Gibson Hits Trump Guitars With Cease and Desist
A company with Les Paul-style six strings is claiming its the “only guitar officially endorsed by President Donald J. Trump”
A guitar company touting an endorsement from President-elect Donald Trump has been hit by a cease and desist order from Gibson.
According to Guitar World, the 130-year-old guitar manufacturer confirmed that it had sent the warning to Trump Guitars owner 16 Creative “as the design infringes upon Gibson’s exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape.”
The Trump Guitars website lists an “American Eagle Series” inlaid with Trump’s campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” in “authentic pearl” up the neck of the guitar with the number “45” branded on the headstock.
Although it’s not clear if Trump owns the company, Trump Guitars claims they have the “only guitar officially endorsed by President Donald J. Trump” and the homepage shows the president-elect holding one of the guitars.
One of the acoustic guitars features Trump signing its body, and according to its product page, “Only 275 of these beautiful guitars will be signed.” While a non-signed guitar costs $1,250, a six string baring Trump’s signature runs for more than $10,000.
For anyone looking for additional ways to light cash on fire, Trump Guitars also sells the “Presidential Series” in black, gold and red finishes.
The site also states that the instruments are “custom designed and developed by a veteran-owned company with the help of a master luthier.” Notably, as Guitar World points out, the FAQ section says that its guitars are manufactured by “multiple providers” that are “both domestic and international,” so its quite possible that the guitars branded with the American flag and image of a bald eagle are not entirely made in the U.S.
