Gibson Offices Raided

Wow, 2 days in a row where I’m re-posting news from MMR (Musican Merchandise Review)! The NashvillePost.com reported that Federal agents and local police seizedwood, guitars, etc from Gibson Guitar’s Massman Road facility in Nashville.

Here is a chunk of relevant info:

Sources say the guitar manufacturer is being investigated for violating the Lacey Act, a key piece of environmental law, for importing endangered species of rosewood from Madagascar.

Rosewood is widely used in the construction of guitars and sells for $5,000 per cubic meter, more than double the price of mahogany. The island nation off Africa’s east coast is a key producer of the hardwood, the export of which has links to international criminal activity.

You can read the entire story at Musical Merchandise Review.