Ok, the Zakk Wylde V was posted because I thought the site had been taken down, I was checking my bookmarks and brought up the page and they’re still in business, and with a broader range. Les Pauls, SGs, the odd Firebird, those I can tell at a quick glance but I would never have thought that they would have fake Blueshawks. I guess it makes sense, Gibson doesn’t make them anymore and they enjoy a cult following, (and I mean that in an affectionate way).
The body shape and the hardware placement all look correct, fortunately one look at the headstock shows it isn’t a real gibson. The angle of the Gibson logo is incorrect and the tell tale truss rod cover gives it away.
Flip the guitar around and on the back of the headstock we see that the serial number is wrong. For a start it’s not stamped in and it starts with a U, the real ones don’t. Also notice the “Made In USA” right underneath the serial number, this is usually found lower down. For Blueshawk, and in fact all Hawk related information check out blueshawk.info for an incredible amount of knowledge on these now discontinued guitars.
Fake Gibson Blueshawk – Yes, You Read Correctly – A Blueshawk
July 6th, 2008
Another Zakk Wylde Counterfeit Custom – This time it’s The V.
July 1st, 2008Ok, I give credit where credit’s due and I found this V on a site selling very dodgy Gibson copies by reading a post by Double Basser in the Ultimate Guitar forums. In his post he tells of this website and goes on to post his entire msn conversation with the “scammers”. Definitely worth a read.
Now I’m a fan of the Gibson Flying V, I don’t know why but I am, I’ve had a couple of Les Pauls and an SG but for me the V just has a certain something. I always thought it would be hard to tell a fake Flying V from the Ted McCarthy designed original and it’s various revamped successors, especially the ‘67 as the only main difference to look at can be a name on a truss rod cover.
Well thankfully whoever banged this one together decided to make it easy. As usual the Gibson logo looks about as convincing as Robert Mugabe’s recent re-election and as before on the Phoney Flying V the truss rod cover says “Les Paul Custom”, do they think we can’t read?
Note the lack of a serial number on the back of the headstock, they didn’t even bother with the usual fake stamp or “Made In USA” found on so many of the Chinese imports. Zakks silhouette is also noticeably absent, the dodgy Les Paul Customs at least have an attempt at one on the back of their peg heads. The other giveaway is once again the price, $249; So that’s cost price on the pickups and the rest is free right?
