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For those who need a primer (or would like to educate someone) this article presents all the main points in a nutshell (see the video AND read the article). Very balanced and complete. Special thanks for David B's work on this issue (and for wearing his LMI shirt!).
Pass it on. Legalize Guitarmaking!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10 ... latestnews

-Chris, LMI

Good article Chris. I saw a segment on Fox news this afternoon with a brief interview with David.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
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1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

You think David stuck his neck out there? We are all gonna end up with masks on like those idiotic terrorists when talking to the media.

Mike

If David stuck his neck, out - I'm glad he did.
SOMEONE has to take a risk to get this crap shut down.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

interesting new coverage this morning, and it looks like one of the Fox hosts builds guitars!!! hopefully this will get the needed amendments !!!
I do own a Les Paul and to think I might be a criminal???!!!!!

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MK5acoustics.com

I read this stuff, and it just makes me so angry.

It should make us furious.
I haven't built anything new in years after concentrating on repairs and restorations.
Now I'm considering entering the market again and this crap pops up.

Have they raided Martin, Fender, or Taylor? No.
Have they stopped the importation of foreign guitars with these same woods? No.

They better not. This is how the Tea Party got started.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

They ran a longer segment during the 6pm news. Perhaps Fox will post that as well, or substitute it. -- db

Just incredible. I love this quote:



At what point did LMII import and trade in illegal timber or buy it from an illegal source?

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Consider the source!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks for bringing that to our attention Chris, nice piece. And thanks to David too for all the good information he's given us over that few months, way to go.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Looks like all you guitar builders are a bunch of criminals..................... thats me too..............
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

No no, Tom. You're from Canada, Eh! We have no law that says we can't import woods from other countries as long as the wood adhears to CITES

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks Filippo for that link, it tells the other side of the story - i.e. the bigger picture, and the green point of view. That side of politics is likely to oppose any changes. The music instrument industry is just a small part of the bigger picture so this "crap" is not going to get "shut down" easily at all.

I am from Australia so am also not a ciminal. We can import any wood so long as it conforms to the Aussie CITES rules (tougher than the US) and satifies the quaranteen rules. However, there are moves to change that, and I am not real confident the outcome will be nice.

Well, what can you do?

Rather than sit here feeling helpless, I googled 'contacting Patty Murray'(our state's Senator in D. C.).

I hope I got the facts straight! I brought up the disparity of importing a product that is 4mm thick that is legal vs. a 8mm thick product that is illegal, even though it uses less natural resources.

Will it help?

I do not know, but at least I tried.

Sincerely,

Mark Schrier

PS. Oh yeah, I also threw in the part about guitar building being a fine American tradition. A little tug on the patriotic heart strings!
Oops, no stars and stripes. Did the colors run?

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A world without music would Bb.

I will join in tipping my hat to David for making clear the dangers of this situation to the small independent builder.

Unfortunately Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) doesn't get a vote on the issue! This is known as "Representation without Representation".

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The member formerly known as erikbojerik....

Thanks all! For those looking for something to do, I recommend visiting this page (below).

Andy -LMI has never knowingly imported illegal wood and has this strictest Lacey act compliance program in the business (IMHO). The text on this page gives a brief explanation of how the Feds are so wrong on this case.

http://www.rgcguitars.com/lacey.html

That's exactly what I thought. You should post a comment on that huffington post article.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Seems to me the Huffington Post always only tells half the story, and while they have their facts straight, the way the apply them always seems a little off. For example, they state the purpose and reasons for the Lacey Act factually, but omit the fact that Gibson and LMI were obeying the laws of India. I get the impression from reading the Huffington Post article that LMI and Gibson want to break the law, and the people who are trying to "undermine" the Lacey Act are doing so for nefarious purposes. I just don't believe that.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

As I stated before, "Consider the Source!"

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks for posting this link, Chris. Judging by the number of members in this forum, as well as the membership of other guitar forums, if there could be enough people contacting their legislative leaders, this problem just might get resolved the way we'd like to see it.

Mark Schrier

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A world without music would Bb.

"Until these cases are resolved, it behooves everyone to reserve judgment." Yet he proceeds to pass judgement.

Protects Jobs??? Go to Tennessee and say that to the faces of the workers at Gibson.

I'd expect nothing less from the Huffington Post. They should stick to posting funny pictures and funny youtube videos in the Comedy section.

Ok Fillipo, I'm going to, against my better judgement, click on that link. I have an Epi syringe at my side, a large rubber mallet, some duct tape and a planned escape route to the shower. If I don't post within 12 hours of this post, assume the worst and call emergency services and forwarn them to expect a messy situation.

Mike

Great, now my iPhone has a virus that turns my screen green, I only suffered minor bodily damage, blood seeping from ears and nose is subsiding (see Rubber Mallet). Duct tape not necessary since head did not explode. No welts, Epi not used. Shower was needed, gonna stay home from work tomorrow.

Mike – I applaud your courage in visiting that place, but you were wise to take the precautions you did, as the sickness that exists there is the only mental illness known to be contagious.