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Old 05-10-2008, 04:25 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Is it fake or not ?

Hi all,
I am thinking to buy an Epiphone Les Paul Custom that's coming from China.
But I got some suspects about it's fake or not.
I'm gonna send ya a few of photos.
Can you help me how can I spot this guitar's authenticity?

Here's the pics.
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/SNC11031.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/SNC11034.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/SNC11032.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/SNC11033.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/k...e/SNC11037.jpg


Thanks bros.
Tuncay.
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Old 05-10-2008, 04:30 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

None of the links lead to pictures.

EDIT: Well, now they do.

Is this another "out the factory back door" auction?
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Old 05-10-2008, 04:33 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benniator View Post
None of the links lead to pictures.
Sorry, i have moved them.
Right now, they look good.
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Old 05-10-2008, 04:41 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

No, it's not ''out of factory back door auction''.
My friend brings these guitars from China for name of him company.
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Old 05-10-2008, 04:55 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

I can't see anything wrong with the guitar, but I'm not the most knowledgeable about spotting fakes. Does your friend make it a habit to brings fakes over from China? What do you think is suspicious about the guitar?
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Old 05-10-2008, 04:55 PM   #6 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

I wouldn't trust anything coming straight from China as it's most likely fake or stolen. It looks like the serial says "UCxxxxxx" If that's the case, it's from the same factory as my SG and was probably stolen out of the factory
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Old 05-10-2008, 07:26 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

I'm not great at spotting fakes, but I think that guitar looks pretty real to me.
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Old 05-10-2008, 07:46 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Its real. Even though the last pic is a bit blurry, the serial number starts with EE. Thats means its from one of the real Epiphone factories.
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Old 05-11-2008, 05:35 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

This is my friends first guitar work.
He has a marble company and always deals with China for import/export.
He uses middleman for this work.
Middleman have noted that these guitars coming from one of the biggest dealer in China, not directly from factory.

I've seen a one of these guitar's that's SN EE070902744.
Also guitars come with their paper box, manual and one cable
I think it's not fake but a few of my friends have doubt about it.
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Old 05-11-2008, 12:55 PM   #10 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

The only way to really tell is to look at it hands on. The serial is kind of pointless as they will sometimes use real serial numbers to make it look legit.
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Old 05-11-2008, 12:58 PM   #11 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Why Fake an Epiphone?
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Old 05-11-2008, 01:10 PM   #12 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchEtech View Post
Why Fake an Epiphone?
You've got me haha. It's not like they're making much profit off of it since they sell it cheaper then retail price by hundreds of dollars
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Old 05-11-2008, 04:11 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

It looks fine. I can't be sure without seeing the control cavity but it doesn't display any of the tell tale signs.
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Old 05-11-2008, 04:29 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchEtech View Post
Why Fake an Epiphone?
I often wonder that myself. Perhaps elsewhere in the world, Epiphone fakes are more desirable than here in the US.
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Old 05-11-2008, 07:41 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ArchEtech View Post
Why Fake an Epiphone?
I agree, but it DOES happen - a lot. Maybe its easier to pull off than faking a Gibson - people don't look at them as closely either...
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Old 05-11-2008, 10:18 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Guys,

I think it's a fake. Look at how big the back control pocket is, and how big the screws are, especially on the toggle cavity plate. Also the hang tags are using an old logo.

Doesnt smell right to me.
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Old 05-11-2008, 10:19 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Inside Guy - does Epi China release any guitars other than through authorized Gibson/Epi dealers? That is my big questions. Lots of guys w/ auctions saying "shipped to you directly from the factory in China" - I call BS on that. Doesn't make any sense to me...
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Old 05-11-2008, 10:25 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

I say it's real, but I wouldn't trust myself.
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Old 05-11-2008, 10:49 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Personally I'd steer clear of anything not sold by authorized dealers. It's not like Epiphones break the bank in the first place. I'll gladly pay a bit of extra cash to know I have a legit guitar.
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Old 05-11-2008, 11:20 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

(For those who don't know - Inside Guy works at Gibson - I'm gonna take his word on this one... The "old logo" is something to add to the list of things to check regarding hang tags.)
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Old 05-11-2008, 11:40 PM   #21 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

i got a case with that same logo.

from taht one seller from the "morality" thread
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Old 05-13-2008, 09:51 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

For the record, Epiphone does not sell directly from the factory in China.

A few more things on this guitar that make it look fake:

The Grover tuners are HUGE
The knob placement looks off to me
The back pocket material has a matte finish
the pickups have an old sticker on them
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Old 05-13-2008, 09:55 PM   #23 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inside Guy View Post
For the record, Epiphone does not sell directly from the factory in China.
There we have it...
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Old 05-13-2008, 11:54 PM   #24 (permalink)
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Re: Is it fake or not ?

Moral of story,

Don't buy anything coming out straight from China. Learn it already!
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