duane v Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 kevin134 has a few good ideas to deal with all the fake guitar threads that clutter the forums. So What I'm asking of you is to post comparative info-pics and other links that will allow members to get info on whether their Epi/Gibson is a counterfeit. Once we get all the info we will make it a sticky where all members can post their possible fake guitars and keep the discussion in the sticky, rather that all over forum. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Kevin has also wrote me about this and I think that it is a great idea. Lets see what we can do to get this done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Fake-Gibson-Les-Pauls-how-to-avoid_W0QQugidZ10000000002541815 http://www.hdlma.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=8558&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/epiphone-les-pauls/31153-fake-epiphone-thread-ii.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Thanks for those links AS90. Some good info there that should be very helpful to potential buyers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Google for "Fake Epiphone" and you'll get hundreds of hits. A good couple from this forum: http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=56 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2839 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3519 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3173 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2590 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=6863 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3511 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&m=84832 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=7384 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2225 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=5167 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=5626 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2958 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=5936 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=4344 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=5549 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=7145 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3046 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=4344 http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=2991 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 and that'll kill a whole pile of conversation here -bad idea. Will you be starting a stcky for what pups and how to adjust/set up as well? Because that'll totally kill this place. No one likes to be told "refer to the sticky" or "do a search" kinda screws up the whole idea of coming to a forum to "discuss" stuff. And hey, if I come to a forum and am rudely told to do a search I usually do -on google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 and that'll kill a whole pile of conversation here -bad idea. Will you be starting a stcky for what pups and how to adjust/set up as well? Because that'll totally kill this place. No one likes to be told "refer to the sticky" or "do a search" kinda screws up the whole idea of coming to a forum to "discuss" stuff. And hey' date=' if I come to a forum and am rudely told to do a search I usually do -on google. [/quote'] Point taken. Thanks for your opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 and that'll kill a whole pile of conversation here -bad idea. Will you be starting a stcky for what pups and how to adjust/set up as well? Because that'll totally kill this place. No one likes to be told "refer to the sticky" or "do a search" kinda screws up the whole idea of coming to a forum to "discuss" stuff. And hey' date=' if I come to a forum and am rudely told to do a search I usually do -on google. [/quote'] Good point. But fair discussion requires basic knowledge. Some wellchosen stickies would provide a starting point for newbies and avoid annoying the old-timers. This is still a product-forum, not a social gathering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 and that'll kill a whole pile of conversation here -bad idea. Will you be starting a stcky for what pups and how to adjust/set up as well? Because that'll totally kill this place. No one likes to be told "refer to the sticky" or "do a search" kinda screws up the whole idea of coming to a forum to "discuss" stuff. And hey' date=' if I come to a forum and am rudely told to do a search I usually do -on google. [/quote'] I agree with that last point. Epiphone already have their own guide to fakes on their website. I think having a sticky for this topic opens the floodgates for more unnecessary stickys (stickies?). If someone comes on this forum with pics of their guitar asking if it is a fake then it opens up a discussion not only about the difference between epiphone and other non-epiphone guitars but also encourages discussion about the different factories and models of certain guitars which sometimes is the reason people might be suspicous about their new guitar. For instance, the Emperor that was on ebay recently was thought by some ebayers to be fake because the E logo was different and the specs different from the current model. It was in fact a Matsumoku model. These threads can only encourage discussion and bring people to the forum. There's nothing worse than joining a discussion forum only to be told to trawl through hundreds of posts and links, essentially doing your own research. I for one found the last Fake Thread very interesting: