IGetItAlready
Rookie
- Jul 27, 2012
- 1,264
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- Banned
- #21
That sucks. I was hoping to get a Les Paul at a fed auction.
You better start with an Epiphone and work your way up. I think I have one lying around behind one of my mains that I'll sell you for $50.00
BTW, your analysis of what was going on sucks. They were importing exotic woods, without a license. It was pirate woods coming out of Madagascar that got them nailed. I bet you also like blood diamond trade.
That was the claim the feds made for their actions but it's simply NOT the case.
Gibson got their wood back, which btw was procured in full compliance with EPA regs and the tariff laws they were accused of skirting.
Already own a Gibson acoustic, a Guild dreadknot acoustic, a pre-CBS Fender Jag, and a Gibson ES 175, and a 1980 Ibanez Studio II, that I goosed up with DiMarzio Hot Rods. Love Gibson's products. They produce what I think is the sweetest neck out there. That doesn't exempt them from essentially using rare, exotic woods, without an import license.
Very Nice!!!
Had an Ibanez rg550 back in the day...would kill to have that unit back!
There were two "investigations" and that's all they were as there were never any formal charges filed, In the case of the wood Gibson imported from India, the government concedes that there was nothing wrong with Gibson's possessing it nor in the way the wood had been obtained. In the case of the Madagascar wood the fact that the feds were not willing to even press charges says plenty. Prove it was Madagascar Rosewood, prove the wood wasn't pre-ban stock and prove Gibson was negligent. They clearly weren't ready to do that. Meanwhile the feds threaten to shut down the Indian imports, essentially putting Gibson out of business and costing them millions more to fight.
Typical Obama DoJ strong arming.
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