Fake or not

[lejano]

Hi guys,

 

I have been reading about the fake epiphones around and wanted to ask the experienced ones their opinion about a guitar. It is on sale on E bay and Im not sure if it is original.

 

 

 

What do you guys think?

 

Thanks

[RotcanX]

Looks OK to me. 'Custom' is misspelled but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. It has the correct tuners for the vintage and the serial number checks out. The workmanship on the headstock looks up to Epiphone standards and the knobs are all in the right positions. I'd say genuine.

[clarkuss]

Your guitar was made at the

Unsung Plant, Korea

December 1998

Production Number: 2067

 

However, can anyone confirm that unsung made this for epiphone during this period? Didn't they come with grovers? Those stickers look dodgy but it doesn't look like a fake IMO

[Axe2Grind123]

Oh crap here we go again...

[Red 333]

Looks OK.

[duane v]

pretty guitar..... those tuners are similar to the ones that came on the Gibby LPC's in the later 70's and early 80's..... I think they're Schallers.

[bvarsel]

I'd have to say it looks good to me. Is there anyway for Epiphone/Gibson to tell you if the guitar & Serial number match. In other words, Serial No. U98122067 is a tobacco burst Les Paul Custom? We all, or most of us, know how to decipher the serial number but how do we know it matches the guitar?

[RotcanX]

However' date=' can anyone confirm that unsung made this for epiphone during this period? Didn't they come with grovers? Those stickers look dodgy but it doesn't look like a fake IMO[/quote']

1998 was about the time that Saein and Unsung took over the lion's share of manufacturing from Samick. Grover tuners were not introduced until 2002. Before then, the LP Standards etc. had the green 'Kluson' style tuners and the Customs etc. had Jin-Ho (not Schaller) 'tulip' tuners. Here's a blurry lo-res pic from the '98 catalog:

 

 

These are correct. I have the same tuners on my '58 Korina Explorer which is from the same period; note that Epi is still showing the old version with the Jin-Hos (and a 'GIBSON' TRC) on their web site:

 

 

Technically, the tuners haven't really changed since it's Jin-Ho that makes these 'Grovers' in Korea.

[clarkuss]

Case Closed then as far as I can see! Cheers RotcanX

[RotcanX]

Prosit Clark.

[clarkuss]

Prosit Clark.

 

See my "giving up drinking" thread... haha!

[lejano]

Thanks guys...

[Sinster]

Don't believe that Guitardaterproject.com website.. It might be a legit S/N but not a legit guitar!

 

IMHO it looks fake.. and yea custom being misspelled would deter me.

[RotcanX]

Other than the fact that some Korean can't spell English well, any particular items that make you think it is fake? Or is this just a 'feeling'?

 

Usually fakes have obviously bogus serial numbers; the GDP doesn't recognize them, and the actual lettering style is inconsistent, as in the following example of a proven counterfeit:

 

 

Note how the 'I' is faint and spaced unusually far from the numbers; also the numbers are not aligned well and they don't even match the typeface that Epis usually use for their serials. The serial shown on the Custom seems to be legit in all respects.

[Sinster]

The Headstock Diamond looks a little to high and the washer for the tuner is into the binding.

[clarkuss]

I think the fake Paranoia is pretty high in here!! The serial number matches up, the tuners are consistent with the period and factory and the controls seem to be in the right places. It doesn't look anything like a 'new' fake and I'm not convinced they even made fakes this good back then with the epiphone name on it. Makes no sense to assume this is a fake. Factories/Models differed loads over the years. Especially on Paul's and SGs.

 

I think everyone of us could take a guitar from the Epiphone factory in person, post pictures on here and there'll be someone to think it's a fake based on the pics alone...

[Sinster]

The serial number matches up.

 

Like I said if the serial numbers can check out.. that doesn't make it a legit guitar.

 

 

 

I think everyone of us could take a guitar from the Epiphone factory in person' date=' post pictures on here and there'll be someone to think it's a fake based on the pics alone...[/quote']

 

You are correct on that one. When I post my custom someone said it might be fake..

