The Fake Epiphone Thread II

[Jett]

Originally Posted by blusky

This is a great thread.

This one looks a bit suspect to me. The epiphone elite logo on the back of the neck doesn't look like it's printed properly. The text is very thin in some points. I used to have a model with a similar serial number and the headstock is not like that. It's more of a closed book shape. I would be careful with this one.

On another note, I was jamming with a friend of mine from Indonesia a few days ago and he told me that you can get fake guitars from Java with real Epiphone hardware. He said he knows the guy who makes them. It only costs them about $150 US to make and they sell them for about $400-$500 US on ebay and other places. Apparently, they make their own guitar bodies and then install real epiphone hardware on them. If this is true, it means that fakes will be really hard to spot.

Hey blusky, check this ebay seller out; [NEW] Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Custom - eBay Electric, Guitars, Instruments, Musical Instruments. (end time 03-Mar-09 15:51:17 AEDST) I bought a custom from this guy, says he lives in Melbourne but now lives in Indonesia. I think what you say is true about the hardware. See pictures. I posted these images before.

[blusky]

Originally Posted by Jett

Hey blusky, check this ebay seller out; [NEW] Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Custom - eBay Electric, Guitars, Instruments, Musical Instruments. (end time 03-Mar-09 15:51:17 AEDST) I bought a custom from this guy, says he lives in Melbourne but now lives in Indonesia. I think what you say is true about the hardware. See pictures. I posted these images before.

Hey there. That's intriguing! I haven't seen them in real life but you might have uncovered something there. The seller might be shipping from Indonesia and claiming that he lives in other countries to avoid arousing suspicion. I just had a quick browse of the images on his page and the headstock logo looks a bit jagged and the tuners don't seem to line up. Is yours like that too?

[Jett]

Not really, my are pretty good and in my earlier post this guitar was never really confirmed if its a fake or not? I've still to take to store to get it set-up and check if it is a fake. Here's more images with my Gibson, tuners...

[blusky]

Originally Posted by Jett

Not really, my are pretty good and in my earlier post this guitar was never really confirmed if its a fake or not? I've still to take to store to get it set-up and check if it is a fake. Here's more images with my Gibson, tuners...

That's good. I think it's a good idea to get a store to look at it. That serial number looks quite unusual.

[randygt]

what is the point in worrying about fake epiphones? fake or real, neither have any resale value. they are beginner guitars manufactured from sub par materials and non existent quality control. They are what they are, a cheap entry level guitar. why pay 600 for a guitar, another 400 in pups,pots, hd.ware, 100 for a case when you still have a 300 dollar guitar? It's like putting fancy doors and furniture in a house made from cardboard.

[Lynyrd77Skynyrd]

Originally Posted by randygt

what is the point in worrying about fake epiphones? fake or real, neither have any resale value. they are beginner guitars manufactured from sub par materials and non existent quality control. They are what they are, a cheap entry level guitar. why pay 600 for a guitar, another 400 in pups,pots, hd.ware, 100 for a case when you still have a 300 dollar guitar? It's like putting fancy doors and furniture in a house made from cardboard.

The resale value of an Epi Standard is what? $300-500.
The resale value of a fake Epi is $0
Entry level or not $300 is not loose change, not everyone can afford a Gibson, so your snobby views that they are basically firewood will be resented by quite a few people on this forum.

[randygt]

i'm not being a snob, I own 4 epis. 2 standard plus tops, a dot deluxe and a emperor II....I'm just realistic.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by blusky

This is a great thread.

This one looks a bit suspect to me. The epiphone elite logo on the back of the neck doesn't look like it's printed properly. The text is very thin in some points. I used to have a model with a similar serial number and the headstock is not like that. It's more of a closed book shape. I would be careful with this one.

On another note, I was jamming with a friend of mine from Indonesia a few days ago and he told me that you can get fake guitars from Java with real Epiphone hardware. He said he knows the guy who makes them. It only costs them about $150 US to make and they sell them for about $400-$500 US on ebay and other places. Apparently, they make their own guitar bodies and then install real epiphone hardware on them. If this is true, it means that fakes will be really hard to spot.

Rest assured, we'll still bag em'.

