Gibson's way of giving the finger to Eric Holder.

[Minte]

It's a short article, but take note of the fact CF Martin didn't even get looked at.

Gibson Guitar?s new line is a middle finger to Holder?s unjust Justice Department

Joe Saunders
bizpacreview.com
February 3, 2014

The Gibson Guitar company is fighting the ?powers that be? ? making ?Government Series? guitars for sale out of wood confiscated in a Justice Department raid but eventually returned to the company.


In a 2011 raid on Gibson facilities in Memphis and Nashville, heavily armed SWAT teams seized up to $3 million worth of wood the Justice Departmentclaimed had been imported illegally from India. It was the second time the company had been targeted in two years, and it started a criminal case that wasn?t resolved until July, 2012, when the government dropped all charges against Gibson and the company agreed to pay a $300,000 penalty and contribute $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

At the time, the raid drew mockery from Republicans like House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and country singer celebrity Charlie Daniels, as well as anarmy of Gibson supporters in tea party groups and elsewhere.

As part of the agreement, Gibson demanded the supposedly illegal wood be returned ? and last week it unveiled a new guitar line made from it: The Government Series II Les Paul.

The company, owned by no-nonsense conservative Henry Juszkiewicz, made its motives clear in a news release announcing the guitar:

Great Gibson electric guitars have long been a means of fighting the establishment, so when the powers that be confiscated stocks of tonewoods from the Gibson factory in Nashville ? only to return them once there was a resolution and the investigation ended ? it was an event worth celebrating. Introducing the Government Series II Les Paul, a striking new guitar from Gibson USA for 2014 that suitably marks this infamous time in Gibson?s history.

Even though the Gibson raid was national news, its possible political motivations were largely unexplored by the mainstream media.

Juszkiewicz is a donor to Republicans like U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Lamar Alexander; his company got invaded by government agents for using wood imported from India. Meanwhile, according to Investor?s Business Daily, competing guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. made guitars from the exact same wood yet escaped Justice persecution. It?s worth nothing that C.F. Martin CEO Chris Martin is a reliable Democratic donor, according to IBD.
The ?Government Series? guitars start at about $1,000 retail and include a certificate of authenticity signed by Juszkiewicz, who maintained from the beginning that the company had done nothing wrong.

?We feel that Gibson was inappropriately targeted ?,? he said in a news release announcing the settlement of the criminal case and reported by the Heritage Foundation. ?? [T]he Government used violent and hostile means with the full force of the U.S. Government and several armed law enforcement agencies costing the taxpayer millions of dollars and putting a job-creating U.S. manufacturer at risk and at a competitive disadvantage. This shows the increasing trend on the part of the Government to criminalize rules and regulations and treat U.S. businesses in the same way drug dealers are treated. This is wrong and it is unfair.?

[dyna mo]

Isn't that just insane? I wasn't aware the gov series was due to this. I like the series, except for the color- desert sand.

I guess now that they have the wood back they will return to using mahoghany for the fretboards and the guitar forums can move on to the next debate.

My LP has the Granadillo fretboard, due to Gibson having to scramble to find suitable replacement tonewood due to the confiscation. Nevertheless, it plays fantastic and is quite beautiful and I am stoked to have it.

[DBS.US]

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Elec...-Les-Paul.aspx

[Grapesoda]

Juszkiewicz is a donor to Republicans like U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Lamar Alexander; his company got invaded by government agents for using wood imported from India. Meanwhile, according to Investor?s Business Daily, competing guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. made guitars from the exact same wood yet escaped Justice persecution. It?s worth nothing that C.F. Martin CEO Chris Martin is a reliable Democratic donor, according to IBD.
The ?Government Series? guitars start at about $1,000 retail and include a certificate of authenticity signed by Juszkiewicz, who maintained from the beginning that the company had done nothing wrong.

