The Fake Epiphone Thread!

[Davey Rockets]

This is a seriously nice and helpful thread! Kudos SinMastah!!

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

So if i wanted to post pictures of my Epiphone that i just bought off ebay for your guys opinion on if its a fake, should i do it in this thread or start a new one, dont want to bog up this one with 6-7 pictures of mine if its going to take up too much space. I only got my first electric in december and "upgraded" to an Epiphone in april and only in the past couple of days found this great website and the perils of buying a epiphone from ebay, had i known before i probably wouldn't of bought it. Anyways awaiting a reply from a "higher power"

[northlight]

Great thread guys, on reading your hints on how to spot a fake i decided to take a look at some pics of my old custom. This guitar was legit and was bought from a Epiphone dealer in Glasgow. The knobs on the guitar were directly placed below the bridge, if you go to the Epiphone website and go through all the pics of the Les Paul models you will see quite a variation on the knob placement. I thought this would be worth mentioning.

[Nils]

Some pictures of my Epiphone LP Standard Plus top (EE s/n)
Scales are in inches (larger scale), the first pic probably cm (smaller scale)

[mac_osXX]

My Epi Custom headstock.Anything wrong with it ??

[Big_dawg]

Originally Posted by mac_osXX

My Epi Custom headstock.Anything wrong with it ??

Is that on a left handed LP... ??

[Big_dawg]

ignore me its 2 guitars back to back isnt it...?!

[rickym]

Got pics on all posts but the first. Switching browsers didn't help.

[mac_osXX]

Back my Custom is my other axe actually (Metallic Red Ibanez).Mine is right handed not lefty one.

[Nils]

*deleted reply*

[Nils]

Originally Posted by mac_osXX

My Epi Custom headstock.Anything wrong with it ??

looks real

[Big_dawg]

from the headstock pic theres nothing wrong with that at all - virtual carbon copy of mine... (other than the truss rod cover)

[mac_osXX]

About the diamond inlay,is it normal because mine is not straight in line(refer yellow line) Really hope its real




or maybe Diamond inlay and Epiphone logo is hand make because its not uniform (same) .especially Diamond inlay ,many different style for custom.

[Big_dawg]

ok look at these:








everyone jumping over the middle one as a fake - thats striaght offthe Gibson / epiphone website...

Theyre all different but all taken from legit gibson dealer's websites

[Nils]

Originally Posted by mac_osXX

About the diamond inlay,is it normal because mine is not straight in line(refer yellow line) Really hope its real




or maybe Diamond inlay and Epiphone logo is hand make because its not uniform (same) .especially Diamond inlay ,many different style for custom.

I think not being in line 100% won't be a real issue, I mean,, I can also be the way you look at it

[mac_osXX]

Fooh...at least I can sleep more comfortable after this because since I bought mine can say everyday if I look my custom Im thinking about it if it legit or otherwise coz im pay for real amount value.Better buy Fake Gibson if this one is fake also (Joke)Thanks and sorry for my bad english

[Sinmastah]

Thanks for the pictures guys, espically that first shot of the headstock, that is perfect. I will use that one. Also thanks to (i can't remember who) for all of those shots with the measuring tools, I am sure I can use something there.

[oyvjak]

I see things on my newly acquired Les Paul Zakk Wylde that could imply both fake and real. Would love to hear what you guys think.
Index of /oyvjak/lp

Most worried about the fact that the knobs aren't in line with the neck. I remember reading that was a sign of a fake.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by oyvjak

I see things on my newly acquired Les Paul Zakk Wylde that could imply both fake and real. Would love to hear what you guys think.
Index of /oyvjak/lp

Most worried about the fact that the knobs aren't in line with the neck. I remember reading that was a sign of a fake.

