Have you seen this¿¿¿ Off Topic

[Miqueas92]

This is a little scary.

PJ Lifestyle » Gibson Guitar Plants in Nashville and Memphis Raided Today

Ebony considered an endangered wood?

Could this happen at EBMM¿

 

[TNT]

It's a "set-up" by Gibson's CEO!!! This way he can justify raising the price of Les Pauls even higher.

I heard (and, I know this may just be a rumor), that his goal is to tie the entry level Gibson line (Epiphone) with the spot market of gold (which is now around $1750).

 

[Big Poppa]

Wait tnt this is very serious stuff....there are some really bogus laws the lacie act and the govt is going in and raiding factories and even convicted a piano dealer of selling a hundred year old piano because it had ivory keys....The piano stor got raided by 23 fbi agents alone....then the fish and game went in

All guitar makers are in fearf innocently getting one piece of bad wood and getting put out of business.

 

[ozzyrules]

Big government is alive & well. ( Would that be considered a political statement?).

 

[ThatsAgood1jay]

Is there any kind of anti-lacie act lobby out there to try and get some of the rules loosened? Or will they keep cracking down until all guitars are made of MDF?


Also, that's extreme violation of Ex-Post-Facto if they got in trouble for selling a Piano with Ivory keys that was made before the law was inacted.

 

[brokenvail]

This is a very big deal. I have heard that the law can cause profession musicians (of anyone who travels with their instrument) big problems. Some woods maybe ok in the US but not in another country and if you go into a country and they suspect your guitar(s) is made of wood that is illegal there they can confiscate it. They could possible saw it in half to see the wood grain ect to see if it is illiegal or not. it also causes a serious problem if you are selling your guitar used to an international buyer. Even if the guitar is made in the US it's woods are from all over the world and you may have to prove it's origins before a the other country lets it get through customs

 

[ThatsAgood1jay]

I don't like how the end of the article goes, but here is a WSJ story about this.

Guitar Frets: Environmental Enforcement Leaves Musicians in Fear | Postmodern Times - WSJ.com

This is environmental protection gone awry, I have never felt more urged to start writing congressman than I do now after reading several stories such as this.

 

[Miqueas92]

Here is more, from Gibson.
Gibson Guitar Corp. Responds to Federal Raid

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Wait. The FBI enforces laws that are made by foreign governments? I know some middle east countries who would never allow alcohol drinking.....should I hoard Murphy's fearing my local beer store will be raided? It's the same thing.

 

[ozzyrules]

Wait. The FBI enforces laws that are made by foreign governments? I know some middle east countries who would never allow alcohol drinking.....should I hoard Murphy's fearing my local beer store will be raided? It's the same thing.

Murphy's oil soap or Murphy's Irish Stout? Please, the federal communist government is watching. Be specific,lol?

 

[Big Poppa]

This is really really big and if you have a brazilian rosewood martin it is technically illegal....do not travel with it across borders it will be confiscated.....OUr industry is on trying but we arent making progress....

 

[TNT]

Wow - beyond belief!! This is incredible.

 

[koogie2k]

Wow....that is crazy. I guess we have nothing better to do than watch my tax dollars get spent on the gov't raiding instrument makers. Pops...hope this all gets ironed out for you and all the other manufacturer's. Beyond ridiculous.

 

[DrKev]

Remember in this case there are allegations that Gibson knowingly obtained wood from illegal sources and tried to hide the fact. But yes, the Lacey act has some major problems and it's hurting the cause.

 

[njhammer]

I have a couple of shows to do back in the UK next month and was bringing over a True Gold Luke for a friend and a SR5 (for my use). Any reason I shouldn't take either one of them?

 

[spkirby]

It seems that we're now in a time where guitar builders need to start listing the woods and the material source location for each guitar they sell and for the customs peoples to clarify the import/export/personal luggage rules. My cousin has a PRS with a madagascar rosewood fretboard that is his only guitar. He is coming to the UK (from the US) to play a one off show but he is now really worried about bringing it... will it be confiscated outbound, inbound, or neither?????

 

[GoKart_MoZart]

John Thomas spoke about CITES and Lacey at the Healdsburg Luthier festival (actually held in Santa Rosa, CA) earlier this month. He has a Fretboard Journal article here:

CITES treaty for guitar collectors | The Fretboard Journal: Keepsake magazine for guitar collectors

"Suppose that you simply did not know that the bridge was Madagascar rosewood? Or, you knew that it was Madagascar rosewood, but had been told by a credible source, like its manufacturer, that it had been harvested from the legal regions of Madagascar. The penalty is forfeiture. Yes, that’s right. The Lacey Act imposes what the law calls strict liability. Even if you have no knowledge, despite herculean efforts to obtain it, that some piece of your guitar, no matter how small, was obtained illegally, you lose your guitar forever. Oh, and you’ll be fined $250 for that false (or missing) information in your Lacey Act Import Declaration."

Ouch.

 

[straycat113]

Another useful tidbit of information that was told to me from someone who knows is- That even if you have the paper work to verify it is legal of your item made with material that is now considered endangered and you altered it in anyway, that would now be considered the born on date and can be taken.

 

[savannah_sean]

heard a story about this on NPR today:

Why Gibson Guitar Was Raided By The Justice Department : The Record : NPR

 

[Purple ASS]

CEO of Gibson: Feds Told Us to Leave U.S. - YouTube