?We feel that Gibson was inappropriately targeted ?,? he said in a news release announcing the settlement of the criminal case and reported by the Heritage Foundation. ?? [T]he Government used violent and hostile means with the full force of the U.S. Government and several armed law enforcement agencies costing the taxpayer millions of dollars and putting a job-creating U.S. manufacturer at risk and at a competitive disadvantage. This shows the increasing trend on the part of the Government to criminalize rules and regulations and treat U.S. businesses in the same way drug dealers are treated. This is wrong and it is unfair.?

Holder is denying that anyone is targeted because they don't support Obama and refuses to set up independent consul to investigate... Obama says it's all bullshit, no impropriates in his administration.... what a creepy bunch of fucks for sure

[dyna mo]

WOuld have been cool if Gibbie put a shot the finger image on this guitar!

Johnny cash style!

[iwantchixx]

Any experience with the firty fingers pickups?

Nice looking guitar but yeah,, that color sucks.

[iSpyCams]

Yeah based on the article I want one but looking at the guitar I am kind if "meh".

If the wood is the selling point then lets SEE it and not cover it with paint. Also I can't show up to a gig with a LP that has no binding on the body, people will think I cheaped out and got a "studio" like a god damned student.

Show me one in Tabacco burst with binding and I'll order one (eventually)

[dyna mo]

Any experience with the firty fingers pickups?

Nice looking guitar but yeah,, that color sucks.

I looked into them to put in my now canceled es-355 project, they are super high output- 16k, very over-wound so lots of distortion. ceramic magnets. I recall they were first introduced in the early 80s

[Minte]

WOuld have been cool if Gibbie put a shot the finger image on this guitar!

Johnny cash style!

And you know he meant it!

[Minte]

Holder is denying that anyone is targeted because they don't support Obama and refuses to set up independent consul to investigate... Obama says it's all bullshit, no impropriates in his administration.... what a creepy bunch of fucks for sure

Makes you wonder. We received a fine today from the State of Wis commercial boiler inspection division. They stopped a few weeks ago and the maintenance supervisor wasn't available to take them through the plant, so they made it simple and just fined us.

The odd part, is that we don't have any boilers in the plant anymore. When we bought the building they weren't active so we had them removed and replaced the HVAC with natural gas fed rooftops. I personally took the inspector through last year when they came by and showed him.

[sperbonzo]

Good for Gibson. People need to wake up to the fact that the government is coming in with armed federal agents, to both companies and private citizens, and seizing assets without even any charges.... But people are not taking notice, and when they are, they are simply saying, "Oh, they must be guilty of something". It's going to get worse before it gets better.



.

[JFK]

WOuld have been cool if Gibbie put a shot the finger image on this guitar!

Johnny cash style!

Like that

[badpuma]

hey thats great

[Vendzilla]

The world is falling apart.

Last year, My best friends brother went into his house with a key he had, not knowing the new alarm code. A phone call from the alarm company got the alarm turned off.

Next month, he got a bill for $300 for the police, yet they never showed up and the police station is right around the corner.

And people think we have rights?

[VikingMan]

The guy who owns Gibson and every other zombie fuck out there who supports these Republican traitors can go pound salt. I feel no sympathy for him. Now that this is over he will jut go back to business like nothing a happened as the politicians continue to be bought off and the nation crumbles. He only spoke out because HE was targeted.

[Vendzilla]

The guy who owns Gibson and every other zombie fuck out there who supports these Republican traitors can go pound salt. I feel no sympathy for him. Now that this is over he will jut go back to business like nothing a happened as the politicians continue to be bought off and the nation crumbles. He only spoke out because HE was targeted.

So you wouldn't speak out if you were targeted?

So people that don't think like you should not have freedom of speech? Only people that think like you do?

[dyna mo]

Now that this is over he will jut go back to business like nothing a happened

He went back to business and launched an entire new line with the confiscated materials and ironically named them the Government Series guitars, which was the topic of this thread.

[Sly]

Chase also gave a big "fuck off" to the administration recently. Very unfortunate so many families were impacted by it though. Don't like that at all.

http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-...y-raise-2014-1

[VikingMan]

So you wouldn't speak out if you were targeted?

So people that don't think like you should not have freedom of speech? Only people that think like you do?

