The Lacey Act violation

The Lacey Act violation

In 2013 Gibson introduced the Goverment Series of Les Paul, SG, Flying V, Explorer & ES-335 guitars which were constructed sotely of tonewood the US goverment seized but later returned to Gibson after the resolution of the company´s Lacey Act violation in 2011. The guitars were finished in "government grey" and also featured decorations which intended to draw attention to the issue of government. A year later in 2014, Gibson released the Goverment Series II of guitars; which were essemtially the same as the first series, only finished in a new color: "goverment tan". Guitars from the both the original and the second Goverment Series have since become highly sought after by players & collectors alike, often fetching between $1,200 and $3,000 on eBay.

On August 6, 2012, with Gibson admitting to violating the Lacey Act and agreeing to pay a fine of $300,000 in addition to a $50,000 community payment.