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Gibson Guitar Company Gives the Feds the Finger

Home - by - January 30, 2014 - 14:45 America/New_York - 19 Comments

Ricochet

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Gibson Les Paul Government Series II

The award for P.R. champion of the week goes to the Gibson guitar company, makers of the famous Les Paul guitar, and headquartered, I’m proud to say, here in my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

A couple of years ago, the Feds raided the Gibson factory here in Music City, SWAT-team style, and shut the whole company down, allegedly for possessing illegally imported wood. From what I gather, it had mostly to do with how the shipping containers were labeled. Anyway, it didn’t merit a commando operation.

It was a disproportionate action on dubious grounds.

Gibson later settled for $300,000. But not until after it had already lost far more than that by virtue of being forced to shut down operations.

This week Gibson has announced the “Government Series” of guitars, to celebrate the end of its tussle with the eager enforcers of the U.S. Customs Department.

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» 19 Comments

  1. GruntOfMonteCristo

    January 30th, 2014

    Feds probably told them they could have their beautiful Indian hardwood back, but they had to cover up the Federal-law-violating finish somehow. “Government Tan.” Nice touch.

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  2. Cate

    January 30th, 2014

    Very nice. I checked out their website and saw my old hometown of Waukesha (home of Les Paul) has become a Gibson Guitartown. The gallery I used to work at now sports a huge guitar mural.

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  3. Toenex

    January 30th, 2014

    In keeping with the government tradition it promises I gold lettered pick guard that you don’t get.

    Noteworthy Comment Thumb up +13

     
  4. snopercod

    January 30th, 2014

    If you like your guitar, you can keep your guitar.

    Noteworthy Comment Thumb up +25

     
  5. Carlos The Jackal

    January 30th, 2014

    Seems to me that “government tan” looks an awful lot like “Shit Brown”….

    Thumb up +4

     
  6. Corky

    January 30th, 2014

    Way to stick it out Gibson. When they first raided you, I bought a Gibson jacket (don’t play guitar) from your website. It was all I could think to do to support you. I love this story!

    Noteworthy Comment Thumb up +19

     
  7. dtm

    January 30th, 2014

    I wonder if the Gibson Custom Shop will turn out a copy with the creepy Obama symbol painted on it.

    Thumb up +3

     
  8. Boobie the Rocket Dog

    January 30th, 2014

    I wonder, did Gibson get all its stock of wood back?

    Thumb up +3

     
  9. Althing

    January 30th, 2014

    As a loyal and rabid Gibson owner and fan I love them even more now. Fuck C.F. Martin and Fender, damned Democrat contributing assholes. Glad I sold my Strat to my brother. Cheap pieces of shit. Gibsons are the Rolls Royce of guitars. My other guitarist won’t even ask to play one of mine knowing well how protective us Gibson owners are of their axes.

    Oh and fuck you, Obama. Suck it, you Nazi bastard.

    Noteworthy Comment Thumb up +14

     
  10. crazyeighter

    January 30th, 2014

    Innn-teresting how Democrat Party-donating Martin was using the same wood, but wasn’t raided.

    Noteworthy Comment Thumb up +17

     
  11. Jack Daniels

    January 30th, 2014

    Just so happens that I am in the market for a new guitar. This would fit the bill and it is reasonably price.

    Thumb up +6

     
  12. venturaguy

    January 30th, 2014

    They should make a model called “The Clinton’s Bag Man” and put Eric Holders picture on it

    Thumb up +2

     
  13. kvn

    January 30th, 2014

    Do not need another guitar but this is very tempting. Have a red starburst and it is old. Sounds great. But this one…and it starts at $1100…

    Thumb up +2

     
  14. Golly G. Willikers

    January 30th, 2014

    What a great, entrepreneurial, perfectly American response to government oppression! Makes me wish I could play guitar.

    Thumb up +5

     
  15. Houston

    January 30th, 2014

    I’m starting to save for one right now. I DO play guitar. :)

    Thumb up +2

     
  16. msq

    January 30th, 2014

    yup, getting me a Gibson, this is just a handy excuse.

    Thumb up +1

     
  17. OpenTheDoor

    January 30th, 2014

    If you have kids, buy one and keep it.
    It could pay for a year of college in 20 years.
    I think about all the great axes I could have bought back in the 60′s after all the wanna be rock stars discovered they had no talent.
    A buddy has a Gibson owned by Dickey Betts, worth a bunch.

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  18. Dumb Ass LIberal

    January 30th, 2014

    Where ‘s the muzzle?

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  19. Dadof4

    January 30th, 2014

    “I wonder, did Gibson get all its stock of wood back?” – Boobie

    In the article is this line: “It’s a series of guitars made, purportedly, with the very same wood that was seized by the United States government, which was later returned at the end of the fiasco.”

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