Investigations are continuing into allegations Gibson have been using illegal wood in the manufacture of their instruments. But chief exec Henry Juszkiewicz claims the only question-mark over their operations has been created by US officials choosing to misinterpret the law of India.

"The Department of Justice has suggested the use of wood from India that is not finished by Indian workers is illegal," He says. "Not because of US law, but because of the Justice Department's interpretation of a law in India. If the same wood from the same tree was finished by Indian workers, the material would be legal. This action was taking without the support and consent of the government of India.