Nashville-based Gibson Guitars has served 16 Creative, the owners of Trump Guitars, with a cease-and-desist order for trademark design infringement, Gibson confirmed to The Tennessean in a statement. Billed as “the only guitar officially endorsed by President Donald J. Trump,” the Trump Guitar closely replicates Gibson’s trademarked Les Paul guitar body shape.
A spokesperson for Gibson Guitars confirmed the action, but said the company won’t comment further on ongoing litigation.
The “Presidential Series” solid-body guitars are listed on the Trump Guitars website for $1,500 along with an “American Eagle Series” of acoustic and electric guitars that retail for $1,250 and $1,500, with autographed versions going upwards of $10,000. According to the site, the guitars are custom designed and developed by a Veteran-owned company with the help of a master luthier, although it is unclear exactly who is manufacturing the instruments and where.
This image captured from the GetTrumpGuitars website shows the solid-body guitars that closely resemble the trademarked body style of the Gibson Les Paul
The site also indicates the guitars have been manufactured by “multiple providers” and include parts/features that are both domestic and international. The website says the guitars, “feature the iconic phrase ‘Make America Great Again’ inlaid in authentic pearl up the neck of the guitar and the number 45 on the headstock signifying President Donald J. Trump’s historic term as President.”
This image of Jason Isbell playing a Les Paul guitar at a recent Gibson Garage event. Gibson Guitars has trademarked the guitar’s unique shape.
16 Creative did not respond to our request for comments. Emails to the company were returned as undeliverable.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville company hits Trump-endorsed guitar maker with cease, desist
