Gibson guitar wood

[BFSR67]

.Federal agents swooped in on Gibson Guitar Wednesday, raiding factories and offices in Memphis and Nashville, seizing several pallets of wood, electronic files and guitars. The Feds are keeping mum, but in a statement yesterday Gibson's chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz, defended his company's manufacturing policies, accusing the Justice Department of bullying the company. "The wood the government seized Wednesday is from a Forest Stewardship Council certified supplier," he said, suggesting the Feds are using the aggressive enforcement of overly broad laws to make the company cry uncle.

It isn't the first time that agents of the Fish and Wildlife Service have come knocking at the storied maker of such iconic instruments as the Les Paul electric guitar, the J-160E acoustic-electric John Lennon played, and essential jazz-boxes such as Charlie Christian's ES-150. In 2009 the Feds seized several guitars and pallets of wood from a Gibson factory, and both sides have been wrangling over the goods in a case with the delightful name "United States of America v. Ebony Wood in Various Forms."

The question in the first raid seemed to be whether Gibson had been buying illegally harvested hardwoods from protected forests, such as the Madagascar ebony that makes for such lovely fretboards. And if Gibson did knowingly import illegally harvested ebony from Madagascar, that wouldn't be a negligible offense. Peter Lowry, ebony and rosewood expert at the Missouri Botanical Garden, calls the Madagascar wood trade the "equivalent of Africa's blood diamonds." But with the new raid, the government seems to be questioning whether some wood sourced from India met every regulatory jot and tittle.

It isn't just Gibson that is sweating. Musicians who play vintage guitars and other instruments made of environmentally protected materials are worried the authorities may be coming for them next.

If you are the lucky owner of a 1920s Martin guitar, it may well be made, in part, of Brazilian rosewood. Cross an international border with an instrument made of that now-restricted wood, and you better have correct and complete documentation proving the age of the instrument. Otherwise, you could lose it to a zealous customs agent—not to mention face fines and prosecution.

John Thomas, a law professor at Quinnipiac University and a blues and ragtime guitarist, says "there's a lot of anxiety, and it's well justified." Once upon a time, he would have taken one of his vintage guitars on his travels. Now, "I don't go out of the country with a wooden guitar."

The tangled intersection of international laws is enforced through a thicket of paperwork. Recent revisions to 1900's Lacey Act require that anyone crossing the U.S. border declare every bit of flora or fauna being brought into the country. One is under "strict liability" to fill out the paperwork—and without any mistakes.

It's not enough to know that the body of your old guitar is made of spruce and maple: What's the bridge made of? If it's ebony, do you have the paperwork to show when and where that wood was harvested and when and where it was made into a bridge? Is the nut holding the strings at the guitar's headstock bone, or could it be ivory? "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," Prof. Thomas has written. "Oh, and you'll be fined $250 for that false (or missing) information in your Lacey Act Import Declaration."

Consider the recent experience of Pascal Vieillard, whose Atlanta-area company, A-440 Pianos, imported several antique Bösendorfers. Mr. Vieillard asked officials at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species how to fill out the correct paperwork—which simply encouraged them to alert U.S. Customs to give his shipment added scrutiny.

There was never any question that the instruments were old enough to have grandfathered ivory keys. But Mr. Vieillard didn't have his paperwork straight when two-dozen federal agents came calling.

Facing criminal charges that might have put him in prison for years, Mr. Vieillard pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of violating the Lacey Act, and was handed a $17,500 fine and three years probation.

Given the risks, why don't musicians just settle for the safety of carbon fiber? Some do—when concert pianist Jeffrey Sharkey moved to England two decades ago, he had Steinway replace the ivories on his piano with plastic.

Still, musicians cling to the old materials. Last year, Dick Boak, director of artist relations for C.F. Martin & Co., complained to Mother Nature News about the difficulty of getting elite guitarists to switch to instruments made from sustainable materials. "Surprisingly, musicians, who represent some of the most savvy, ecologically minded people around, are resistant to anything about changing the tone of their guitars," he said.