I think it is good, I havn't seen any Zakk wylde sig fakes yet, at least not that I remember, I bet because of the finish. Also the knobs aren't exactly paralell, but that should be ok, its really close. The only main thing worrying me is the fretboard color, but I think its legit. I am hoping a couple more people can chime in on this.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

I think it is good, I havn't seen any Zakk wylde sig fakes yet, at least not that I remember, I bet because of the finish. Also the knobs aren't exactly paralell, but that should be ok, its really close. The only main thing worrying me is the fretboard color, but I think its legit. I am hoping a couple more people can chime in on this.

I hate to say this, more than anything, but its a fake. Theres tons of ZAkk Wilde fakes out there, in fact, many more than the standards or any other commemorative guitars. Ive personally turned in probably 10 or more out of the 25 Ive reported to Ebay that were Zakk Wildes, some buzz saws, but mostly the bullseyes.
The tone/volume control knobs should almost always be a little behind the bridge, the gold tone is more yellow than gold, and that diamond backplate is way, way off. Sorry, bro.
Heres the link that tells quite a bit of info on the Zakk Wilde bullseye fakes out there.
Ace Guitar Shop - Fake Epiphone Guitars- How To Spot One

Also, you can compare yours to Epiphones site, they have excellent pics of all you need to tell.
http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?...CollectionID=6
I updated my post, looks like the counterfeiters have figured out how to fake the ZAkk logo better now... Sorry, I jumped the gun on that one.

Looks like your "E" in the Epiphone lettering might be what that website mentions, that its a little too fat? Check & see, I cant tell very well.

[Kølabrennern]

Even if things on your Epiphone are off or not like every other one you see, that doesn't necessarily have to mean it's a fake. Yet again I will have to use my '95 Korean LP Standard as an example here. It has lopsided inlays with glue all over, neck volume knob is above the tailpiece, the tuner holes are vintage sized with "no name" machine heads, the TRC says Gibson, the headstock logo has no tilt whatsoever, the body is made up of at least 3 pieces, there's an obviously visible seam between the two pieces of the flametop, the toggle switch has such a thin post that not even a modern Epiphone plastic tip will fit, there is no "Epiphone" stamped on the back of the pickups, the bridge doesn't have those wheels on the posts, and it has a bolted neck, even if it's a Standard.

So guys and gals, even if one or more parts on your Epi aren't exactly like what someone else describes on their guitar, don't lose your sleep over it.

Otherwise I like the idea of this thread, even if I have a fake Chinese Gibson. Don't want people who think they're ending up with the real deal to be tricked.

[jon_c]

Originally Posted by guido.c

I dont think we will see fake elitists, i think theyre much hard to fake...

Why is that? Counterfeiters are quite happy to produce counterfeit Fenders & Gibsons in varying qualities, so Elitists shouldnt prove too much of a problem to these bastards.

Tempting fate a bit there. I remember reading on these forums someone said something like 'what is the point of producing fake Epiphones?' and look what happened every 2nd thread is made by someone worried their guitar is fake.

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Could it be a case of "jumping on the bandwagon", as soon as a couple of less experienced people start fretting (no pun intended) that their guitar is fake (I'm guilty too) the general reaction would be that people doubt themselves and their own purchases and start post after post. Maybe another sticky is in order for people to post their suspected fakes for inspection??? That ways you don't get every other post about it.

[jon_c]

Originally Posted by Kølabrennern

So guys and gals, even if one or more parts on your Epi aren't exactly like what someone else describes on their guitar, don't lose your sleep over it.

Good advice.

Thanks to Sinmastah, GNR4EVR, Nils, etc for going to the effort, the pics are very imformative. I've compared my guitar to the pictures and everythings seems to be the same but I'd just like to add something. I've got a 2007 China standard and my brother in law has a 1992 standard which I think is Korean. I noticed on his, the spacing between the stop bar and tune-o-matic bridge is noticeably larger than on mine. I cant remember how his stop bar is in relation to the rhythm volume knob but with the scale always being the same length, common sense says if the knobs arent situated further to the bottom of the guitar they will be slightly in front of the bridge.

