Fake or real?....what do you think

[kjlugo]

Hi guys,

I’m still new to this forum but I think it’s very helpful and a great thing for LP’s users.

I just wanted to hear your opinions on this guitar I just bought off of eBay (an Epi LP Alpine White). I paid $370 for it, and it also had the “Buy it Now” option for $580.

check the ebay auction here:
Epiphone Les Paul Custom ALPINE WHITE Guitar - eBay (item 220226548546 end time Apr-21-08 20:15:04 PDT)

I got it a couple of days ago, and I noticed all the threads talking about fake LP’s on eBay from China……since I read that, I took a very close look at my guitar and it seems to be fine except that the writing on the cover truss is a little blurry, that’s when I also started to think it might be a fake, and also the fact that it says it's shipped directly from the China factory…..other than that seems pretty “real” to me, I even went to an authorized LP store in Toronto (Steve’s) and they also have an Epi LP Alpine White and compared it with mine and it seems to have the same stuff and nothing really remarkably different.

Just wanted to see what you guys think of it. I checked the serial number and it was made last year 2007 in china, I will take some pictures later when I get home and publish them here to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

KJ

[b-squared]

Looks real enough to me. Only body pics though--any headstock pics?

BB

[diceman]

Do you have some headstock photos? Is that the same ad that you purchased from?

It honestly seems pretty shady to me - Gibson doesn't allow guitars to be "shipped directly from the factory" to anyone other than an authorized Gibson/Epiphone dealer... Odds are, either black market (and otherwise legit) or a fake...

[kjlugo]

The seller didn’t include headstock pics……but I will take a few pics later when I get home and I’ll post them here.

KJ.

[diceman]

Here's another guitar that he's selling:

GENUINE REAL Epiphone Les Paul Zakk Wylde Buz - eBay (item 220226550243 end time Apr-21-08 20:23:02 PDT)

Epi Zakk Buzzsaw - looks fake to me - has the wrong knobs for sure...

Not a good sign!

KJ - welcome to the forum, by the way! Hopefully you get this all sorted out...

[b-squared]

Ya, here's the buzzsaw on a reputable site:

BB

[diceman]

Do you see any orange on the sides of the headstock on the Ebay Buzzsaw? I'm not making any out...

It also looks rather "reddish" - could be the lighting, but it does look off.

[b-squared]

Stripes from the pickup switch back don't match either. Slightly off.

BB

[b-squared]

Looks more red than orange on the eBay piece.

BB

[kjlugo]

Yes I bought it from that exact ad.

[diceman]

Good call.

I'm going to have to say "guilty by association" regarding your LP, KJ. Which sucks. Put some headstock pix up if you're able, front and back - thats usually a good indicator. Bridge closeup would be good as well.

[kjlugo]

I know....I guess I'm gonna have to take the guitar to a local store and see what a technician thinks about it.

KJ.

[diceman]

Play it next to one if the shop if you can - no one here really "knows" what the quality is like on some of these (if you do determine that it isn't a 'real' Epi) - the quality could be every bit as good as the other Epis for all we know...

[kjlugo]

will do, give me a few minutes, I'm at work, but I'll have my wife take some pics and I'll post them here.

I really hope we're wrong, but it does look fishy to me too.

Thanks.

KJ

[kjlugo]

OK, I got some pics, check them out……









KJ

[b-squared]

Man, it looks pretty good to me. Shoddy inlay work is usually the first sign of a fake. Those look pretty good. The script on the truss rod cover looked suspect, I thought it said "Les Daul" at first...LOL. The script for the "a" is touching the "P" in Paul.

BB

[kjlugo]

yeah....the truss cover was the first sign that made me think it could be a fake....but other than that I can't find any more signs.

KJ

[diceman]

TRC's do vary some - it does look good, though!

I'd still A/B it with one in the shop, for peace of mind!

[b-squared]

I agree, pretty guitar. I always wanted a white LPC...got a black one, but never white.



BB

[kjlugo]

Thanks BB, I always wanted a white LP too, but I will do some modding to it after taking it to a technician to hear his opinion about it's authenticity.

I was planning to replace all the gold hardware with chrome hadware, I was never a fan of gold on guitars.

KJ

[b-squared]

White and Chrome will look cool as heck.

BB

[kjlugo]

Thanks a lot diceman......I will send it to a technician over the weekend for a set up and he will let me know if it's fake or real.....

But as you say, it looks pretty good to me but I need an expert opinion for piece of mind, I haven't been able to sleep well since I got it thinking it might be a fake

KJ.

[kjlugo]

for sure BB, it will look amazing with chrome......I will post some pics when I finish all the modding.....but first I want to make sure it's not a fake, that would honestly break my heart

KJ

[GNR4EVR]

Originally Posted by b-squared

White and Chrome will look cool as heck.

BB

White and gold and especially black and gold... Only to be toppped by wine red and gold. IMO

[krapsusa]

I though you said you bought it. It is still for sale on ebay.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by krapsusa

I though you said you bought it. It is still for sale on ebay.

The guy is selling another one.

[VictorLazarus]

The serial looks good; and thats a good sign of it being real.

MVL.

[VictorLazarus]

Its probably real, but stolen, LOL.

MVL.

[krapsusa]

Originally Posted by diceman

The guy is selling another one.

Ah got ya.

There have been a rash of fakes out there. I hope it not one.

From Epiphone.

Epiphone Musical Instruments - News

[kjlugo]

Yeah, the guy has another alpine for sale.