Nashville, TN (August 24, 2010) -- Like many Nashville establishments, Gibson's Nashville facilities were hit by flooding. Until now, the company has kept relatively silent about their losses. We recently received a press release from Gibson with photos and the story of their flood experience that we thought was worth sharing. Below is what Gibson has to say about the floods. All photos used courtesy Gibson Guitar.
From Gibson:
It was on May 1st and 2nd, 2010 that two days of torrential rain caused floods that devastated Nashville, as well as surrounding communities in what was declared the most devastating floods to the area in 500 years. The water forced thousands from their homes, submerged some of the city's most prestigious landmarks and destroyed the gear of scores of musicians. Along with countless other businesses encompassed in the tragedy of Music City, Gibson Guitar’s Gibson USA plant, the world’s premiere musical instrument manufacturer and leader in music technology, found that it too had been severely impacted by the flood. Gibson USA, the production facility responsible for world renowned instruments such as the Gibson Les Paul Standard and the Gibson SG Standard guitars, was consumed by water. Only after the flood waters had receded was the extent of the damage truly realized. However, the road to recovery would prove to be a relatively quick one in light of the passion and spirit of those behind the Gibson brand.
The Gibson USA plant in the aftermath of the flooding that occurred on May 1st and 2nd, 2010, in Nashville, Tennessee and surrounding communities.
In the days following the Nashville Flood a harsh reality was quickly realized that the road to recovery and resurgence depended on the passion and dedication of the Gibson USA spirited team.
Scores of musicians lost their instruments in the wake of the Nashville flood. The Gibson Guitar Repair and Restoration shop has spent a lot of time attempting to salvage beloved guitars as seen here restoring Keith Urban’s bassist and guitar player’s guitars.
Some musicians came by other Gibson facilities to personally to inspect the damage. Seen here are Rickey Medlocke (Blackfoot / Lynyrd Skynyrd) and Gary Rossington's (Lynyrd Skynyrd) checking out flood damaged guitars which were later destroyed to make way for new ones to be produced.
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Source: Press Release