[jon_c]

Originally Posted by Lynyrd77Skynyrd

Could it be a case of "jumping on the bandwagon", as soon as a couple of less experienced people start fretting (no pun intended) that their guitar is fake (I'm guilty too) the general reaction would be that people doubt themselves and their own purchases and start post after post. Maybe another sticky is in order for people to post their suspected fakes for inspection??? That ways you don't get every other post about it.

I don't know if this makes me sound like a knob or not but I'll say it anyway I don't really care if mine is fake or not, its my first guitar and its good enough to let a ham fisted sod like me play something that sounds half decent, so I'm very happy with it.

[oyvjak]

Well said, jon c.

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Looks like your "E" in the Epiphone lettering might be what that website mentions, that its a little too fat? Check & see, I cant tell very well.

Yea, I looked at that site, and the fake "E" in the lettering there seems a lot fatter than what's on mine. But looking at the Epiphone site, I am pretty convinced mine is a fake. My knobs for example, aren't as close to the body as the one pictured on the Epiphone site. On mine, the diamond shape on the head nearly touches the TCP, while it appears that it should be further apart on a real one.
I'm not too bummed out. It was quite cheap. It still looks good, I think, and I can play it, although it won't have the same feel or sound as a real one. I'll always have my Strat.
Somehow, I'm still not completely convinced that the Les Paul is fake though. I'll tell myself I'm not sure, that way I can live in uncertainty.
Thanks for input.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by Lynyrd77Skynyrd

So if i wanted to post pictures of my Epiphone that i just bought off ebay for your guys opinion on if its a fake, should i do it in this thread or start a new one, dont want to bog up this one with 6-7 pictures of mine if its going to take up too much space. I only got my first electric in december and "upgraded" to an Epiphone in april and only in the past couple of days found this great website and the perils of buying a epiphone from ebay, had i known before i probably wouldn't of bought it. Anyways awaiting a reply from a "higher power"

Start a new one, this way it will get more attention, also like you said, it will bogg down this thread. This is for questions based on the pics, adding more pics for me to add, and for general comments, as in how this could be better, how this helped/or did not help you. Hopefully the first. Thanks!

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by jon_c

Good advice.

Thanks to Sinmastah, GNR4EVR, Nils, etc for going to the effort, the pics are very imformative. I've compared my guitar to the pictures and everythings seems to be the same but I'd just like to add something. I've got a 2007 China standard and my brother in law has a 1992 standard which I think is Korean. I noticed on his, the spacing between the stop bar and tune-o-matic bridge is noticeably larger than on mine. I cant remember how his stop bar is in relation to the rhythm volume knob but with the scale always being the same length, common sense says if the knobs arent situated further to the bottom of the guitar they will be slightly in front of the bridge.

Your brothers is probably different because of how the were made. This is for newer Les Pauls

[jon_c]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Your brothers is probably different because of how the were made. This is for newer Les Pauls

Ah right sorry about that

Aesthetically, I think the larger spacing looks better.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

I hate to say this, more than anything, but its a fake. Theres tons of ZAkk Wilde fakes out there, in fact, many more than the standards or any other commemorative guitars. Ive personally turned in probably 10 or more out of the 25 Ive reported to Ebay that were Zakk Wildes, some buzz saws, but mostly the bullseyes.
The tone/volume control knobs should almost always be a little behind the bridge, the gold tone is more yellow than gold, and that diamond backplate is way, way off. Sorry, bro.
Heres the link that tells quite a bit of info on the Zakk Wilde bullseye fakes out there.
Ace Guitar Shop - Fake Epiphone Guitars- How To Spot One

Also, you can compare yours to Epiphones site, they have excellent pics of all you need to tell.
Epiphone Musical Instruments
I updated my post, looks like the counterfeiters have figured out how to fake the ZAkk logo better now... Sorry, I jumped the gun on that one.

Looks like your "E" in the Epiphone lettering might be what that website mentions, that its a little too fat? Check & see, I cant tell very well.

Oh man this is getting out of control. Something really needs to be done to fix this counterfeighting problem in general... We will just have to see what happens from now on. I will try to do the best I can...