how to spot a fake custom? - Page 2

HRC · 01-30-2012, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino Velvet

It's fake. Save yourself the trouble kids...just figure that ALL the Gibson LP's on CL are fakes. You will be much better off.

I'm sure glad I don't follow that advice. I've gotten some great deals on Les Pauls off of CL...

AXE · 01-30-2012, 07:05 PM

I've seen that serial# on at least 50 different Les Pauls.

steelehead · 01-30-2012, 07:08 PM

you can find good deals from people on craigslist- it's just now that the fakes are getting harder to spot- and some people are dis honest :
at least if you are unsure take it to a gibson dealer to get them to make sure it's authentic and go from there....make sure you find out if they can tell fakes

Csharp · 01-30-2012, 07:09 PM

loucamaro91 posted this find in July 2010. Note that the serial on the OP's CL guitar is on this list twice, LP Custom and SG Standard.

00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul - recorded on Sunbursts and Gold Tops Embossed 00170427 Confirmed Clone 1957 Les Paul Junior Embossed
041775 Confirmed Clone Sold as Epiphone Embossed
8015564 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Black Beauty 3 PU Embossed
017160627 Confirmed Clone Epiphone SG-400 Embossed
02005564 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Ace Frehley Embossed
01433946 Confirmed Clone Les Paul 1957 Gold Top Embossed
017160487 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
CS50723 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Printed
00170434 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Slash Embossed
02005558 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
02005558 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Supreme Embossed
02005559 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
017160456 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
ZW0183 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Zack Wylde Printed
08015560 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
02005556 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
59092648 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Studio Embossed
02260728 Confirmed Clone Hollow Body Jazz 3 P-90 Pus Embossed
00170423 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Standard Embossed
08008067 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Gold Top Embossed
02260558 Confirmed Clone ES-335 TDSV Bigsbly Embossed
02005568 Confirmed Clone ES-335 Bigsby Embossed
02005558 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed
02005611 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Supreme Embossed
00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Standard Embossed
00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Standard Embossed
02005559 Confirmed Clone SG Standard Embossed
00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Classic Embossed
8015564 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Peter Frampton 3PU Black Beauty Embossed

lespaul01 · 01-30-2012, 07:11 PM

I don't know a lot about fakes. But I do remember seeing something about the Custom Diamond Decal in the headstock. On fake Customs it is a fair bit smaller than the real ones.

Here is the pic saw

AXE · 01-30-2012, 07:20 PM

rockstar232007 · 01-30-2012, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

stay away from Craigs List it can be dangerous

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

don't buy any Gibson Les Paul's on CL

CL is no more "dangerous" than any other classified/auction site, so it's not really fair to spread this kind of ridiculousness.

It all boils down to doing a little research, knowing what to look for, and as with ANY used purchases, practicing a little thing I like to call "BUYER BEWARE".

You forget, if it weren't for CL, I wouldn't have this:

Thumpalumpacus · 01-30-2012, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockstar232007

CL is no more "dangerous" than any other classified/auction site, so it's not really fair to spread this kind of ridiculousness.

It all boils down to doing a little research, knowing what to look for, and as with ANY used purchases, practicing a little thing I like to call "BUYER BEWARE".

You forget, if it weren't for CL, I wouldn't have this:

I hate to say it, but those knobs don't look like they line up ...

pmonk · 01-30-2012, 07:56 PM

Made In
USA

rockstar232007 · 01-30-2012, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpalumpacus

I hate to say it, but those knobs don't look like they line up ...

Try looking at it with your eyes UNcrossed!

USAPatriot · 01-30-2012, 08:07 PM

Pull off the stopbar and bridge and look underneath. Look at the wiring and the components. Pull the pickups and see what's stamped into the bottoms. Photograph everything. Finally, send those photos to Gibson. They'll be thrilled to help you out on this. They hate the fakers. -Rod-

Gibsonrocknroll · 01-30-2012, 08:36 PM

fake_stamp.png

GammyBird · 01-30-2012, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinster

That just tells you that you have a legit Serial Number. Not a legit Guitar.