My point is that all these influential people like the guy who owns Gibson sit on their hands and actually support the system and the traitorous politicians who are destroying this country. Then when something shocking happens to them personally they complain. Oh goodie he is making some special guitars.

[Zeiss]

I like Gibson... their flying V...

[dyna mo]

My point is that all these influential people like the guy who owns Gibson sit on their hands and actually support the system and the traitorous politicians who are destroying this country. Then when something shocking happens to them personally they complain. Oh goodie he is making some special guitars.

Your point is lost. If he had any influence he wouldn't have been raided to begin with.

[Relentless]

For what they will make on those guitars, they are likely hoping to be raided every Wednesday. I'm not saying what happened is right... I'm saying it can be monetized much like anything else. ;)

It's also the absolute best contest prize they could ever have for an essay contest. Let students, musicians and college kids know they can win one of these guitars if they send in a letter to the justice department explaining why these raids are anti-American, and select one of their letters as the winning entry. Then publish that winning article on the New York Times OP-ED page.

Nothing like having your target audience flood the DOJ with well-written intelligent letters for you from all over the country to pressure the DOJ into curtailing the recurring misuse of policy... and then making front page news out of it by being awarding them a guitar for doing it well.

[iSpyCams]

My point is that all these influential people like the guy who owns Gibson sit on their hands and actually support the system and the traitorous politicians who are destroying this country. Then when something shocking happens to them personally they complain. Oh goodie he is making some special guitars.

I have a feeling you have no idea who owns Gibson or what they have ever done to destroy this or any country. You just assume that they have money cause their name is out there and that they must be the enemy if they are doing well. In your mind, making some of the best guitars in the world is not a good enough reason for them to be well off, assuming they are.

[VikingMan]

I have a feeling you have no idea who owns Gibson or what they have ever done to destroy this or any country. You just assume that they have money cause their name is out there and that they must be the enemy if they are doing well. In your mind, making some of the best guitars in the world is not a good enough reason for them to be well off, assuming they are.

My point is that these influential people who complain all the time should just drop out of the system and try to get the masses to follow them. What happens is they get picked off one by one and nothing positive ever happens. The ship is still headed down. Sorry I was not more clear.

[Rochard]

At the time, the raid drew mockery from Republicans like House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and country singer celebrity Charlie Daniels, as well as anarmy of Gibson supporters in tea party groups and elsewhere.

Well, why isn't Boehner do something about it? I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, he's a fucking Congressman - Why doesn't he go directly to the Justice department and get an explaination? Why doesn't fucking Boehner put an end to this?

Seems to me like Boehner would be much better qualified to be making changes to the Lacey Act than the President would.

Juszkiewicz is a donor to Republicans like U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Lamar Alexander; his company got invaded by government agents for using wood imported from India. Meanwhile, according to Investor?s Business Daily, competing guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. made guitars from the exact same wood yet escaped Justice persecution. It?s worth nothing that C.F. Martin CEO Chris Martin is a reliable Democratic donor, according to IBD.
The ?Government Series? guitars start at about $1,000 retail and include a certificate of authenticity signed by Juszkiewicz, who maintained from the beginning that the company had done nothing wrong.

So... They didn't go after a company that no one ever heard of and you are surprised?

Yawn.

[Minte]

Well, why isn't Boehner do something about it? I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, he's a fucking Congressman - Why doesn't he go directly to the Justice department and get an explaination? Why doesn't fucking Boehner put an end to this?

Seems to me like Boehner would be much better qualified to be making changes to the Lacey Act than the President would.





So... They didn't go after a company that no one ever heard of and you are surprised?

Yawn.

No one has heard of CF Martin? How fucking stupid are you.

[Minte]

My point is that these influential people who complain all the time should just drop out of the system and try to get the masses to follow them. What happens is they get picked off one by one and nothing positive ever happens. The ship is still headed down. Sorry I was not more clear.

I agree..the Gibson army should launch an attack on Washington and throw all those fucktards to the curb.

