xvindicationx Posted November 26, 2020 Share Posted November 26, 2020 (edited) First of all my apologies, but I'm kinda new to this forum and the world of Gibson (Epiphone were my axes of choice for years). So if I asking a dumb question below, forgive me. Yesterday, I found an interesting listing for a Gibson SG Tribute 2019 on Facebook. The seller claims it's hardly been used and that he didn't modify anything... This is how it came out of the box. It even has the plastic foil on the pickguard. He posted a few pictures and also sent me a picture of the certificate of authenticity. So far so good, you say... However, I do have a few questions about this... When I look for images and specifications of this specific guitar online, I notice that on all other Tribute-guitars of that year, the volume & tone-knobs are different. Also, the toggle-switch doesn't have a round black cover, like this one does... Is that 'normal' or do these kind of differences occur more often? Once again, sorry if this is a dumb question. I just want to make sure I'm not buying a very close counterfeit or a guitar that has been tampered with more than the seller says. Thanks a lot in advance! Edited November 26, 2020 by xvindicationx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow1120 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 IMHO, this is a fake. All the things you mentioned and more. The finish is wrong. The made in USA stamp is wrong. The serial number look up come back unrecognized. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Waaay too many numbers in that serial. FAKE. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 5 hours ago, Scarecrow1120 said: IMHO, this is a fake. All the things you mentioned and more. The finish is wrong. The made in USA stamp is wrong. The serial number look up come back unrecognized. 1 hour ago, Twang Gang said: Waaay too many numbers in that serial. FAKE. All the things he mentioned are merely cosmetic. So that is no proof. Stamp looks ok to me also. As far as the serial number, 9 numbers is not way too many numbers. Both my 2014 SG and 2016 LP Studio have 9 digits as well. I'm not saying it's legit. But the reasons you guys are giving are erroneous. At least in my view. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow1120 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Well, it could be legit. It just doesn't pass my sniff test. If it is a guitar you really want, one could take it to their local Gibson dealer and have it checked out. Just ask the seller to meet you where this can be done by an independent expert. If it is legit, the seller will have no problem accommodating you on this request. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvindicationx Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 UPDATE: I bought the guitar. But not before I checked with Gibson, Key Music Brussels (an official Gibson-dealer/store where the seller supposedly bought the guitar earlier this year) and an independent guitar technician (who's specialised in Gibson). All three confirmed me it is legit. However, the volume & tone-knobs were changed and the 'pokerchip' was added to the toggle switch. I got the original knobs from the seller, and everything that accompanied the guitar (deluxe gigbag, booklets, certificate of authenticity, picture,...). I might switch the knobs since I'm not really into modding and like my guitars as original as possible. As for its sound: it's nearly unplayed and sounds fantastic so I'm pretty stoked. Thanks a lot for the replies & interest. Tim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow1120 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 So glad it checked out. Great job on doing the due diligence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 1 hour ago, xvindicationx said: UPDATE: I bought the guitar. But not before I checked with Gibson, Key Music Brussels (an official Gibson-dealer/store where the seller supposedly bought the guitar earlier this year) and an independent guitar technician (who's specialised in Gibson). All three confirmed me it is legit. However, the volume & tone-knobs were changed and the 'pokerchip' was added to the toggle switch. I got the original knobs from the seller, and everything that accompanied the guitar (deluxe gigbag, booklets, certificate of authenticity, picture,...). I might switch the knobs since I'm not really into modding and like my guitars as original as possible. As for its sound: it's nearly unplayed and sounds fantastic so I'm pretty stoked. Thanks a lot for the replies & interest. Tim Good for you! I thought it looked pretty good to me. 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvindicationx Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eracer_Team Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 The head stock had the "Gibson wings" nobody copies those in a fake guitar 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Well I've been wrong before and probably will be again. Glad it checked out and more importantly that it plays and sounds good. 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Natural Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 Why would anyone bother to fake a Tribute? I had a LP Tribute, and it was a great guitar, but basically, a Studio model. And I agree with Eracer_Team on the headstock wings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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