The Fake Epiphone Thread!

[Wasarnamis]

Damn! I always find the fake ones... BTW thx for the help

[Wasarnamis]

Ok heres another try. What do you think about this one ?

[River]

Originally Posted by Wasarnamis

Ok heres another try. What do you think about this one ?

[barburny]

this one warns us to watch out for cheap counterfeits on the market
Epiphone by Gibson Les Paul Standard White on eBid.net United Kingdom

[Sinmastah]

Look at the TRC, it looks horrible, FAKE. for the BB

[Sinmastah]

Also EE03. WTF!

[Thundergod]

Oh man... I didnt know they made fake epis... whats the point? are they selling them for 50 bucks or something? WTF man!

[Sinmastah]

Because newbies buy Epi's, and they are easier to fake.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by GroverTuner

I've first hand experience with payless guitars. Here's the story. They are all fake, they know it and they will tell you so. They believe they make quality guitars that are (almost) as good as genuine Gibsons (or Epi's or Fenders or PRS, etc.) They don't really hide the fact that they make counterfeit goods and the Chinese Gov't has no plans to stop them or anybody else that's doing so.

They charge a high price for what you get. Which isn't much. I bought a "Gibson" Standard from them about 6 months ago to use the body for a "franken-guitar" I was building for fun. When I took it all apart, it consisted of the following:
*Unknown wood-looked like painted pine, very blonde, sounded shitty
*No binding-it's painted on
*Fake Tuners-but they were locking and useful
*Fake Bridge-but it worked
*Crappy Electronix-but bith pickups switched and V/T were correct. wiring was sloppy
*Fake Flamed Maple-it was a picture of flamed maple under the varnish
*Varnish
*Slightly mis-aligned knobs- but they worked
*REALLY BAD PICKUPS-thought I could get away with them but WRONG

What I ended up with was the musical instrument version of a 45 year old Groupie. She looked good from far but she was far from good. I ended up putting it all back together with a pair of Seymour Duncans and I fart around with it occassionally. It is a very good looking guitar that sounds....mediocre at best. My plan for it is to use it on Halloween this year and smash it to shit after a single bad note on the first song. Should get a few laughs. Seriously though, for $350 you end up with a guitar that, while a known fake, actually looks halfway decent but sounds like shit. If I had it to do over again, I'd buy a MIM Strat for the same price.

Thanks for that info- Serves a great warning for those "About to Rock".
Hope everybody read that post. Take heed, the garbage is all over the internet.

[Thundergod]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Because newbies buy Epi's, and they are easier to fake.

Yeah but the prices of epi guitars are very similar to fake gibbies prices... do they sell epi fakes at 90 bucks or something? If they sell them at "real" prices then what you can do to avoid buying one is just buy from an authorized dealer...

Very good thread BTW... I didnt know they faked epis, and now I know... (you learn something every day).

[barburny]

Originally Posted by Thundergod

Oh man... I didnt know they made fake epis... whats the point? are they selling them for 50 bucks or something? WTF man!

May it would mot be so bad If theyb did but no way fake lester fake lester epi same price

[River]

Originally Posted by barburny

May it would mot be so bad If theyb did but no way fake lester fake lester epi same price

? Sorry, I'm not following your line of thinking...

[Thundergod]

Originally Posted by River

? Sorry, I'm not following your line of thinking...

me neither!

[Dino]

This one also warns of "counterfeiters" too.

Auction states that the item location is in Slat Lake City, UT.
However, the item is being shipped via Chinese EMS.
Oh .. and shipping is $5.

Epiphone les paul Custom Zakk Wylde Camo - eBay (item 120309525874 end time Sep-27-08 01:01:56 PDT)

[River]

Originally Posted by Dino

This one also warns of "counterfeiters" too.

Auction states that the item location is in Slat Lake City, UT.
However, the item is being shipped via Chinese EMS.
Oh .. and shipping is $5.

Epiphone les paul Custom Zakk Wylde Camo - eBay (item 120309525874 end time Sep-27-08 01:01:56 PDT)

The seller's ebay user name looks vaguely familiar...

