The Fake Epiphone Thread II

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Rocknburn

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SJM said:
It looks like the genuine article. Did it come with the original case and case candy?
Click to expand...

Yep all of them is the same things i saw in videos.Slash picks,slash signature,epiphone poster,epiphone jack cable.
 
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Hello, new to the forum. Lefty here, been playing about 20 years. Never owned a Les Paul. Suddenly I have the GAS for a les paul but at first was gonna get a cheap epiphone standard black and chrome and use it for slide or the occasional non standard tuning. When I saw this I knew I had around 600 to spend, but I came here first because I knew better than to jump in and bid without doing a little googling first. I Finally talked this person into posting the serial number on the back of the headstock. Check out the description and the clever use of verbage that shifts focus from the guitar up for bid, to elitists in general then back to the guitar up for bid(insert abstract comment here) then talking about elitists in general, along with phrases such as "for example", "which equates", and "to be used" along with bragging about it being made at the Fujigen Factory, misspellings, etc. I know you veterans don't need any forensics to tell if this is a fake. I decided to take the pic and zoom in on the serial. The bottom part of the F has a crook and when I zoomed in with GIMP it doesn't reflect like it should. Plus the serial number must mean it was made in 1940? which explains why there are so few digits :laugh2: Or I could be completely wrong and it is real, but after knowing it is a manufacturer reject,(or is that photoshopped, too lol) the price is too high for me. If I am right, which Im pretty certain, then let this serve as a warning to any other unsuspecting lefties out there who hopefully do their research first before making an impulse decision.


Here is the link for the experts:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Epiphone-Elitist-Les-Paul-Lefty-Left-Hand-/280868868572?pt=Guitar&hash=item416516d1dc
 
straybeat

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As I'm accustomed to saying here, I'm not one of the experts, but... it looks good to me. I have a 2nd Prophecy GX and the thing was absolutely flawless when I got it, so I wouldn't worry about that aspect at all. Plus, I have never heard of an Elitist fake and I don't think they would put the 2nd stamp on it if it was? I think the price is spectacular for an Elitist too!

Gentlemen?
 
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Oh, goodie *fingers crossed* The more I looked at it and do what I do (ramble mentally) the more it lookes suspicious.
 
MrGansburg

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I cannot provide a definitive answer (but it seems to compare well to the details on the Epi Wiki to me) but my observations are:
  • It is cheap for an Elitist, but it is also a 2nd so it just depends on what that fact means to whoever finally buys it as to what it will finally go for.
  • Serial number equates to 2004.
  • I find it somewhat unusual that the seller hasn’t actually posted a pic of the back of the headstock showing the Elitist rose.
  • TRC has been changed.
 
paruwi

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a factory second and Lefty....:hmm:

I think there is no big chance for it being faked
 
Bill437

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Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar Epiphone Elitist Tak Matsumoto Tak Burst & Case | eBay

I have a MIJ Elite Tak Matsumoto signature model ( Confirmed genuine by Gibson CS) and have done quite a bit of research on them, seller says it's an Elitist but in 2003 Epiphone Japan was using 'Elite' NOT Elitist. Also seller claims it is made for the domestic Japanese market and has the official Gibson Headstock, however guitar shown doesn't have a Gibson Headstock but the Tombstone Epiphone Headstock which I believe is the export model not the domestic model. Seller also claims it is the exact same as Tak is playing in the video but it looks to me like he is playing a Gibson with the 'Open book' headstock.
Also the tone/volume knobs on mine are perfectly in line with the Fret board so it's got me thinking the Chinese might have started to fake this model because the knobs don't appear to be parallel with Fret board even though it's a about as square on a photo as you can get.

Only thing that seems to be legit is the statement that it doesn't have a serial number and it is stamped as a 2nd.

I was first to ask questions and seller still hasn't bothered to post an answer.

Any comments from the experts??
 
MrGansburg

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Bill437 said:
Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar Epiphone Elitist Tak Matsumoto Tak Burst & Case | eBay
Click to expand...

Think you're right about the headstock as my Elitist '61 SG also has the non-JDM shape.

I'm not an expert by any means but little gems like "Imported from the US for US$3,000 in 2009 and will buy back very soon when I'm ready again" and "It deserves best guitarist to own - so bidding is strictly for advanced guitar players only" would ensure that I stayed away from this seller - he/she sounds like a beauty... :hmm:.
 
