Francis and the fake Bullseye Les Paul

December 27th, 2011

Here’s an email from Francis;

 

So, here’s where my story started:

I want a Zakk Wylde Les Paul badly! Found this link on a national CL search.
Turns out they’re a pawn shop NY. I’m in NC.Thought $2500 was a fair price  - one just sold on eBay for $2250.
Called the number. We agreed on $2150 including shipping, and he said we could use eBay and PayPal.
That night, I stumbled across Fibsons, and noticed a Zakk Wylde section, and the large serial # of a fake one caught my eye. Funny. I thought it looked like the same serial # of the one I’m going to buy. I checked, it wasn’t, but I immediately realized mine looked almost identical to this fake one.
Called the next morning, and instead of giving my credit card, I asked them to send me photos – especially of the headstock. (I’m attaching those photos in this email.)
Here’s the email I sent them. Haven’t heard back.
Thanks for saving me, Fibsons!!
- Francis
(PS – if my story makes your blog, please let me know – love to tell this pawn shop they’re famous)
Not sure about making the pawn shop famous Francis, infamous maybe. You are right, the guitar is a counterfeit and is still, (as of Boxing Day 2011) listed for sale at a Gibson price, they often sell for $300 new from the Chinese factories. Buyer beware.
There’s plenty of info on the counterfeit Gibson Zakk Wylde guitars, for a start they should have a three piece neck, which this copy does not.

Wayne’s journey for a real Les Paul continues.

October 16th, 2011

Wayne Bauman from Australia has once again been doing one of his usual searches on ebay for second hand Gibson Les Pauls, he “stumbled across this ripper”.

As Wayne puts it, “The price is firstly way too low and the head stock doesn’t look right. Also the good old sticker on the back of the guitar is a dead giveaway. It has the custom book on the headstock but the guitar is clearly not a custom and the serial number doesn’t match up. It’s been advertised as a Gibson but it is clearly an Asian sweat shop knock off. Have a look and see what you think”.

Wayne, I think you are spot on, also the truss rod cover is too close to the nut.