Fake SG Custom

January 22nd, 2009

The Les Paul Custom, as it was called in 1961 until 1963 when it was renamed the SG Custom, is a classic Gibson solid body and you pay top dollar if you want to get your hands on an original. Fortunately for those with (only slightly) skinnier wallets the Gibson Custom Shop now sell the early 60′s Les Paul (SG) Custom as part of it’s Vintage Original Spec program, (aka VOS). Unfortunately the counterfeit makers have also jumped in on the game, fortunately they look a bit crap.

The beautiful SG Custom, (as it is now known, above) is a brilliantly crafted guitar, 3 pickups to play with and an optional maestro vibrato for those who like that sort of thing.

This crappy looking fake SG Custom, (above) is a pitiful copy – here’s why; The headstock is the wrong shape, the gibson inlay is wrong, the split diamond inlay is wrong, the pick guard is wrong, the pickups have Gibson USA Stickers/Decals on them – a real Gibson does not, the pickup surrounds are wrong, the pickup covers are wrong, the bridge is not set correctly, the stop bar tail piece is not set properly, The Les Paul logo on the plastic between the pickups and neck is wrong, the tuners are wrong, the block inlays are wrong, there is no selector switch surround and the placement of the pots appear to have been done by me, (breathe) after half a bottle of Jägermeister. Best avoid.

Fake Joe Perry Signature Les Paul – Is Joe Perry A Lefty?

January 19th, 2009

fibsons.com got an email from James Porter, a professional guitar dealer based out of Japan, bringing to attention this fake LEFT HANDED Gibson Custom Shop Joe Perry Signature Les Paul, James doesn’t just know that this is a fake, he really knows, here’s his email:

“Just found your site and gotta say “good job”. I am a pro seller on ebay (meestursparkle) and finding fake Gibsons is a hobby… I am pretty good at it.
I have a new one for you complete with very compelling evidence.

A customer of mine emailed to ask about a guitar he just saw on eBay. An original Custom Shop Gibson Joe Perry, not the production run, but the very first signature run from the custom shop. Serial number JP 108
…a lefty..surprising…especially as I sold him the real JP 108 about a year ago and he has it in his house (it is not a lefty).

I sent the seller this message:
Just to let you know. Your guitar is a fake. I know because I used to own the real JP 108 and it is not a lefty. Also the pickups are wrong on your guitar, the case is wrong, the bridge is wrong, the pickguard is wacky shape, the body shape is slightly off. The most obvious tell is the lack of fret edge binding and what is obviously a rosewood fretboard when it should be ebony. By the way, the guitar you have is supposed to be the custom shop version but the specs you have listed are for the production Perry. The original custom shop Perry does not have an active mid boost. If you want to send me some more pics I would love to see them. Overall one of the better fakes but a fake it is.
Give Gibson a call at 800-4-gibson. It will take them about 2 seconds to tell you that JP108 is not a lefty. I would be VERY surprised if they made any lefties at all.
Below is a link to complete pictures of the real JP108.

http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s315/dangerdog666/970/?start=all

So Mr Fibson,
Have you ever been able to compare a real guitar to a fake with the exact same serial number?

Shoot me a mail anytime. I love to spot fake-ass guitars!!

Jim Porter ”
http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/meestursparkle
www.meestursparkle.com

Well, no, I have never been able to compare a real guitar to a fake with the exact same serial number;

Inset: The fake with same serial number as the genuine model, (Main Pic).

a few emails ensued and another thing worth mentioning is the sticker found on the back;

Left: Fake , Right: Real

Gibson don’t do that sort of thing. If you’re about to buy a Gibson with that sticker on it is most likely made in China. Both myself and James have never seen this sticker on a real Gibson guitar and we are in agreement that we have seen plenty of fakes with this decal.

Thanks to James for the email and pictures, one of the decent guitar dealers trading on the web.

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