Thousands of counterfeit Gibson electric guitars were confiscated in a multi-agency raid at the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport.
The 3,000 phony guitars, if real, would be worth at around $18 million, according to investigators.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Gibson Inc. revealed the seizure during a late morning news conference.
“These guitars… may look real to you, but trust and believe they are not,” said Africa Bell, port director for the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport. “They are fraudulent, and they are part of a massive attempt to con the American consumer.” Bell said the fakes were likely meant for the e-commerce industry.
At the news conference in Carson, some of the guitars fashioned to imitate goods by the famed guitar-maker were placed on tables. Others remained in boxes stacked at least 6 feet high inside the facility. Authorities termed it the greatest counterfeit musical instrument confiscation on record.
“This is a big deal,” said attorney Andrea Bates, who represents Gibson Inc. “They were able to facilitate to identify and to seize $18 million worth of counterfeit guitars. This is something that’s really significant. We are delighted that they have collaborated with us and helped take these counterfeit guitars off the market.”
Beth Heidt, Gibson’s chief marketing officer, claimed the bogus guitars were easily spotted by experts. They also would be seen by any professional guitar player familiar with Gibson’s workmanship, she added.
“We can pick it up immediately and tell,” Heidt added. “For the untrained eye, there are a couple of tips.” The logo may seem wrong or be in a different place than on a genuine Gibson product. The logo can potentially bleed.
“The inlays are not correct,” Heidt remarked. “The weight of them it feels more flimsy. There are finish difficulties. The way the neck is fit into the guitar is wrong.
“So there are quite a few ways you can tell that it’s not accurate.” The material and acoustic quality can give an indication, Heidt noted.
No details were revealed about the persons behind the counterfeit enterprise, citing an ongoing investigation. Details regarding what led to the probe were not made public at the news conference, but Bell said there are shipments that grab the attention of port officials.
