• Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Topic: Gibson shut down by FBI!

Just read on the les paul forums that Gibson have been shut down by the FBI for using illegal rosewood.

Heres the story...

"11-17-2009 1:40 PM —
Federal agents 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 charged with 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.

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.

We will update this story as more information becomes available."

2 Reply by DaveWammbarro (edited by DaveWammbarro 2009-11-19 03:54:55)

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

Not another scandal, Gibson?! mad

We'll have to see what happens.

UPDATE:

Well, it wasn't as big as I thought! haha

http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2009/ … ded_by_fbi

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

Hope they dont wanna take our Gibsons as evidence.   I guess Joe will have to get a Signature Ernie Ball now that Gibson isn't going to be making guitar in the future.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

I guess I'm going to have to help my company out and go by some more axes so they can hire the best lawyers should it arise lol.

Ben

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

GoT MuLe 31788 wrote:

I guess I'm going to have to help my company out and go by some more axes so they can hire the best lawyers should it arise lol.

Ben

Those poor Lemurs!!! lol lol lol

I have a sneaking suspicion that the next run of Gibson's are going to have some crappy looking fingerboards... Thank God I'm not in the market for another one! tongue

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

I saw this...

ya know - Gibson is a business. I doubt they violated any codes. They can only buy from certain people on certain regulations. I'm really surprised this has gone so far as to raid the plant. I wonder what kind of evidence they had to support the grant of a warrant.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

AD3THREE wrote:

Hope they dont wanna take our Gibsons as evidence.   I guess Joe will have to get a Signature Ernie Ball now that Gibson isn't going to be making guitar in the future.

From my cold dead hands...

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • From: Nashville, TN
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 75

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

I think "Gibson shut down by FBI" is way hyperbolic. For one, it wasn't the FBI, but the fish and wildlife commission. All they did is execute a search warrant and confiscate wood they believe to be from Madagascar. It's sad if this is true, but I doubt that Gibson will receive anything other than a fine. They certainly won't be shut down.

guitarjosh's Website

  • Registered: 2009-02-10
  • Posts: 470

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

guitarjosh wrote:

I think "Gibson shut down by FBI" is way hyperbolic. For one, it wasn't the FBI, but the fish and wildlife commission. All they did is execute a search warrant and confiscate wood they believe to be from Madagascar. It's sad if this is true, but I doubt that Gibson will receive anything other than a fine. They certainly won't be shut down.

I was simply going by the title used on the les paul forums lol
Still seems pretty serious
I don't think Gibson will be shut down, but in all honesty, I don't like the current management, so I wouldn't mind a change from that, not that I want Henry to lose his job or that. But Gibsons are a bit off just now, I see so many complaints, so many strange guitars coming out.

God know's what will come of it, just glad I'd bought a Gibson before the prices went up. They may go up yet again.

  • From: Nashville, TN
  • Registered: 2009-01-01
  • Posts: 75

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

I think if Henry lost is job, he'd manage to cope! tongue

You'd think that with the extremely poor year they've had coupled with the buyout rumors and then this that something would change. I'm hoping for the best. Living in Nashville, I've heard quite a few crazy stories about the place from people I trust. I think the company could use a change in leadership to better serve its audience and customer base.

guitarjosh's Website

11 Reply by Lee

  • Lee
  • Lee
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Minnesota
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 2,476

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091 … ville+raid

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

Let me lead Gibson.  I personally don't have a problem with there stuff.  All those strange guitars they make are for hype, collectors, and people who don't know any better.  If you stick with a Standard ( don't know what they call it now, I'm usuing the old terminology) or a Custom Shop you'll be fine.  I just want to be the head of Gibson so I can finish off my collection of what I still need big_smile .  If anything does happen though, its most likely they will get a slap on the wrist and have to pay a fine.  It just an investigation at this point anyway.

Ben

13 Reply by Big E (edited by Big E 2009-11-19 19:40:53)

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

So I wonder if the gibsons built with the illegal wood will now be called the "Outlaws Series" HA:D

  • From: The Gates of Delerium
  • Registered: 2008-05-07
  • Posts: 1,412

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

From what I have read elsewhere, the most desirable rosewood is from Brazil but the Brazilians have just about completely cut off exportation of it. Now Madagascar is banning exports?  The only other major source is East Indian rosewood (I'm guessing from Indonesia and/or Malaysia). It looks like the price of premium rosewood guitars will be going up. Time to snag that rosewood acoustic you've always wanted...  AFAIK the only rosewood Gibson uses on their electrics is for the fretboards. I guess if they went to an alternate wood species it would affect the tone (and certainly the looks). What's next? Mahogany? Without mahogany Gibson solid body electrics would cease to exist! Well at least GOOD ones.

Major Tom to ground control...
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

Mahogany is already being replaced with Nato which doesn't look quite as good but there is tons of it everywhere and it has the same tonal properties.  Eastern Rosewood looks great.  Madagascar has ban exports for quite some time now.  Gibson will do what it has to to continue manufacture its best models!  Don't worry Gibson will be around forever.

RICjunkie wrote:

From what I have read elsewhere, the most desirable rosewood is from Brazil but the Brazilians have just about completely cut off exportation of it. Now Madagascar is banning exports?  The only other major source is East Indian rosewood (I'm guessing from Indonesia and/or Malaysia). It looks like the price of premium rosewood guitars will be going up. Time to snag that rosewood acoustic you've always wanted...  AFAIK the only rosewood Gibson uses on their electrics is for the fretboards. I guess if they went to an alternate wood species it would affect the tone (and certainly the looks). What's next? Mahogany? Without mahogany Gibson solid body electrics would cease to exist! Well at least GOOD ones.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

Big E wrote:

So I wonder if the gibsons built with the illegal wood will now be called the "Outlaws Series" HA:D

Ahhh yes the "Smuggle-wood" Les Paul standard from 2008 with rosewood fretboard.
big_smile

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: Gibson shut down by FBI!

My 2009 Traditional has got to be worth at least 10k by now with all that illegal wood! roll

I can't wait to see these listings you know there comming to.

This is the best Gibson ever made the wood used on this guitar was Illegal! HA