Legendary US Guitar-Maker Gibson Files for Bankruptcy Protection

Legendary US Guitar-Maker Gibson Files for Bankruptcy Protection
A Gibson acoustic guitar in the Gibson trailer at the annual Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island on Aug. 5, 2006. Brian Snyder/File Photo via Reuters
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Gibson Brands Inc, the maker of guitars played by the likes of B.B. King and Elvis Presley, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday with a plan to reorganize its musical instrument business under the new ownership of its lenders.

Nashville-based Gibson, whose legendary brands include Les Paul and SG, has been suffering under $500 million in debt linked to the acquisition of its consumer electronics business overseas, where sales have been in sharp decline.