Went to GC to check out a Les Paul that turned out to be fake

[Vinsanitizer]

I think that I might have spotted a fake guitar center add on Facebook. Selling all Jackson at $68?

LOL! Sure it wasn't just a broken off headstock with no tuners?

 

[PowerTube44]

Hmm... I see that it's still for sale, and still listed as the genuine item. I'm sure it's an honest mistake, even though you TOLD THEM ABOUT IT.

What dirtbags.

Some years ago, I pointed out to a local pawn shop that their Ibanez JEM 777 hanging on the wall was a fake, and provided proof (all they had to do was Google the serial number). The girl on the phone was like, "Thanks. I'll let them know." Well, guess what? I walked in there about a week later and there it was, still listed at $1100.00+.

So how is GC any better than a pawn shop? Enquiring minds want to know...

 

[PowerTube44]

They know who the guy that brought it in but all they are going to do is not let him in the store again.

That's what they told you. I'll bet they were lying about that as well. It's like the asshole of a "manager" in the Knoxville store telling me that he was going to pull the Marshall head I'd just returned because I told them it had a problem. Well, guess what? It went right back on the website, still listed as "Great" condition, and sold the next day.

As I type this, the guy who sold them the Chibson is probably standing at their counter, telling jokes.

 

[JohnH]

One quick way you can spot a fake Les Paul is to look at the location of the neck volume control in relation to the stop tailpiece: from the front view, like in this photo, the top of the knob should line up evenly with the top of the tailpiece. In this case the knob is too far toward the headstock. The second you see that you know it's fake. The truss rod cover, logo, inlays, fretboard color, finish and plastic all look hideously cheap. Still, if it played good, sounded good and didn't look like it was going to fall apart, I might be inclined to hit it for under $300, but not a penny more.

I'll bet it weighs at least 11 lbs.
.

That's a very nice point about the neck vol position, and im adding that to my toolkit. Looking around the web at old and new LP's, I'm seeing the front of the knob either lining up with the front of the tail piece as you noted, or even a bit behind it.

 

[Springfield Scooter]

Looking around the web at old and new LP's, I'm seeing the front of the knob either lining up with the front of the tail piece as you noted, or even a bit behind it.

If they are all genuine, the lack of consistency is NOT a good thing.

 

[Vinsanitizer]

If they are all genuine, the lack of consistency is NOT a good thing.

If you're referring to the part, "...I'm seeing the front of the knob either lining up with the front of the tail piece as you noted, or even a bit behind it", then you should know that Gibson Les Pauls are consistent in this regard, the differences are apparent because of the angle of view and the type of knobs used: tophats vs speed knobs - each will look slightly different, whereas the fakes are quite consistently forward as mentionized above.

 

[Springfield Scooter]

If you're referring to the part, "...I'm seeing the front of the knob either lining up with the front of the tail piece as you noted, or even a bit behind it", then you should know that Gibson Les Pauls are consistent in this regard, the differences are apparent because of the angle of view and the type of knobs used: tophats vs speed knobs - each will look slightly different, whereas the fakes are quite consistently forward as mentionized above.

Ive got two genuine Chibsons, and both are behind tailpiece as mentioned.

 

[Springfield Scooter]

Genuine 7 year old Chibsons.
Volume knobs behind the tail piece.
From what I hear they have gotten even better.

 

[Springfield Scooter]

Genuine Chibsons, 7 or 8 years old....
Volume knob behind tail piece.
Have they gotten better?

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Ive got two genuine Chibsons, and both are behind tailpiece as mentioned.

Nice looking guitars*.

Here - go back and read this very carefully so that you may know and understand with crystal clarity that your situation was neither included nor does it apply: https://www.marshallforum.com/threa...at-turned-out-to-be-fake.124938/#post-2231793

*In your case, your Chibsons have a much more glaring issue: THEY DON'T HAVE PICKGUARDS. WTELF!
.

 

[Mitchell Pearrow]

Nice looking guitars*.

Here - go back and read this very carefully so that you may know and understand with crystal clarity that your situation was neither included nor does it apply: https://www.marshallforum.com/threa...at-turned-out-to-be-fake.124938/#post-2231793

*In your case, your Chibsons have a much more glaring issue: THEY DON'T HAVE PICKGUARDS. WTELF!
.

 

[Springfield Scooter]

Nice looking guitars*.

*THEY DON'T HAVE PICKGUARDS. WTELF!
.

Make one wonder what Gibson is hiding under that piece of plastic!

 

[ibmorjamn]

LOL! Sure it wasn't just a broken off headstock with no tuners?

Genuine fake Guitar Center, Jackson’s were various V’s and Kelly’s

 

[Vinsanitizer]

Make one wonder what Gibson is hiding under that piece of plastic!

Ok, so now you know. Now...

 

[ibmorjamn]

Nice looking guitars*.

Here - go back and read this very carefully so that you may know and understand with crystal clarity that your situation was neither included nor does it apply: https://www.marshallforum.com/threa...at-turned-out-to-be-fake.124938/#post-2231793

*In your case, your Chibsons have a much more glaring issue: THEY DON'T HAVE PICKGUARDS. WTELF!
.

Oh no , call the pickgaurd kitty policia!

 

[El Gringo]

Ive got two genuine Chibsons, and both are behind tailpiece as mentioned.

May I ask the age of your 2 ? The reason why I ask is because yours have really nice tops and they do look really nice and if not for the placement of the Gibson Logo I wouldn't have been able to tell . So if I had to venture a guess on if they are newer or older I would guess older ?

 

[MarshallDog]

I somehow doubt the Seller knew it was fake! That copy looks dam good in the pics for a fake. The dowel rods are probably the easiest give away!?

 

[PowerTube44]

Well, it looks like the guitar is no longer available. So what does this likely mean? It likely means that someone just spent $2000.00 for a guitar that Guitar Center WAS TOLD TO BE A FAKE. Did they care? Of course not. They don't exactly have "experts" on hand who can tell the difference, and even if they did, would they have done the right thing?

Draw your own conclusions.

 

[lespaul339]

Fuck guitar center. I try not to ever buy anything from them or musicians friend if I don't have to. Both companies are a bunch of crooks. I've had horrible experiences with both.

 

[Marshall Stack]

Well, it looks like the guitar is no longer available. So what does this likely mean? It likely means that someone just spent $2000.00 for a guitar that Guitar Center WAS TOLD TO BE A FAKE. Did they care? Of course not. They don't exactly have "experts" on hand who can tell the difference, and even if they did, would they have done the right thing?

Draw your own conclusions.

When I was there they had it in their office. I had emailed them before asking if there was a case with it. They replied that it was a fake. I doubt that they sold it.