http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=8955 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Hearing some other view points. Very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Maybe a "Fakes" catagory, on it's own...like the "Lounge" is on it's own. There does seem to be a LOT of inquiries, and information (as well as misinformation). If there was a seperate catagory, with input from Gibson/Epiphone on all the things to look for, they could get the right answers, from "the horses mouth," so to speak. Be good for US to know, as well. Without any real input from Epiphone/Gibson on "Fakes" (without having to Google search all the time) it's kind of a crap shoot, on who to trust, with "definitive" information, you know? There are a LOT of knowledgeable people here, but there's a lot of "blind leading the blind" too...not because I/We/They want to do that, or do it on purpose, but because we can't get the REAL scoop, from anyone that really knows...mainly Gibson/Epiphone. Anyway...it's just a thought. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted March 24, 2009 Author Share Posted March 24, 2009 I for one dislike stickies as well, to me they are an eye-sore..... And lets face it everyone wants to be a "post debutante" about their own individual issues concerning their guitars. Though some of the ideas are pretty cool.... Keep them coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Another point to think about:If we or gibby/epi will show all details of real/fake all the fake-builders will learn very fast! Peter Yeah, and that MAY be one reason why Gibson/Epiphone doesn't go more "public" here, with that info? It's always a danger/possibility, I guess. BUT, all the "fakers" have to do, is get ahold of 1 real one, of each model, that they want to fake, and they have the "blueprint/working model" for how to do it, anyway. So...??? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acewarslave Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 When i first came to the eppi forum i was lucky to have various epinions about my fake guitar,and as a result of that i dont mind trying to help other people out that is what makes this a good forum,people trying to help others they dont even know..so i agree with tvyelwhiteflag on this one=d> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 There are some postings from sellers on ebay telling you what to look for. I'll try to dig some up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Judging by many of the postings regarding fakes, it appears that a lot of forum members are unaware of just how HUGE the Chinese knockoff business is - for hundreds of products, not just guitars. There are actual shopping centers in places such as Hong Kong that sell nothing but knockoffs. It's a worldwide phenomenon, unfortunately, yet is an obvious result of simple suppply-and-demand economics. If you refer to the Gibson-versus-Epiphone arguments, you'll be reminded about how important brand identification is to a lot of egos - hence knockoffs. So, who is really to blame? These threads are really quite ridiculous because simply buying your Epiphone from an authorized retailer is an almost 100% guarantee of getting a genuine Epiphone. A simple "Do Your Homework Before You Buy" sticky should suffice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acewarslave Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 hey ron while i agree with what your saying,i paid$1250.00au for a gibson custom off ebay you just cant get a deal like that going to your local guitar shop,having said that i was very lucky indeed.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 hey ron while i agree with what your saying' date='i paid$1250.00au for a gibson custom off ebay you just cant get a deal like that going to your local guitar shop,having said that i was very lucky indeed..[/quote']But I assume you were aware of the risks before you bought it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acewarslave Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 yep everything come with a price ron its not perfect.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin134 Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I for one dislike stickies as well' date=' to me they are an eye-sore..... And lets face it everyone wants to be a "post debutante" about their own individual issues concerning their guitars. Though some of the ideas are pretty cool.... Keep them coming.[/quote'] Since I helped get this post started I'll chime in, stickies, especially as far as the fake stuff goes, are great for stuff that is a common recurring topic. rather then have the topic constantly reoccur, its at the top, easily accessible for those looking for info or to add info. I'm not talking about having 20 or so stickies at the top, but one or two with pertinent info is a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedgeSG Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 I had mixed feelings about this...at first. I do kinda get tired of the paranoia about; "I just bought an Epi and now I wonder if...". But after reading this, and the informative past link post within, it occurs to me that I've read everything I've ever spotted Epi/Gibson or otherwise in reguards to verifing a real deal. To make a wise purchase, one needs to be informed. If a forum can provide information to this or any other end it's being useful to it's readership. The compairing of attributes in the process of weeding out the would-bees: helps anyone become more aware of what to look for, especially