Uncategorized

Federal Agents Raid Gibson Guitar Factory. Musicians Fear They Could Be Next

image from www.google.com Suspecting use of restricted forest product, Federal agents raided Gibson Guitar factories and offices in Memphis and Nashville this week seizing pallets of wood, files and guitars.  In a statement, Gibson's CEO, Henry Juszkiewic fired back, "The wood the government seized Wednesday is from a Forest Stewardship Council certified supplier."  Many musicians who play vintage guitars and other instruments made of environmentally protected wood are also concerned that the Feds may be coming for them next.



Laws governing use of banned woods can be confusing, according to some experts. "Even if you have no knowledge—despite Herculean efforts to obtain it—that some piece of your guitar, no matter how small, was obtained illegally, you lose your guitar forever," John Thomas, a law professor at Quinnipiac University and a blues and ragtime guitarist told the Wall Street Journal. "Oh, and you'll be fined $250 for that false (or missing) information in your Lacey Act Import Declaration.

Share on:

11 Comments

  1. Really, we cannot have guitar makers subverting American ideals that need to be spent in Afganistan. After all, what’s more important here? When looking back at other civilizations, what do we value the most? Not their stupid art, but their fine wars!
    The Justice Department, we’ve heard, are considering that Musicians be ordered to play WallStreet instead of playing music. That’s where America puts its resources. Guitar makers can make their guitars out of petroleum based plastic. No big deal. Right? Then the guitars will be as resonant as America itself and made to look the same.
    Vote Republican or Democrat to help eliminate the arts. Doesn’t matter which since they’re opposite sides of the same counterfeit coin.

  2. Why do we even try? This administration, senate and congress need to go. They are running amok and in all honesty haven’t done anything good in years. Now we have a raid on Gibson. What have they done, besides make some of the finest guitars in the world. Oh wait they provide American Jobs. Well now, we can’t have that now can we? If Gibson is forced to move their operations out of this country (which Obama and his cronies seem to want) then why shouldn’t they just move the entire company?
    Obama (notice I didn’t use president. I have too much respect for the office of the President) needs to go along with all his policies. Perhaps he can just go on vacation for the next year and a half.

  3. Another Obama-Eric Holder-Chicago gangland extortion shakedown. I’m sure Gibson was told that if they made a substantial contribution to Obama’s reelection campaign all of this would magically go away. Crooks, socialists, and incompetents–our government in action. Meanwhile, hoards of disease ridden illegal immigrants are streaming across the borders and destroying our national identity–with Obama and Holder’s blessing.

  4. Jay
    Let’s also destroy all the violins, violas, cellos, bassoons, oboes, bagpipes, clarinets, pianos, etc. because they were made from maple, ebony, pernambuco, grenadilla, ivory, spruce, etc. After all it’s for “our own good”. And while we are at it, any instrument made of lumberyard pine has to go, because the wood was dried in a kiln, “damaging” its musical qualities; someone must pay for this, too. Oh, and you know? Someone in America may have made one of these instruments, so they have to be fines also. Oops, I’d better shut up, or they may take my instruments also.

  5. COMMENT REVISED BY EDITOR FOR IMPROPER LANGUAGE:
    How long are you sheeple going to takee this. Return FIRE for God’s sake! Yer talking about the “trickyness of the LAWS?” Grow some balls you yuppie fag! Do the tactics of the state not bother you? Were machine guns really needed in an iconic guitar factory? Put the fkg coolaid down you sheep!

  6. Gov’t Stupidity at it’s finest
    I don’t really have a better comeback, because it’s just so ridiculous for words

  7. Finally found something legit on this. I think your guitars are safe. This is the FOX, the Tea Party and Gibson (who broke a law that was supported by both parties) collaborating for political gain.
    http://mediamatters.org/blog/201109130020
    Another reason to support independent luthiers and small businesses.

Comments are closed.