[dyna mo]

So... They didn't go after a company that no one ever heard of and you are surprised?

Yawn.

Bro.

Martin is one of the oldest companies in America, 175+ year old legendary guitar builder that is currently a leading manufacturer of acoustic guitars.

[crockett]

Thanks Obama!

Yet another random thing happened where the govt was potentially out of line and it's of course all Obamas fault. It's funny how when Bush was in office nothing was ever his fault, but Obama has his finger on every button it seems.. It's amazing he can single handily do so many things while doing nothing at all if you listen to most right wingers.

[DamianJ]

Makes you wonder. We received a fine today from the State of Wis commercial boiler inspection division. They stopped a few weeks ago and the maintenance supervisor wasn't available to take them through the plant, so they made it simple and just fined us.

The odd part, is that we don't have any boilers in the plant anymore. When we bought the building they weren't active so we had them removed and replaced the HVAC with natural gas fed rooftops. I personally took the inspector through last year when they came by and showed him.

Fascinating tale, chap.

[Grapesoda]

Makes you wonder. We received a fine today from the State of Wis commercial boiler inspection division. They stopped a few weeks ago and the maintenance supervisor wasn't available to take them through the plant, so they made it simple and just fined us.

The odd part, is that we don't have any boilers in the plant anymore. When we bought the building they weren't active so we had them removed and replaced the HVAC with natural gas fed rooftops. I personally took the inspector through last year when they came by and showed him.

well look on the bright side.. the government is now involved health ins

(I think Obamas administration we be view as morally/totally corrupt and dishonest by history)

[Grapesoda]

Thanks Obama!

Yet another random thing happened where the govt was potentially out of line and it's of course all Obamas fault. It's funny how when Bush was in office nothing was ever his fault, but Obama has his finger on every button it seems.. It's amazing he can single handily do so many things while doing nothing at all if you listen to most right wingers.

bush gets blamed for stuff all day long every day

[Grapesoda]

Well, why isn't Boehner do something about it? I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, he's a fucking Congressman - Why doesn't he go directly to the Justice department and get an explaination? Why doesn't fucking Boehner put an end to this?

Seems to me like Boehner would be much better qualified to be making changes to the Lacey Act than the President would.





So... They didn't go after a company that no one ever heard of and you are surprised?

Yawn.

heard a session with Cruz and Holder on the radio, Holder refused to answer any questions and basically told Cruz to mind his own business ..

[Minte]

Fascinating tale, chap.

It's over your head.. clearly

[Minte]

Thanks Obama!

Yet another random thing happened where the govt was potentially out of line and it's of course all Obamas fault. It's funny how when Bush was in office nothing was ever his fault, but Obama has his finger on every button it seems.. It's amazing he can single handily do so many things while doing nothing at all if you listen to most right wingers.

God you're a crybaby. It was Eric Holders doing. What part of ERIC HOLDER don't you get? Nowhere did I say it was Obama's fault.

But you are right. Obama is a horseshit president. Sorry you got suckered in.

[Rochard]

No one has heard of CF Martin? How fucking stupid are you.

That's correct. I have heard of Gibson, but not CF Martin. I am not a musician and cannot name the top companies that make musical instruments. I cannot tell you who makes the best drums or pianos or microphones either. Just not an area of interest.

My issue is you turn everything into a political discussion trying to make the President look bad, and it's just stupid. You are making this into a political thing, and it's really not. A company is in violation of some silly law, and one of the law enforcement agencies decided to make an issue out of it. Why one company over another? No fucking clue. Maybe one is located in a town where they have a FBI office that can handle it, and they decided to do that company first, and then will follow up with other companies later on. But your article makes it sound like it's the White House picking on someone; Why the fuck isn't Bohner doing something? Isn't this part of their job - to take a complaint from one of their citizens and look into the matter and recommend changes? Or is their job just to complain a lot and point fingers, which is what he is doing.

My wife sits on the board of a local charity organization, and they are being bitch smacked by the IRS who seems to think they aren't a charity and trying to take their status away from them. No one said "Gee, it's because of Obama". The government does it's business on a daily basis with zero input from White House.

