UPDATE 25/11: Gibson has issued a stop and desist order to Trump Guitars proprietor 16 Artistic, accusing it of infringing upon its emblems. In a brand new assertion shared with Guitar World, Gibson writes: “We will verify a stop and desist has been issued towards 16 Artistic because the design infringes upon Gibson’s unique emblems, significantly the long-lasting Les Paul physique form.”

By now, you’ve most likely seen Trump Guitars, a brand new guitar firm that produces Donald Trump-, MAGA-inspired devices, a few of which command five-figure costs.

The guitars are endorsed by the person himself – the web site reveals him holding one of many devices, and the soon-to-be forty seventh President even took to his social media platform, Fact Social, to advertise the guitars.

Trump has an extended monitor report of manufacturing formally endorsed merchandise in fact – from the well-known MAGA hat to sneakers and even bibles. This explicit enterprise seems indirectly owned by Trump, the web site claims to be ‘veteran-owned’, however is promoting hand-signed devices for practically $12,000

Whereas the costs and design of those guitars has understandably acquired plenty of consideration, essentially the most controversial factor about them would possibly truly be the physique shapes used within the electrical guitars.

The only-cut design of the electrics in each the American Eagle and Presidential sequence (every of which retail at $1,500 in non-signed) are clearly impressed by the Gibson Les Paul.

Whereas they differ in some ways from Gibson’s most iconic design – not least as a consequence of its relatively agricultural bolt-on neck – the resemblance is there for all to see.

Apparently, provided that a few of these guitars have ‘Make America Nice Once more’ actually written down the fretboard, it doesn’t seem that they’re made within the USA like all Gibson guitars are, with the FAQs on the web site nebulously stating:

“These guitars have been manufactured by a number of suppliers and embrace components/options which might be each home and worldwide. That is commonplace with most guitar producers.”

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/113516618080692655

Gibson is in fact identified for zeal with which it has sought to limit using its physique shapes lately – most notably the continued dispute with Dean Guitars, wherein it accused of infringing upon its emblems for varied physique shapes.

The guitar big has additionally been concerned in authorized disputes with Warwick and Heritage Guitars – which does additionally produce single-cut guitars within the Les Paul fashion within the USA – over its emblems lately [Heritage and Guitar.com are both part of the Caldecott Music Group]. It has additionally issued stop and desist orders to firms together with Kiesel, Mojo Hand FX and others, accusing them of infringing on its emblems.

It’s in fact pure hypothesis at this level, however given the similarity of those guitars to the Les Paul, it’s value questioning if Gibson would ship its authorized staff after President Trump (or at the least the corporate making guitars in his title) subsequent?

Given the authorized challenges that the forty fifth (and shortly to be forty seventh) President has confronted lately with out impeding his political ambitions, it’s exhausting to think about him dropping sleep over the prospect.

Guitar.com has reached out to Gibson & Heritage for remark.

For extra info, head to gettrumpguitars.com.