You could mark that up to hypocrisy—artsy do-gooders only too eager to tell others what kind of light bulbs they have to buy won't make sacrifices when it comes to their own passions. Then again, maybe it isn't hypocrisy to recognize that art makes claims significant enough to compete with environmentalists' agendas.

—Write to me at EricFelten@WSJPostmodern.com.

[Tone Slinger]

Good read there, thanks.

[T.L.]

Yes, but we're supposed to just be quiet and pretend this isn't happening. If you mention the word "Gov######t", you will be accused of engaging in political discussion, and the thread will be locked. The same thing happened on the Warmoth Forum.
I am sure it has happened on other guitar discussion forums in the Internet.

So just be quiet, bend over, and take it like a Man...

[chrisom]

Link to original thread (Read-only):

http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=36660" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Froumy]

You're telling me that any guitar I have with Brazillian rosewood(handful), or Ebony(yepp), can't be brought across borders? For Real? That's 6 or 7. They take it? How do they know ebony is from Madagascar? Is ebony/rosewood just taken if you can't prove it's origin? What if it's 40+ years old?

I saw the Gibson stuff on the News. I just figured they knowingly/unknowingly bought from a source they shouldn't have. Didn't realize That half of us on this board might be environmental "criminals". This sucks. I get protecting resources. Most of that stuff is cut to make more room to grow cheap Coffee- Which Bazzilions of people drink. I like the shade grown stuff- tastes better and it's from a little guy. So instead of targeting THAT, they include older wood if it doesn't have documentation? My aching head.

Guess I'm happy Gibson got busted - if it makes for proper resource management. Why do I think they'll just find a different market(wood broker)?

This isn't a "normal" political discussion. If you've got 10+ guitars, seems like you're affected. Left/Right irrelevant. We're all in the same boat, and would be beneficial to find out what this means to the average guitar player. Mike/George can you let this one slide 'til we get some answers? Seriously. We care more about our guitars, than political crap. If someone soapboxes, delete it. Thnx?

What's the deal with my Rosewood back acoustic/Ebony fretboard? That's a double whammy.

[BAinFL]

I hope this can stay open. I mean political talk that shouldn't be allowed here is more like the typical left vs right stuff... Bush vs. Obama...who should win in 2012...etc... or all the other stuff we can all turn into CNN if we care to.

This is more Gibson vs. Govt but to me isn't a "political" discussion. At least until someone starts blaming a particular person or party for what's going on with the wood and shutting down Gibson.

So please in the interests of others, lets all refrain from bringing any "politics" into this discussion so the guitar related discussion can continue as this story unfolds..

[vanhalen5150]

I got the impression from some of the interveiws of the CEO that the wood was being seized because certain work was being done to it before it got into the U.S therefore not making it a "raw" wood import as such. He does mention it in that Alex Jones guys interveiw, but doesnt give many details about exactly what was being done. Anyone can import a guitar with the same wood on it, but its being turned into a guitar from a different source other than the U.S and not being sold as U.S made.

How the Chinese are shipping those copies into the U.S is another story. Do they raid shops selling those in the U.S? I know here in Canada, some of the higher quality ones are getting through customs as "film/stage" props. Guy here selling 5-6 of them a month. Labled as "Chinese handpicked LP copies" with "Made in the U.S.A" right on the back headstock. Obviously, serious loopholes can be found.

I bought a maple neck a few years ago from Stewmac. One of those with the paddle headstock. Paid the import tax/customs/duty which wasn't much but find a "Made in Quebec" sticker on the bottom of the neck that goes into the pocket. It had been sprayed over with laquer. Obviously someone forgot to remove it. I contacted Stewmac and the refused to tell me where in Quebec the neck was produced or who any of their suppliers are. Otherwise I could prove it was made in Canada and get back the import tax. Being curious I contacted Customs Canada and asked them what was the deal? About a month later I get an email stating because the product had been altered in the U.S...sprayed with a clearcoat laquer it was no longer considered the same product thus I was subject to importing tax. Wasnt much money to begin with, but you see where Im going.
Perhaps, the work done to the fretboards of the Gibsons falls somewhere in this. Were they importing premade slotted fretboards as raw material? If so, is it that big a deal? Is that where outsourcing begins? Small pieces that eventually end up being entire products?
This may start something pretty big.