[clarkuss]

Yes but that serial number is the exact text type, format and correct colour and location. Show me another fake that is so accurate in copying Epiphone's 90s production serial numbers. Yes anyone can copy a serial number but that is extremely accuarate considering the 3-4 variables copyists have to get right. Compare it to any other Unsung serial number and you'll see what I mean.

[mgrmatt]

The only thing I see wrong with it are those strings,wire cutters please.

 

 

mgm

[Vic Flick]

The Headstock Diamond looks a little to high and the washer for the tuner is into the binding.

 

Actually' date=' one of the tell-tale signs of the original fakes that flooded Korea awhile back was that the diamond was too big and the bottom of it was often covered by the TRC.

 

 

 

[i']Monday, June 07, 2004

 

Regarding Epiphone Les Paul Custom Tops

 

Dear Epiphone Customers,

 

As you may have seen, there have recently been some Internet forum postings about a supposed "Epiphone" LP Custom guitar with a "particle-board" or "pressboard" top. PLEASE UNDERSTAND, the image or images of this guitar in these threads is NOT an Epiphone guitar. While it might have "Epiphone" on the headstock, it is a COUNTERFEIT.

 

Just last week we were notified that Korean police (as they have done in the past) raided the infamous Nakwon Arcade in Seoul, Korea. This musical instrument mall is notorious for purchasing and selling counterfeit as well as OFF-QUALITY or REJECTED guitars produced by factories in Korea. Because they cannot export them into the USA, Europe, Japan, etc., these factories sell them "out the back-door" within Korea and ultimately, to unsuspecting customers.

 

Epiphone was and is NOT the only brand being illegally made and sold in Korea. There were other famous guitar brand names ceased by the police and facing the same counterfeiting problems.

 

As a result of this inherent market problem, Epiphone does not currently have nor have we had in the past, an active authorized Korean distributor. We have verified that we have NO RECORD of that guitar with that serial number being sold by our company.

 

Epiphone does NOT use nor have we EVER used particle board or any other similar materials in our guitars. With 131 years of quality and integrity on the line, there is NO WAY we would put that at risk by using inferior materials.

 

On several occasions in the past, we have worked closely with the Korean police to locate and identify counterfeiters in Korea. This has led to many guitars being confiscated and in many cases, arrests. While we wish this was not the case and we are doing all we can to stop it, this type of illegal activity is hard to eliminate completely. Therefore, if you do travel to or live in Korea, please understand there is a big risk when purchasing a brand-name guitar or other musical instrument.

 

If you are purchasing a new Epiphone from an authorized dealer in the USA, Canada, Europe, Japan or other "export" country, rest assured that these are high-quality instruments worthy of the name Epiphone - carrying our limited Lifetime Warranty and backed by the Gibson Musical Instruments.

 

Thank you and if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-444-2766 or email us at support@Gibson.com.

 

Best Regards, Jim "Epi" Rosenberg

President - Epiphone

[/i]

[BlueLesPaul2006]

Don't believe that Guitardaterproject.com website.. It might be a legit S/N but not a legit guitar!

 

IMHO it looks fake.. and yea custom being misspelled would deter me.

 

I don't like the shape of the cutaways on the headstock. looks bad to me.

[lejano]

Well here is another one. This is exactly like the other one but there are some differences:

 

 

Im looking at the:

- diamon location

- location of h

- pickguard size

 

OMG! I think we are dealing with 2 fakes here... What do you guys think?

[RotcanX]

This second example is nowhere near as good as the first one. The finish appears foggy and the diamond inlay on the headstock is terrible. The knobs should be black. What is that between the controls... plugged holes? What gives? This one I would avoid.

[Sinster]

is that from the same person? I would be very careful.. If you bid and win the other guitar he just might swap them out for this one.

[lejano]

No. The are two distinct people. There are so much fakes going around it is really getting hard to find an original. In this sense I believe Epiphone should take some responsibility and hep people around to identify the originals.

 

Some kinda spec sheet, an informative web site...