Epiphone Les Paul Custom Prophecy GX variations?

[smokinfingers]

In my research and quest to get a new LP Custom Prophecy GX guitar, I notice some different build variations as shown in pictures on the web of this guitar and also a difference in the two actual guitars that I got.

I went through buying mine online and had to return the first one due to they sent me a beat up used one instead of a new one. The second one I just got is in better shape than the first one was (at least it looks new, gold is shiny and all) but it still came with some scratches in the finish.

Anyway, what this thread is about is that on the versions of this Prophecy GX that I got, I noticed that the quilted maple top looks like one whole entire piece instead of the two halfs split line down the middle of the guitar that I see in all the website pictures. As much as I like the full one piece top (no seams are visible), it makes me wonder if this is legit from Epiphone or possibly a knock-off? I think it is the real deal but just want to make sure.

Also I notice that the headstock lightning bolt emblems on several of these guitars all look different! Mine looks different than the ones I see shown on for example Sweetwater.com's pictures of the same guitar. The patterns are totally different. Mine was made on 091112xxxx the ones on SW site show serial numbers starting with 100515xxxx and they also show one with serial number 100520xxxx (different China factory) which further has still another different shaped logo emblem! What's up with that? Why are they not all stamped with the same shaped emblems? Do different factories have different and unique stamps?

Also on the back of my guitar is a white sticker that says "Made in China" but on those other guitars shown at SW, there is a black sticker that says "Crafted in China". Which is the real sticker? My guitar was made in year 2009 from factory code 12. Does that explain the differences? I did not buy my guitar from SW and mine has white sticker label.

I wonder. Anyone have the answers? Is that White "Made in China" label sticker a genuine Epiphone issue sticker or a sign that this is a fake possibly?
I just dunno at this point in time.

[CustomClassic59]

I think the Epi stickers say "Crafted In China", but I always take them off after I purchase them, so I can't remember for sure...

[smokinfingers]

Originally Posted by CustomClassic59

I think the Epi stickers say "Crafted In China", but I always take them off after I purchase them, so I can't remember for sure...

Well here is a picture example of the white sticker label that says "Made in China" that was on the back of my first guitar that I returned. My second guitar ordered from a different dealer name but shipped from same exact NJ warehouse facility arrived with same type of white sticker label.

L1060301resized.jpg

Here is a picture of the front of the headstock showing the lightning bolts emblems shapes. Compare that emblem with the ones you see on Sweetwater.com site for the Prophecy GX guitars they show and you will see the differences.

L1060296resized.jpg

And here is a picture showing the one piece quilted maple topping on the guitars that I got. See there is no split line or "seam" joining two wood pieces together like there are on the dealer website pictures of same guitar and like there are on real Gibson guitars?

L1060330resized.jpg

[4nd3h]

Ha! Misread your post

[GilmourD]

Originally Posted by smokinfingers

My second guitar ordered from a different dealer name but shipped from same exact NJ warehouse facility arrived with same type of white sticker label.

So, you bought it from American Musical Supply or Zzzounds, which also formerly ran a wonderful store called Victor's House of Music in Paramus, which is now a Guitar Center.

[Dolebludger]

I can't advise you on whether to return your latest guitar due to scratching or not, without looking at the scratches first hand -- which of course I cannot do. But I have two comments.

First, I (and many others) would consider a one-piece top to be better than a two piece top -- for appearance reasons only.

Second, Sweetwater has an unusual feature, as it allows you to view their entire inventory of a particular make and model guitar, and order the one that looks best to you.

[smokinfingers]

Originally Posted by GilmourD

So, you bought it from American Musical Supply or Zzzounds, which also formerly ran a wonderful store called Victor's House of Music in Paramus, which is now a Guitar Center.

In my researching these companys (online dealers) it seems that many of these websites with different names are run by the same group of owners or familys. The ones I happen to deal with as you mentioned above happen to use the same warehouse contractor it seems but under different seller names. I think the problem with the quality and condition of receiving a good new guitar rests in the hands of that warehouse organization and not the sellers who advertise the items. Apparently that warehouse company finds the merchandise deals and lets the sellers know what they have in stock. Zzounds and AMS just simply advertise it but have no control over the warehouse manager ethics as to the condition and quality of the items they are selling. So I don't really blame the store fronts (Zzounds, AMS, etc.) that contract this shady warehouse but I blame the warehouse manager who is shipping your "new" order and pawning off blems and used guitars as new.
I am pretty sure the guitars I have received this way are not 100% new but rather blems or demos, returns or old 2nd's laying around for a long time. Sometimes you still get a good one or an acceptable one not worth the hassle of returning. I finally got one with some minor scratches that I deem not worth returning but I still don't feel good about it.

[smokinfingers]

Originally Posted by Dolebludger

I can't advise you on whether to return your latest guitar due to scratching or not, without looking at the scratches first hand -- which of course I cannot do. But I have two comments.

First, I (and many others) would consider a one-piece top to be better than a two piece top -- for appearance reasons only.

Second, Sweetwater has an unusual feature, as it allows you to view their entire inventory of a particular make and model guitar, and order the one that looks best to you.

Yeah, I prefer a one piece top versus two different pieces joined together myself. So I am happy about that part of the deal.

