Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

fake epiphone les paul special ll?

electrosushi

By electrosushi
in Epiphone Electrics

Recommended Posts

animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted

Ok - appearance-wise all looks good.

1. Serial Number is ODD - made in 1923? I guess I'm missing

something. WHEN did you buy these gits, and Where did you buy them?

2. Headstock and Tuners:

Tuning Keys - Mine has the "inserts" around the shafts, yours has the "full-blown"

hex nut and washer on top. Mine are the CHEAP mass-produced kind, yours are just a little

better.

3. Logo on headstock - Yours is slightly closer to truss rod cover, mine is in middle

of headstock.

Other than that, git LOOKS to be REAL Deal, could just be factory manufacturing

differences... Bit the Serial Number still throws me off...

 

Pix to follow:

 

YOURS:27214_115173808502952_1083126491890.jpg

 

MINE:

100_0512.jpg

 

TUNERS:

 

YOURS:

IMG_8311.jpg

 

MINE:

100_0511.jpg

 

 

Body-wise, both yours and mine appear to be SAME, just small

differences regarding LOGO placement and tuners. And, again, the

Odd serial number. It IS possible different Factories use different parts....

Link to comment
Share on other sites
midiman56

midiman56

Posted
Posted

Is anyone REALLY going to counterfeit a $169 dollar guitar???

 

Besides, Epi is farming out production all over Asia at the moment ... so be prepared to see a variety of slightly different paint jobs, hardware and levels of quality. We were informed by our Gibson rep that we should be prepared for shortages of Epiphone guitars that will probably last until late June. Reasons given were unexpected demand for the product as well as an acute shortage of containers needed to ship the product out of China. Seems the Chinese manufacturers have been shipping goods faster that we can off-load them and send the containers back (empty, no doubt) to be re-filled with more goods!

 

Jim

Link to comment
Share on other sites
brokerboi

brokerboi

Posted
Posted

@ Electrosushi

 

 

Hi I also have this guitar yesterday, I also noticed the differences between the tuning knob, lettering of Special II, narrow 12th fret dots and serial # was dated 1925. Please help me to know if the pick-ups are real ALNICO and if it's really made from MUSE China. Anyway it sounds good and 85% identical with the real one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted

I think you folks have real deal, just different factory,

different parts. Just trying to make sense of serial numbers

for future reference.

When, and Where were "y'all's" guitars purchased?

From dealer, or on-line auction house?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted

 

 

Hi I also have this guitar yesterday' date=' I also noticed the differences between the tuning knob, lettering of Special II, narrow 12th fret dots and serial # was dated 1925. Please help me to know if the pick-ups are real ALNICO and if it's really made from MUSE China. Anyway it sounds good and 85% identical with the real one.[/quote']

 

Pickups should be Ceramic Magnets, 650R/Neck, 700T/Bridge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted

OK, as the serial numbers were driving me nuts, I called

Gibson Customer Service for the best possible info -

the Gentleman who helped me "sez":

 

MC23090893 - An Epiphone LP Special II Player's Pack,

(Git and Amp), BLACK Guitar, Made in Muse, China.

According to Gibson/Epi records, this guitar passed through

the USA Nashville, TN Epiphone "Set-up" Plant on .....

September 08, 2004!!! Then sent out to the world

for sale. No explanation regarding tuners.

 

MC23090973 - Same as above, but a RED Guitar.

 

The Epi set-up techs are required to do a minimum of 45 guitars

a day, so both gits on same day is highly possible.

 

so, the "MC" serial numbers make no real sense, apparantly

this style of number is 2004 vintage.

 

Hope this helps.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
brianh

brianh

Posted
Posted
The Epi set-up techs are required to do a minimum of 45 guitars

a day' date=' so both gits on same day is highly possible.[/quote']

Well that explains a lot.

 

45 guitars a day, 7.5 hour standard work day (450 minutes) equals 10 minutes per guitar not including bathroom breaks.

 

No wonder the action and intonation on new Epis is whack.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted
@ animalfarm

 

 

WOW! So what I got is the real deal!? No Doubt and confirmed?!

 

Based on what the Gibson Customer service guy said, yes.

I suppose in 2004, the tuners were different, bit I can't find

any photos of 2004 in internet searches for verification. If it

plays good, you should be happy.

 

You CAN during the next string change, remove the 4 screws from one

of the Pickup Rings, lift up pickup, turn it over and read the stickers, and any

lettering/engraving on it. If not convinced, post what you read here, we'll

try to verify.

 

"Don't Worry....Be HAPPY'!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted
Well that explains a lot.

 

45 guitars a day' date=' 7.5 hour standard work day (450 minutes) equals 10 minutes per guitar not including bathrooms breaks.

 

No wonder the action and intonation on new Epis is whack.

[/quote']

 

GIBSON JOBS POSTING (Epi Set-up Tech)

 

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/Jobs/Manufacturing-Gen-Labor/Set-Up-Technician-Epiphone/

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Epi1

Epi1

Posted
Posted

 

Animalfarm' date='

 

The inspection at the Nashville facility is the [b']3rd [/b]of three set-ups/inspections. The first is at our factory where the technician goes through the set-up process including truss rod adjustment, action height, intonation and general testing/playing. The second is our QC inspector at our factory that re-checks and verifies the set-up. The third one is when we receive them at our Nashville (or Japan or EU or other) facility. In most cases, the guitars quickly pass this last inspection because it's already been checked twice. If it does not pass, the inspector typically would pass it on to a more specialized technician that can spend more time with the instrument as needed.

 

Thanks,

Epiphone

Link to comment
Share on other sites
animalfarm

animalfarm

Posted
Posted

Epi1 - Grateful that you were able to take the time to post

a response!!! I personally am very satisfied with the Epis I

own.

This thread has become focused on trying to make sense of the

Serial Number(s) on 2 LP Special IIs apparently produced by the

same factory.

If the Gibson Rep I spoke with IS correct, then the serial numbering

system makes no logical sense to the end user, other than being

produced in "Muse, China". Is it possible to briefly break down the

meaning of the numbers?

 

MC23090893, and MC23090973.

 

Other than that, after mulling it around, I can only come up with:

MC = Muse, China

230 = Day of Year git was produced (August 17th)

9 = Year of production

0893 = 893rd Git produced that day...???

 

OK, you 2 LP Special owners, I require some input from you -

WHEN did you buy the Gits? WHAT YEAR were they "supposed" to

have been Manufactured? Did you buy them from a Dealer or other?

I can go no further without more info.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...
GreenFire

GreenFire

Posted
Posted

electro, this one is the LP special 'Rome' is selling, right?[biggrin] interesado din kasi ako bumili. Pero, hindi ko alam kung fake ito or what.. did you already bought those from him? or just planning to buy it, just like me? please reply. thanks! [cool]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

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

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...