Gibson Government Series II Explorer: The Guitar Gibson Built From Seized Rosewood

The Gibson Government Series II Explorer is a 2013 limited run of about 300 guitars. Gibson built them with rosewood fingerboards cut from wood that federal agents took from its factory in 2011 and later gave back. Underneath, it's a plain, well-specced USA Explorer: mahogany body and neck, two hot Dirty Fingers+ humbuckers, black hardware. What sets it apart is the story, and Gibson put that story on the guitar in the Government Tan finish and the eagle on the pickguard. If you're shopping for one, check that the parts that tell the story are still there. After that, check it the way you'd check any Explorer.

We have one on the bench right now, so I'll use it for the examples. I've tried to write this so it still works as a model guide after that guitar sells.

Why Gibson built the Government Series

This is the short version. In 2009, federal agents raided Gibson over imported Madagascar ebony. In August 2011 they came back and raided the Nashville and Memphis facilities. That second raid was about ebony and rosewood fingerboard stock from India, and the question was whether it had been exported legally under Lacey Act rules. The government never claimed the Indian wood was endangered. The dispute was over how finished the wood was before it left India, and whether it was classified correctly for export.

Gibson settled in August 2012. The company paid a $300,000 penalty, gave $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and forfeited roughly $262,000 worth of ebony and rosewood. It didn't admit wrongdoing, and the Justice Department agreed not to prosecute. The Indian wood from the 2011 raid was returned.

Most companies would have kept quiet about the whole thing. Gibson made guitars out of it. The Government Series used the returned rosewood for fingerboards. Each guitar came with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by then-CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, and the pickguard carried a graphic of a bald eagle with a Gibson neck in its talons. Juszkiewicz said at the time that they wanted to "celebrate getting past that very difficult period." Whatever you think of the politics, it's one of the odder chapters in Gibson's history. Most "limited editions" are a new color on a stock guitar. This one has a real reason to exist.

Series I vs. Series II: the finish is the tell

The Government Series came out in waves. The first guitars, which dealer listings describe as "Government Series" in Gunmetal Grey, were followed by the Government Series II in Government Tan. The Series II included a Les Paul, SG, Flying V and Explorer, each built in limited numbers. Dealer listings from the time, including Sweetwater's original product page, give the Explorer as a run of 300. Gibson's own spec page for it didn't give a number, so treat 300 as the widely reported figure rather than a count backed by Gibson paperwork.

The Government Series II Explorer spec

• Body: solid mahogany, standard Explorer shape
• Neck: glued-in mahogany, Gibson's '60s slim profile, unbound
• Fingerboard: rosewood from the returned stock, dot inlays, 22 frets, 24.75" scale
• Pickups: Dirty Fingers+ ceramic humbuckers, two volumes and a master tone
• Hardware: Tune-o-matic, stopbar, Grover tuners, all black
• Finish: Government Tan. Gibson's spec calls it "vintage gloss," but in person it has a low sheen that reads closer to satin than to a buffed Les Paul.
• Extras: eagle pickguard graphic, Certificate of Authenticity signed by Juszkiewicz
• Original street price: $999

That price tells you a lot. It's a limited run with a good story, not a Custom Shop piece. Keep that in mind when you look at used prices.

What the Dirty Fingers+ pickups are like

Dirty Fingers are Gibson's high-output ceramic humbuckers, and they suit this guitar. They're hot and aggressive, and they're strongest in the upper mids. Played clean they can sound a little stiff next to a PAF-style pickup. With some gain, they tighten up and push the amp hard, which is what most people buy an Explorer to do. If you mostly play clean or low gain, this isn't your pickup. On a Government Series, though, I'd think hard before swapping them. More on that below.

What to check when buying one

1. Is the story still intact?

Most of the value of a Government Series is in its originality. Look for:

• The eagle pickguard. People swap pickguards on Explorers. A plain black guard on one of these means you're missing the part that shows what the guitar is.
• Original Dirty Fingers+. Check the solder joints in the control cavity. Fresh, blobby solder or non-Gibson pots mean someone has been in there. Our article on spotting replaced electronics covers what to look for.
• The signed Certificate of Authenticity. This is the paperwork that ties the guitar to the returned-wood run. Not every example still has it, so ask before you buy if it matters to you.
• Serial number. It should decode to 2013 and to a USA-made instrument. (Here's how to date a Gibson serial.)

2. The points and edges

Explorers get dinged on the tips of the body, the lower treble horn, and the end of the lower wing. The thin tan finish shows every chip as a lighter spot or a dot of bare wood. Small edge nicks are normal on a 13-year-old Explorer and don't mean much. Check for chips that go deeper than the finish, and look for touch-up paint that doesn't quite match the tan.

3. The headstock and neck

It's a Gibson with an angled headstock and a mahogany neck, so check behind the nut every time. Look under a light at an angle for a crack line, overspray, or a patch where the finish looks thicker or glossier than the rest of the neck. The repaired-headstock guide goes into detail. A clean, well-done repair isn't a dealbreaker on a player, but it changes the price of a limited run a lot.

4. The usual Explorer quirks

Explorers are big and some players find them awkward sitting down. They're usually well balanced on a strap, with little of the neck dive you get on an SG. If you've never owned one, read Should You Buy a Used Gibson Explorer? before you pay the extra for a limited run.

How our example measures up

The Government Series II Explorer we have in stock is in Very Good condition. Here's what the inspection found:

• Finish: a few small nicks and edge marks around the sharper points and edges, which is where you'd expect them. They're photographed up close in the listing. The back and neck came through in excellent condition.
• Frets and fingerboard: both excellent.
• Setup: comfortable medium action, spot-on intonation.
• Electronics: original Dirty Fingers+ humbuckers, and the full system passed inspection with no issues.
• Story parts: the eagle pickguard and black hardware are there.
• Included: original Gibson hardshell case, owner's manual, and the original Gibson inspection sheet.

The listing doesn't mention the Juszkiewicz-signed certificate. I'd say that up front, and if the COA matters to you, ask. Everything else here is what I'd hope to find: an original, clean example that plays well.

Is a Government Series II Explorer worth it?

My view: it's worth it if you want an Explorer anyway and you like guitars with some history. You get a solid USA Explorer with hot pickups, a finish you won't see at every gig, and a real piece of Gibson history. It isn't a Custom Shop collectible, and I'd be skeptical of anyone pricing it like one. A clean, original example with the pickguard and paperwork should hold its value better than a standard Explorer. Just don't buy it expecting it to go up in value. For more on that, see whether limited editions are worth paying more for.

Not the one for you? Browse everything we have in stock. If you own one and are thinking of moving it on, our cash offer page is the quickest way to find out what it's worth to us.

FAQ

How many Gibson Government Series II Explorers were made?

The widely reported number, from dealer listings at release including Sweetwater, is 300. Gibson's own spec page didn't give a production count.

Is the whole guitar made from the seized wood?

No. Only the rosewood fingerboard came from the stock that was returned. The body and neck are standard mahogany.

What's the difference between Government Series I and II?

The easiest way to tell is the finish. The earlier run was Gunmetal Grey, and Series II was Government Tan. Both were built around the same returned-wood story.

Should I swap the Dirty Fingers pickups?

You can, but on a limited run, keeping the original pickups (or putting them back before you sell) protects the guitar's value. If you really want different pickups, save the originals and keep them with the case.