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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Seizing of Guitars Made After 2008
My point is the administration is selectively using the Lacey Act as the basis for a political vendetta against a single manufacturer within an industry and innocent people (musicians) are getting caught in the crossfire. If the administration is so concerned with certain exotic woods, why haven't any other domestic guitar manufacturers been raided? Sorry to raise a firestorm here but that's it in a nutshell.
My point is the administration is selectively using the Lacey Act as the basis for a political vendetta against a single manufacturer within an industry and innocent people (musicians) are getting caught in the crossfire. If the administration is so concerned with certain exotic woods, why haven't any other domestic guitar manufacturers been raided? Sorry to raise a firestorm here but that's it in a nutshell.
Simple solution really. Gibson move shop to Japan or China. They can do what they like then. My Epi has a lovely rosewood fretboard. That's what may happen if they are not careful. We got rid of a lot of good workers and industries from the UK that way.
Sorry not meaning to be political, just stating the business obvious.
My favorite new phrase comes from the venerable Greg Koch...the context is obviously a bit different but still applicable
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee90W7SUedY
Here's the video...watch the whole thing for sure...then pay close attention at 5:56... Greg Koch for president!!!!!
All I have to say is, "Washington can suck it!"
I don't think they would move to Japan or China, but I could see them heading north to Canada. Keep it North American, and they get past the Lacey Act as well as denounce their citizen ship so they can save on some taxes as well. But that would more then likely cause them to go up another $200 on a Les Paul Standard which is already pretty darn expensive!
This is a ridiculous thread. I want other guitar companies to step in and support Gibson here.
Maybe Gibson can start stamping an optional "Made in China" sticker so the guitars wont get taken away. 
Wouldn't it only count for post 2008 guitars? Since that's when the act was amended.
The lacey act was as of 1900, but this would have been an issue for decades and not just recently.
Well there are those of us who do not watch CNN or MS-LSD (MSN) because we see things in a different light. Still, leave my Gibbies out of the politics, it's just a freakin' guitar.
Anyone know what Gibson did wrong? Fender, Suhr, Anderson, PRS, etc. have had no problems acquiring and using these woods. It's only Gibson that has run into problems.
To be brief and fair and hoping not to get banned from the site lets just say it has been suggested that Mr. Juskiewicz and Mr. Obama have different ideas about labor organization at Gibson, and to which political party that contributions flow to.
US Department of Justice maintains that some exotic woods obtained by Gibson violated the Lacey Act. Supposedly the rosewood fretboards should have been finished overseas prior to importation, according to their interpretation. IIRC the first seizure occured in 2009. Charges still have not been filed and the wood is still being held by the Feds. Anyone familar with guitar building knows that the wood needs to be kept under constant temperature and humidity to avoid warpage. It's all probably ruined by now.
To be brief and fair and hoping not to get banned from the site lets just say that Mr. Juskiewicz and Mr. Obama have different ideas about labor organization at Gibson, and to which political party that contributions flow to.
+1
Gibson is non union....
Obama is pro union....
Fender, Suhr, Anderson, PRS, etc. have had no problems acquiring and using these woods. It's only Gibson that has run into problems.
To say nothing of all the companies that make chess pieces out of rosewood...
Even in the best of times, I'm not a big fan of the government spending time and resources trying to control how guitars are made. Given the current state of the economy, one would think that Uncle Sam could find better things to do...
Less Goverment is always a good thing. Give us the people a little more control in November. My only real political statment on this thread. I'm done.
Gibson purchsed imported boards that were twice as thick as India allows to be exported. The boards were not imported by Gibson, but by a third party, and were mislabeled. It is not clear if Gibson knew they were "breaking the law".
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → Seizing of Guitars Made After 2008
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