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by River

The seller's ebay user name looks vaguely familiar...

lol- more Chinglish.. Dont buy his junk

[brents1975]

Hey guys... i am new to the forum. I only wish that I had found out sooner about this site. I recently bought an Epiphone Zakk Wylde Bullseye from this auction off of ebay:220282381557. I had never even heard of somebody counterfeiting guitars. I feel so dumb and naive. There were some things that i look back on now and that are very obvious as not being right but at the time I just wanted my new guitar. So i bought one as the seller claimed to be from England. They sent me a tracking number for EMS in China. That raised a red flag as being strange. So i was excited about my purchase and I stumbled upon this website and this thread. My heart SANK when i read thru the thread!! Through correspondence with the seller everything this thread warns about has happened. They claim it's coming from the factory in China. They insist that it is an authentic Epiphone guitar. I have asked for a serial number this morning so I can do some research. They havent gotten back with me yet. But right now the plan is to refuse the shipment when they try to deliver and try to get a refund. I am just SICK that i didnt know about this crap before i bought the guitar. I am SICK that this sort of thing is happening... and eBay should post some sort of WARNINGS on their site in regards to this problem. This would have stopped me and Many others from being in this situation. Below are my emails so far with the seller:


Dear brents1975,

DEAR,, i have deliver the item to you today ?this is the tracking number
detail :

website : EMS

tacking number : EE075482920cn

palese dont worry about your
payment.you could track the item on the website ,
in 1-2 workdays,
shipping=5-7workdays,keeping touch by ebay and email.thanks

-merrychirnamrd

Dear merrychirnamrd,

If I am not satisfied with my purchase how do I go about getting a refund
and returning the guitar to you? Since buy the guitar I have been reading
about fake guitars from China and I am getting very nervous. Also you say
that you are from UK but the guitar is coming from China. It all looks very
suspicious. Thanks.

-brents1975

Dear brents1975,

you dont need to pay any customs,the item is original and new from epiphone
factory in china,,,we have ordered lots item too from my supplyer,beacuse
we dont have any more item in the stock,,,,,,,dont warry !!!!you can return
item to us if you dont like and get full refund.cheers!

-merrychirnamrd

Dear merrychirnamrd,

have a look at this
thread:
The Fake Epiphone Thread!

it says in there under Warning Signs:
The guitar is stated as coming direct from the Epiphone factory.

and you responded in the last email:
the item is original and new from epiphone
factory in china

this is all just too suspicious. i will be refusing delivery of this item and would
like a refund.

thanks

-brents1975

Dear merrychirnamrd,

ok. I talked to the local Parcel company and they are aware that I will not
be accepting this item and am refusing delivery. I would like a full refund
as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter. When
can I expect the money to be refunded to me? I apologize for any
inconvenience.

-brents1975

Dear brents1975,

why not check the item we post to you,it is 100% original epiphoen guitar
from epiphoen factory,,,,,you can return item to us and get full refund if
you dont like it.cheers!

-merrychirnamrd

Dear merrychirnamrd,

There are alot of people warning me about guitars from China. I thought you
were a legit retailer based in the UK. Everything is consistent with the
guitar not being authentic. I dont want to accept the package and examine
the guitar because i would then be responsible for the cost of shipping it
back to you and i doubt that cost would be refunded to me. So i am going to
refuse the package because i think this is a fake guitar. You may not know
anything about the guitar being fake but i believe that it is. I am sorry
but the item will be returned to you and I get a full refund. It is more
likely that the guitar is a fake than it is authentic. Thanks

-brents1975

Dear brents1975,

let me explains to you about this,most epiphone gauits are made by epipone
factory in china,then epipone campany provide their epiphone guitars to the
worldwide seller,my items are supplied directly by my epipone supplyer who
are legalable in china,you can check the serier number on epiphone office
website,that means this item is original not copy item if you can get some
information about this guitar.pleae dont misunderstand all epiphone guiatrs
are fake from china,,,,we promise the item is 100% and
new,,,,,,,,,,anyway,please return item to us if you dont like after check
the item..cheers!

-merrychirnamrd

Dear merrychirnamrd,

Do you know the serial number and if not, can you find out the serial
number of the guitar that is being shipped to me? If this is authentic then
you or your supplier should have record of the serial number before it
shipped so that he can invoice you for the product. If you can produce that
I can investigate it and determine if the guitar is authentic. Thanks for
being patient and working with me on this. Thanks.

-brents1975

Dear merrychirnamrd,

Another thing that concerns me is this. You list serial numbers on two of
your other auctions for different guitars but you list the same serial
number. Auction# 220282382405 and 220282211116 are different guitars yet
they both have the same serial# EE07096815. You will be getting the guitar
returned to you and I will be getting my money returned to me. Thanks.

