US customs made a record seizure of 3,000 guitars imitating the famous Gibson brand in Los Angeles, California, on Tuesday.
It was a cargo ship from Asia that was transporting the counterfeit instruments, the total value of which would have been US$18.7 million ($25.3 million CAD) if they had been authentic.
The Gibson company confirmed that the intercepted instruments were indeed counterfeit, emphasizing that the brand’s real guitars are exclusively made in the United States.
“These are fraudulent guitars, they can appear authentic at first sight and to the touch, especially for buyers who are less familiar with the models and who obtain them online, from unauthorized sellers or even from an individual,” commented Cheryl M. Davies, Director of Operations for the Los Angeles Border Services.
The president of the Gibson company, Cesar Gueikian said he was “very grateful” for all the efforts put in place by the police and agents in this case.
“This announcement gives us hope and shows us that we are on the right track to putting an end to the counterfeit market. We encourage all musicians to purchase their instruments directly from a dealer, no matter which brand you choose to purchase,” he adds.
Remember that Gibson is an American brand founded in 1894 which manufactures acoustic and electric guitars, as well as all their accessories. Several big names in music including Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Jack White own them.
The prices of these guitars vary greatly depending on the model and rarity. Some cost around $2,000 while others can sell for several thousand dollars, or even much more.
