need Les Paul help... (warning: large high res pics) UPDATED

[iplayloudly]

Ok some of you may remember this LP I just recently got:

Well I just noticed today as I was doing a string change, the Gibson logo on the headstock is raised. As I looked closer, it almost looks/feels like a damn sticker. After looking around on the net I found another forum where someone mentioned the same thing, but found that it was actually the finish cracked around the edges of the inlay. But I figured I'd double check with you guys too. Is this normal? Maybe its not a sticker, maybe its just the inlay raised just a bit, but it sure looks like a sticker. My other LP, a cheaper studio model, feels completely smooth over the logo, although its just painted.

At first I freaked, thinking "did I buy a fake?"

 

[snowdog]

Looks about right to me, their logo is inlaid into the the veneer on the headstock...its not flush on either of the 2 I have.

 

[glpg80]

i know someone else here commented on how great that top was for such a model of an LP - usually only found in the upper end models.

that combined with a quesitonable logo?

i know from experience with korean wolfgangs that the top's always look better than the original USA models - but the trem's are cast, string spacing is different, neck wood colour is not the same/un-natural, and there are other subtle differences. people are always led into believing they are real though because of the paper thin tops and how good they pretend to look.

im not an LP expert - far from it. ill let the owners/experienced handle the yay or nay, but i am only connecting the dots here

 

[Ventura]

It's fine.

If you really want to make sure, pull one of the humbuckers and see what the bottom stamp on it is - should be dated w/ model number. Honestly though, the raised bit on the GIBSON part is pretty typical for Lesters...

Beauty guitar man, um, hey wait, I am 100% positive it's a fake. I'll take it off your hands for a hun??

V.

 

[steve_k]

Call Gibson and give them the serial number. They will tell you what model and finish the guitar is. See if it matches up. There may or may not be some markings in the electronics cavity as well that you can check. But, looking at that, sorry to say that I would be very damned suspect of it. I went and took a couple of shots for you on one of my Les Pauls and you will see there is none of those inlay extrusions or cuts on this headstock.

Check these out and compare. But, I would make a phone call...

 

[iplayloudly]

Here is a shot with the pickups out. Nothing stamped, just handwriting.

 

[Motorpud]

If I were you I'd email some pics to Gibson customer service asking them if it's a fake. I've never seen a logo raised like that on any of the ones I've owned, it does kind of look like a sticker like you said I just got rid of one that was 20 something years old and it wasn't raised. Not trying to alarm you but there are a ton of fakes out there and most of them are pretty convincing unless you're an expert on them. I know a guy who got scammed on an Ibanez Jem and even the pickups were labeled as Dimarzios. I'd contact Gibson, they're the only ones that will be able to tell you for sure

 

[glip22]

Call Gibson and give them the serial number. They will tell you what model and finish the guitar is. See if it matches up. There may or may not be some markings in the electronics cavity as well that you can check. But, looking at that, sorry to say that I would be very damned suspect of it. I went and took a couple of shots for you on one of my Les Pauls and you will see there is none of those inlay extrusions or cuts on this headstock.

Check these out and compare. But, I would make a phone call...

My Custom looked exactly like Steve's. Good advice to run the number.

 

[steve_k]

Looking at the headstock and the writing in the PU cavity, I think you have been had bro. Sorry to hear and see that kind of shit too.

Steve

 

[iplayloudly]

I took the cover off the back and noticed the pots even say Gibson on them, so thats a good sign I guess. I'll try to call tomorrow...

 

[Motorpud]

I took the cover off the back and noticed the pots even say Gibson on them, so thats a good sign I guess. I'll try to call tomorrow...

Didn't you get this on eBay? I'm pretty sure it's a felony to sell a counterfeit Gibson, you might be able to go after the seller and get your money back if you find out for sure that it's fake.

 

[glip22]

Those are not Gibby pickups.

 

[iplayloudly]

Those are not Gibby pickups.

are you sure? I checked another guitar with burstbuckers and they looked the same.

I also see a reference to it on another forum: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=517768

 

[briango2000]

I'm not sure if you bought it and it was supposed to be all original, but one of the biggest things I have seen that the fakes do not replicate is the nibs on the binding on each fret. Your's has those and every fake I've seen is missing them. I hope you got a real one and didn't get scammed.

Brian

 

[splawner]

Took a pic of mine too..Never seen one lift like that...Good luck..

 

[iplayloudly]

I'm not sure if you bought it and it was supposed to be all original, but one of the biggest things I have seen that the fakes do not replicate is the nibs on the binding on each fret. Your's has those and every fake I've seen is missing them. I hope you got a real one and didn't get scammed.

Brian

Thanks for the info! I live in memphis, so I may take it by the gibson factory here in town and see what they can tell me. They don't make LP's there, but I'm sure someone there might could tell me.

 

[Phrygian]

Half of my Gibsons have / had raised logos like that. It just happens over time. I'm positive yours isn't a fake.

 

[Ventura]

Here is a shot with the pickups out. Nothing stamped, just handwriting.

I'm confident this is the real deal... Not a knock off. Can you do me one favour? Take a shot of the cutaway from the side so I can see the side of the guitar where the body of the guitar meets the neck and so forth - if it's not too much trouble. Secondly, what was this guitar sold as - as in, did they say it was a model and a year and a this and that?? One last thing - the tune-o-matic bridge piece, flip it upside down and USUALLY it says Gibson USA Part No. blah blah blah. Since you've got the pups out, flip the bridge piece as well (not the tailstop, but the bridge piece).

Thanks Man...
Mo

 

[iplayloudly]

Here is a shot with the pickups out. Nothing stamped, just handwriting.

I'm confident this is the real deal... Not a knock off. Can you do me one favour? Take a shot of the cutaway from the side so I can see the side of the guitar where the body of the guitar meets the neck and so forth - if it's not too much trouble. Secondly, what was this guitar sold as - as in, did they say it was a model and a year and a this and that?? One last thing - the tune-o-matic bridge piece, flip it upside down and USUALLY it says Gibson USA Part No. blah blah blah. Since you've got the pups out, flip the bridge piece as well (not the tailstop, but the bridge piece).

Thanks Man...
Mo

Well it was sold as a 2006 Standard. Paid $1525 for it, which I figured was a fair price for a standard, especially with that nice top on it. I already put it all back together but I'll remember to look at the bridge later. Here is a pic where the neck meets the body in the cutaway. The finish is cracked a little along the edge but no biggie.

 

[Ventura]

Furthermore, one can clearly see the maple top meeting the mahogany body in the sidecut walls of the pup cavities - so that's a nice slab of maple on there, and that's the flame OF the maple, no bullshit veneer.

The stickers come with some humbuckers - I think the BB1 and 2 and the V is for alnico 5 magnet, if my memory serves me correct... Don't quote me on that till I actually double check, but honestly, I'd be willing to bet this is the real deal - I just want to confirm with a sidecut photo and the flipped tune-o-matic bridge info.

Mo

EDIT: Just saw your post... I wasn't sure what color the body was, sometimes you can see the maple top beneath the binding meeting the mahogany body. Dude, this is fine. I am still 99% certain this is the real deal. And hey, seriously, nice f'n Lester dude

2nd EDIT: Usually the tune-o-matic bridges have their intonation set screws facing to the inside of the guitar - so towards the pup, not the tail piece, but this can be either here or there...sometimes people flip 'em when they run out of room to adjust the strings, sometimes people just put them back wrong thinking that the screws should face the bottom as they'd be easier to access that way. Not a biggy, just saying, they come from the factory FACING the bridge pup. But most cats will inadvertently flip 'em without even thinking twice about it.