-brents1975

any advice that ya'll can give other than to buy from a reputable dealer?? i will NEVER purchase a guitar from eBay again because of this!!

[Sinmastah]

Just make sure it looks right. Feel free to post what you are looking at on eBay for us to examine.

[brents1975]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Just make sure it looks right. Feel free to post what you are looking at on eBay for us to examine.

Is your gut feeling that this is going to be a fake?

[Sinmastah]

Yeah, the guy doesn't speak English very well. He may claim to be from London, but he's not. I can garuntee it's fake pretty much. 99% sure.

[brents1975]

Yeah I am not even going to get an opportunity to even look at it because I am not going to accept the delivery. This is just NUTS and beyond anything I would have ever expected. I am glad you guys are making people aware because I would have not have even second guessed it... not until after I got the the thing anyways. I'll let you guys know more as I found out.

Oh and I know what his real name is because I was sent this from paypal:

Seller's Name: Ping Xiao
Seller's Email: jshdj299@hotmail.com
Transaction ID: 8W213034W6293301Y
Transaction Date: Sep. 21, 2008 07:34:10 PDT
Transaction Amount: 249.99 GBP

The seller has provided the following Shipment Tracking Information for your review:

Shipping Company: Royal Mail
Shipment Tracking Number: RJ100709075GB

The funny thing is there never was any information with Royal Mail item. When you track it is says there is no information. Then like the next day i get the EMS tracking number. There are just red flags all over the place!

[Sinmastah]

Hmmm, Someone can use that information. I suggest you email Gibson with everything that has happened. Feel free to mention this thread to them, however if you buy another guitar from anyone else, do not mention this thread. We don't want this info getting into the wrong hands.

[brents1975]

Originally Posted by Sinmastah

Hmmm, Someone can use that information. I suggest you email Gibson with everything that has happened. Feel free to mention this thread to them, however if you buy another guitar from anyone else, do not mention this thread. We don't want this info getting into the wrong hands.

I'll send an email to Gibson

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

You likey glitar velly much, is weel glitar no wooly mr english man.
Sounds english to me?? Chinese you say?? Never would of guessed.

Quick question my EpiLP100, it was made in 2001 and says crafted in Korea. But the guitar dater thingy says made in korea/china at the saein plant, i know they have a factory in china but if it was made at that factory would it not say made in china? just asking cause i want it to be a MIK.

[brents1975]

too funny Lynyrd77Skynyrd. thanks for making me laugh during a disappointing situation.

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

check out these examples of chinglish, hilarious......
Chinglish! Hilarious examples of signs lost in translation | Mail Online

[brents1975]

"deformed man toilet" is the best one!!

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

WAITER, 2 glasses of strange juice please. And the man and wife lung slice please.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by brents1975

Yeah I am not even going to get an opportunity to even look at it because I am not going to accept the delivery. This is just NUTS and beyond anything I would have ever expected. I am glad you guys are making people aware because I would have not have even second guessed it... not until after I got the the thing anyways. I'll let you guys know more as I found out.

Oh and I know what his real name is because I was sent this from paypal:

Seller's Name: Ping Xiao
Seller's Email: jshdj299@hotmail.com
Transaction ID: 8W213034W6293301Y
Transaction Date: Sep. 21, 2008 07:34:10 PDT
Transaction Amount: 249.99 GBP

The seller has provided the following Shipment Tracking Information for your review:

Shipping Company: Royal Mail
Shipment Tracking Number: RJ100709075GB

The funny thing is there never was any information with Royal Mail item. When you track it is says there is no information. Then like the next day i get the EMS tracking number. There are just red flags all over the place!

Youre doing the right thing, Brent. Theres literally TONS of fake Zakk Wildes for whatever reason on Ebay. That alone would make me suspicious. Good call. Like Sin said, if you want a guitar on Ebay, post a link to it here and we'll make a call on it. If we are unable to be 100% sure, youre better off not buying it at all and moving on to another. Both my guitars came from Ebay and I am very happy with them. So no reason not to shop Ebay, you just have to be cautious. Take care!

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Lynyrd77Skynyrd

WAITER, 2 glasses of strange juice please. And the man and wife lung slice please.

I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd here Sunday night... Man that was an out standing concert... They still got it goin on...