Duly noted, but he's selling it as a 2010

gewerh44 · 02-03-2012, 10:43 AM

It might be a chinese copy. Theyre always about 750 dollars.

But its definitely a copy.
Also, a Gibson LP Custom would be around 3000 dollars. Do the math.

- The Headstock looks weird, the truss rod cover shouldnt be so close to the nut and the shape of the trc is not right.
- The binding over the tip of the frets is not there.
- The shape of the body is weird, mostly around the toggle switch.
- The knobs are a bit off.
- The bridge and stopbar dont have the right distance between each other.
- The bridge looks like that from an Epiphone (a bit thinner than the Gibson original ToM's, either Nashville or ABR-1).

Just out of curiosity, you should ask the guy for a picture of the wiring. An original Gibson would come with an immaculate wiring (like the picture I attached here), with nice potentiometers and capacitors, plate under the pots, understandable wiring, proper grounding cables and paint, etc. Most gibson copy makers dont put much attention to the quality of the wiring. They usually put mini pots, black "pseudo grounding paint", crappy capacitors, etc.

Long story short, get away from that "Gibson LP Custom".

gewerh44.

michaelinokc · 02-01-2013, 03:27 PM

I bought my Les Paul Custom off craigslist. I had a guy doing a setup on my acoustic take a look at it, because he was suspicious. After about ten minutes of checking it over and making me sweat, he called me a lucky bastard. Whew.

fairlanericky · 02-01-2013, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HOT-BRIT

don't buy any Gibson Les Paul's on CL

C'mon Brit, they're not all fake but you do have to be careful. This particular one has the ever present metric bridge and wonky serial #.

Ric

Robus · 02-01-2013, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhust

I called a local about a les paul for sale on CL. he didn't seem to know much about it...

there were a couple things that just don't smell right... the 'Gibson' name didn't look right... but that could just be me not knowing...

it had the custom diamond, and custom truss rod cover, but the hardware was silver and the fretboard was rosewood...

how can I, as a novice tell if it's real?

I don't want to insult the guy, it's a gorgeous guitar, but I don't want to pay for a real gibson and get a fake(if I pay for a fake and get it, that's fine

)

here's the pic of the headstock:

Insult him all you want. The guy is a thief. Also report it to CL and to Gibson.

Fracture · 02-01-2013, 11:41 PM

Proof enough, or just coincidence?

omfug4life · 02-02-2013, 08:37 AM

This guitar passed! It's action packed with the indicators of a fake.

paruwi · 02-02-2013, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robus

Insult him all you want. The guy is a thief. Also report it to CL and to Gibson.

should have done it one year ago.....

scottyk · 02-02-2013, 12:14 PM

Really no need to go any further here.
It's dead nut bogus...end of story.

SonicBlur · 02-02-2013, 11:16 PM

Those serial numbers are a DEAD giveaway! I am by no means a fake expert but it's painfully obvious sometimes!

GibsonMarshallGuy · 02-02-2013, 11:29 PM

Edit

John Scrip · 02-03-2013, 12:17 AM

Screaming "Fake" - From the nibs to the bridge and more.

Leiste · 02-03-2013, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gewerh44

It might be a chinese copy. Theyre always about 750 dollars.

Are you serious? For that amount of money, here in Shanghai, I could get you five of those fake Les Pauls the OP posted. . . and still have some cash left

Thumpalumpacus · 02-03-2013, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottyk

Really no need to go any further here.
It's dead nut bogus...end of story.

The story was over a year ago.

Toxicpizza72 · 02-03-2013, 04:03 PM

Yes,a fake!

Sticker at the cavity-plate was the the first giveaway,cutaway does not seems right,The bridge (which looks to be mounted backwards),is to far distance from the stop-tail,the split-diamond on the headstock ain`t pointy and sharp like a real logo !

-btw,here`s a small photo of a fret end nib !