[Vendzilla]

My point is that all these influential people like the guy who owns Gibson sit on their hands and actually support the system and the traitorous politicians who are destroying this country. Then when something shocking happens to them personally they complain. Oh goodie he is making some special guitars.

They sit on their hands in hopes of not being targeted themselves

I've heard time and time again where people on this forum don't believe conservatives were targeted by the IRS, even though they admitted to targeting them. The IRS gave the names of the contributors of those Conservative targets to liberals, they in turn harassed them.
It's a fucked up system that's been getting worse under a president that continually denies knowing anything about it. Then assigns one of his contributors to oversee the investigation in to any illegal motives.

So yes, Obama is to blame for any destruction

[Vendzilla]

Thanks Obama!

Yet another random thing happened where the govt was potentially out of line and it's of course all Obamas fault. It's funny how when Bush was in office nothing was ever his fault, but Obama has his finger on every button it seems.. It's amazing he can single handily do so many things while doing nothing at all if you listen to most right wingers.

So you are saying because Bush did it, it's ok? WHY?

BTW, It's been Bushes fault ever since Obama took office

[PornDude]

[Minte]

That's correct. I have heard of Gibson, but not CF Martin. I am not a musician and cannot name the top companies that make musical instruments. I cannot tell you who makes the best drums or pianos or microphones either. Just not an area of interest.

My issue is you turn everything into a political discussion trying to make the President look bad, and it's just stupid. You are making this into a political thing, and it's really not. A company is in violation of some silly law, and one of the law enforcement agencies decided to make an issue out of it. Why one company over another? No fucking clue. Maybe one is located in a town where they have a FBI office that can handle it, and they decided to do that company first, and then will follow up with other companies later on. But your article makes it sound like it's the White House picking on someone; Why the fuck isn't Bohner doing something? Isn't this part of their job - to take a complaint from one of their citizens and look into the matter and recommend changes? Or is their job just to complain a lot and point fingers, which is what he is doing.

My wife sits on the board of a local charity organization, and they are being bitch smacked by the IRS who seems to think they aren't a charity and trying to take their status away from them. No one said "Gee, it's because of Obama". The government does it's business on a daily basis with zero input from White House.

The president doesn't need my help to look bad. He has proven himself more than capable to handle that. But as I just mentioned to your buttbuddy..this was about Holder.

So, here is a thought. The board is full of *business* threads. Why don't you just go post in those.

[Rochard]

The president doesn't need my help to look bad. He has proven himself more than capable to handle that. But as I just mentioned to your buttbuddy..this was about Holder.

So, here is a thought. The board is full of *business* threads. Why don't you just go post in those.

Yeah, he looks horrible.

And Congress has an approval rating of what - 13%?

[crockett]

God you're a crybaby. It was Eric Holders doing. What part of ERIC HOLDER don't you get? Nowhere did I say it was Obama's fault.

But you are right. Obama is a horseshit president. Sorry you got suckered in.

Three posts in Obama was already being brought up.. That's what I was replying to. Aside from that the whole article is loaded with the pretense that this was retaliation because he was a out spoken Republican

they had to and did pay a fine. Meaning they were caught doing something wrong yet there is no proof from Gibson showing they did no wrong or that the govt was wrong. Just an article trying to allege the govt targeted them for being pro Republican yet they have no proof.. Reads just like some pro gun article the righties love to jerk off to..

Has all the classic, big evil govt trying to keep the freedom lovers down. But hey you can get back and show your support, just buy this special Guitar.

[iSpyCams]

My point is that these influential people who complain all the time should just drop out of the system and try to get the masses to follow them. What happens is they get picked off one by one and nothing positive ever happens. The ship is still headed down. Sorry I was not more clear.

"Dropping out of the system" is not a solution. My parents tried it and now they are crawling back for social security and health care since they are too old to live off the land now. Besides, we are the system. You, me, all of us. It is what we make it, every day, through all of our actions or inactions.

Humans are simply social animals and we don't do well outside society.

