Jamin44 Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 Yeah. Sorry, gang. I’m a newby to the forum and definitely did not have my alerts set up, so I was slow to reply. I’ve attached a couple of pics. I bought it used from Guitar Center and I just sort of (maybe naive) assumed it was legit and I thought I was snagging a great deal. I’m looking to sell or trade it and just now noticed the missing sticker in the soundhole and I’m having trouble reconciling the serial number with anything. I was exhausting all online resources and have done a bunch of research (obviously should have done this prior to purchasing) and I stumbled upon this forum. Thought I’d ask a group of dudes for some insight. I apologize if this is not the correct venue or if I broke a protocol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 There ya' go! A nice looking Gibson, I'd say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamin44 Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 21 minutes ago, jedzep said: There ya' go! A nice looking Gibson, I'd say. Also, I haven’t seen any of these without “Studio” or some other text on the headstock… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 looks legit to me, I'm not sure what stamping they were doing in 2019. I have a 2019 model that only has an ink stamp on the neck block. The s/n for a 2019 should be 1aaa9bbb where the 1 and 9 represent 2019, aaa is the numerical number of the day (001 - 352) and bbb is the sequence number of the guitar stamped that day. The burst looks like the one they were using on the Deluxe model but the trim and hardware looks like a standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 Here's a standard (plain trc) and Deluxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 I think someone faking one would not bother to install electronics in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 43 minutes ago, Jamin44 said: Yeah. Sorry, gang. I’m a newby to the forum and definitely did not have my alerts set up, so I was slow to reply. I’ve attached a couple of pics. I bought it used from Guitar Center and I just sort of (maybe naive) assumed it was legit and I thought I was snagging a great deal. I’m looking to sell or trade it and just now noticed the missing sticker in the soundhole and I’m having trouble reconciling the serial number with anything. I was exhausting all online resources and have done a bunch of research (obviously should have done this prior to purchasing) and I stumbled upon this forum. Thought I’d ask a group of dudes for some insight. I apologize if this is not the correct venue or if I broke a protocol. So if you got this used from Guitar Center, that should increase the chances of this being the real deal exponentially. The problem is not you, so don't apologize for asking a question. It's the dirt bags who sell these things as authentic when they are not. These sellers prey on those that don't really know what to look for and just assume it is what it is. The best place to post these questions is the Acoustic section of this forum, most of the guys who dwell there, only stay in that part of the forum. you can also sign up for the Acoustic Guitar Forum. That's another great resource, it's very active, more so than here, and tightly moderated. not a bad place to seek out information. As is the case here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 Jamin44, Now I am wondering if Gibson will send you a new sound hole sticker for it, after you email them and provide all the necessary photos, that is. Got nothing to lose by trying, I guess. Has anybody heard of Gibson doing such a thing?🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamin44 Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 37 minutes ago, kidblast said: So if you got this used from Guitar Center, that should increase the chances of this being the real deal exponentially. The problem is not you, so don't apologize for asking a question. It's the dirt bags who sell these things as authentic when they are not. These sellers prey on those that don't really know what to look for and just assume it is what it is. The best place to post these questions is the Acoustic section of this forum, most of the guys who dwell there, only stay in that part of the forum. you can also sign up for the Acoustic Guitar Forum. That's another great resource, it's very active, more so than here, and tightly moderated. not a bad place to seek out information. As is the case here. Awesome advice. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 3 hours ago, sparquelito said: Jamin44, Now I am wondering if Gibson will send you a new sound hole sticker for it, after you email them and provide all the necessary photos, that is. Got nothing to lose by trying, I guess. Has anybody heard of Gibson doing such a thing?🤔 yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBSinTo Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 11 hours ago, sparquelito said: Jamin44, Now I am wondering if Gibson will send you a new sound hole sticker for it, after you email them and provide all the necessary photos, that is. Got nothing to lose by trying, I guess. Has anybody heard of Gibson doing such a thing?🤔 sparquelito, In my opinion, they would open themselves to aiding and abetting anyone counterfeiting guitars by supplying sound hole stickers, and so doubt that they would be so magnanimous, especially to someone who purchased their Gibson used. RBSinTo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBSinTo Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 40 minutes ago, ghost_of_fl said: You're wrong though, because it would be a request for one single sticker from a person who literally has the guitar which they can authenticate before issuing said sticker. Magnanimously. 😉 ghost_of_fl, First we'll see. And then we'll know. RBSinTo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) I'm gonna ask CJ for some MOP Gibson inlays for headstocks and see what he say. Mine was missing. Edited March 1, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RBSinTo Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 2 hours ago, ghost_of_fl said: Even if they don't send the sticker, your reasoning makes no sense. You're far too clever for me to even try to reason with, so I won't bother. RBSinTo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 Have you gone back to Guitar Center and voice your concerns? I bought what I thought, and they presented as a brand new Martin from GC about 15 years ago. I took if to a guitar tech who is factory certified Martin and Gibson tech. He called me the next day with some alarming news, the guitar was 5 years old and had been sold by GC several times each time itcwascreturned and put back onto the rack as new. The bridge was not properly installed at the time It was built and would require a neck and bridge reset, the top had also settled ( bridge tilted toward the