Glad EB uses Indian rosewood...

[PeteDuBaldo]

Imagine the headache!

Feds raid
11-17-2009 4:06 PM —

UPDATED: To clarify that charges have yet to be filed and identify the federal agency involved in the office search; adds statement from Gibson


As originally reported:

Federal agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 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 being investigated for 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.

A statement from Gibson released late Tuesday afternoon says the company is "fully co-operating" with the investigation.

"Gibson Guitar is fully cooperating with agents of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service as it pertains to an issue with harvested wood. Gibson is a chain of custody certified buyer who purchases wood from legal suppliers who are to follow all standards. Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO [Henry Juszkiewicz] sits on the board of the Rainforest Alliance and takes the issue of certification very seriously. The company will continue to cooperate fully and assist our federal government with all inquiries and information," the company's statement said.

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.

[the24thfret]

Wow, Pete, nice find. This is something I've never thought about.

[Dante]

federal PWN, ouch!

[walleye]

hahahah wow
Guitar Parts from Australian Luthiers Supplies - Parts and materials for guitars, basses, mandolins and violins, replacement hardware including bridges and machine heads, wood for tops, backs & sides, necks and fingerboards, tuners, bridges and other
i was a click away from buying madagascan rosewood myself, but went for the cheaper indian option.

maybe i should try and get my hands on some before it becomes impossible... thats if its legal through this site

[Dante]

Wow, Pete, nice find. This is something I've never thought about.

yeah well, spose your ultra expensive axe has some brazillian rosewood, and your flying in or out of the US, you better have the papers to show where the rosewood comes from, especially if it has exotic rosewood in it or hope the customs dudes ain't looking for exotic woods. otherwise, it can cost you a guitar + alot of money...

[Trev]

Oh dear!

[GWDavis28]

Wow

Glenn |B)

[Crimson Sunrise]

Couldn't have happend to a better company.

[koogie2k]

Wow. Let's not bash as it is very possible gibby may not have known the origin of the wood. Tough business and I will not judge. The media tends to make more out of fiction than fact sometimes. Pops... How do you guys know if what you purchase is legit? Of cours, I know you are above board. Just curious if you don't mind answering the question. If not, no biggie to me. You know that my friend.

[catdaddy]

Okay, so that's how the lemur scratches got in my fingerboard.

[NorM]

Wow this is tough for all parties involved.

[Kaloyan]

It s not a coincidence. Probably they've been watching them for some time now and finally got plenty of evidence to hit them! Ouch ... Dirty deeds done dirt cheap ... eh?! Sorry. Not funny!

[Big Poppa]

NO NO NO Please lets not be judges and juries....We dont use any illegal woods but Gibson could have unwittingly (I just to use Gibson adn Unwittingly in the same sentence) bought the stuff or they could be red handed guilty lets see how it plays out

[DrKev]

I found the link below on National Geographic. It's very interesting, particularly near the end where guitars are specifically mentioned...

The call to boycott Madagascar's rosewood and ebony explained


Obviously something urgently has to be done to ensure sustainable harvesting and workers conditions all over the world (Madagascar is just one country). Rainforest Alliance and Fair Trade seem to be doing something but it's so easy to find criticism of them and so hard to tell what good they are really doing. Is it just about marketing and price fixing? Where and what is the truth?

I find it odd that the CEO of Gibson is on the board of Rainforest Alliance, where the potential for conflict of interest is so obvious.

K.

[Colin]

pass the popcorn please...