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How to spot a fake LP

bratpack7

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
246
On the Gibson site there is a checklist of things to look for when trying to confirm authenticity of a Les Paul. One of the items is "make sure the pickup cavity is not painted black inside."

Is this an absolute indicator? I haven't had mine apart in quite a while but I think my ebony LP might have black paint in there.
 

S. Weiger

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 25, 2002
Messages
1,744
If it doesn't say "Gibson" on the headstock, it's fake.
Sorry, couldn't resist :lol
 

Drew68

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2007
Messages
405
On the Gibson site there is a checklist of things to look for when trying to confirm authenticity of a Les Paul. One of the items is "make sure the pickup cavity is not painted black inside."

Is this an absolute indicator? I haven't had mine apart in quite a while but I think my ebony LP might have black paint in there.

There is somewhere but it hasn't been updated in a while. Older fakes had 3 screws on the TRC, newer fakes have only two (as do Gibsons). But on the fakes, the TRC touches the nut. On Gibsons, they don't.

The biggest giveaway on fakes are a lack of binding nubs next to the frets. On fakes, the frets sit over the neck binding. On real Gibsons, the frets sit between raised nubs on the binding. Of course, an older Gibson that has had a re-fret may no longer have binding nubs.

A metric bridge is another easy giveaway. Does your tune-o-matic sit atop adjustable screws with a flathead adjustor? This would indicate a counterfeit.

There are a few other giveaways: knobs don't line up right, white plastic control covers on the back, Gibson logo is silkscreened, not inlayed. Any Les paul Studio and above sold without an authentic Gibson hard-shell case is another concern.

I'm sure others will chime in with some details that I've missed.

Got a picture of your guitar to post?
 

bratpack7

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
246
I have no worry about my guitar being authentic. I bought it new from a reputable dealer and everything is as it should be. It was just the black paint in the pup cavity that got me thinking. I will open it up and look again in the next few days. The rest of the guitar is painted black so it is possible that this was sprayed too.
 

LesPauloholic

Active member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
1,230
I have no worry about my guitar being authentic. I bought it new from a reputable dealer and everything is as it should be. It was just the black paint in the pup cavity that got me thinking. I will open it up and look again in the next few days. The rest of the guitar is painted black so it is possible that this was sprayed too.

If the back of the guitar is black there will at least be some black overspray in there.... I think on a lot of the fakes they use a black shielding paint on all the models, no matter what the color is.
 

woody-89

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2007
Messages
855
Yup, don't worry, the black paint inside your pickups cavities will be the same as the rest of the body. The black shielding paint on a lot of the chinese knock-offs is more of a Matt, chalky finish. Yours is a real'un!
 

Drew68

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2007
Messages
405
I have no worry about my guitar being authentic. I bought it new from a reputable dealer and everything is as it should be.
Yes, I misread your original post as inquiring about a checklist of clues as to what constitutes a fake Les Paul.
 

bjm007

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2001
Messages
1,123
If you aren't experienced with all the details, just buy from someone you trust. Know the seller...
 

bratpack7

Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2003
Messages
246
If you aren't experienced with all the details, just buy from someone you trust. Know the seller...

Yes, but if you read my post's, I know my guitar is genuine. I was just asking if the black paint in the cavity was a reliable indicator, and as a couple of Forum members have mentioned, it isn't necessarily. :)
 

tonyj

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
384
.......but if it has a bolt on neck and some black paint .... well I mean it could be a bit suspect, especially if the pearlised "Gisbon" logo isn't centred properly. :hmm
 

moonpie

In the Zone
Joined
May 24, 2003
Messages
9,781
LP

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FAKE LP

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