Custom cherryburst on ebay... FAKE? Please HELP!!

[Roman]

If it is fake , you Epi guys are sharp.

I am not an Epi expert, I just know how to make them play well

 

[Muck Fe]

Here's what I see as being wrong and please correct me if I'm off base.

Headstock:

Tuning washers too big, should not be touching the diamond inlay, the "h" in Epiphone should be over to the right a bit.

Body:

Neck volume control should be under the stopbar, not over it. The tone controls are spaced too far from the volumes. Can't tell for sure but the stopbar seems too far from the bridge.

Serial:

Can't see the auction guitar's properly but here is mine anyway.

Hope this helps.

Rick.

 

[Rlc1291]

fake. too many shady things about it, what got me were the volume and tone knobs and the washers on the tuners..

see above post, thats real (nice too btw)

 

[Bellows1]

Here's what I see as being wrong and please correct me if I'm off base.

Headstock:

Tuning washers too big, should not be touching the diamond inlay, the "h" in Epiphone should be over to the right a bit.

Body:

Neck volume control should be under the stopbar, not over it. The tone controls are spaced too far from the volumes. Can't tell for sure but the stopbar seems too far from the bridge.

Serial:

Can't see the auction guitar's properly but here is mine anyway.

Hope this helps.

Rick.

Rick, admittedly I know nothing about Epiphones ( or guitars for that matter), but going by your pictures about half of the Epi's on ebay are fake.

Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II Electric Guitar FC - eBay (item 350130560701 end time Nov-27-08 06:48:26 PST)


Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar - eBay (item 270306895658 end time Nov-27-08 12:00:00 PST)

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Seymour Duncan - eBay (item 130270348585 end time Nov-27-08 06:43:19 PST)

EPIPHONE LES PAUL FACTORY NEW EBONY WITH GOLD PICKUPS - eBay (item 130270294230 end time Nov-27-08 00:02:55 PST)

Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst - eBay (item 170281210558 end time Nov-27-08 09:44:05 PST)

GIBSON EPIPHONE LES PAUL MODEL - eBay (item 260320261470 end time Nov-27-08 14:30:45 PST)

These are from the first 2 pages of "ending soonest".

Is it possible that Epi's have more than one configuration?

 

[qwank]

youre correct, half the Epis on Ebay ARE fake!

 

[lifele55]

Right on. Not all, but most Epiphones on the evil bay is fake so you need to be very very wary when getting it new from sellers there..

Simple common sense usually helps alot here... do your homework and check on the sellers. Be especially wary of new sellers that have alot of these guitars to sell.

 

[jakstra]

Rick,

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics along with your comments. Boy, I didn't imagine this would be as much trouble as it's turning out to be. Guess if I'm going to keep looking on Ebay I'll have to be pretty vigilant. Although, looking at some of the links that bellows1 posted most of those look more legit than the one I posted.

The sn Rick posted does appear that the EE are larger as well..

Well, maybe I'm better off checking with dave67 and seeing if that '99 is still available...

arrrgghhh!

 

[Muck Fe]

Rick,

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics along with your comments. Boy, I didn't imagine this would be as much trouble as it's turning out to be. Guess if I'm going to keep looking on Ebay I'll have to be pretty vigilant. Although, looking at some of the links that bellows1 posted most of those look more legit than the one I posted.

The sn Rick posted does appear that the EE are larger as well..

Well, maybe I'm better off checking with dave67 and seeing if that '99 is still available...

arrrgghhh!

No problem, happy to help.

Hate to see people ripped off with these thieves. The only way to secure a real Epi is to bypass eBay completely and go to an authorised dealer when buying new. With a little haggling, it's not hard to get a price similar to what the thieves are asking anyway, well that's how I got my 2 Epis.

Rick.

 

[Muck Fe]

Rick, admittedly I know nothing about Epiphones ( or guitars for that matter), but going by your pictures about half of the Epi's on ebay are fake.

Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II Electric Guitar FC - eBay (item 350130560701 end time Nov-27-08 06:48:26 PST)


Gibson Epiphone Les Paul Custom Guitar - eBay (item 270306895658 end time Nov-27-08 12:00:00 PST)

Epiphone Les Paul Electric Guitar Seymour Duncan - eBay (item 130270348585 end time Nov-27-08 06:43:19 PST)

EPIPHONE LES PAUL FACTORY NEW EBONY WITH GOLD PICKUPS - eBay (item 130270294230 end time Nov-27-08 00:02:55 PST)

Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst - eBay (item 170281210558 end time Nov-27-08 09:44:05 PST)

GIBSON EPIPHONE LES PAUL MODEL - eBay (item 260320261470 end time Nov-27-08 14:30:45 PST)

These are from the first 2 pages of "ending soonest".

Is it possible that Epi's have more than one configuration?

From what I've seen on Aus eBay, more than half the Epis advertised are fakes, bad news for anyone with a genuine one to sell, or good news for a knowledgeable buyer.

Epis have been made in different plants in Asia, Korea, China and Indonesia, so the configs can vary from plant to plant, usually shows in knob placement and timber quality but I think Gibson is moving everything to China to better control QC and costs etc. so we will see.

Rick.

 

[jakstra]

Well, I contacted the seller and advised him I won't be paying because it appears his guitar is not legitimate. Not sure what direction this will go with him, but if it turns into a battle could I prove this without a doubt if he gives the SN?

I thought I read somewhere here that I could call into Epiphone to verify?

 

[GNR4EVR]

Well, I contacted the seller and advised him I won't be paying because it appears his guitar is not legitimate. Not sure what direction this will go with him, but if it turns into a battle could I prove this without a doubt if he gives the SN?

I thought I read somewhere here that I could call into Epiphone to verify?

No need, its fake.
Sorry, bro.

 

[steamboat willy]

Anyone can stamp a serial number on a guitar as easily as you can run a car with false plates - A serial number is no proof on genuine-ness whatsoever. To me this guitar is fake - Just tell him you are reporting it to eBay and Epiphone, he'll soon back down

 

[GNR4EVR]

Anyone can stamp a serial number on a guitar as easily as you can run a car with false plates - A serial number is no proof on genuine-ness whatsoever. To me this guitar is fake - Just tell him you are reporting it to eBay and Epiphone, he'll soon back down

And when you get your refund, THEN report him. Someone else will end up being his victim then.

 

[GNR4EVR]

The serial numbers dont mean anything at all anymore, since the people selling the fakes are just copying them from the serial dater project that verifies them.

 

[jakstra]

Thanks guys, like I said I haven't paid so no biggie. Just concerned about fighting an unpaid item strike. I told him if he comes clean and backs off I won't make a big deal over it. Either way I will keep a look out to see if he tries to sell anymore..

Luckily I hooked up with another forum member on a 99 MIK (thanks Dave!), a great experience I might add, so either way I could knock one thing off the xmas list. Thanks for all the help.. glad I found this place!

 

[River]

A legitimate serial number does not guarantee a legitimate guitar.

 

[Kate033]

Glad it worked out for you in the end!

 

[GNR4EVR]

If it is fake , you Epi guys are sharp.

I am not an Epi expert, I just know how to make them play well

NO worries, Roman- Youre the main Shizzle fo sho!
P.S. That was a shameless plug to reshuffle the raffle in my flavor..LOL

 

[jakstra]

Turns out after communicating with the original ebay seller, he backed right off. I told him I had reason to believe it was fake and I wouldn't be paying, and he said he understood, but said all his guitars are 'checked out' and it wasn't.

He agreed not to file an upaid strike against me, and even left me positive feedback taboot!

 

[slash300]

Turns out after communicating with the original ebay seller, he backed right off. I told him I had reason to believe it was fake and I wouldn't be paying, and he said he understood, but said all his guitars are 'checked out' and it wasn't.

He agreed not to file an upaid strike against me, and even left me positive feedback taboot!

What a mistake, it was a genuine guitar..you shouldve asked for more pictures. I have had a fake epi and this one doesnt look anywhere near as fake. The headstock is symetrical, the inlays are ok, the body is cut properly, the knobs are bellow the tailpeice, the action is nice and low, and its a used guitar usually the fake ones are brand new with tags. also this is the first guitar and only guitar he is selling and usually fake sellers have other guitars being auctioned simultanuesly. He is just a new ebayer so thats why hes being nice. ..