good info only thing is dat i dont have gipson.....i have kapok

ozzy 22.04.2007

I recently visited Asia and saw one of these fake Gibsons in a store. My first reaction was, that can't be a genuine Gibson. As this article states, there was an obvious cheapness to the guitar, I didn't even pick it up, just looking at it in the window I could see that it was wasn't a high quality instrument. All of the clues mentioned above were there.

For people who are thinking of buying a Gibson, go to an authorized dealer and familiarize yourself with the the models, features, and price ranges. Or, if buying used, see if you can find info online about the general price range and features of the model you are interested in. If the deal sounds "too good to be true", it probably is. You are far better off waiting and saving your money for a quality guitar, it's well worth waiting a while for it.

Go to the Gibson factory and store in Nashville if you have a chance, they may still offer tours and it's a cool place. Check www.gibson.com for details, also i think a virtual tour. Believe it, you'll see a pretty great selection of Gibsons right there. Thanks Henry, keep on keeping on ;)

shwan 24.04.2007

Also beware of a guy called Mickel Turner (false name, no doubt - uses a hotmail address) whom is trying to flog a Gibson ES-335 Eric Clapton. He is present on several local internet auction houses in Australia and overseas. He uses false UPS documentation to support shipping. He claims the guitar is No66 of 250, but it is all bull**** - just a con. He will request funds be transferred by MoneyGram or other dodgy means. Please be careful as he is very convincing.

Jonathan 24.04.2007

holy...I think I found the guitar you are talking about and I think someone is trying to sell it again...it still looks like a con!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Eric-Clapton-ES-335-Crossroads-Electric-Guitar_
W0QQitemZ230118700734QQihZ013QQcategoryZ38085QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

someone report this please, as i don't know how to!

Chris 26.04.2007

One thing most of us in the GuitarSite forums have found Chris is that eBay do very little about fake auctions. There are numerous threads posted about the problem. 'tis unfortunate :(

Michael (GuitarSite.com) 27.04.2007

I just bought a Gibson Les Paul Standard. One way to make this a little safer is to take the Gibson product code and serial number and call the Gibson toll free number right in the store and check them out. I did it and the guitar was exactly what they said it was. If the store balks when you ask them to do this-go somewhere else!

Van 28.04.2007

you have good patensial of this website thank for helping

teesarena 01.05.2007

I second one of the previous bloggers. Always get the serial number and call the factory when buying any guitar.
Particularly used........

Tony 09.05.2007

i recently bought what turned out to be a very convincing fake '59 re-issue at a guitar show in valley forge, pa. i bought it to trade, as i'm really an sg player, and the $1500 price sounded like a great deal. when i went to trade for a nice 73' sg, that dealer hipped me to the fake, so my friend and i found the con man outside after the show and "persuaded" him to return my $ after showing him the error of his ways. i don't really know les pauls that well and the info out there available to spot a fake really is helpful,in this case 3 screw truss rod cover, 2 piece neck, and gibson headstock logo was horizontal and not on a downhill angle. this guy was a dealer and DEFINITELY knew it was a fake, so violence was justified. if someone knowingly tries to rip you off of your hard earned $, you should give them a good bash in the chops. maybe these pricks won't be so anxious to screw people.

sg man 04.06.2007

How can you spot an Epiphone fake? Is it the same as a Gibson fake.

Only asking because I can see an EpiphoneBlack Beauty on e-bay for $480AU but when I compared it to apicture on the epiphone website I can clearly see that the one on e-bay is a fake.

