eric_77777 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hi everyone I am new here. I came across a casino on the internet and I actually visited the shop in Hong Kong. There are a few photos of the gear: "Brand New Casino" My question is, how could I ever find out if this is a real one? Are there any ways (e.g. more photos etc.) that I could provide for you guys to distinguish? It is a small shop and it has some rumour it may sell fake, but this one priced at HK$3,550 with a warwick hollow body rockcase seems nice. My difficulty is that I am also new to electric, my ear is not sensitive enough to the sound, but I want to invest into a guitar that last longer than my life. This is currently the only one Casino in HK music shops, and I can go and see it and test it again after your advice... I don't mind it made in China, but just not the fake-made in China... Thank you very much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Hi everyone I am new here. I came across a casino on the internet and I actually visited the shop in Hong Kong. There are a few photos of the gear: "Brand New Casino" My question is, how could I ever find out if this is a real one? Are there any ways (e.g. more photos etc.) that I could provide for you guys to distinguish? It is a small shop and it has some rumour it may sell fake, but this one priced at HK$3,550 with a warwick hollow body rockcase seems nice. My difficulty is that I am also new to electric, my ear is not sensitive enough to the sound, but I want to invest into a guitar that last longer than my life. This is currently the only one Casino in HK music shops, and I can go and see it and test it again after your advice... I don't mind it made in China, but just not the fake-made in China... Thank you very much! your link doesn't take me to photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 If you want to be sure your Casino is genuine, get it from an authorized Epiphone dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 With out looking at it, I would say that if it's the only available Casino in town and it's low priced, there's a very good chance that it's not legitimate. If it was, the seller would understand it's value and be charging more. There are plenty of good pictures of Casinos on the internet. A close look at both the picture and the guitar in question should give you your answer. Look at the details. I haven't seen a perfect fake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_77777 Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 Thank you for all the comments! your link doesn't take me to photos! Sorry it was a link of the auction in yahoo from the shop. Pictures as follows: http://hk.image.auctions.yimg.com/ac/97/12/1126990053-ac-9993xf6x0337x0600-m.jpg http://hk.image.auctions.yimg.com/ac/a7/81/1126990053-ac-9905xf6x0337x0600-m.jpg http://hk.image.auctions.yimg.com/ac/01/90/1126990053-ac-5622xf6x0337x0600-m.jpg If you want to be sure your Casino is genuine, get it from an authorized Epiphone dealer. Thank you for your suggestion but currently there is no official dealer in Hong Kong. The original shop backed out when the production moved to China... ... Look at the details. I haven't seen a perfect fake. My difficulty is there are pictures of too many versions of Casino of various different models/manufacturers/year, plus I don't know which kind of the details would be the tiniest details that should be checked. Say, there is no serial number coined at the back of the head, etc... Just wishing to get a good guitar even I am starting as an amateur... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 If there is no label inside the f-hole, with a serial number that can be checked on the guitar dater, then it's more than likely a fake. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that Epi sells casinos without the label. Anyone know different? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar dog Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 I can see the edge of the label in the f hole. The serial number should be on the label. That will help identify the guitar, but is not a guarantee that it is legit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_77777 Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 If there is no label inside the f-hole, with a serial number that can be checked on the guitar dater, then it's more than likely a fake. I could be wrong, but I don't believe that Epi sells casinos without the label. Anyone know different? I can see the edge of the label in the f hole. The serial number should be on the label. That will help identify the guitar, but is not a guarantee that it is legit. Thanks both! :) So I thought all the fake-makers will at least print a sticker to look real. Could it be copied(or photocopied) from a real one (which looks similar)? Well actually what I want to clarify is that if I know the serial number, will that give any proof whether it is real or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 The instrument in your photos looks like a legitimate Chinese production Casino from Gibson's factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_77777 Posted June 25, 2011 Author Share Posted June 25, 2011 The instrument in your photos looks like a legitimate Chinese production Casino from Gibson's factory. Oh really? Your words make my heartbeat(as I want to own it at once!) It's really hard for me to make the move as this will be my first electric guitar and it just feel uneasy to totally trust the small shop - not famous for selling legi guitar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 The guitar you are looking at doesn't have all the tell-tale signs of fake that we've seen before. The label will not legitimize the guitar, but at least it has one. I'd walk away if it didn't. Did you run the serial number through the dater on this site? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Doesn´t seem to be a fake from the photos for me....but as already mentioned - check the serial number. But i tell you one thing, go and play it through your(or your favorite amp at the shop) and if you really like the sound - go and get it. The most important thing is what you get out of your guitar, no matter what stupid f***ing brand/name is on the guitar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueEpiphone Posted June 25, 2011 Share Posted June 25, 2011 Thank god it isn't that guitar with the nail sticking out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_77777 Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 Thank you everyone for your warm responses! You surely enlightened me a lot and I'm planning to buy it tonight! B) The guitar you are looking at doesn't have all the tell-tale signs of fake that we've seen before. The label will not legitimize the guitar, but at least it has one. I'd walk away if it didn't. Did you run the serial number through the dater on this site? However, I don't know about this dater... I will try to check before really bringing the money out of my pocket. Thanks for the great tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Thank god it isn't that guitar with the nail sticking out of it. That guy was posting over on the Les Paul Forum for awhile, too. Loved the way the pickups were set flush into the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_77777 Posted June 26, 2011 Author Share Posted June 26, 2011 Dear all, Thank you so very much... I am now playing it! It is in good shape and can't resist to play non-stop! Good that I bought also a Line 6 Pocket POD Express, so I won't wake my mom up the whole night~ By the way, I am very interested in those fake ones that you mentioned. Any link of photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Bill Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Hi everyone I am new here. I came across a casino on the internet and I actually visited the shop in Hong Kong. There are a few photos of the gear: My question is, how could I ever find out if this is a real one? Are there any ways (e.g. more photos etc.) that I could provide for you guys to distinguish? It is a small shop and it has some rumour it may sell fake, but this one priced at HK$3,550 with a warwick hollow body rockcase seems nice. My difficulty is that I am also new to electric, my ear is not sensitive enough to the sound, but I want to invest into a guitar that last longer than my life. This is currently the only one Casino in HK music shops, and I can go and see it and test it again after your advice... I don't mind it made in China, but just not the fake-made in China... Thank you very much! I looked up HK$3500, which I think is equal to about $450USD.. so the price isn't cheap, but then again, it hasn't been thru 2 international ports, aboard a ship and numerous trucks to end up in a US shop. Buying a guitar (or most anything these days) that will reasonably be expected to last a lifetime, depends a great deal upon whether the buyer's age is 18 or 80. Most things won't last, otherwise, there are too many unpredictable events yet to occur. I'm not anywhere close to being an expert, but the overall appearance looks genuine.. but headstocks nearly always look odd in most pictures, that's my only questionable area of the overall looks. The headstocks are generally angled away from the camera's perspective, which may be a factor. Regards, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed2 Posted June 26, 2011 Share Posted June 26, 2011 Congratulations. My Casino is my most played guitar and I'm sure you will enjoy yours. When you can, put some more photos up for us to check out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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