Bill437

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MrGansburg said:
Think you're right about the headstock as my Elitist '61 SG also has the non-JDM shape.

I'm not an expert by any means but little gems like "Imported from the US for US$3,000 in 2009 and will buy back very soon when I'm ready again" and "It deserves best guitarist to own - so bidding is strictly for advanced guitar players only" would ensure that I stayed away from this seller - he/she sounds like a beauty... :hmm:.
Click to expand...

Yes the "Buy back very soon when I'm ready again" doesn't ring true to me because these come up for sale very rarely so it won't be when She/He is ready.

Seller also says it is a Signature series well the genuine signature series has the signature on the body of the guitar parallel with the Fret board just below the the 3 way switch and about 7mm off the Fret board, clearly the one pictured has no signature.

Coupled with; Pick up from Sydney CBD (Town Hall or Central Station).
Please contact to organise a meet up.
 
Bill437

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Barcham said:
Both of those Elitists are genuine. They are 2nds,Which 2 guitars are seconds? I thought the seller was only selling 1 guitar. but genuine. People will post anything in their ads to try to sell their guitar, it doesn't mean they actually know what they're talking about. They may have done research at the wrong sites and collected the wrong information. Just because they have incorrect information it does not mean the guitar is not genuine.

Bill437, all Taks are signature guitars. Only those made for the Japanese Domestic Market actually have Tak's "signature" on them, The seller says in the listing "This particular model was made for the Japanese domestic market at the famous Fujigen factory in 2003 and at the time represented the very top of the Elite / Elitist line. As a model made for the Japanese domestic market it features the all-important Gibson correct headstock" there is no signature on the guitar listed but any guitar that is marketed using the name of a particular guitarist, Slash, Bonamassa, Ace, etc... is considered to be a signature guitar.

And the pics posted of the Takburst in the ad are stock Epi photos, not pictures of the guitar being sold.
Click to expand...
I wonder how you could know this because I asked the seller if the guitar pictured is the one they are selling and haven't had a reply as yet and I guess I'm not really expecting one.

What I was alluding to is that anyone thinking about bidding on this guitar should be aware that there is conflict beteen the words and the photos in this listing.
 
davies

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soloarchitect said:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Epiphone-Elitist-Les-Paul-Lefty-Left-Hand-/280868868572?pt=Guitar&hash=item416516d1dc
Click to expand...

Bill437 said:
Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar Epiphone Elitist Tak Matsumoto Tak Burst & Case | eBay
Click to expand...


Bill - Barcham was referring to those two guitars.

They are, as Barcham says, both genuine. The seller of the Tak is obviously not to be trusted though, especially as he can't be bothered to upload pictures of the actual guitar he is selling, choosing instead to use stock pictures from another website.

(And a Tak without the signature on the body of the guitar is still a 'genuine signature series' Tak.)
 
Bill437

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davies said:
Bill - Barcham was referring to those two guitars.

They are, as Barcham says, both genuine. G'day Davies - I have no idea or interest in the black LP. My question to Barcham was how could (he or any one of us in this forum) know the guitar being auctioned is genuine from a photo that's not even of the guitar the seller is trying to sell, I asked a question of the seller if the photos are of the guitar he was selling and he is silent on this. The seller of the Tak is obviously not to be trusted though, I agree especially as he can't be bothered to upload pictures of the actual guitar he is selling, choosing instead to use stock pictures from another website. I accept the Photos used in the listing are of a 'Real' Epiphone Tak but the actual guitar he is selling may not be.

(And a Tak without the signature on the body of the guitar is still a 'genuine signature series' Tak.) As long as it isn't a fake from a Chinese factory:) However I would still expect a genuine Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Tak (Tak burst quilt top like the photo) Elite Signature Epiphone to have the signature on the body and to have the Gibson Style 'open book' headstock
Click to expand...
.
.
This page shows both the JDM and the export model of this guitar and both have the signature on the body, obviously the head stocks are different http://epiphonewiki.com/index.php?t...es#Elitist_Tak_Matsumoto_Les_Paul_.28Japan.29 .
 
davies

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Not fake mate, just an out-of-focus picture of the serial.
 
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