[dyna mo]

The truly shitty part of all of this is the feds raided the Gibson factory with fully geared up SWAT teams.

I don't think anyone would disagree that's insanely excessive, if not abuse.

[Sly]

The truly shitty part of all of this is the feds raided the Gibson factory with fully geared up SWAT teams.

I don't think anyone would disagree that's insanely excessive, if not abuse.

You underestimate the lethal possibilities of guitar strings. You know better than that. You have been playing for long enough to know those strings can hurt!

[Minte]

Three posts in Obama was already being brought up.. That's what I was replying to. Aside from that the whole article is loaded with the pretense that this was retaliation because he was a out spoken Republican

they had to and did pay a fine. Meaning they were caught doing something wrong yet there is no proof from Gibson showing they did no wrong or that the govt was wrong. Just an article trying to allege the govt targeted them for being pro Republican yet they have no proof.. Reads just like some pro gun article the righties love to jerk off to..

Has all the classic, big evil govt trying to keep the freedom lovers down. But hey you can get back and show your support, just buy this special Guitar.

Why did Holder completely ignore CF Martin? The tonewoods in question were not a secret. Martin advertised the exact same products as Gibson. I seriously doubt that the decision came down to a coinflip.

[dyna mo]

You underestimate the lethal possibilities of guitar strings. You know better than that. You have been playing for long enough to know those strings can hurt!

The funniest part is you are right. When I change guitar strings there will be blood!

That fucking little e string is like a needle.

[dyna mo]

Chase also gave a big "fuck off" to the administration recently. Very unfortunate so many families were impacted by it though. Don't like that at all.

http://www.businessinsider.com/matt-...y-raise-2014-1

btw, I read this earlier and neglected to reply, I think I was too stunned. Staggered really.

[crockett]

Why did Holder completely ignore CF Martin? The tonewoods in question were not a secret. Martin advertised the exact same products as Gibson. I seriously doubt that the decision came down to a coinflip.

I'm not saying he did or didn't do anything wrong. He probably did, but the whole article just reads like one of the typical feel good propaganda pieces that then tries to sell you something.

My guess is Gibson probably did something wrong that was the reason they were issued a fine and agreed to pay it. It however of course didn't warrant using a SWAT team but hey that's how they do things in MERICA these days. SWAT teams are used daily all across the country to raid white collar businesses and peoples homes whom aren't drug cartel members or terrorists.. It's a fact of life in New America, right along with NSA spying and guilty until proven innocent on all 25 charges the DOJ decides fits a single crime.

I however lose my reasonable doubt that it was just the big evil govt as out of line and poor Gibson did no wrong, when they try make it a political statement to sell Freedom Guitars. If Holder or anyone else did wrong then Gibson should be trying to prove their case with their evidence and take it to court.. Not try to use it as a political bashing on a right wing website and try to milk sales out of it.

[Minte]

I'm not saying he did or didn't do anything wrong. He probably did, but the whole article just reads like one of the typical feel good propaganda pieces that then tries to sell you something.

My guess is Gibson probably did something wrong that was the reason they were issued a fine and agreed to pay it. It however of course didn't warrant using a SWAT team but hey that's how they do things in MERICA these days. SWAT teams are used daily all across the country to raid white collar businesses and peoples homes whom aren't drug cartel members or terrorists.. It's a fact of life in New America, right along with NSA spying and guilty until proven innocent on all 25 charges the DOJ decides fits a single crime.

I however lose my reasonable doubt that it was just the big evil govt as out of line and poor Gibson did no wrong, when they try make it a political statement to sell Freedom Guitars. If Holder or anyone else did wrong then Gibson should be trying to prove their case with their evidence and take it to court.. Not try to use it as a political bashing on a right wing website and try to milk sales out of it.

The debate is not about whether Gibson was wrong. The point is that Martin did exactly the same thing and the feds knew it. Why didn't Holder go after them too?

Gibson doesn't have to milk sales. They sell everything they make and this *government* guitar is at the very lowest of their pricing. It's not going to be a money maker.