how to spot a fake custom?

[colchar]

The distance between the tailpiece and the bridge is also off.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

? what is FEB? and what do you mean wings?

"Fret-End Binding" -- also called "nibs". All Gibsons with bound necks have nibs, unless they've been refretted.

This one is fake, not just the lack of nibs, the rosie fretboard, the "Custom" diamond headstock inlay is too small, no wings on the headstock, the wonky shape of both the upper bout and the cutaway, knobs, and the headstock looks long past the D & G tuners.

You'll find a lot of good info on spotting fakes in this thread started by member djwilbanks. Good stuff there.

Also, check out Gibson's tips:

Gibson Guitar Music News: How to Spot a Fake, Gibson Leads Industry Fight Against Counterfeit Goods

 

[Csharp]

MyGear | 2010 GIBSON LES PAUL COPY! NEAR MINT!, Item #32382
They aren't above using the same serial number on multiple guitars either. Having a serial that checks out doesn't always mean that it's from Gibson.

 

[Rhust]

That is a dead giveaway right there.

I know... but I was already smelling that something was off before he told me the price...


thanks everyone for the great replies!

 

[GammyBird]

MyGear | 2010 GIBSON LES PAUL COPY! NEAR MINT!, Item #32382
They aren't above using the same serial number on multiple guitars either. Having a serial that checks out doesn't always mean that it's from Gibson.

Run that serial number through the converter and it tells you that it's a 2005 I don't know how accurate it is..

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Nashville Plant, TN, USA
July 19th, 2005
Production Number: 259

Google the serial number and get this...

http://www.google.ca/#pq=gibson+ser....,cf.osb&fp=2beb64a5704b6a6e&biw=1536&bih=706

 

[Joeydego]

run.

 

[HOT-BRIT]

if the deal seems to good to be true, then walk away because it will be to good to be true

 

[SonicBlur]

It may or may not be a real Les Paul but if something is nagging you now and just doesn't sit right will only be amplified once you hand over the cash and potentially paid (what I can only assume for a Custom) over $1K. There are PLENTY of other Les Paul Customs that have documentation or can be proven to be real.

Now, if you find out it's fake and you can get it for a few hundred bucks, I'd say go for it.

Just my opinion, take it as you will!

-Mike

 

[Sinster]

Run that serial number through the converter and it tells you that it's a 2005 I don't know how accurate it is..

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Nashville Plant, TN, USA
July 19th, 2005
Production Number: 259

Google the serial number and get this...

Google

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

 

[Rhust]

Now, if you find out it's fake and you can get it for a few hundred bucks, I'd say go for it.

Just my opinion, take it as you will!

-Mike

yea, if I could have gotten it real cheap, maybe... but he still wanted 750... and that's more than I could pay right now in good conscious

 

[HRC]

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]

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

 

[steelehead]

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]

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]

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]

 

[rockstar232007]

stay away from Craigs List it can be dangerous

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]

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]

Made In
USA

 

[rockstar232007]

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

Try looking at it with your eyes UNcrossed!