Is my Gibson Counterfeit?

[iiSwanSongii]

Hi Everyone! This is my first post and hopefully I can get some help from people who would know better than myself. I recently found a Gibson guitar. I was online yesterday looking up the serial number on the headstock to findout more inforamtion about it (9 digits...it's a 2005 model) Gibson SG. But then I came across articles about how some counterfeit guitars were around and it got me worried and here's why:

 

- They logo on the headstock has a crooked dot on the I

- There is no SG on the truss rod cover? What model is it?

- The pearl inlays are circles in stead of trapazoids

- The pickups are not the same as other SG models i've seen online.

- The neck does have the curve to it though.

 

Any thoughts you can give me out there are greatly appreciated!

 

iiSwanSongii

 

 

 

[SGplayer1994]

Well i think it's safe to bet that if it is in fact a real Gibson, it's an SG Special Faded.

The stamp on the back of the headstock has me worried though, somebody else might know. If it is a fake, its a very good one.

[iiSwanSongii]

Thank you for your prompt reply SGplayer1994. Well, I blacked out with photoshop the serial. Wasn't sure if it was okay for me to post the serial number. I did a search though on information about serials and it does come up as being made in Nashville on Sept. 20 in 2005. But i figured serials could be faked as well.

 

So the dot in the logo is no cause for concern?

[cwness]

Enjoy your Gibson. All the Specials have dot inlays. Take a look on the

Gibson site and you will see. One thing, I think you have Special not

a faded Special. From you pic's the finish looks look gloss. This is a

good thing in my book. The faded don't have the gloss finish and

aren't as bright as yours.

 

CW

[gsxrrr]

So the dot in the logo is no cause for concern?

 

This has been discussed recently on here and the consensus was that this is fine and simply a slight mistake at the factory, it happens quite alot.

It looks like a genuine SG special to me as well, to put your mind at ease take the cover off the back and have a look at the volume and tone pots these will also have verifiable serial numbers on which the fakes generally don't, and while your in there check the quality of the wiring as this is also shoddy on the fakes.

[RRIDER]

It looks like a real Gibson to me.

 

In what I've read, Gibson changed to a 9 digit serial number in early July, 2005

 

Here's a link that confirms it....Scroll down and see how to read your serial number.

 

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/SerialNumberSearch/

[RRIDER]

Take a look at the headstock picture that Ironlung took of his SG in post number 34 in the link below. The dot for the i is touching the G and the TRC looks the same as yours.

 

http://forums.gibson.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=453834#post453834

[ironlung40]

to the OP

 

Yeah, don't sweat this man. Since, I bought mine with the same looking logo as yours, I've seen about 6 more that way. I think most if not all of the later models have the dot properly aligned, but the older ones 2003-2005 or so, this crooked dot seems to be more common. I believe this dot attached to the G was by design though, as it made applying the silk screen logo easier.

 

I have found that my 2004 model, although it has the crooked dot, seems to be of better build quality than any of the newer ones I've played. The fretboard, frets, and action are superb on it. Also the neck feels a little chunkier around the headstock and nut....in a good way. It is also a 2 piece body (it took me a long while to spot the joint, it is finished so well it is virtually unoticeable. Loads of the newer guitars have more pieces. Each guitar is different though, because they are hand sanded, etc., so it is important to play as many as you can before buying, but I got a gem with mine. It more than makes up for a small imperfection on the logo.

[SGplayer1994]

One thing' date=' I think you have Special not

a faded Special. From you pic's the finish looks look gloss.

 

[/quote']

 

nah i'm pretty sure its faded--look at the headstock.

not saying there's anything at all wrong with the faded finish though. i kinda like the look of it

[cwness]

They did this with the dot in the i even in 86 look at my LP

 

 

CW

[iiSwanSongii]

I want to thank you all who have replied! You have assured me of it's authenticity and that I got definetly a deal for my $600 dollars.

 

Take care everyone!

 

 

~ iiSwanSongii ~

[Dub-T-123]

$600 new or used?

 

I would pay about $300 for a used one.

[iiSwanSongii]

Well, I did get it from some one who barely used it so I'd call it fairly new. The plastic is still on the pickguard. Yeah but wouldn't your pay 600 rather than much more completely new? I don't think I could have negotiated down to 300 for the mint condition it was in.

 

$600 new or used?

 

I would pay about $300 for a used one.

[ironlung40]

$600 new or used?

 

I would pay about $300 for a used one.

 

 

The only one's I've seen below $400 used, were in pretty rough condition, and I've never seen one for $300 or less.

[Dub-T-123]

Well as long as you're happy that's all that matters. And I really do hope you're happy with it.

 

But even in dead mint condish I'd only pay about $500 for an '05 if I was looking for one of these. I said I'd pay $300 because if I got one of these it would be for modding, backup to my Standard, and just to throw around and not really worry about. So if I bought one I wouldn't really be worried about scratches and dings.

 

The guy you bought it from very well may have bought it new for less than $600. The new prices on these have really gone up in recent years. Even still you got it cheaper than the sticker price of a new one so if you're happy that's great.

 

I'm not dismissing this as a crappy model. I think they're pretty cool and I'd love to pick one up cheap and have some fun with it.

[iiSwanSongii]

That is why I was okay with spending the 600 rather than the sticker price for a brand new one. I do love the way it plays and I do really like the look of it.

 

My reasons are also a bit logistical with the body shape. This is my third electric guitar. My second one being a Gibson Epiphone Special Model which I do love the sound of as well but the body shape was just so where I couldn't rest it on my lap balanced to play sitting down. This is important since I'm not a live performer I sit down to record my songs onto my 16 track recorder.

 

Since this will be the last electric guitar that I buy for myself, Thank you all for reassuring me though that this was a good addition to my guitar collection (i also have 2 acoustics and a bass)

[kevoT]

@swansong, nawh, i bet there is going to be another guitar that is going to come your way that you'll really want and you will get that! IMO you will always manage to find that one guitar that stays with you, but there will be many others that will come and go in your life that you'll want and probably get, i say this because maybe because I'm crazy or that I'm just young and foolish :D i dunno you choose. BTW it's real, a lot of specials come like this, hope it plays great!

[ironlung40]

@swansong' date=' nawh, i bet there is going to be another guitar that is going to come your way that you'll really want and you will get that! IMO you will always manage to find that one guitar that stays with you, but there will be many others that will come and go in your life that you'll want and probably get, i say this because maybe because I'm crazy or that I'm just young and foolish :) i dunno you choose. BTW it's real, a lot of specials come like this, hope it plays great! [/quote']

 

 

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