You know, I had several thoughts running through my head as I read this thread, most of them negative. I saw the ad for this guitar (I believe) in either Guitar World or Guitar One magazine recently and I was somewhat repulsed by it...and the guitar IS butt-ugly to say the least. But to bring this thing back around to the spirit of the initial post (although it is a bit shrowded by the ugliness of that guitar) I think whether it's Gibson USA, Fender, Hamer, Toyota, Ford, or whoever wants to make a contribution or raise money for disaster relief, they should do just THAT. To make something to "commemorate" a disaster in such a graphic manner as to be a steady reminder of the sludge and filth left behind in the wake of Katrina...then mark it up so they can maintain their original profit margin (maybe plus a little who knows) while they give the remaining funds over their own profit to the disaster relief is just a might cheesey to me. You KNOW that is what will happen...but I would think if they really wanted to help they could use a more popular look, one which more people would buy (I wouldn't be seen dead with that green-slime-lookin thing). I grew up playing Gibsons and I still play 'em. People are certainly entitled to their opinions and that's terrific as well. I am new to Hamer myself and I have really enjoyed mine. I still like playing my SG too, or a Les Paul, or either of my two Gibson acoustics. Scores of successful musicians are still playing Gibsons and the majority of them will continue to do so. Personally I am repulsed by the idea of ANYONE making money from a disaster...I mean this Les Paul thing reeks of opportunism cloaked in a noble cause. If they do indeed sell them at 'zero' profit (which makes no sense) then that is good for them, but they could have at least picked one of their middle-of-the-road studios or something with a nice color and finish which would probably sell in higher quantities to up-and-comers or something where there could be some serious donations made. The Loot Paul idea made me laugh...maybe one with an image of that guy carting off the 52" TV saying "it's ok to loot cuz the police ain't here". Ok, bad joke. Sorry. The greens, blues, and purple idea (Mardi Gras colors) makes MUCH better sense than the green slime design to me. +1 on that one! LC