Why did the government raid Gibson?

Why Gibson Guitar Was Raided By The Justice Department : The Record Last week the government raided the Gibson Guitar Corporation for the second time in two years over allegations the company knowingly acquired wood protected under U.S. environmental law to make its instruments.

Why was Gibson guitars raided 2011?

Authorities raided Gibson's Tennessee factories in 2011, taking ebony and rosewood they suspected were illegally imported from India. They were acting to enforce the Lacey Act, passed more than a century ago to stop illegal trade in wildlife and amended in 2008 to ban illegally logged woods.

When was Gibson raided?

On Aug. 24, 2011, federal agents executed four search warrants on Gibson Guitar Corp. facilities in Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., and seized several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars.

Did Gibson use ivory?

Please note: Gibson does not use, or endorse, the use of ivory in guitar building.

Where does Gibson get their wood?

These woods come from Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the U.S. Some of these woods are harvested illegally or come from regions that are being heavily deforested. So Gibson is working with the Rainforest Alliance to be sure that the wood in its guitars is sustainably sourced.

The Great Gibson Guitar Raid: Months Later, Still No Charges Filed

Does Gibson still use rosewood?

Following the introduction of its extremely-limited run of Brazilian rosewood fretboard Custom Shop recreations of the 1958 Flying V and Explorer guitars, Gibson has now released slightly more accessible versions of the instruments fitted with Indian rosewood fretboards.

What nut is on a Gibson Les Paul?

2013 Gibson Les Pauls have a Corian nut. You used to easily know a graphite nut because it was black. But it can now be seen bleached white. Graphite has been popular since the '80s, especially for guitars with a vibrato, as it claims to provide a little more slip-and-slide for intense whammy action.

When did Gibson stop using Brazilian rosewood?

Supplies grew extremely thin in the late 1960s, however, and Martin and others stopped using Brazilian rosewood in 1969, moving over to Indian rosewood, then other varieties. In 1992, Brazilian rosewood was added to the CITES treaty, strictly banning its exportation.

Are bone nuts self lubricating?

There's also the fact that bone nuts need to be lubricated, either with graphite or a product such as nut sauce, otherwise strings can catch in the slots. Tusq XL nuts on the other hand are self lubricating, so offer improved tuning stability without having any maintenance.

Can I travel with a rosewood guitar?

Instrument-makers and musicians will likely be able to transport instruments containing rosewood around the world without a burdensome permit process. Update: The CITES convention officially adopted the musical instruments exemption on Wednesday.

Why is rosewood so rare?

Because of its popularity, rosewood trees have been heavily harvested, resulting in all kinds of rosewood species becoming increasingly scarce.

When did Martin switch to Indian rosewood?

C.F. Martin began looking for alternative woods in the mid-'60s, when Brazil briefly banned the export of unprocessed rosewood logs. The guitar-maker switched to East Indian rosewood as standard wood in 1969.

Who owns 59 Les Pauls?

Three years later, he traded a Gibson SG and $25 for a '59 Les Paul, which he turned around and sold to fellow guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck for $350. “It's worth a little bit more now,” Nielsen says dryly. Nielsen still has the receipt for the 1959 Les Paul sold to Jeff Beck.

What does Gibson R8 mean?

R8 = Reissue of the 1958 Sunburst (figured top up until '02, then Plaintop in '03) R9 = Reissue of the 1959 Sunburst Flamed/Figured Top. R0 = Reissue of the 1960 Sunburst Flamed/Figured Top.

Where does Gibson get its rosewood?

Gibson Guitar has settled with federal authorities for illegally importing ebony and rosewood from India and Madagascar. NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Gibson Guitar Corp. has agreed to pay a fine for illegally importing exotic wood from Madagascar and India, the U.S. government said Monday.

What guitar wood is illegal?

An international crackdown on illegal logging in tropical forests has ensnared the makers of some guitars and other musical instruments, whose top-end products require small amounts of rosewood, a material prized for its rich, multicolored grain and resonant sound.

Is it illegal to use rosewood?

No, it is not illegal to buy or ship rosewood across international borders. However, specific regulations and laws must be followed to purchase or ship rosewood. To successfully import rosewood into the U.S., you will need an export certificate from the exporting country's CITES management authority.

Why is Brazilian rosewood illegal?

Why is Brazilian rosewood so heavily regulated? In 1967, Brazilian rosewood had become so popular for instruments and other wood products that the Brazilian government became concerned that this precious hardwood could be wiped out, so the government outlawed the export of rosewood logs.

Why are pre war Martin guitars so expensive?

Since the cost of materials is high and they add another step of labor in the production of their bracings, it makes sense that these add to the total cost of the guitar. Martin guitars are expensive because they use a special type of bracing made of high-quality wood.

What does a prewar guitar mean?

"Prewar" is through the end of 1941. "Wartime" in guitar talk is 1942 through 1944 with the end of scalloped brace voicing. "Postwar" is 1945 on with tapered brace voicing, even though the Pacific War wasn't over until august of 1945. People used to say "prewar", meaning scalloped brace voicing through 1944.

When did Martin start putting truss rods in guitars?

Martin started using adjustable truss-rods in 1985. Everything they built prior had a non-adjustable truss-rod.