01-30-2012, 07:05 PM	#32 (permalink)
AXE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Village Of The Damned. Posts: 19,047 Thanks: 1,225 Thanked 677 Times in 155 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? I've seen that serial# on at least 50 different Les Pauls. Thumpalumpacus likes this.

01-30-2012, 07:08 PM	#33 (permalink)
steelehead Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: North Carolina Posts: 137 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? you can find good deals from people on craigslist- it's just now that the fakes are getting harder to spot- and some people are dis honest : at least if you are unsure take it to a gibson dealer to get them to make sure it's authentic and go from there....make sure you find out if they can tell fakes

01-30-2012, 07:09 PM	#34 (permalink)
Csharp Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: N.STL Co. Posts: 980 Thanks: 11 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? loucamaro91 posted this find in July 2010. Note that the serial on the OP's CL guitar is on this list twice, LP Custom and SG Standard. 00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul - recorded on Sunbursts and Gold Tops Embossed 00170427 Confirmed Clone 1957 Les Paul Junior Embossed 041775 Confirmed Clone Sold as Epiphone Embossed 8015564 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Black Beauty 3 PU Embossed 017160627 Confirmed Clone Epiphone SG-400 Embossed 02005564 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Ace Frehley Embossed 01433946 Confirmed Clone Les Paul 1957 Gold Top Embossed 017160487 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed CS50723 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Printed 00170434 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Slash Embossed 02005558 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed 02005558 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Supreme Embossed 02005559 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed 017160456 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed ZW0183 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Zack Wylde Printed 08015560 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed 02005556 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed 59092648 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Studio Embossed 02260728 Confirmed Clone Hollow Body Jazz 3 P-90 Pus Embossed 00170423 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Standard Embossed 08008067 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Gold Top Embossed 02260558 Confirmed Clone ES-335 TDSV Bigsbly Embossed 02005568 Confirmed Clone ES-335 Bigsby Embossed 02005558 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Custom Embossed 02005611 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Supreme Embossed 00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Standard Embossed 00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Standard Embossed 02005559 Confirmed Clone SG Standard Embossed 00170424 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Classic Embossed 8015564 Confirmed Clone Les Paul Peter Frampton 3PU Black Beauty Embossed GammyBird, Thumpalumpacus and AxeBuilder like this. __________________ Charlie (Luddite Standard) '74 LP Standard-tobacco burst, and 8 misc. lesser guitars "It's always cool to be quoted into somebodies signature" - brettk7

01-30-2012, 07:11 PM	#35 (permalink)
lespaul01 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 16,664 Thanks: 808 Thanked 147 Times in 44 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? I don't know a lot about fakes. But I do remember seeing something about the Custom Diamond Decal in the headstock. On fake Customs it is a fair bit smaller than the real ones. Here is the pic saw __________________

01-30-2012, 07:20 PM	#36 (permalink)
AXE Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Village Of The Damned. Posts: 19,047 Thanks: 1,225 Thanked 677 Times in 155 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom?

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01-30-2012, 07:56 PM	#39 (permalink)
pmonk Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bergen Co. NJ Posts: 1,736 Thanks: 0 Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Made In USA __________________

01-30-2012, 08:07 PM	#41 (permalink)
USAPatriot Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Central Texas Posts: 101 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Pull off the stopbar and bridge and look underneath. Look at the wiring and the components. Pull the pickups and see what's stamped into the bottoms. Photograph everything. Finally, send those photos to Gibson. They'll be thrilled to help you out on this. They hate the fakers. -Rod- __________________ **************************** Gibson Les Paul Flood Anniversary Issue 1997 Epiphone Del Rey Jet City JCA22H + 2 JCA12S Cabs Blackstar HT Club 40 BOSS GT-10 Effects ****************************

