The Fake Epiphone Thread II

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Generic Clapham

EPIPHONE LES PAUL CUSTOM EBONY. EB. Guitarra Eléctrica. en venta en eBay.es (finaliza el 28-mar-09 11:25:49 H.Esp)

Guitarra Eléctrica. EPIPHONE LES PAUL CUSTOM PLUS. en venta en eBay.es (finaliza el 17-mar-09 21:10:06 H.Esp)

Heres a couple of guitars from one of my fellow countrymen - both of these look a bit dodgy to me (especially the second one), but some of his/her other sale items look like they may be ok.

Can we get a forum experts view on these two please GNR/Shifty/Sin/DJ ?

Hey Bro', don't let 'em others see that you put me amongst the experts.
I just read through the fake thread thoroughly and try to help people. If I don't know fo' sure, I keep my mouth shut. As I will about the acoustics that the guy offers. Dunno if they are faking acoustics and if so I wouldn't know how to spot one.
As for the electrics I'm 100% sure they are fakes. That would make me stay away from the acoustics as well.

[Generic Clapham]

I came across this and thought the link may be useful. It's from the official Gibson site and shows good, clear, very large pictures of all (I think) current electric models. (clicking on the small pics in the lower 3 x 3 grid pages opens up very large detailed pics).

I think these could be useful as a reference so folk can see what the legit models are supposed to look like. These pics seem to show lots of detail in the fittings, there are also useful "finish" and "overview" links from them too.

You can filter by body style, so you dont necessarliy have to restrict yourself to Les Pauls, unless you want to, and you can choose to filter on Gibsons and/or Epiphones too.

Gibson - Gibson Guitar: Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Bass Guitars, Baldwin Pianos and



Does anyone know what the criteria is to step up from "junior member" to "member"?

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Originally Posted by Generic Clapham

Does anyone know what the criteria is to step up from "junior member" to "member"?

Keep posting, it progresses depending on how many times you've posted.
Oh and i'd choose a Gibson '59 LP repro, not one of the Tom Murphy aged ones, just a new repro.

[Generic Clapham]

Originally Posted by Lynyrd77Skynyrd

Keep posting, it progresses depending on how many times you've posted.
Oh and i'd choose a Gibson '59 LP repro, not one of the Tom Murphy aged ones, just a new repro.

Thanks for the posting info Lynyrd - I wonder how many posts click it over, maybe 50 or so I guess.

My choice would be the iconic 1959 Gibson Les Paul Reissue Gloss in Iced Tea.
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Elec.../Finishes.aspx

Are you out there Mr Gibson? Feel free to call or email day or night

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Generic Clapham

Thanks for the posting info Lynyrd - I wonder how many posts click it over, maybe 50 or so I guess.

My choice would be the iconic 1959 Gibson Les Paul Reissue Gloss in Iced Tea.
http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Elec.../Finishes.aspx

Are you out there Mr Gibson? Feel free to call or email day or night

Nice choice...beautiful Guitar. I guess my choice would be an R0, because of the slim neck. Maybe in a nice Lemon Burst, Faded Tobacco or IceTea. And of course some real nice flames!!!

[RemCarr]

Another SB i missed the last one I posted, it sold before I got the OK from you guys - here is another at a local GC.

[GNR4EVR]

If you got it at GC, theres probably no problem.

[Calc]

It was bought 8 years ago at the most popular music store in Bergen, Norway.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Hey Calc, that guitar is fine. It's an older MIK Epiphone. They started fakin' Epis after production shifted to China.

[Calc]

Hi Shifty, thanks for the reply.
What does the MIK stand for, I did a google search and little relevant information came up.
Nice to know it's not a fake

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Calc

Hi Shifty, thanks for the reply.
What does the MIK stand for, I did a google search and little relevant information came up.
Nice to know it's not a fake

MIK means made in Korea. The faking started after Epiphone took the production to the "home of the counterfeiters" (China) somewhere around 2004.

[Calc]

Ah, good to know!
Thanks

[RemCarr]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

If you got it at GC, theres probably no problem.

