[lazarusvt84]

This looks mostly legit to me but nibs and 'supreme' on headstock give me pause. Verdict?

http://www.ebay.com/...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Rabs]

Hmm.. That headstock does seem a bit odd.. (and the horn too)

Donno.. Not an expert on Supremes.. It may be the multiple binding that's putting me off..

[capmaster]

Several giveaways say it's a fake.

[Allenjason95]

lazarusvt84, on 18 March 2017 - 12:54 PM, said:

This looks mostly legit to me but nibs and 'supreme' on headstock give me pause. Verdict?

http://www.ebay.com/...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I don't know crap about Supremes but I looked for "centipede burst Supreme" and got this ad for a centipede burst (WTF does "centipede burst" even mean lol?) Custom. It doesn't appear to have nibs either.

https://www.sweetwat...ail/LPCLTDCPBGH

[Allenjason95]

capmaster, on 18 March 2017 - 01:49 PM, said:

Several giveaways say it's a fake.

What are the giveaways? I know the basic stuff to look for, nibs (most of the time), metric bridge, 3 screw truss rod cover etc but I'm not sure if those are still effective because I've seen Chibsons that had all those.

Whenever I buy a LP I always check out the dealer as thoroughly as I do the guitar because they are making some dead on fakes these days it seems.

I don't own a Fender in large part because I have no idea how you make sure what you're buying is a real American Fender.

Anyway, what are the giveaways on this Supreme?

[BigKahune]

.
Here's the most obvious one . . . a LP Supreme should have a fretboard of ebony or richlite (depending on when it was made), not rosewood.


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[Rabs]

BigKahune, on 18 March 2017 - 02:46 PM, said:

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Here's the most obvious one . . . a LP Supreme should have a fretboard of ebony or richlite (depending on when it was made), not rosewood.


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Even if it was a custom order?

[BigKahune]

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Brilliant. . Whodda thought a guy would custom order a LP Supreme with a rosewood fretboard when the Ebony is standard issue? .

This happens to be a big tell on fake LPCs too.





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[Rabs]

BigKahune, on 18 March 2017 - 02:57 PM, said:

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Brilliant. . Whodda thought a guy would custom order a LP Supreme with a rosewood fretboard when the Ebony is standard issue? .

Lol.. well yeah it would be odd.. I just don't know...

BUT if as it says in the add it was a one off custom, I do know people who prefer Rosewood to Ebony... But then again just saying it was a custom order may be their way of getting around people questioning it???

[BigKahune]

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Rabs - PM sent.


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[Pin]

It doesn't look genuine to me - several reasons.

[Allenjason95]

Pin, on 18 March 2017 - 03:47 PM, said:

It doesn't look genuine to me - several reasons.

What are the reasons?

[tx-ogre]

Did Supremes have different formatted serial numbers? The ad says it's a 2010 model, but the serial number is for a 2005 model.

[Megafrog]

The numbering looks very fake.

[lvidal]

Fake, fake, fake...

• The curve over the toggle switch is not correct
• It seems to me the top middle joint line is not perfectly in the center
• The inlays are very wrong, specially from the 12 up. The one in the 15 fret is an abomination.
• The back's center line also seems off center.
• That headstock logo is as fake as a 7 dollar bill.
• The truss rod cover, give me a break. At least that they could have it right, but not even that.
• The serial number is absolutely fake, too deep, not the correct spacing, not the correct font size, and on first impression not even the same font. Also is routed. Gibson s/n are pressed.

[tokairic]

I have a genuine 2012 LP Supreme, and I pretty much agree with all comments re the 'caterpillar burst' Res Paur Suprome.

Mine has richlite board, Supreme very well executed on the headstock, and embossed serial number painted over. Bought from a Gibson dealer NOS with all relevant paperwork. There are so many fakes around it makes buying a used Gibson a real worry unless you are an expert. I am not an expert, which is why I went to an authorised Gibson dealer and bought NOS at a good price. I paid not much more than the used prices on ebay and got the guarantee of a genuine Gibson.

The real concerns are that the fakes are getting better, and the more hands they pass through the more likely they are to be passed off as genuine. It must be hurting the used Gibson market somewhat.

[Allenjason95]

If it's fake we should report it to EBay. I asked the seller about the discrepancies and he never replied. I'd hate to see someone get screwed over that much money.

[Allenjason95]

I did a search for Les Paul Supreme with a rosewood fretboard and this old thread popped up:

http://forum.gibson....identification/

The serial for the Supreme in that thread is only one digit off the one the OP asked about....it's 02005514 instead of 02005584.

[lazarusvt84]

lazarusvt84, on 18 March 2017 - 12:54 PM, said:

This looks mostly legit to me but nibs and 'supreme' on headstock give me pause. Verdict?

http://www.ebay.com/...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thanks guys....I sent eBay a note.

[Allenjason95]

tokairic, on 19 March 2017 - 11:16 AM, said:

I have a genuine 2012 LP Supreme, and I pretty much agree with all comments re the 'caterpillar burst' Res Paur Suprome.

Mine has richlite board, Supreme very well executed on the headstock, and embossed serial number painted over. Bought from a Gibson dealer NOS with all relevant paperwork. There are so many fakes around it makes buying a used Gibson a real worry unless you are an expert. I am not an expert, which is why I went to an authorised Gibson dealer and bought NOS at a good price. I paid not much more than the used prices on ebay and got the guarantee of a genuine Gibson.

The real concerns are that the fakes are getting better, and the more hands they pass through the more likely they are to be passed off as genuine. It must be hurting the used Gibson market somewhat.

A big problem (for me at least) is that there are now so many legit variations of Gibson Les Pauls. With all the different options, models and configurations unless you're an expert on LP there's almost always something you've never seen before.

I always buy used but I vet the seller very very carefully.