neck. The Martin factory rep the tech spoke with told him GC has a history of doing this, they also order large shipments and many times guitars end up in warehouses for long periods of time, apparently with no humidifier, so back it went! Trust but verify. Guitar Center has a good return policy, use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 1, 2022 Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, jaxson50 said: Have you gone back to Guitar Center and voice your concerns? I bought what I thought, and they presented as a brand new Martin from GC about 15 years ago. I took if to a guitar tech who is factory certified Martin and Gibson tech. He called me the next day with some alarming news, the guitar was 5 years old and had been sold by GC several times each time itcwascreturned and put back onto the rack as new. The bridge was not properly installed at the time It was built and would require a neck and bridge reset, the top had also settled ( bridge tilted toward the neck. The Martin factory rep the tech spoke with told him GC has a history of doing this, they also order large shipments and many times guitars end up in warehouses for long periods of time, apparently with no humidifier, so back it went! Trust but verify. Guitar Center has a good return policy, use it. When I’m ready so spend cash on a Martin I always check the serial number to verify the year, no slide rule necessary or system that changed 3 times today. It’s consecutive. How easy is that? Edited March 1, 2022 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 20 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: When I’m ready so spend cash on a Martin I always check the serial number to verify the year, no slide rule necessary or system that changed 3 times today. It’s consecutive. How easy is that? The fact remains that dealers an restock a previously sold item and sell it as new. Seems to me the easy way to stop this is for the manufacturers to require retailers to register instruments at the time of sale. It would take a few minutes, but once the instrument leaves the store, how many purchasers take the time to register the instrument with the factory? I still do business with GC, but with caution, I have ordered new guitars from the Martin factory through GC, and have received great discounts this way. You have the right of refusal at time of purchase and still can return it, but it's a good deal for both the dealer and the customer, the guitar isn T going to be hanging on a wall for months, so GC is happy, you get an untouched fresh from the factory guitar that you wanted. Here is another GC story, at our local GC, there was a very high end Taylor guitar hanging on the wall for years, it was discounted because there was a 1/8 " crack in the fretboard running from the7th fret to the end past the 22nd fret. I asked them why they don't just return it for warranty work? "Because we do that after it's bought" wasbthe answer. Does Taylor really want their products displayed when there are cracks in the fret board? I worked at two music stores years ago, that wouldn't fly at either, it undermines customer confidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 27 minutes ago, jaxson50 said: The fact remains that dealers an restock a previously sold item and sell it as new. Seems to me the easy way to stop this is for the manufacturers to require retailers to register instruments at the time of sale. It would take a few minutes, but once the instrument leaves the store, how many purchasers take the time to register the instrument with the factory? I still do business with GC, but with caution, I have ordered new guitars from the Martin factory through GC, and have received great discounts this way. You have the right of refusal at time of purchase and still can return it, but it's a good deal for both the dealer and the customer, the guitar isn T going to be hanging on a wall for months, so GC is happy, you get an untouched fresh from the factory guitar that you wanted. Here is another GC story, at our local GC, there was a very high end Taylor guitar hanging on the wall for years, it was discounted because there was a 1/8 " crack in the fretboard running from the7th fret to the end past the 22nd fret. I asked them why they don't just return it for warranty work? "Because we do that after it's bought" wasbthe answer. Does Taylor really want their products displayed when there are cracks in the fret board? I worked at two music stores years ago, that wouldn't fly at either, it undermines customer confidence. I’ve registered at least 3 of my used Martins because the original owners never did. Those Taylor’s have been paid for and once GC sells them they get there cut back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 1 minute ago, Sgt. Pepper said: I’ve registered at least 3 of my used Martins because the original owners never did. Those Taylor’s have been paid for and once GC sells them they get there cut back. That's not my point and frankly, I don't know if your being argumentative with me or not. It shouldn't be the customers responsibility to police music dealers to ensure they not selling used instruments as new. That should be the factories responsibility. It's that way in every other business, if a dealer pulls funny tricks they get dinged, or dropped by the factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 2, 2022 Share Posted March 2, 2022 1 minute ago, jaxson50 said: That's not my point and frankly, I don't know if your being argumentative with me or not. It shouldn't be the customers responsibility to police music dealers to ensure they not selling used instruments as new. That should be the factories responsibility. It's that way in every other business, if a dealer pulls funny tricks they get dinged, or dropped by the factory. I totally agree. GC should be out of business. I hate that crooked store. But we know and you got one that should have been sold as a used guitar and CG could care less and just wants your $. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaxson50 Posted March 3, 2022 Share Posted March 3, 2022 9 hours ago, Sgt. Pepper said: I totally agree. GC should be out of business. I hate that crooked store. But we know and you got one that should have been sold as a used guitar and CG could care less and just wants your $. Indeed. If you see a 3k dollar guitar displayed at a store with visible cracks, what is your first impression? Either the builder does crap work or the dealer doesn't take care of guitars when they are damaged or has a flaw. Honestly, that thing hung on the GC Boise stores wall for ever. Nobody who knows anything about guitars wouldn't buy it, but how many sales are lost because of a bad first impression. I haven't seen anything like this from small shops, impressions and referrals are their lifeblood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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