Really, Gibson? I thought this was from The Onion!

[Denis]

I only put this here because this is where all the posts about the Fish & Wildlife Service raid were posted.

If this is true, this is some cynical shit.
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Government-Series-II-Les-Paul.aspx

[Dave W]

It's not a joke, unfortunately. Note this is Series II. They did this once before, right after some of the confiscated wood was returned.

[Denis]

After all that I would have thought they'd be smarter than to thumb their noses at the government like that.
It reminds me of people who complain about being profiled but are the same ones who weave in and out of traffic going faster than anyone else.
You're not being profiled, you're being stupid.

[gweimer]

Hey, if Willie Nelson can release the IRS Tapes, why can't Gibson follow suit?

[Highlander]

Law suit...?

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Anybody else read the comments on that thread and wonder is "Nathan Hanson's" real first name name is Henry? All the details are there in his recounting, but altered ever so slightly as to make Gibson appear innocent, downplaying the fact that they were fined for GETTING CAUGHT BREAKING THE LAW.

[Denis]

A friend of mine insists that the seizure was found to be illegal and that is why the "government returned all the rosewood".

[neepheid]

What's wrong with baiting "the man" a bit?  I think I'm going to put some NSA/GCHQ bait in my next song

[Dave W]

A friend of mine insists that the seizure was found to be illegal and that is why the "government returned all the rosewood".

The government seized a lot of wood and only returned the portion that wasn't part of the complaint. That's a fact.

Keep in mind that every day, people faced with possible federal criminal charges will admit guilt to avoid a trial that could result in years in prison. So I wouldn't automatically say Gibson is guilty  just because they admitted wrongdoing. But anyone who takes an objective look at the facts that we do know, and ignores the political sideshow, just about has to conclude that Gibson was knowingly smuggling wood.

The fact that Gibson is now making their rosewood boards from laminated veneer is an admission that they can't legally import the thicker boards from India at this time.

What's wrong with baiting "the man" a bit?  I think I'm going to put some NSA/GCHQ bait in my next song

Nothing wrong with it. But would you do it if you knew you were already the subject of a federal criminal investigation? Would you do it after you had already admitted to violating the law?

[neepheid]

Nothing wrong with it. But would you do it if you knew you were already the subject of a federal criminal investigation? Would you do it after you had already admitted to violating the law?

Ach, in for a penny, in for a pound

[uwe]

Ach, in for a penny, in for a pound

I heard that phrase first in that song here ... and they say rock music doesn't educate you ...

[nofi]

in for a penny in for a pound pre dates rock and just about everything else. i've heard this expression most of my live and some research shows it to be about 300 years old. kenny should know this.

[uwe]

Kenny can tell everything apart.

[Granny Gremlin]

I heard that phrase first in that song here ... and they say rock music doesn't educate you ...

Interesting bass - a ho of some sort?  Looks like a Gibson inspired headstock with a Gretch doublecut shaped body (like Malcom Young's Jet).

Good shots of it at 1:04 and 1:27-1:55ish.

[uwe]

Hamer'ish or vintage Dean'ish, isn't it?