Fake or real 88' Les Paul Custom??

[IvanIb]

Hi guys!!
So, there is this guy that has an 88' Custom Les Paul which I'm interested in and wants to trade it for my original Flying V. The thing with this Les Paul is that all of the electronics are not original, they're actually from an epiphone guitar; pickups, pots, selector, the whole bridge, etc, which I'm OK with it because I can get new and way better electronics. That's why he wants to trade it for my Flying V. It is worth noting that he's not the original owner and he doesn't know much about the guitar, just that the guitar was refinished years ago.

I'm trying to figure out if the guitar is original or fake. The guitar feels and seems pretty well made, the neck is well constructed and comfortable and kinda like a 60's type of feel. Also, the weight of the guitar feels right, it's not really heavy but not that lighter too. I compared it with an original 13' Les Paul Traditional, and the 88' Custom was a bit lighter. What is driving me crazy is the truss rod cavity which doesn't match with other Les Pauls or even Gibson models, I'll post a pic. The guy tells me that he thinks that the fretboard might be . Also the pickups cavities doesn't match with other models I've seen in pictures.

By the way, don't worry guys, the trade hasn't been made yet.
Can you guys help me out with this?? I'd really apreciate it. Thanks and greetings!

p.d.
The guitar's serial number is:
82768501

If you guys need more pics, just tell me please.

 

[McDegga]

Pics aren't showing up.

 

[IvanIb]

Here are more pics

 

[IvanIb]

Just fixed it hahaaha! Sorry about that.

 

[McDegga]

Doesn't look right to me. The truss rod is missing, the logo looks wonky, and it's been refinished just to start. I'd be concerned, but that's just me. There are many people on these boards better equipped to answer this question. Pictures of the whole body would also help.

 

[IvanIb]

Yeah, the truss rod is what drives me crazy, it's kinda of odd. But don't worry, the trade hasn't been made yet. I looked pics of 88 custom and the logo kinda matched, but I'm not totally certain. Thanks for your responses.

 

[andreww]

The routes don't look as clean as I would expect a Gibson's to be.

Truss rod nut is probably underneath and consistent with a Chinese made guitar.

The TRC to hole is in the middle of the inlay, meaning the TRC would have been covering the inlay. The nut TRC hole appears to be drilled through the veneer.

The "Made in USA" is off centre.

Offset tenon? Does Gibson do that?

 

[McDegga]

The routes look odd to me as well.

 

[IvanIb]

That's what I thought so too

 

[colchar]

Who the hell would remove the electronics from a real Gibby and replace them with electronics from an Epi?

 

[IvanIb]

I know, the owner of this guitar told me that the previous owner was an idiot hahaha

 

[The_Nuge]

I'm pretty sure it's fake, and I wouldn't trade a real Gibby for it (or pay money for it for that matter).

 

[McDegga]

The TRC also covers part of the inlays. Not a Gibson IMHO.
Run away!

 

[IvanIb]

you mean the diamond inlays?? the upper part of the TRC??

 

[Zentar]

Deleted post by author. SK8rat is right about the 1st fret inlay.

 

[sk8rat]

Square inlay on the first fret. Shouldn't that first fret be blank? Why square? Fake as heck.

lp customs have square inlays and they do have them on the first fret

I dont know if it is real but even if it is real it looks like a basket case.

I say check the bridge hardware and the hole size for the bridge and tailpiece posts. if its a fake or a mij copy that was made to look like a gibson it would more than likely have metric hardware.

the offset neck tenon also throws up a red flag. it is typical to see that on epiphones but not gibsons.

 

[ESchmidt]

The headstock inlay, truss rod and cover, pickups routes all look suspect. I would stay far away. Also hard to tell from the picture, but the inlays look to be pearloid not the real mother of pearl as they should be.

 

[cherryburst59]

If you look at the body, you see the design is off... It screams:"I am fake!!!"

 

[rockstar232007]

Not a Gibson. Looks like an extremely modified MIJ copy.

Note the off-center neck tenon. And, yes, those inlays are pearloid, as you can actually see the inside edge of the fingerboard, which also isn't ebony.

 

[IGRocker]

Were those pup cavities routes with a spoon???