[somethin'else]

From Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz's Oct 3 blog, copied here...

On the DOJ Action against Gibson: Is Leadership Possible?

As I sit here pondering the predicament I find myself and Gibson in I ask myself WHY? The question in my mind goes beyond the interesting “who did this to us?” and goes to what possible purpose can this enormous governmental expense and effort achieve for the citizens that are paying for the effort? This Department of Justice Investigation has already cost the government millions of dollars. It has already cost Gibson millions of dollars, money that could have been invested in new business as virtually all profits have been since I have been with the company. Yes, not investing these funds, and injuring Gibson’s ability compete does cost jobs – real jobs. These funds are now going to lawyers that are working to defend us, and to the extraordinary efforts of our people trying to keep the business running when our raw materials were seized without notice.

The government hopes to convict someone, keep our raw materials from us, send someone to jail and fine us severely. For the huge cost, what would be the purpose of this outcome?

There are some very real and very serious problems facing us. As the global population increases the natural resources of this world are being depleted. Very often, the natural resources are in countries which have unstable with corrupt governments where there are truly bad actors acting to enrich themselves as opposed to the social good. There are very few consumer products that are not touched by such issues, wood products being among them.


Prohibition all Over Again

Can passing a law, stop these wrongs? In the early nineteenth century reformers took on alcohol and used the same prescription, let’s pass a law with onerous consequences and that would surely eradicate the problem. How did that work out?

These problems are deeply rooted, involving consumer tastes, political currents in developing countries, global political chess with nation-states, poverty, lack of education and health infrastructure, etc. These problems are not solved by a law. It will take thoughtful leadership using both the carrot and the stick and a plan to get from here to there. It needs many shoulders at a very messy and difficult wheel, all with good intent, not slave labor under the duress of the Justice Department sword.


Leadership is not the Rule of the Day

It seems to me that it is not the law itself, but the thoughtful application of the law that will achieve difficult but necessary social results. Businesses, including Gibson should certainly be held accountable, but we can be part of the solution if anyone had the character to discuss an issue with us. One of the most successful large scale government programs was the Marshall Plan that instead of punishing our World War II enemies embraced them and helped rebuild their nations. The ensuing prosperity generated allies and trading partners to this day.

But this sort of leadership is not easy in this polarized hateful climate where success is measured by who and what you destroy, and not the social good you build. It is about self-centered constituencies who see things as war, as opposed to having a sense of social good for all, for the planet. It is about big business verses the poor, the religiously devout verses the secular, the republicans verses the democrats, and on it goes. Who has the courage to stand for all? Who can say that all need to prosper and the world needs to be better off?


My Fantasy – A Leader that Embraces All

One great aspect of being human is one has a capacity to dream. One can dream on how things can be, perhaps how they should be. In my dream there are leaders, more than one, that can stand up for principal and the common good, with realistic plans to change the world that are not built on the latest polls. These leaders have a clear constant unwavering vision for real beneficial change. They know how to use the stick but they have both compassion and respect for all constituencies.

It would have been great to have someone call us and tell us they thought we were doing something wrong and sit down in a mutually respectful environment, instead of being treated like a criminal or terrorist for two years without a single true discussion. It would have been so much more energizing to work towards a better world by investing in solving problems and working towards a common goal. It would be so great if there was someone you can call at an Executive level that can thoughtfully review a situation and make it right and fair.

But I woke up today, the dream evaporated and I am facing the nightmare of the way it really is.

[BFSR67]

Gibson Guitar CEO slams U.S. raids as "overreach"

inShare.9Share thisEmailPrintRelated NewsU.S. seeks immediate stay of Alabama immigration law
Fri, Oct 7 2011
Gibson Guitars wood imports case raises concerns
Fri, Sep 30 2011
Trade law hits raw note for guitar maker Gibson
Mon, Sep 19 2011Analysis & OpinionA realistic Dream Act for all
Judge tosses suit against J&J board: law blocks accountability
By Deborah Zabarenko, Environment Correspondent

WASHINGTON | Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:06pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gibson Guitar Corp.'s chief slammed the U.S. government on Wednesday for sending armed agents to raid two Tennessee factories under a law aimed at curbing the illegal harvest of tropical hardwoods.

