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Old 04-21-2008, 03:40 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Fake or real?....what do you think

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
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Old 04-21-2008, 03:45 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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

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Old 04-21-2008, 03:48 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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...
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Old 04-21-2008, 03:50 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.
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Old 04-21-2008, 03:52 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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...
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Old 04-21-2008, 03:55 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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

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Old 04-21-2008, 03:56 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.
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Old 04-21-2008, 03:57 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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

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Old 04-21-2008, 03:57 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

Looks more red than orange on the eBay piece.

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Old 04-21-2008, 03:58 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

Yes I bought it from that exact ad.
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Old 04-21-2008, 03:59 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.
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Old 04-21-2008, 04:00 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.
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Old 04-21-2008, 04:02 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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...
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Old 04-21-2008, 04:03 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.

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Old 04-21-2008, 04:34 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

OK, I got some pics, check them out……









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Old 04-21-2008, 04:40 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.

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Old 04-21-2008, 04:42 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.

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Old 04-21-2008, 06:33 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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!
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Old 04-21-2008, 06:35 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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



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Old 04-21-2008, 06:55 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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
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Old 04-21-2008, 06:57 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

White and Chrome will look cool as heck.

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Old 04-21-2008, 06:59 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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.
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Old 04-21-2008, 07:03 PM   #23 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

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
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Old 04-21-2008, 07:05 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

Quote:
Originally Posted by b-squared View Post
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
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Old 04-21-2008, 07:08 PM   #25 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

I though you said you bought it. It is still for sale on ebay.
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Old 04-21-2008, 07:10 PM   #26 (permalink)
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Re: Fake or real?....what do you think

Quote:
Originally Posted by krapsusa View Post
I though you said you bought it. It is still for sale on ebay.
The guy is selling another one.
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Old 04-21-2008, 07:10 PM   #27 (permalink)
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