01-30-2012, 08:36 PM	#42 (permalink)
Gibsonrocknroll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Myrtle Beach Posts: 1,163 Thanks: 6 Thanked 47 Times in 8 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? fake_stamp.png __________________ Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded Tobacco Burst Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded Honey Burst Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro Goldtop/Darkback Gibson EDS-1275 Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul Junior Gibson Melody Maker Gibson SG Standard Danelectro DC-59 Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100W Marshall JCM 900 Lead 1960A Hiwatt Custom 100W Jimmy Page Marshall JCM 900 Lead 1960A Fender Mustang III

02-01-2013, 03:27 PM	#45 (permalink)
michaelinokc Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 3,437 Thanks: 77 Thanked 35 Times in 15 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? I bought my Les Paul Custom off craigslist. I had a guy doing a setup on my acoustic take a look at it, because he was suspicious. After about ten minutes of checking it over and making me sweat, he called me a lucky bastard. Whew. Rhust likes this. __________________ 2007 Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom (Silverburst) 2011 Taylor Fall Limited Koa GS 2011 Gibson SG Standard (Pelham Blue) 2010 Gibson Nighthawk Standard 2007 Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster (Ash) 2012 Fender American Special Telecaster 2008 Epiphone Masterbilt DR-500M Egnater Tweaker (15 watt) Fender Blues Jr. III Limited Edition Fender Greta with matching Greta cab

02-01-2013, 11:41 PM	#48 (permalink)
Fracture Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Midwest, near the ocean Posts: 6,572 Thanks: 298 Thanked 131 Times in 55 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Proof enough, or just coincidence? __________________ It was desided that I would do my best with the cracks, and she would get a refinish. TKOjams

02-02-2013, 08:37 AM	#49 (permalink)
omfug4life Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 454 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? This guitar passed! It's action packed with the indicators of a fake.

02-02-2013, 12:14 PM	#51 (permalink)
scottyk Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Wrightsville, Pa. Posts: 1,113 Thanks: 15 Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Really no need to go any further here. It's dead nut bogus...end of story. __________________ 1954 Gibson LP Junior 1959 Gibson LP Junior 1980 Gibson LP Tobacco Burst Custom 1984 Gibson LP Cherry Burst Studio Custom 1987 Fender Black Stratocaster Plus 1990 Gibson LP Sunburst Junior 1995 Gibson LP Vintage White Studio 1995 PRS Black Sunburst Custom 10 Top 1997 Gibson LP Wine Red Standard 2009 Gibson SG Black Standard Marshall Studio 15 Amp(s) Orange Dual Terror Marshall 1960A 4x12 Cab Roland BC60 Blues Cube

02-02-2013, 11:16 PM	#52 (permalink)
SonicBlur Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Chicago Posts: 393 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Those serial numbers are a DEAD giveaway! I am by no means a fake expert but it's painfully obvious sometimes! __________________ 2005 Trans Amber Les Paul Standard 2011 Ebony Gibson Les Paul Classic Custom 1978 Cherry Sunburst Greco EG-600 1974 Ebony Hohner Les Paul copy LTD Eclipse ....and 12 other guitars. I have a small problem, LOL! Guitars for sale: http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/memb...ml#post4706123

02-02-2013, 11:29 PM	#53 (permalink)
GibsonMarshallGuy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 2,441 Thanks: 18 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Edit __________________ SIG OF GREATNESS Orange Tiny Terror Marshall Class Five JVM 210H 1960A 4x12 cab 2008 American Standard Telecaster 2008 Gibson Traditional Plus (cherry sunburst flame top)

02-03-2013, 12:17 AM	#54 (permalink)
John Scrip Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Chicago area, IL Posts: 216 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: how to spot a fake custom? Screaming "Fake" - From the nibs to the bridge and more. __________________ John Scrip / MASSIVE Mastering, RecordingStudioCentral '12 Gibson Les Paul Classic Custom (Ebony) '12 Gibson Les Paul Classic Custom (Antique Natural) '12 Paul Reed Smith Santana SE '09 Dean Cadillac '04 Epiphone Dot '02 Ibanez SR405 (5-string bass) '08 Disney (by Washburn) Hannah Montana acoustic

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