"Armed people came in our factory ... evacuated our employees, then seized half a million dollars of our goods without any charges having been filed," Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz told reporters and others at a Washington lunch.

"I think it's a clear overreach," he said.

Government agents seized a total of over $1 million worth of rosewood, ebony and finished guitars from Gibson factories in Memphis and Nashville in raids in 2009 and August of this year, Juszkiewicz said.

He brought samples of rosewood and ebony to the lunch; these tropical hardwoods, used in guitar fingerboards, are prized for their strength and tone. Gibson's factories remain open "under great difficulty" because the raids took most of the company's raw materials, the CEO said.

The U.S. Justice Department declined on Wednesday to comment on the case but provided information on the Lacey Act, which aims to curb trafficking in wildlife, fish and plant products, including illegally obtained timber.

"By prohibiting trafficking in wood illegally harvested overseas, the Lacey Act prohibits companies from undercutting law-abiding U.S. wood products companies ... by trading in artificially inexpensive raw materials that have been illegally harvested from foreign forests," Justice and Interior department officials wrote in a letter.

Gibson Guitar uses a small fraction of the world's tropical hardwoods, compared to that used for furniture and flooring, and because it uses so little it can use it sustainably, Juszkiewicz said. He said his company has been a leader in this area with its line of SmartWood instruments, using wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

"The issue here is not illegal logging or some conservation abuse," he said. "The laws that are being identified by the Department of Justice have to do with protectionism by the country of origin, keeping work in that country and therefore not allowing something that isn't that value-added to be exported."

The Lacey Act, enacted in 1900 and amended in 2008 to broaden the range of plant products it includes, makes it illegal to trade in plants obtained in violation of U.S. or foreign law.

Those who unknowingly possess an instrument containing wood that was taken illegally "do not have criminal exposure," the government said in a letter responding to questions from members of Congress on the Gibson case.

Gibson has filed suit in federal court in Nashville to recover the seized material, but that suit has been stayed while the investigation continues, Juszkiewicz said.

Meantime, Gibson's chief said the law should be changed.

"I believe in the intent of the law ... but I do believe that the way it's currently written allows what's happening to me to happen to other companies, and that's wrong," he said.

House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner invited Juszkiewicz to join him in the speaker's box to watch President Barack Obama's address on jobs to joint session of Congress on September 8.

(Editing by Philip Barbara)

[NY Chief]

I'm sorry guys but it is political. Obama's admin is trying to teach Gibson and Boeing a lesson for trying to avoid union manufacturing. It's all about the campaign $$'s. Scumbags.

[chrisom]

"Globalism Is The Problem, NOT The Solution..."

Remember Ross Perot's warning years ago during the election?

[BFSR67]

+1000

[awangotango]

Where's the Martin raid? Do they not use the same rosewood? Is it not also arriving to the US 'unworked' and raw?

[chrisom]

Over the last year or two, I picked me up (2) USA Les Paul Traditionals ( a Plus and a Pro), 2 USA Faded SG Specials (a cherry, and a walnut finish w/ ebony fretboard) and a Korina Epiphone '58-style Flying V. So I have my wood. No baked maple or other shenanigans to work around the U.N. bullshit. I'm covered for life. Pretty sad that a bunch of Al Gore wannabes have to always want to impose their BS junk-science on a bunch of harmless folks who just want to be left alone to their own business...

[vanhalen5150]

I know Stewmac use to sell Honduras Mahogany blanks within the US. They wouldn't ship outside. Only African was shipped outside. Last time I looked they were now only selling African on their site. Kinda makes me want to go to my local hardwood suppliers and buy as much decent wood as I can afford. The days of large 1 piece Mahogany bodies will eventually come to an end.