when purchasing used guitars as many of us do. You're most likely not gonna be purchasing from an Authorized Dealer at that point. Another reason that this has become so important is that the practice is far more rampant than just the online trade alone. Friends it's happening in your backyard, right here, right now. A couple months ago an indoor flea market about 15 miles from my hometown, sells booth space to sellers. One of these was a "music store" selling various new instruments. From six feet away (hanging up on a wall behind the counter) were several Epiphone electrics, (mostly Les Paul standards). Even to anybody that had ever SEEN an Epi they were hideous, bad clashing finishes, improper shapes, wrong hardware locations, etc., etc. But to a first timer: the Epi seals, pick-up plastic coverings, hang tags make it look genuine. The guy had no problem quoting a price that was right in line with GC's on a LP standard plain-top. Where/who he came up with these things is anybody's guess, the point is that he was brazen enough to sell them in a public area as a honest original...(in Tennessee no less). I feel as Epi owners, (and those who've been around a bit longer), we really need to help whenever we can to ensure that future and upcoming guitarists don't get burned by the like of Fleebags like the jerk I stumbled onto. So my vote is simply to keep on teachin' through the use of this and similar other threads. My only regret is that I didn't call Nashville and put a bug in their ear on that guy...but it won't happen again. Wedgie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted March 24, 2009 Share Posted March 24, 2009 Happily, this forum has NEVER been one of those annoying "go do a search it's already been discussed" or "see the stickie, it's all there" places. I find those forums really annoying and condescending and I don't go back to them. This forum has always been a forum for newcomers and their green questions. By limiting talk on guitar questions you're ruining what this forum has historically been. I suggest you wait 6 months and them bring the stickie idea up again for discussion then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Lister Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 Many want to be an expert fake spotters... ...but rumours and speculation always prevail. What I find interesting is how many people there are even asking about EPI fakes. Louis Vuitton, Gibson, Rolex, yes. EPI? Please. If you bought it too cheap, something's wrong. If you paid full price and didn't buy from from EPI authorized source, then the help you need won't be found in the Epi forum. A sticky is no help at all -- unless its 100% EPI certified specs -- and that won't happen. Besides, people will constantly post the fake questions in the regular forum anyway. Hit every BLUE NOTE baaaby..., I'm going to play on:-" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generation zero Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I like the idea of an "Is it fake?" section of the forum, perhaps with a closed sticky post at the top listing some of the very common telltale signs, and it could say "if you are still uncertain or would like input from others, post a thread in this section, with as many clear photos as possible." Perhaps describe what kind of photos are helpful, and so on, so that people could post threads on thier own guitars with all the necessary photos already, instead of like most of the threads now, with an original "I think I bought a fake because I paid $399 for a new plain top standard" post followed by four posts telling the guy to post photos, and then the OP saying he will take photos when he gets home, and then he posts again saying his camera batteries are dead, but he did notice this one other thing about the guitar, and then people ask for photos of that, then he posts bad off angle pics, and people then make 8 posts describing what kind of pics are needed, and before you know it the thread is at two pages before anything has been answered. Organized properly, a "fakes" section could be very beneficial to the board. JMO and all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin134 Posted March 25, 2009 Share Posted March 25, 2009 I like the idea of an "Is it fake?" section of the forum' date=' perhaps with a closed sticky post at the top listing some of the very common telltale signs, and it could say "if you are still uncertain or would like input from others, post a thread in this section, with as many clear photos as possible." Perhaps describe what kind of photos are helpful, and so on, so that people could post threads on thier own guitars with all the necessary photos already, instead of like most of the threads now, with an original "I think I bought a fake because I paid $399 for a new plain top standard" post followed by four posts telling the guy to post photos, and then the OP saying he will take photos when he gets home, and then he posts again saying his camera batteries are dead, but he did notice this one other thing about the guitar, and then people ask for photos of that, then he posts bad off angle pics, and people then make 8 posts describing what kind of pics are needed, and before you know it the thread is at two pages before anything has been answered. Organized properly, a "fakes" section could be very beneficial to the board. JMO and all...[/quote'] that is what I am talking about right there.. couldn't agree more.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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