Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Should I trust this Gibson explorer? Is it original?


Dirty L

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone, I'm about to buy a Gibson Explorer, but the owner said that he lost the certificate that states the authenticity. Can you help me to understand if the guitar is authentic or not? I can show you some pics. I have the serial number too but I don't really know what to do with it, since it could be copied too. Furthermore, he said that the serial is pretty hard to read because there's a lot of paint, he showed me some pics and yes, it's hard to read. Is it normal in a Gibson Explorer? It should be a 2010. Thank you for any help! It would be my first Gibson, only played a tele until now.

 

http://it.tinypic.com/r/2d0m3wm/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/dw9lko/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/6gemoo/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/2re5kio/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/214c949/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/34489vr/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/25hpcnn/9

 

If there's something wrong with the post just let me know and I'll fix it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dirty, The Explorer looks legit. One thing you gotta remember is most people who fake stuff are gonna fake Les Paul's. If you are in doubt get the serial number and call Gibson and see if its real. I had an explorer and wow are they sweet. The balance on them is perfect. Most of us on here can tell if the serial number looks like Gibson stamped it.

Can I post the pic of the serial here? Thank you very much for your help!

 

I have no idea how to "call" Gibson, I'm italian and in italy, but I emailed them yesterday.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The way I do it is from my Imgur Account. I get on it and go the pic and copy the one that says Direct Link and paste it just like pasting the pics you posted.

Here is Gibson's website

 

https://www.gibson.com/

 

USA: 1-800-4GIBSON (1-800-444-2766)

 

Europe: 00+800-4GIBSON1 (00+800-444-2766-1)

 

Worldwide: +1-615-871-4500

 

 

Thank you a lot again! Here's the pic of the serial:

 

http://it.tinypic.com/r/1gnq1g/9

http://it.tinypic.com/r/2w40g0p/9

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That looks like the right font for Gibson's serial numbers. Is it a 2010. The first and fifth number are the year and the second, third and fourth number are the Julian date is was stamped. The rest of the numbers people can tell you what it means. Some are just consecutive numbers like normal serial numbers. The most important to me are the first 5 Numbers. Well the year really who cares what day it was stamped. Unless you have #1 in A limited run.

 

Well, again thank you very much! I'll get it as soon as I can!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks good as far as the serial number goes, but as the pics are not the best to begin with, I'm a little concerned about what I see at the base of the headstock where the curve to the nut starts. Looks like some chips in the paint there? It shows up in both pics. If so, that could be a headstock crack or break. I would not touch it unless I had better pics of that area to see what is really there. Explorers are not prone to headstock breaks like LPs are, but they do happen and are not rare.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks good as far as the serial number goes, but as the pics are not the best to begin with, I'm a little concerned about what I see at the base of the headstock where the curve to the nut starts. Looks like some chips in the paint there? It shows up in both pics. If so, that could be a headstock crack or break. I would not touch it unless I had better pics of that area to see what is really there. Explorers are not prone to headstock breaks like LPs are, but they do happen and are not rare.

 

You're right, it looks like there's something wrong. But I double checked the other pics and here nothing shows up. I think it was just light reflection.

 

http://it.tinypic.com/r/dw9lko/9 here there's nothing... as far as I can see

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You're right, it looks like there's something wrong. But I double checked the other pics and here nothing shows up. I think it was just light reflection.

 

http://it.tinypic.com/r/dw9lko/9 here there's nothing... as far as I can see

 

I did zoom in a take a closer look. My guess is that it is light reflections based on the differences in the 2 pics last posted. But I would still want to be sure of that before I'd buy it. Especially as easy as it would be to get a better pic of that area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did zoom in a take a closer look. My guess is that it is light reflections based on the differences in the 2 pics last posted. But I would still want to be sure of that before I'd buy it. Especially as easy as it would be to get a better pic of that area.

 

You're right. Thank you for your help too!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised that this hasn't been brought up. I don't think a "certificate of authenticity" would come with this model. Correct me if I'm wrong, this one is made in Gibson's plant in Nashville. I think this guitar is a real Gibby, depending on the price, I would buy it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm surprised that this hasn't been brought up. I don't think a "certificate of authenticity" would come with this model. Correct me if I'm wrong, this one is made in Gibson's plant in Nashville. I think this guitar is a real Gibby, depending on the price, I would buy it.

I don't really know the name of that thing... it's basically a piece of paper with "quality check" written on. Something like this (picture found on google) http://i.imgur.com/WQJtNGF.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That would be nice to have, but it's worthless and is not proof of anything as far as selling it second hand. I would feel very comfortable moving forward without that. From what you are telling and showing us, you have nothing to be concerned about.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's the standard factory check list of the final inspection before it's shipped from Gibson.

 

it is not a COA..

 

Ok, I had no idea. Never had a Gibson before, my boyfriend has a Les Pau standard 2003 and he only has that as a "certificate".

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...