Yes, I am aware of how Sweetwater shows pics of the actual guitars that they have in stock for sale and you get the one you pick from their pictures. I think that is very good practice for buying online. I actually did consider buying my LP Prophecy GX guitar from them at first! But after looking at their pictures of the ones available, I notice that their current year 2010 batch all seem to show the high "E" string way too close to the edge of the neck (as if the nut was not cut exactly right on this batch). Since my SW sales rep could not confirm if the high "E" string was too close to the edge of the neck or if it was just the photos angles making it look that way, I chose not to order from this SW batch. The SW rep would not check the actual guitar out for me before I bought it. He said I have to buy it first then he would look at it. So I said forget it and did not order from them.

[GilmourD]

Originally Posted by smokinfingers

In my researching these companys (online dealers) it seems that many of these websites with different names are run by the same group of owners or familys. The ones I happen to deal with as you mentioned above happen to use the same warehouse contractor it seems but under different seller names. I think the problem with the quality and condition of receiving a good new guitar rests in the hands of that warehouse organization and not the sellers who advertise the items. Apparently that warehouse company finds the merchandise deals and lets the sellers know what they have in stock. Zzounds and AMS just simply advertise it but have no control over the warehouse manager ethics as to the condition and quality of the items they are selling. So I don't really blame the store fronts (Zzounds, AMS, etc.) that contract this shady warehouse but I blame the warehouse manager who is shipping your "new" order and pawning off blems and used guitars as new.
I am pretty sure the guitars I have received this way are not 100% new but rather blems or demos, returns or old 2nd's laying around for a long time. Sometimes you still get a good one or an acceptable one not worth the hassle of returning. I finally got one with some minor scratches that I deem not worth returning but I still don't feel good about it.

Actually, AMS owns the warehouse. Zzounds is a store brand that they came out with later. They shared inventory in that warehouse with Victor's House of Music, which is a store I dearly miss... Just like Rondo when they were based in the Springfield, NJ, area.

If you did buy it from AMS and contact them, their customer service is pretty good and will get to the bottom of things for you.

[smokinfingers]

Originally Posted by GilmourD

Actually, AMS owns the warehouse. Zzounds is a store brand that they came out with later. They shared inventory in that warehouse with Victor's House of Music, which is a store I dearly miss... Just like Rondo when they were based in the Springfield, NJ, area.

If you did buy it from AMS and contact them, their customer service is pretty good and will get to the bottom of things for you.

I did contact AMS and their customer service does seem very good. They offered a price match with a low price I got from Zzounds previously and then went one further and offered an even lower price for me if I keep the guitar (considered a blem due to the scratch I reported). I was reluctant to fully accept the lower price to keep it but said I would after I have the guitar checked and setup to see if I could get rid of the fret buzz.

Long story short, unfortunately when attempting to setup the guitar to proper specs, (the string height was too low at the 8th fret when depressing 1st fret and last 24th fret). It measured only 2/64ths of an inch on the low "E" string. It was discovered that the truss rod was already way tight up against its end and could not be loosened further to give more neck relief! You could turn the truss rod the other way to lower the string height, but could not adjust it the other way to raise the string height. The truss rod was max'ed out to its end. So this guitar was considered defective and cannot be set-up properly.

So? off it went returned to AMS for a refund. I am feeling so sad. This is the 3rd defective guitar in a row delivered to me that had to be returned.
I am now going to just go to a local guitar center and pay full price with tax just so I can pick out a perfect one. I learned my lesson buying online sight unseen. Too damn risky. I now have to wait for my refunds to get credited back to me from these outfits (two refunds still pending, lotta moola man) before I can spend on another guitar. I think I am going to go for a real Gibson Les Paul studio next. Although the Gibson LP Studio is not as dressed up and good looking as these Epiphone Les Pauls, I've had enough with the Epiphone defects.

[thenutzrutz]

I had a studio and it was not very nice i sold it quite soon after buying it

That said i have a chinese "MADE IN CHINA" model prohecy and the neck is considerable darker than the others i have seen.

Also the serial no. seems to be a sticker rather than punched in ....

Plays well after i set it up... Does yours have a bolt on the trus rod to ajust it or a Hex key design:? Mine is a hex key which i hate as they are hard to ajust and can round off easly .

[straybeat]

Originally Posted by smokinfingers

Well here is a picture example of the white sticker label that says "Made in China" that was on the back of my first guitar that I returned. My second guitar ordered from a different dealer name but shipped from same exact NJ warehouse facility arrived with same type of white sticker label.

Attachment 30684

Here is a picture of the front of the headstock showing the lightning bolts emblems shapes. Compare that emblem with the ones you see on Sweetwater.com site for the Prophecy GX guitars they show and you will see the differences.

Attachment 30685

And here is a picture showing the one piece quilted maple topping on the guitars that I got. See there is no split line or "seam" joining two wood pieces together like there are on the dealer website pictures of same guitar and like there are on real Gibson guitars?

Attachment 30686

FWIW, my GX came with the gold and black "Crafted in China" sticker, while both of my Pro/FX's came with the white "Made in Chine" stickers. The blades on your headstock are different than mine. Mine are closer together and almost touch each other and are "pointier", but that could be your camera res? Also, mine didn't have the white plastic on the heel of the neck. Lastly, I bought a "2nd" and the finish was flawless. Not a mark on it. I bought all of mine from Musician's Friend.

My GX came from factory 20 while my Pro/FX's came from 12 and 15.

The body has a 2-piece top. But mine has a solid mahogany back, I suppose they all do?

There were 2 versions of the GX. Version 1 had the fretboard that went too far in and you couldn't reach the end frets, so they made version 2 at a 25 inch scale and moved the fretboard back from the 16th fret to the 18th.

Here's an example of the difference, old then new;