All gold LP at auction - is it real?

[soldittothefarmer]

Hi All

I have just been to my local auction house to view goods prior to the sale tomorrow. I was not looking for a guitar, but there is an all gold Les Paul on display. I could look it over and play, but no amp to hear how it sounds. Has a very cheap strap and no case, action was very high, but I could see that the bridge was taken right up. Says Gibson Les Paul on the front of the headstock, and has a serial number 5 3837 on the rear, with Made in USA below. Virtually no marks on it, including the scratch plate and shiny chrome covers on the humbuckers.



The reserve on the guitar is £225 (about £270 with buyer's premium), which would be a snip if it is a real Gibson LP, but a waste of money if it is a complete fake.

Can anyone help?

[in2madness]

What does the auction house description say? The serial number is 1955 or reissue, but a 55 would have P90,s and not humbuckers but then they could have been retro fitted. There were certainly all gold Les Pauls in 55 and also reissues. One thing is for sure if its a real Gibson Les Paul of any vintage it is worth more than £270 and if its a 55 its worth considerably more. If its fake who knows what its worth. There is lots of info on here and the Les Paul Forum. Go to the vintage section do your research and make your mind up what you think it is. You may get very lucky.

[guitarbob123]

Sounds like a fake tbh. Any pics available anywhere? Auction House website?

[soldittothefarmer]

Thanks guys

Saleroom picture and description limited:

Arthur Johnson & Sons - Catalogues

My instincts tell me its a fake - I may just drop by and watch the sale tho, out of curiosity.



Cheers

Ben

[soldittothefarmer]

Worked out how to add an image:

LP2.jpg

LP1.jpg

Shed any light?

Cheers, Ben

[Oranjeaap]

Very interesting. Its hard to tell from the pics. We would need a good full on picture of the headstock aswell.
Im quite sure its not a real Gibson. BUT, I think the body and headstock shape are very close, and the hardware doesnt scream Chinese fake, neither does the serial.
It could very well be a Japanese copy. You should also start a thread in the forum section called 'Other Les Pauls' and add more pictures if possible. When is the auction? If you can get it for under 300, it might be worth it.

[Latearrival]

Fake

[Metal]

I don't like the pickup rings and the screws in them...
No fret binding (could be refreted)...
Serial number is inked on, but headstock also has "Made in USA", I thought they only put "Made in USA" with stamped in serial....
Tuners look strange...

[soldittothefarmer]

Guys

This morning it went for £220 + buyer's premium (£260 total). Orangejaap - I was coming to the same conclusion - ie that it is not a gen Gibson, but a curiosity, and if I had been able to play it thru an amp I may have bid. Metal - also agree about the serial number and "Made in USA" on the headstock - looking at the Gibson serial number guides I would have expected it to have the number but not the "Made in..." bit if it was a classic reissue.

Thanks guys, I will be more prepared if I spot anything else at those auctions in the future - as I said I wasn't even looking for guitars!

[Oranjeaap]

Too bad. Could have been a cool guitar.

[Rock City]

Yeah, they don't even know the name of the guitar, just:
"Second hand 'All Gold' electric guitar - good condition complete with strap and lead"
Great deal. I suppose they are better in gardening business, the name of the company leads me to that conclusion.

[Trap E. Zoid]

Originally Posted by Oranjeaap

Very interesting. Its hard to tell from the pics. We would need a good full on picture of the headstock aswell.
Im quite sure its not a real Gibson. BUT, I think the body and headstock shape are very close, and the hardware doesnt scream Chinese fake, neither does the serial.
It could very well be a Japanese copy. You should also start a thread in the forum section called 'Other Les Pauls' and add more pictures if possible. When is the auction? If you can get it for under 300, it might be worth it.

So if it's Chinese it's "fake", but if it's Japanese it's a "copy"? Huh???

[Oranjeaap]

Originally Posted by Trap E. Zoid

So if it's Chinese it's "fake", but if it's Japanese it's a "copy"? Huh???

Yes.\

[rockstar232007]

Originally Posted by Trap E. Zoid

So if it's Chinese it's "fake", but if it's Japanese it's a "copy"? Huh???

Here's the difference:

If it says "Gibson" on the headstock, but was not made by Gibson = Fake

If it looks like a Gibson, but has *insert brand name here* on the headstock = Copy

And, that guitar is faker than...something that's really fake. The finish alone should have been a dead giveaway (note how it's very sparkley). I can also see the round-top on the tailpiece screws (another sign of a typical, Chinese fake).

[The Refugee]

Typically I see Chinese "Fakes", not many Japanese fakes.

Both Japan and China have copies.

[Rock City]

What Oranjeap wanted to say was Chinese made bad guitars.
But that still does not mean Japanese could make the LP sounds like Gibson. MIJ owners, please deny!
I am still waiting Chinese to surprise me in a good way.
Untill that, COPY is something that looks like and sounds OK without plugging it. Like photocopy.