I am sorry i wasn't clear - it is a USED piece from GC this is why i wanted to check in here before maybe grabbing it - we have ALL heard more than one horror story of fakes at GC.

- Mike

[Sinmastah]

Pic has a red X in it, but before from when I was glancing it was a really bad angle to know.

[groomvroom]

Just to add to the data base, I emailed Gibson USA about the TRC plate on my fake Les Paul BB having "Les Paul Black Beauty" written on it and they confirmed that they did produce some with this.

[RemCarr]

I have a head stock pic i will post when i get home - stay tuned!

[RemCarr]

here is a shot of the head stock, it's a shitty camera phone pic but you get the idea...

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by RemCarr

I am sorry i wasn't clear - it is a USED piece from GC this is why i wanted to check in here before maybe grabbing it - we have ALL heard more than one horror story of fakes at GC.

- Mike

Sorry, didnt catch that.

[Sinmastah]

Looks ok.

[float]

hi dudes,

now i have the confirmation direct from gibson, it is definitive a fake. with this news i can drive forward the litigation.

cheers, float

[fatso forgotso]

hey everyone
i found this guitar on an auction site and i wasn't sure if its fake
Epiphone by Gibson Les Paul Ltd Edition Silverburst Free Epiphone Hardcase (Auction ID: 151700, End Time : 01 May. 2009 23:30:01) - Bang4Bucks Online Shopping
thanks.

[AdrielTimothealovesLps]

those look like Chinese fake copies but u gotta get sin to check it out

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Originally Posted by fatso forgotso

hey everyone
i found this guitar on an auction site and i wasn't sure if its fake
Epiphone by Gibson Les Paul Ltd Edition Silverburst Free Epiphone Hardcase (Auction ID: 151700, End Time : 01 May. 2009 23:30:01) - Bang4Bucks Online Shopping
thanks.

Location: China = Fake
Don't go within a million miles of that one.

[groomvroom]

Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty Electric Guitar & Case.. on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 25-Mar-09 02:06:48 GMT)

What do we make of this one, its up for proper money but looks a like like the fake I had.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by groomvroom

Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty Electric Guitar & Case.. on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 25-Mar-09 02:06:48 GMT)

What do we make of this one, its up for proper money but looks a like like the fake I had.

It's hard to tell by those pictures. Pickguard screw and knob alignment look off. The angles of those shots really make it hard to tell. If you're interested in buying you should ask for better pics. Straight shots of the body, back, headstock and the back of the headstock.
If this is a fake, I don't think that the seller is aware of that.

[groomvroom]

Ok, I am not looking at getting another Epi from ebay, this is just to stop it happening to others plus its kind of fun spotting fakes, I agree abot the pick guard screw placment, also the headstock diamond looks too close to the machine head washers, I will email him, see if he can send me a square on shot of the body.

[RemCarr]

what do we think of this one???

Epiphone Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty Awesome !! - eBay (item 170310734696 end time Mar-22-09 12:47:05 PDT)

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Originally Posted by RemCarr

what do we think of this one???

Epiphone Gibson Les Paul Custom Black Beauty Awesome !! - eBay (item 170310734696 end time Mar-22-09 12:47:05 PDT)

MIK Real

[gazaboy1]

what about this one aswell ! The volume control looks higher up than the bridge- Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Cherry Sunburst on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 22-Mar-09 21:00:00 GMT)

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by gazaboy1

what about this one aswell ! The volume control looks higher up than the bridge- Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Cherry Sunburst on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 22-Mar-09 21:00:00 GMT)

MIK, real!!! It was made at the Samick plant in Korea in June, 2001. My Cherry is from the same plant (made in 1992) and my neck volume knob is also higher than the bridge.

Once and for all, fellas. If the TRC says Gibson and the guitar was built somewhat prior to 2004, it's an MIK Epi. THERE ARE NO KNOWN FAKES OF KOREAN EPIPHONES! (Exceptions would be the Zakk Wylde models, Korean made, built since 2005, no Gibson TRC)