Epi Ace Frehley Real or Fake?

[JoeNegriFan]

I just had my first experience with an Epiphone 1956 Goldtop Reissue fake. I was not aware that Epiphones were faked, Gibsons and PRSs I can understand. I found the website tBargain.com recently and they had several Epiphone models for sale. The photos on the site appear to be of legitimate guitars and the prices very reasonable with free shipping included. What is missing in the photos is the certificate of authenticity. After my purchase ($340.00)I got several emails telling me about the progress of the order, then nothing for about three weeks. I filed a PayPal claim (Tao Chen/email is reported to be Dews21477@yahoo.com)and the guitar that was shipped to me by a Shi Yixu from Tangwu Changle Country Shandong (China)was not a genuine Epiphone. About $45.00 was due in customs fees. It was packed in a form-fitting styrofoam shipping box with a real looking Epiphone box inside. In the box were a cord, Epiphone Owner's Manual, a poster and a hang-tag. The guitar was in a soft foam shipping bag. The paint scheme is a light gold metallic body top with a mahogony red top sides and back of the neck. The headstock looks just like the one on my genuine Epi 1956 GoldTop Reissue with correct appearing script and colors. The script on the truss rod cover is in much fatter type and says "56 Gold Top Reissue" Stickers on the back of he neck read "Inspectioncard QC" and "100% Inspected and Set-up in the USA by 69E". The serial number is 1021523002. The chrome Grover tuners might be real, but they look a little rough under close inspection. The rosewood fretboard and inlays match the genuine GT with the frets needing just a little work on some of the edges. The pickups match the real GT's, but the polepiece adjustment screws are slightly different. The chrome bridge is similar to the real GT, but slightly different. The tailpiece also looks very similar to the real GT. The control placement has a slightly different spacing, the knobs are gold and the binding is different. The horn on the cutout and pickguard are of a slightly different profile. Overall it is not a bad entry level LP copy with a reasonable fit and finish. The serial number does not match-up to any Epiphone code I could find. The set-up is average and the frets are even. It has a nice bark to it when the distortion is cranked up on the amp and plays ok with the dead factory strings. Again, not knowing that Epiphones are faked, I assumed it might be an Epiphone prototype or some other concept guitar which might have gotten in with the regular run production models. Definitely worth the price to me for something unique. I withdrew my PayPal claim (big mistake!)as I had received a guitar. After some research I now know I am in possession of a fake GT. I sent an email to the company and am awaiting a response. I am alerting you folks to this scam and I hope Epiphone management pursues these crooks. I will hunt these guys myself and make them wish they had not decided to commit fraud or use a communication device for criminal activity. Law enforcement officials will definitely be involved if necessary.

[RaSTuS]

I just had my first experience with an Epiphone 1956 Goldtop Reissue fake. I was not aware that Epiphones were faked, Gibsons and PRSs I can understand. I found the website tBargain.com recently and they had several Epiphone models for sale. The photos on the site appear to be of legitimate guitars and the prices very reasonable with free shipping included. What is missing in the photos is the certificate of authenticity. After my purchase ($340.00)I got several emails telling me about the progress of the order, then nothing for about three weeks. I filed a PayPal claim (Tao Chen/email is reported to be Dews21477@yahoo.com)and the guitar that was shipped to me by a Shi Yixu from Tangwu Changle Country Shandong (China)was not a genuine Epiphone. About $45.00 was due in customs fees. It was packed in a form-fitting styrofoam shipping box with a real looking Epiphone box inside. In the box were a cord, Epiphone Owner's Manual, a poster and a hang-tag. The guitar was in a soft foam shipping bag. The paint scheme is a light gold metallic body top with a mahogony red top sides and back of the neck. The headstock looks just like the one on my genuine Epi 1956 GoldTop Reissue with correct appearing script and colors. The script on the truss rod cover is in much fatter type and says "56 Gold Top Reissue" Stickers on the back of he neck read "Inspectioncard QC" and "100% Inspected and Set-up in the USA by 69E". The serial number is 1021523002. The chrome Grover tuners might be real, but they look a little rough under close inspection. The rosewood fretboard and inlays match the genuine GT with the frets needing just a little work on some of the edges. The pickups match the real GT's, but the polepiece adjustment screws are slightly different. The chrome bridge is similar to the real GT, but slightly different. The tailpiece also looks very similar to the real GT. The control placement has a slightly different spacing, the knobs are gold and the binding is different. The horn on the cutout and pickguard are of a slightly different profile. Overall it is not a bad entry level LP copy with a reasonable fit and finish. The serial number does not match-up to any Epiphone code I could find. The set-up is average and the frets are even. It has a nice bark to it when the distortion is cranked up on the amp and plays ok with the dead factory strings. Again, not knowing that Epiphones are faked, I assumed it might be an Epiphone prototype or some other concept guitar which might have gotten in with the regular run production models. Definitely worth the price to me for something unique. I withdrew my PayPal claim (big mistake!)as I had received a guitar. After some research I now know I am in possession of a fake GT. I sent an email to the company and am awaiting a response. I am alerting you folks to this scam and I hope Epiphone management pursues these crooks. I will hunt these guys myself and make them wish they had not decided to commit fraud or use a communication device for criminal activity. Law enforcement officials will definitely be involved if necessary.

Can you post pics so we can see the issues you describe, there's instructions for posting pics in the DO-IT-YOURSELF thread pinned to the top of the Epi Lounge section, thanks to animalfarm for creating and maintaining it.

 

BTW: none of my Epis came with a COA, and I know they're legit.

 

EDIT: How remiss of me, welcome to the forums, you'll find it's a great place to hang, lot's of characters and much knowledge can be found here.

[4thought]

Wondering if someone who knows can help me out. I bought an Epi Frehley about 6 years ago and I'm wondering if its fake. The serial is I00071926 which I gather means it was supposed to be made in Korea in 2000. Things that have me wondering are that Ace's outline on the headstock is not continuous - there are two breaks. Someone told me the outline is too close to the left side of the headstock as well. Some of the binding is not perfect. Someone also questioned whether the pups are real DiMarzios.

 

See the link for a bunch of close up pictures. I can post more if you want to see anything else.

 

Thanks very much!

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/114392778275910566061/albums/5829601844774923377