The Fake Epiphone Thread!

[sbaker]

Originally Posted by River

That would be a really cool thing to do, but I'd like to see you permanently brand it as not being an Epiphone first.

I was definitely going to tell them that I bought it from eBay and it's a fake. But how do I brand it? Should I put something on the back of the headstock? Maybe "Epiphone Copy" or something like that?

Sean.

[River]

Originally Posted by sbaker

I was definitely going to tell them that I bought it from eBay and it's a fake. But how do I brand it? Should I put something on the back of the headstock? Maybe "Epiphone Copy" or something like that?

Sean.

I'm sure others here can offer better ideas than I, but in your position I'd carve or burn FAKE into the back of the headstock. If I were keeping a fake I loved, I'd also spend the money to replace the headstock inlay, probably with my name. Nothing's fool proof, but I don't think "just" being honest is enough, as the guitar may eventually fall into the wrong hands.

[Termanator7]

Originally Posted by River

I'd like to see you permanently brand it as not being an Epiphone first.

No offense, but I think he should do anything he wants with the fake Epiphone. I know he's going to mark it as a fake Epiphone, but he doesn't need you to say that.

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty Electric Guitar NEW - eBay (item 110271059717 end time Jul-18-08 18:30:00 PDT)

I'll be on tomarrow and do it too. Feel free to bid. I need to wake up at 5, and its almost 11 now. Sorry not tonight, I thought it was earlier.

Well the item has been removed and i was the current high bidder so i guess that means 1 point to me by default.

Skynyrd 1-0 Sinmastah

[River]

Originally Posted by Termanator7

No offense, but I think he should do anything he wants with the fake Epiphone. I know he's going to mark it as a fake Epiphone, but he doesn't need you to say that.

None taken. I think he may have appreciated the input. What he does with it is up to him.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by Lynyrd77Skynyrd

Well the item has been removed and i was the current high bidder so i guess that means 1 point to me by default.

Skynyrd 1-0 Sinmastah

Hey now, come on. I think I have about 50 points at least from all the guitars I reported and were removed

[krispatmo]

Hi, I'm new to this board and I have a question.

I would really like to have a Epi LP Silverburst (I have a Custom Ebony right now) but they don't sell them where I live (The Netherlands) and big US dealers like Music123 en Musiciansfriend don't ship overseas.

So I've been looking on Ebay the last few days and found some nice looking offers, but then I came across this board and I'm starting to get pretty paranoid...

I'm even starting to doubt my own Epi which I bought second hand here in Amsterdam 2 years ago...
I took some pics:
Pickup/cavity & bottom bridge
Headstock front
Headstock Back

And I was thinking of buying this Ebay auction, but now I'm not so sure, it IS a power seller though...

So my questions:
1 Do you guys think I can trust this seller?
2 Do I even have the real deal right now?
3 Do you have any alternatives for me finding an Epi Silverburst available for me to order from here?

cheers,

Kris

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by krispatmo

Hi, I'm new to this board and I have a question.

I would really like to have a Epi LP Silverburst (I have a Custom Ebony right now) but they don't sell them where I live (The Netherlands) and big US dealers like Music123 en Musiciansfriend don't ship overseas.

So I've been looking on Ebay the last few days and found some nice looking offers, but then I came across this board and I'm starting to get pretty paranoid...

I'm even starting to doubt my own Epi which I bought second hand here in Amsterdam 2 years ago...
I took some pics:
Pickup/cavity & bottom bridge
Headstock front
Headstock Back

And I was thinking of buying this Ebay auction, but now I'm not so sure, it IS a power seller though...

So my questions:
1 Do you guys think I can trust this seller?
2 Do I even have the real deal right now?
3 Do you have any alternatives for me finding an Epi Silverburst available for me to order from here?

cheers,

Kris

First off, both guitars are legit. I woould be 100% sure though if I saw a pic of the front of the body on the guitar you currently have. Also the eBay one is legit for 2 reasons. They don't fake 2nd guitars, and it looks legit.
So to answer.
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes, post on the member classifieds. Some people may be willing to ship to the Netherlands.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

First off, both guitars are legit. I woould be 100% sure though if I saw a pic of the front of the body on the guitar you currently have. Also the eBay one is legit for 2 reasons. They don't fake 2nd guitars, and it looks legit.
So to answer.
1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes, post on the member classifieds. Some people may be willing to ship to the Netherlands.

Umm, Epiphone and Gibson dont paint the pickup cavities, and they ONLY paint the control cavity with protective coating. That kind of a concern.
And yes, that Ebay guitar looks good to me.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Umm, Epiphone and Gibson dont paint the pickup cavities, and they ONLY paint the control cavity with protective coating. That kind of a concern.
And yes, that Ebay guitar looks good to me.

Hmmm, good point. Post a pic of the body.

Also when he said bought secondhand I thought he meant its a 2nd guitar when coming out of the factory. Which we all know the case with those.

[krispatmo]

Thanks for the responses guys.
I'm going to give the Ebay seller a try, I also guess a Power Seller like that wouldn't be selling fake items, but thanks for the encouragements. And I think I have to take my chance now because I don't think those silverbursts will be around for much longer. I still saw them at a German musicstore about a year ago, but now they're all gone...

Concerning my current LP, yeah the cavity was sort of my point, because I read here that it wasn't supposed to be painted, and it is...
I can see it's a solid body though...so that inside paint is the only thing I guess that make it's authenticity a little dodgy right?

Here are some pics of the front:
Total
Body

I guess I'll e-mail Gibson about that paint, I really want to know if this thing is real...

