Gibson under investigation

  • Thread starter Thread starter nate_dennis
  • Start date Start date
nate_dennis

nate_dennis

Well-known member
I know this is a few months old (and I don't really care to hear about the politics of "enviromentalism") but have you all heard about this?

Wikipedia said:
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 lemur preserves. Federal authorities seized an unknown quantity of alleged endangered and illegal rare wood purchased by Gibson which was stored at the company's factory. [23] Until the investigation has been concluded, Henry E. Juszkiewicz, CEO and Chairman of Gibson Guitar Corporation, has taken a leave of absence as a board member of the Rainforest Alliance. The Rainforest Alliance has issued an official statement on the matter.

However, according to later updates, no arrests have been made. Authorities were unable to confirm whether any items from Gibson's plant were seized
Click to expand...
 
Yes in fact I'll always remember that day for that day when I heard in on the news the day it happend I googled it on line and found for the first this site "home recording.com":laughings::eek::eek::eek::laughings:
 
I read recently about this in relation to the law itself. Don't remember where or why I was reading about it, but the Lacey Act is apparently causing some problems from what I read. Anyone possessing wood of an endangered species, whether it is from the 1950's or today (which would obiviously be illegal) may have trouble transporting it in and out of the states. So if you have a guitar made long before the law was enacted you might end up losing it if caught transporting it. At least this is what was said...I know the article wasn't about guitars, but something else (furniture?) and the Gibson case was cited.
 
Nice to know Gibson is still using the good wood to make guitars with.

I like Brazillian rosewood alot better on a guitar that just sitting there as a tree in the rainforset.
 
Id like to get a fake EPA badge made up and walk into the factory and take out some samples.:cool:
 
I wonder what happened with all of this? It seemed to make a bunch of waves when it happened and then silence...
 
wbcsound said:
I wonder what happened with all of this? It seemed to make a bunch of waves when it happened and then silence...
Click to expand...

I would imagine that the investigation has moved on to Gibson's suppliers. Gibson states that all of its suppliers certify their woods to be in compliance with US law. I don't know how much insight or control Gibson has over where and how its suppliers get their timber.
 
Zaphod B said:
I would imagine that the investigation has moved on to Gibson's suppliers. Gibson states that all of its suppliers certify their woods to be in compliance with US law. I don't know how much insight or control Gibson has over where and how its suppliers get their timber.
Click to expand...

It has a very high degree of insight, control and awareness and SHOULD know better than to touch anything that does not come complete with certification under CITES or any other required documentation.
 
muttley600 said:
It has a very high degree of insight, control and awareness and SHOULD know better than to touch anything that does not come complete with certification under CITES or any other required documentation.
Click to expand...

Yep, you'd think they would be cautious to a fault.
 
Zaphod B said:
Yep, you'd think they would be cautious to a fault.
Click to expand...

I have heard quite a bit of insider rumour and shit about this. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over it if I was on Gibsons payroll.;)

Could be wrong though as it is just insider whispering and chat from timber suppliers who are quite a funny breed.
 
What is it about timber suppliers that makes 'em an odd lot? Too much time alone in the forest scouting for poachable trees? ;)
 
Didn't it have something to do with the fact the dodgy-assed government of the country that a specific supplier of Gibson's was located in had irresponsibly and illegaly declared the wood useable for industry due to economic issues?
 
legionserial said:
Didn't it have something to do with the fact the dodgy-assed government of the country that a specific supplier of Gibson's was located in had irresponsibly and illegaly declared the wood useable for industry due to economic issues?
Click to expand...

If your country of operation is a signatory to the CITES agreement it matters not. You need to get the correct documentation before you can invest in the stuff and import or export it in either raw or finished condition. The burden of proof rests with the company.
 
I'm sure we all know that a LP sustains better if it's had an endangered lemur or three swinging on it when it was still a tree... forces the grain together, makes the wood denser...

That's why they're so heavy.

Originally the LP was so named as the wood came from the Lemur's Playground... it was only later that Les Paul, that good for nothing loser, decided to name it after himself... how conceited is that?

That's what I always thought, anyway...






DISCLAIMER: Some of the above may not actually be true...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top