Cheers,

Jase

Jason R 12.06.2007

I am old enough to remember when overpaid auto workers and unions were trying to get everyone in the 70s to believe that cars from Japan were "Junk" or "Cheap". Same with guitars and definitely TVs and consumer electronics until both industries were producing better products that we Americans were making. It got so bad with guitars, that Fender HAD TO stop making their basic strat in Japan because they couldn’t sell American ones at a higher price. This bashing of the “counterfeiters” continued. While we called the Koreans, Indonesians, and everyone else’s guitars "Cheap" They were getting better. So much so that just about anything made in Japan is better, and a ton of stuff from Korea like the high end Agiles and Brian Moore’s and FAR better instruments to anything "American" at the price point.
We can continue to cry about "trademark" and insist that our American Zenith television is far better to any of that “Chinese junk” (Notice how we don’t make TVs in America anymore), or we can collectively tell Gibson that if they could figure out a new guitar design that can sell, that isn’t 50 years old and stop lacquer from creeping out the edge of $1500 guitars, then maybe they wouldn’t have to put their name on surge protectors (Made in China by the way).
If you think that the Chinese instruments won’t get better, and fast, you are fooling yourself. If you think they give a crap about trademarks, they don’t. If you think a Gibson logo is worth an extra $800, except in investment terms, then you have sold out to the man, and if you think that Gibson’s are “hand made” then you obviously don’t understand that a guy named Jones and a guy named Chin can both run a CNC machine.

Adam Smasher 18.06.2007

Good call Jason. The Slope heads are best at ripping off the white man's ideas and turning them against him. Difficult one for manufacturers to deal with. Probably Gibson needs to talk to the dog eaters about manufacturing guitars there and then perhaps their local enforcement can clean up the counterfitters.

johntwentythree 18.07.2007

i recently bought a SG for my friend as a suprizeand i found somthin a miss when oi noticed the serial number bas exactly the same as my es 335 that i bought last year

i sent them both to gibson

both are fake

i spent some 25,000 on both of them

i can't get my money back

dang

tom gruda 24.07.2007

I went into a pawn store today and was blown away to see an american strat for $250. but within moments of looking at it I started noticing something was not right. for one thing, the input jack was coming out of the pickgaurd straight. Not angled like a strat. There were only 2 knobs on the pickgaurd. the bridge was bolted into the body by 2 rusted wood screws. There was no tremelo, but some strats did not come with one. The tuning pegs were not fender and in fact you could see the factory screw holes next to the machine heads. It was definately a American strat neck though. I'm glad I took a closer look because I was ready to go up the the cashier and pay right away.

Gary 01.08.2007

Be careful when using the Serial number on the Guitar for validation as the Chinese are using numbers that check out to be authentic.

Woody 24.02.2008

Some Gibsons have three-piece necks. I own a couple, had them for years, NOT from China.

gem spa 17.04.2008

Hi..I'm seeing a number of Gibson 'Specials' on eBay currently and the dot on the 'i' in the Gibson logo on the headstock is touching the 'G' in the logo. The real Gibson logo has clear space all around the dot on the 'it' in the log....it's not smashed up against the 'G'. Also these two 'Specials' have very downsized, skinny trapezoid inlays instead of the 'dot' inlays that I see on the Gibson site. The truss rod covers look okay, with 2 screws, but that logo just doesn't look right to me. These seem to be fakes...one is going for $500.00 right now and I'm NOT buying. I also saw an exact duplicate of one on eBay on sale on craigslist out of Los Angeles...it's like there's a flood of these black lacquer 'Gibson' Specials on the market that are said to be years old (like 2001) but look brand spanking shiny new. Who buys a Les Paul and leaves it in the case for 7 years and never plays it??? Something isn't sitting right with me and everyone needs to do their research before purchasing any high-end guitar because of the number of fakes out there.

Jamie 20.04.2008

I'm being asked to buy one (a Supreme) right now...it looks flawless and the serial number checks out, but for the price asked, it's gotta be a fake...what should I do next except not buy it?

VMan 20.05.2008

Many Gibson Replicas are better quality in terms of workmanship and materials, so its not all bad.

Jack 03.07.2008

I have called Gibson several times about the fake Epiphones and they would only say they will do something. After a while, I found out that the sellers on Ebay I reported to them continue to do their trade. Out of curiousity, I asked one seller if he can prove his ware are authentic. He sent me an invoice that appeared to have been issued from Epiphone Qingdao. I sent Gibson the copy of the receipt, had not heard anything since then and the seller continues on Ebay.
And heck, I ordered a Slash model from a Chinese website (I think based in Jinan) and it arrived five days later. Compared it with an Epiphone Vintage Tobacco burst owned by a friend and voila, perfect copy. Pickups used real Epis, Alpha pots, MOP inlays and even the feel's the same. What gave away the fake Chinese guitar? The messy wiring. But hey, if they can do it right, Gibson will have a good fight.
The fake guitar has been hanged since and I am sticking to a Les Paul copy from another Chinese company. At least this one does not say it is Epiphone.