Thanks,

Kris

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by krispatmo

Thanks for the responses guys.
I'm going to give the Ebay seller a try, I also guess a Power Seller like that wouldn't be selling fake items, but thanks for the encouragements. And I think I have to take my chance now because I don't think those silverbursts will be around for much longer. I still saw them at a German musicstore about a year ago, but now they're all gone...

Concerning my current LP, yeah the cavity was sort of my point, because I read here that it wasn't supposed to be painted, and it is...
I can see it's a solid body though...so that inside paint is the only thing I guess that make it's authenticity a little dodgy right?

Here are some pics of the front:
Total
Body

I guess I'll e-mail Gibson about that paint, I really want to know if this thing is real...

Thanks,

Kris

Good call on that one. I'd do the same. Cant hurt to have the expert advice on this.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Good call on that one. I'd do the same. Cant hurt to have the expert advice on this.

It looks legit to me, the only thing is th paint. Knobs, screw, everything checks out.

[Big_dawg]

theres nothing wrong with that - its korean made, at the time the regulations/rules werent as strict and so sometimes they painted everything, sometimes they didnt, paint in the pup cavities is not unusual for a korean made lp.

The thing to look for with the silverbursts is that if it has a flake sparkle its a fake - the epis have a flat greyish colour....

[northlight]

So what about Epis' that have straight Epiphone logos' on the headstock, horizontally applied, know what i mean? Are these fakes?

[GNR4EVR]

New fake
** Epiphone Les Paul custom vintage tobacco sunburst ** - eBay (item 170237799339 end time Jul-18-08 20:01:31 PDT)

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by northlight

So what about Epis' that have straight Epiphone logos' on the headstock, horizontally applied, know what i mean? Are these fakes?

I dont think so, but when they are so skewed that they almost touch the edge, then yes.

[GNR4EVR]

Another fake
Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul - eBay (item 260263504706 end time Jul-19-08 06:22:54 PDT)

[GNR4EVR]

Another fake... LOL- We must be putting one hell of a dent in their program- Look at all the "ITS NOT FAKE, ITS REAL, this is not a copy!! Comments in his ad... LMAO I love it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=150270325192

[River]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Another fake... LOL- We must be putting one hell of a dent in their program- Look at all the "ITS NOT FAKE, ITS REAL, this is not a copy!! Comments in his ad... LMAO I love it.
New - Epiphone Les Paul "Custom" Guitar - eBay (item 150270325192 end time Jul-19-08 12:46:10 PDT)

Go, dog, go!

[GNR4EVR]

Another
Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom Guitar - eBay (item 320273926169 end time Jul-19-08 14:43:44 PDT)

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Another fake... LOL- We must be putting one hell of a dent in their program- Look at all the "ITS NOT FAKE, ITS REAL, this is not a copy!! Comments in his ad... LMAO I love it.
New - Epiphone Les Paul "Custom" Guitar - eBay (item 150270325192 end time Jul-19-08 12:46:10 PDT)

From Minnesota too. I''ve noticed a lot of fakes coming from here.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Another
Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom Guitar - eBay (item 320273926169 end time Jul-19-08 14:43:44 PDT)

That looks legit, you sure its fake?

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

That looks legit, you sure its fake?

Yep- Go to Epis site and look at their truss rod cover, and the "Hand crafted in China" sticker is supposed to be white, and say "Made in China". I could be wrong, tho, the brass truss rod cover on their main screen looks like piramid shaped, then you do the close ups and they look like this one. I might be wrong on that one.

[River]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

That looks legit, you sure its fake?

Hey, Sin and Guns - just my (almost) daily check-in to say "keep it up, dudes". But a question: why would Epiphone not just start implanting little microchips like my vet can do for my dogs and cats? They could easily put them in places it would be really obvious if they'd been removed or tampered with. Cost is really minimal. Seems to me it would be a boon. Am I missing something?

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

From Minnesota too. I''ve noticed a lot of fakes coming from here.

Something esle about this guitar- Look at the full body shot and look at the pickguard screw- Then look at his close up- Completely different

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by River

Hey, Sin and Guns - just my (almost) daily check-in to say "keep it up, dudes". But a question: why would Epiphone not just start implanting little microchips like my vet can do for my dogs and cats? They could easily put them in places it would be really obvious if they'd been removed or tampered with. Cost is really minimal. Seems to me it would be a boon. Am I missing something?

I have no idea why they dont, it sure would stop a lot of crap going on.

[Sinmastah]

I asked if he was willing to do a local pick-up.

[Sinmastah]

Originally Posted by River

Hey, Sin and Guns - just my (almost) daily check-in to say "keep it up, dudes". But a question: why would Epiphone not just start implanting little microchips like my vet can do for my dogs and cats? They could easily put them in places it would be really obvious if they'd been removed or tampered with. Cost is really minimal. Seems to me it would be a boon. Am I missing something?

But whats the good? You still buy them at eBay, and they can still be fake. I think you are implying that they put them into the wood itself? But then if guitars are fake, you wouldn't need to show it.

[River]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

But whats the good? You still buy them at eBay, and they can still be fake. I think you are implying that they put them into the wood itself? But then if guitars are fake, you wouldn't need to show it.

I'm thinking you would not buy without at least a few business-days return guarantee, and you could take the guitar to any Gib/Epi authorized dealer who would have a scanner and "poof", a quick barcode scan and it's either the real deal or it's not. If you buy without the ability to return, you're on your own. I personally would not buy spark plugs on eBay, but that's just me.

Regardless, you guys are the bee's knees. Keep it up.