Supposedly it’s because they are using exotic imported woods such as ebony and rosewood — which they’ve been doing for generations and which are not commonly grown in the US. (The best ebony for musical instruments is grown in East Africa, although there are decent grades from Ceylon and India. Similarly, Brazilian rosewood is best for guitars, but it’s also grown in other parts of the world. ) The question is, if the Feds are cracking down on Gibson for using these woods, why not other US guitar-makers as well? One explanation is that the CEO of Gibson has given money to GOP candidates, but I’d hate to think the Obama Administration is as petty as the Republicans in this regard.
A Gibson Les Paul with an ebony fretboard.