I was very interested in this, but upon closer examination, I think it's a counterfeit. It purports to be a 2019 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s. I'm wondering if those with more experience than I do agree. https://nh.craigslist.org/msg/d/manchester-2019-gibson-les-paul-standard/7271772703.html
If it was made in 2019, the serial number would start with 19. How To Verify Authentic Gibson Serial Numbers "Gibson USA 2014 to present – These serial numbers cannot be dated to a specific day of the year. The new model year typically launches in the fall as the current model year winds down. It is not uncommon for a new model year model to be produced during the previous model year (example – a 2015 model may have been built in late 2014). The pattern is as follows: YYRRRRRRR YY is the model year RRRRRRR is the number in product for the model year (starts at 0000001)"
Exactly - prior to 2014, the first and fifth numbers determine the year of manufacture - in this case 1 and 9 for 2019. It appears the counterfeiter is using an out of date "How To Fake a Gibson" manual.
Edit. Nevermind. I didn't realize they changed how they are doing the date after 2014. Yeah, they're using the old serial number method for sure. Made me think it was legit at first.
Mid 2019 Gibson went back to the pre 2014 serial format. First digit is decade, 5th number is the year of the decade, so that's correct for a 2019. The two front pics of the headstock are from weird angles that distort the shape. The pics that show the back of the head show the correct head shape. Nibs are there. They're smaller and more elegant since Gibson went back to thin fretboard binding in 2019. The back shows some ripples that indicate it's the correct thin finish. It's supposed to be full gloss, just like the pics show. Headstock wings, correct bridge and posts -- never seen a counterfeit get those right. It looks real to me.
I've seen a bunch of fake Gibson Les Pauls on the local CL in the last couple of weeks. The seller identifies them as fakes, fortunately, but it makes me wonder. Maybe there has been a flood of them hitting the US lately. Buyer beware! https://kansascity.craigslist.org/msg/d/blue-springs-replica-les-paul-gibson/7273704296.html
Well, I had never heard that. I went to my favorite local retailer website and they have about 60 Gibsons in stock and checked a bunch of them, and all of the new ones (2020s)have the SN configuration as you described. Thank you for the info! I found just a couple 2019s, and one has the old numbering and one has the new numbering. I trust this shop to be 100% legit.
Ask if they will take the truss rod cover off and take a photo of the nut, if it's an allen head it's a fake. Gibson only uses a nut requiring the user to adjust with a socket. You can swap out the electronics, change the bridge and tailpiece, swap the nut and change the tuners but you can't change the truss rod without major surgery. I have set up three for people over the last year and the number one give away is the truss rod. The fingerboard looks legit and My feeling is that it's real but a truss rod photo will tell the tale.
It didn't take me one second to see that that's clearly a damned Chibson. Just look at it. Look at that crappy excuse for a top and crappy finish that Gibson would never do. The Chinese ARE trying to make their fakes look more real but everything about that guitar is just slightly or very WRONG. Heel shape is wrong, pickup rings are wrong, bridge is wrong, tailpiece is wrong.....basically nothing is close enough to being right that I'd never have any doubt it's a Chibson. Compare what a REAL 2019 Heritage Cherry LP Standard looks like. If you can't see the difference in the finish and other details, don't buy any guitars without expert assistance to keep you from getting ripped off!
You're gonna ass-clown this guy out of a nice guitar. I see your confidence is in your arrogance. You are however ...false. Your f'n pic is under studio lighting, dude. Also, the real ones all look like they need some lemon oil - just another thing to validate the guitar is real. There is absolutely nothing "off" on that guitar except that cameras don't shoot 3d, so things can look like they normally do under a 2d shot. You can't seem to put it back together though. Same type: https://reverb.com/item/38394235-gibson-les-paul-standard-50s-2019-2020 What a loudmouth amateur, hat. I thought you were kinda sharp too. Lol.
OP: Buy the guitar through PayPay at the guys house. You're protected. Go to a reputable dealer with it and have it authenticated. If it's fake, you will be covered by PayPay no doubt ...especially with a written assessment. I'll pay for the assessment myself. If you win you get what you wanted for a very good deal.