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Jett

Not really, my are pretty good and in my earlier post this guitar was never really confirmed if its a fake or not? I've still to take to store to get it set-up and check if it is a fake. Here's more images with my Gibson, tuners...

Did you check everything else? Control cavity coating, Epi logos where they should be, etc?
I dont like that serial number either. Just a bit too small.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by randygt

i'm not being a snob, I own 4 epis. 2 standard plus tops, a dot deluxe and a emperor II....I'm just realistic.

First of all, I wouldn't consider 600 bucks for a guitar as cheap. I bought my first guitar for about 150$ new, that's what I consider a cheap entry level guitar.

According to your own calculation you spent about 2400$ on your 4 epis. And you really want to tell me you wouldn't mind having thrown out that amount of money for some shitty pieces of firewood with 6 strings on???? C'mon, think about it, you can't be serious about that. Not to mention that every sold fake means a loss to Epiphone/Gibson resulting in increasing prices!

[Sinmastah]

How would you feel if you bought a fake guitar, spent 600 bucks on one when that's all you have and you want a Les Paul?

[Jett]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Did you check everything else? Control cavity coating, Epi logos where they should be, etc?
I dont like that serial number either. Just a bit too small.

Here are the cavity photos, they are nicely coated, pup's, switch and bridge has Epi logo. Like blusky said they're using real Epi parts? This guitar is in need of a set-up cause it has quite a few buzz through out the strings, specially the A and D strings, just got to find time to get it done.

[Jett]

Originally Posted by blusky

This is a great thread.

This one looks a bit suspect to me. The epiphone elite logo on the back of the neck doesn't look like it's printed properly. The text is very thin in some points. I used to have a model with a similar serial number and the headstock is not like that. It's more of a closed book shape. I would be careful with this one.

On another note, I was jamming with a friend of mine from Indonesia a few days ago and he told me that you can get fake guitars from Java with real Epiphone hardware. He said he knows the guy who makes them. It only costs them about $150 US to make and they sell them for about $400-$500 US on ebay and other places. Apparently, they make their own guitar bodies and then install real epiphone hardware on them. If this is true, it means that fakes will be really hard to spot.

Could somebody please upload an image of the Epi Elite logo on the back of the headstock for comparision? I have search this here and on google with no luck.

[Nino7777]

What do you think about bdweq, an ebay seller? You can see some Epiphone LP here: eBay Seller: bdweq: Musical Instruments items on eBay.co.uk

I am interested in the Black Beauty: Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar Black Beauty 3 pickups on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 31-Jan-09 19:30:11 GMT) and Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar Black Beauty 3 pickups on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 27-Feb-09 20:00:53 GMT).

Are they real or fake?

Thank you.

[Jett]

Originally Posted by Nino7777

What do you think about bdweq, an ebay seller? You can see some Epiphone LP here: eBay Seller: bdweq: Musical Instruments items on eBay.co.uk

I am interested in the Black Beauty: Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar Black Beauty 3 pickups on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 31-Jan-09 19:30:11 GMT) and Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar Black Beauty 3 pickups on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 27-Feb-09 20:00:53 GMT).

Are they real or fake?

Thank you.

Hey Nino, have a look at the first page of this thread and compare the images there to the sellers. That first page is very informative... What do you think? I'm only a Junior Member so I'm not allowed to say...

[Nino7777]

I am also Junior, so... I had a look at the first page before posting, but I'm not sure about it. That's why I asked here about it.

[Jett]

Originally Posted by Nino7777

I am also Junior, so... I had a look at the first page before posting, but I'm not sure about it. That's why I asked here about it.

They don't look good to me, but hopefully Sin, Gnrs or DJ can answer you.

[Nino7777]

I think the same about them. But I will also wait for their opinion.

Thank you, anyway.

[djwilbanks]

I know the guy from other fake auctions. First BB is fake, assume everything he sells is a fake.

[djwilbanks]

second BB is also fake, just in case you were wondering

[blusky]

Originally Posted by randygt

what is the point in worrying about fake epiphones? fake or real, neither have any resale value. they are beginner guitars manufactured from sub par materials and non existent quality control. They are what they are, a cheap entry level guitar. why pay 600 for a guitar, another 400 in pups,pots, hd.ware, 100 for a case when you still have a 300 dollar guitar? It's like putting fancy doors and furniture in a house made from cardboard.

