Gibson Salutes Fed.Gov - Middle Finger Style

Courtesy of Robb at Sharp as a Marble, we find that Gibson has raised a middle finger to the fed.gov in memory of the politically motivated raid on the company.  That rant on the initial raid remains one of my most-read posts.  More background and the resolution. 

Introducing the Gibson Government Series Les Paul:

From the ad copy:

Great Gibson electric guitars have long been a means of fighting the establishment, so when the powers that be confiscated stocks of tonewoods from the Gibson factory in Nashville—only to return them once there was a resolution and the investigation ended—it was an event worth celebrating. Introducing the Government Series II Les Paul, a striking new guitar from Gibson USA for 2014 that suitably marks this infamous time in Gibson’s history.

From its solid mahogany body with modern weight relief for enhance resonance and playing comfort, to its carved maple top, the Government Series II Les Paul follows the tradition of the great Les Paul Standards—but also makes a superb statement with its unique appointments. A distinctive vintage-gloss Government Tan finish, complemented by black-chrome hardware and black plastics and trim, is topped by a pickguard that’s hot-stamped in gold with the Government Series graphic—a bald eagle hoisting a Gibson guitar neck. Each Government Series II Les Paul also includes a genuine piece of Gibson USA history in its solid rosewood fingerboard, which is made from wood returned to Gibson by the US government after the resolution. [emphasis added - SiG]

Note that while Gibson refers to it as "Government Tan", I think that most of us would call that "desert tan".  Or coyote.  But probably not flat dark earth.  It would be easier if they posed it with a selection of guns so we could compare - it's not like those colors are well defined.

I checked the big online dealers and none list it, so while I'm sure that the price is likely going to be less than that MSRP, I couldn't tell you how much.  It appears to be a lower-end Les Paul, though, and based on others in the series, I'd expect it to be about a $600-ish guitar. 

The truth is that I just bought a Les Paul back before Christmas, and a far prettier one, or I'd get one of these.  Our year end bonuses at work were generous, and I'd been tempted by one of those Min-eTune system guitars since last summer.  Sort of my way of sticking a finger in Eric Holder's eye.  So I treated myself to a made-in-Nashville Gibson.  This is a catalog picture, but it looks a lot like this one: