Custom Guitar Owners Won’t Face Prosecution
Since the raid of the Gibson guitar factories in Memphis and Nashville last month there have been many rumors and fears regarding the ownership of custom guitars made using illegally imported wood. However, in a letter released by two federal agencies, it is stated that custom guitar owners won’t face prosecution, with efforts being focused on parties who are “removing protected species from the wild and making a profit by trafficking in them”.
The letter makes it clear that it’s importers of illegal woods, and the customers who offer a place to sell the contraband material, that the FBI are targeting in their most recent clampdown. This means that owners of possible contraband guitars needn’t worry, the Feds aren’t interested in chasing the end users, just the people who are making them.
The recent high profile raids on the famous factories, where the legendary Gibson stock and custom electric guitars are made, has led to a public outburst at the authorities by Gibson chief executive Henry Juszkiewicz. The guitar chief claimed that “the federal government risking U.S. jobs with over-zealous regulation”, according to ABC News.
The accusations surrounding this case will continue to fly from one side to the next for months, if not years to come but, in the meantime, owners of custom guitars that may have been made from banned woods shouldn’t worry, as it appears the Feds want to stop the trade not chase the little guys.
If you’re looking for a new Gibson electric guitar, take a look at the great choice of Gibson guitars available to buy online.
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