latest raid was the best thing that could ever happen to Gibson. Gibson was in financial trouble after the Nashville flood. It had failed to produce audited financial statements to its lenders for two years, which was a default under its loan agreements.

Gibson's sales went through the roof after the publicity about the raid and quite a few people I trust say that in keeping up with demand, Gibson couldn't keep up with quality control (I didn't find that to be the case with acoustics made in the Bozeman factory, but I haven't purchased an electric since the last raid).

Also, I don't think the Obama administration cares a whit about this. I think Fish & Wildlife cares a lot.

[Scoutmaster]

Ping

[Kozak]

“Government Series Guitars”

They should overpriced, hard to play, and impossible to dispose of.

[Ouderkirk]

Autotune is a vocal “fixer” that came out in 1995. Since that time, I believe nothing of what I hear is authentic.

[Cboldt]

Just a quick note to thank you for sharing what you learned in following the case. I posted a link to this thread on another "Gibson rosewood" thread, in an effort to spread your work a little bit farther.

[hattend]

I would buy a FUBO series guitar.