That is not true at all. The Epiphone factory today is setup and managed by ex-Gibson plant managers and they have good quality control. The earlier Epis had some quality issues but these days they make great guitars. Even though Epiphone's are relatively inexpensive compared to Gibsons, there's a HUGE difference in quality between a fake and a real one.

[blusky]

Originally Posted by Jett

Could somebody please upload an image of the Epi Elite logo on the back of the headstock for comparision? I have search this here and on google with no luck.

Hope that helps.

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by Nino7777

What do you think about bdweq, an ebay seller? You can see some Epiphone LP here: eBay Seller: bdweq: Musical Instruments items on eBay.co.uk

I am interested in the Black Beauty: Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar Black Beauty 3 pickups on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 31-Jan-09 19:30:11 GMT) and Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar Black Beauty 3 pickups on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 27-Feb-09 20:00:53 GMT).

Are they real or fake?

Thank you.

Stay away from 'em! All guitars of that seller are fakes and that damaged Goldtop he's selling isn't even a Goldtop. Looks more like Trans Amber Flametop. Geez, it kinda seems the UK ebay is flooded with fakes. You should definately stay away from that seller.

If you want a BB, I just found one that seems to be fine. It's an '03 Korean made and as far as I know, there are no fakes of Korean made Epiphones. Take a look here

[PhilMaddocks2k9]

Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electic Guitar White!!COME IN! on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 23-Feb-09 19:59:48 GMT)

THink I may have spotted another dodgy one

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by PhilMaddocks2k9

Epiphone Les Paul Custom Electic Guitar White!!COME IN! on eBay, also Epiphone, Electric, Guitars, Musical Instruments (end time 23-Feb-09 19:59:48 GMT)

THink I may have spotted another dodgy one

Yup, that one and everything else he's selling looks very fake!

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by Jett

Here are the cavity photos, they are nicely coated, pup's, switch and bridge has Epi logo. Like blusky said they're using real Epi parts? This guitar is in need of a set-up cause it has quite a few buzz through out the strings, specially the A and D strings, just got to find time to get it done.

Anyone else seen "Alpha" on their Epiphone Pots? I havent. And where is the usual white plug? And your left hand guitars gold knobs are too close together in comparison to the other. This stuff and the tiny serial make me want to call fake.

[randygt]

why not just buy from an authorized dealer?

[-=[Shifty]=-]

Originally Posted by randygt

why not just buy from an authorized dealer?

That's sure the best way to avoid fakes. I think so many people search ebay because it's way easier. You don't have to drive somewhere with your car or puplic transport, just to end up at a dealer who only offers a limited range of Epiphone guitars at his store. Last time I went to a store it took me 1 1/2 hours to get there and back, and the only Epi Les Paul they had was the Gothic Studio. I didn't go there to buy a new guitar, but if so it would have been a total waste of time. No matter when I take a look at the bay I would at least find one guitar I like, mostly way more.

And also, in times of economy downturn everyone wants the stuff as cheap as possible, I guess. And sometimes you can make a real good deal there, if you know what to look for. Well, I might have to add that the german bay is still a pretty fake free area. When I take a look at UK's ebay it gives me the creeps everytime.

[randygt]

just a thought but, a person could call the store first to ask what they have instead of driving there to find out.

[Jett]

Originally Posted by GNR4EVR

Anyone else seen "Alpha" on their Epiphone Pots? I havent. And where is the usual white plug? And your left hand guitars gold knobs are too close together in comparison to the other. This stuff and the tiny serial make me want to call fake.

Hey GNR4EVR, is Alpha fake? What white plug are you talking about? please explain... The Left guitar is a genuine Gibson Classic 07 model verified by Gallins a Gibson retailer here in Sydney where I'm going to take the Epi when I find time. Gallin's Guitars & Musicians Pro Shop :: Home page :: Australia's leading Gibson and Epiphone retail guitar specialists Are you saying that the Gibson is a fake cause the knobs are to lose togerther and that the store got it wrong? or the Epi knobs are to far apart? in comparison to the Gibson?