Eldie Aguirre 01.09.2008

Hey Eldie, there is an Epi factory in Qindao and had been running since 2002. (http://www.epiphone.com/FactoryTour/qdtour.html). But the messy wiring doesn't necessarily mean it's fake. It just so happens that the Chinese real Epis do have messy wiring, as several reviews I have read in Guitarist Magazine (on the Zakk Wylde, Supreme, Ultima) have noted that. So for all you know you could be hanging up a genuine piece. I dunno what price you paid, but sometimes even ridiculously cheap ones are real. I bought a Sheraton there few years back, physically picked it right outta the Epi warehouse and it was half the price of it here is Australia (AU$750 as opposed to $1500). Besides, I don't think there is much a market for fake Epis as they are already cheap and the fake Epis cost the same to make as fake Gibsons.

EdgeworthsBox 06.09.2008

I have in my possession, an Epiphone LP Custom Wine Red Flametop.Stunning to look at but I have some concerns and hope someone can help me.It came from a guy who claims they are "factory direct".The 1st 2 things I noticed was the tailpiece studs have a rounded head,and the bridge is lacking provisions for the wire retainer.Then I found that the tuner washers on top of the headstock are curved like bell-cymbals leaving only enough room for 1 wrap of the strings between the nut and the string hole.I pulled the pickups and they are not stamped Epiphone.The routing is sloppy and the neck joint looking from the heck pickup cavity is very gappy.Also have issues in the wood on the sides of this thing.The s/n 9 digits following the 2 letter plant code and I thought there was only supposed to be 8.I have sent pics to Gibson and have not heard anything yet.Any comments???

Erock 23.09.2008

I just bought a "replica" LP from a pawn shop that was very upfront about the fact it was a "replica" and not a real one. If it was real Custom, it would sell for $3100. I bought it for $400. This one even came with a fake Gibson case.

If clearly has a valid Serial number on the back of the neck with "Made In U.S.A." stamped underneath.

On mine, the issues are, wiring, the truss rod cover, there is a Les Paul logo in the middle of the headstock and instead on a real one, there would be a pearl inlaid diamond, the covers on the back are cream instead of black, they are GROVER tuners (that's the REALLY fast tip off -- maybe on an Epi, but not a Gibson)

The pickups are also not stamped underneath so are definitely the other way to tell -- they aren't gibson pickups.

But the quality of the guitar overall is very nice. With $300 I can put in Gibson pickups and replace the wiring to make it close enough to a real gibson for me. I don't care if it isn't and the audience will not know.

BJq 18.11.2008

I've owned several gibson les paul's over the years and a couple of epiphones.
I now am fortunate to have a china custom. Looks great,plays great right out of
the box.Haven't had to tweak a thing.Say what you want about the (fakes)it's the
best guitar I've ever owned.

jerry landers 21.12.2008

i rescently just purchased a bc rich platinum mockinbird of of kijiji.....its missing a few parts ....the guitar was ment as a project anyway....but afte looking atit closer...im starting to notice things that dont seem right......there is no serial number, in fact there isnt a number on i period, it does not say mockinbird on the headstock or bc rich on the pick ups...it has a double invert trem rather than a tune o matic bridge which all the pics ive seen have the tune o matic....and finally the logo...the swerve on the h almost reaches the tip of the headstock aswell there isnt a period at the end of the h as seen in some pics....ive searched the net tryin to find some resources that will let me know if it is real or not but i cant find a thing...so if any body has any info please contact me at rhudson18@hotmail.com with ur information.....it would be most appreciated..cuz the last thing i wanna do is fix this thing up if its a piece of shit knock off

rob 11.01.2009

im not saying its good for china to copy gibsons logo and counterfeit there guitars but u gotta admit they are good value for money eg.
gibson studio les paul (cheapest) £1000
fake gibson 1970's classic les paul (£1400 guitar) £200

all you need to do is upgrade the tuning pegs coz they easiy get out of tune and change the humbuckers for better gibson ones.
and it still has the gibson badge
so ure payin around £400 for a guitar that looks and sounds like a gibson

harvey 12.01.2009

I e mailed Gibson about seeing some of their guitars made over in japan,, he DID tell me that gibson has a place overseas that are making the epiphones for them,,
MMMMMMMMMMMMMM go figure. Guess its cheaper to have them make them for $1.50 pr.hr. than have our people make them for $15.00 an hr..

