Les Paul fakes

[skoora]

They might be getting better. Saw this on ebay and something about the serial number seems strange to me (looks too big) but the guitar itself looks pretty good. I don't remember if 2000's come with Kluson's. Listing says it's a 2001. What was interesting if you search that serial number 00170420 you get forum results from a few years ago asking about it being a fake but unfortunately pics are long gone to compare. Obviously when we show a pic of a real serial in an ad it gives a faker a number to use. When I looked at another les paul at the bottom of the page for this one what I found fascinating when I could see it was fake was that the serial number was super close to the first one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-Gibson-Les ... 2466503719

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2000-Gibson-USA ... Sw1WJZFNBr

 

[s_swanson]

I think it's fake. The shape of the head-stock seems a bit off (kind of thin by the nut), the nut's not right and the frets don't have the "nubs". The tuners look like they're a little too far up on the head stock as well, but it could just be that there are no washers underneath the nuts.

 

[errrrrl]

The whole fake thing worries me sometimes... i guess I should really brush up on spotting fakes, currently watching a few Les Pauls on ebay which I think are real

 

[mudf00t]

There are a ton of fakes floating around. I recently saw one at a locally owned shop and the dude got pissed as shit when I told him it was a fake and told me to get out of his shop. lol.

 

[Pushead]

Both auctions are definitely Chinese made, but they're getting better.

 

[Deanmachine]

The bridges give it away..even the FGN/Edwards/Orville's Tokais are closer..and better

 

[Webb]

Both auctions are definitely Chinese made, but they're getting better.

I need to educate myself on identifying fakes because the guitar in the first link looks nice. I'd never guess that was a fake.

 

[Pushead]

Both auctions are definitely Chinese made, but they're getting better.

I need to educate myself on identifying fakes because the guitar in the first link looks nice. I'd never guess that was a fake.

Bridge with the big screws is still the quickest, easiest tell. But the distance between the bridge and the stop bar is too big. Also the shape of the cut-away and by the switch are pretty wrong.

I can tell on ESPs and Les Pauls better than any other, but those are the guitars I like best. If I was looking for a Jem or any other Ibanez (for example), I'd have to do a bunch of research and find the tells myself.

 

[ProgFree]

Fakes, the Gibson lettering is nowhere near. The headstock is also weird. Unfortunately the second hand marked is packed with those.

 

[kurtsstuff]

Total fakes

 

[Riggins1966]

no abr bridge on either of those. big fat adjustment posts.

fakes.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Not even "good fakes". Pass.

 

[Chester Nimitz]

Hartley Peavey tries to but Gibson about every year.

If he ever does they will all be Made in China.

Some of those fake LP's don't even have truss rods in the neck.

 

[Bloodrock]

That brown one is the latest fake run coming directly from the epiphone factory. It's identical to the current epi models with a fake headstock.

 

[HellraiserJohnny]

I'm so done with Gibson period. The conflicting information regarding models and the quality of what they are making these days just blows (IMO). Unless you refinance your house and get a custom ordered LP, nothing hold a candle to the 70's early 80's models.

I've been to at least 5 different shops and played over a dozen models and they are all overpriced, cheaply made Corp America Crap. There isn't one in the bunch I would not be able to take home and be happy with without some type of modification. It's a crying shame because I cut my chops on Les Paul's in the early 70's and used them exclusively though the early 90's. Yeah you could find a dog in the bunch back them but now it's like panning for gold in them thar hills. Not much to be found.

I guess if I was independently wealthy and didn't care what I spent, or had nothing else to spend my $$$ on I'd have no problem. I give up on my dream of owning a Les Paul that feels and sounds like the one's I had when I started. I'll get over it.

 

[dooredge]

Definitely fakes.

1st attachment is for the 1st auction - serial number doesn't even resolve

2nd attachment is for the 2nd auction - serial number resolves to a guitar built in 1976

 

[cecilbag]

The worst part is someone thinking they got their dream guitar and it's really made of particle board. Lame

 

[Chester Nimitz]

 

[skoora]

Definitely fakes.

1st attachment is for the 1st auction - serial number doesn't even resolve

2nd attachment is for the 2nd auction - serial number resolves to a guitar built in 1976

I ran both serials on that site and they did bring results. Doesn't mean the guitars are real though. The first one sold. Hope the buyer can figure it out in time to log a return/refund.

 

[errrrrl]

Definitely fakes.

1st attachment is for the 1st auction - serial number doesn't even resolve

2nd attachment is for the 2nd auction - serial number resolves to a guitar built in 1976

Wow, never used that site before. Just found out my new Tele was made at the Fujigen plant

Great vid, thanks for that!