24Feb

Zakk Wylde Custom fake spotted in Australia

Posted in Les Paul Custom, Zakk Wylde | 3 Comments

The one on the left is the fake, notice the slight differenceds to the one real one on the right, the headstock shape is slightly different, as are the inlays and the positioning of the tuning pegs.

Australia, the large island continent where the economy is running almost as fast as its wildlife that can kill you. $4000 Australian dollars, that’s $4129.20 US Dollars, will get you a used,  Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom. Or in this case a fake one.

The one on the left is the fake, notice the slight differences to the real one on the right, the headstock shape is slightly different, as are the inlays and the positioning of the tuning pegs.  The truss rod cover is also closer to the neck on the fake one.The most notable thing on the fakes is the use of Zakk Wylde’s name on the truss rod cover, the genuine ones are engraved with “Les Paul Custom”.

  • zakkheadstocks

19Oct

Gibson Flirebird

Posted in Firebird | Comments Off

I’m seeing more and more copied parts available, many in kit form ready to go, nothing wrong with that, lots of people get great joy from building their own replica instruments and at least this site in China isn’t trying to sell a counterfeit Firebird body, unless they are spelling it phonetically.

  • flirebird

05Apr

RIP Jim Marshall

Posted in Les Paul | Comments Off

5th April 2012, Jim Marshall, the man behind the name on those iconic amplifiers, has died at the age of 88.

A tribute to Jim can be found on his website

  • Jim Marshall

27Dec

Francis and the fake Bullseye Les Paul

Posted in Les Paul, Les Paul Custom, Zakk Wylde | Comments Off

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.
  • fraciszakkhead
  • franciszakkback

16Oct

Wayne’s journey for a real Les Paul continues.

Posted in Custom, Les Paul, Standard | Comments Off

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.

  • Wayne's burst
  • waynes2nd