joey 21.01.2009

This info is okay if it's a NEW guitar, but if you buy a USED Gibson, it doesn't all apply. Gibsons from the 70's and 80's (Norlin era) didn't have one-piece necks, had less severe headstock angles (14 degrees instead of 17), had larger headstocks (which would affect the over-all length of the guitar), and had slightly different "Gibson" logos. Gibson DOES use plastic-coated wire, so that part isn't true at all. And sometimes people paint the cavities with black shielding paint.

gtrman 23.03.2009

Hi, Could anyone give me the contact details for Gibson? I've just bought a Firebird and would like to confirm the serial number with them. Thanks!

Paul 28.03.2009

Adam Smasher & Jack, get your hand off it. Do you two even own a Gibson. Thought not.

15Gibsons 07.04.2009

How to spot a fake,emm,good article!thks alot/
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wholesale jewelry 20.04.2009

Checking the serial number isn't going to help you much, they copy those as well. Go to a site that sells fake Gibsons, write down a few serial numbers and then check them online, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Mick Peterson 26.04.2009

I just purchased a fake Les Paul Special "All Gold" off of Craigslist for $350.00. The seller was upfront about it being a fake. Two screws in the truss-rod cover. P/U's age good and to be honest, it's the one I go to first. I love this thing.

JPO 02.05.2009

What an excellent post by Adam Smasher. I have, too, found out that Asian guitars are getting way better in quality than the garbage Gibson guitars these days. I will NOT pay $4500 for a Gibson Les Paul which arrives flawed, with chambered bodies because they ran out of wood, with bad QC, they don't even support replacement parts for guitars other than a Les Paul, and they are extremely overpriced. They are producing garbage like the infamous BFG, Orville must be rolling in his grave of anger at the monopolist Juszkiewicz. Look at Blueridge how it destroys Martin in quality. Ditto with the Ibanez Artcore guitars, excellent superior quality than Gibson. So, if Gibson wants to straight up things and stop the scam, then better get its act right, because there is always an excellent fake for an 1/8th of the price which, by just changing some parts and putting some Seymour Duncan pickups it will destroy the Gibson at any moment. Keep the fakes coming in!

drkam6 09.05.2009

Problem is not if what you buy is quality or not which clearly can be the case with some fake asian guitars. The problem is if you buy something advertized as a genuine made in USA Lespaul when its not. Its called false representation and has nothing to do with quality. I bought a Les Paul standard back in 1992 when they were still not overpriced and the seller told me I would be able to sell my axe anytime and never lose a single dollar I agree. I had to buy a backup for Live purpose but I could not afford a genuine LP. So I went the Epiphone way by buying from a local guy that had upgraded his axe with genuine 490r and 498t plus Grover tuners. I got such a nice Custom beauty for backup that can stand against my genuine LP Standard at the 1/6 of the price. But Epiphone is a legitimate trademark they are authorized by Gibson so...

Progrok 18.05.2009

If the fakes are quality guitars, then why do they have to steal the Gibson logo? Plain and simple, they are damned thieves. There have been many guitars made that appear similar to a Les Paul, but have easily identifiable logos. Those guitars are made all over the world, including China. But at least they are honest about it.
I hope that you make great music, write that one big hit, invest everything you have to promote it and then the chinese take all the money by selling forgeries of your cd. If it's OK for them to steal from the public and companies, then it should be just wonderful for them to steal from you and your family.
The idea that anyone finds it acceptable to reward this thieving trash by purchasing their products is truly despicable. You can rationalize it any way that comforts you, but people who purposefully make, sell and/or buy fakes - suck.

Alex 04.06.2009

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