andy k
Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2006
- Messages
- 359
I just spent the afternoon trying to educate myself on fake Gibsons, and must say I am still not 100 percent confident I can spot one.
I have been a regular on this forum for a couple of years now, and have owned,and still own some nice Gibsons, but a couple of years ago, came across a White custom, autographed by Steve Jones- sex pistol on uk e-bay.
I made a few enquiries- and it turned out to be a Jap copy, which has some provenance that it was actually signed by Jonesy, the seller admitted he had done a trade in good faith, and had not realised it was a Jap copy ( I asked him to pull the pickups- and they have made in Japan on them)
I am a big fan of the pistols, and still did the deal by trading for a low price studio re-fin.
Today I was having a good look at this custom, and apart from the pickups- I still can't believe it isn't a genuine Gibson---
There are a few other things that point to fake-- but anyone who hasn't done a LOT of research could miss --
This thing has--
Pearl headstock inlays-- Definately inlaid-- missing dot over the I, but 74-75 Gibsons have that too
2 hole truss cover-- looks good to me,
Well worn Grover machines-
Correct binding to headstock- correct angle,
Bone nut,
Custom shop decal on back of headstock- very professional looking, and under finish.
7 digit serial number--imposed into wood-- NO CS prefix, which was one of the things that made me suspicious, but having looked around- there are a lot of variations of serial
Nice chunky neck shape- can't make out any scarf joints, or joints on headstock
Definately isn't an ebony board, and inlays look a little cheap-- which is the biggest tell-- I think.
It has binding nibs,
Real nice top carve, with plenty of recurve
I can make out a couple of joints in the top- 3 piece top at least,
Can't make out joints in back, which is nicely battered, and is Definately mahogany,can't make out any joints to indicate a pancake.
It has the small correct bridge posts, and a wireless ABR, which looks a little cheap,gold plating worn off.
This guitar was presented to me as previously been owned by a guitarist with a pistols tribute band- that toured the US, and appeared on a radio show hosted by Jonesy- which is where it was signed. I looked up this band on the net, and it is all documented- with photos of them in the studio, with Jonesy.
It came complete with a DVD of their live show in Dallas, and a recording of the radio show, and a signed pic of the original owner.
Like I say- I THOUGHT I could tell a fake easily, but some of the things with this guitar are beyond the normal TELLs for identifying Gibsons,
I guess I got a fake Gibson,via a fake band member- signed by the original artist-verified.
I don't think the real Gibson custom shop version of this guitar, was ever offered signed by Gibson.
I have bought 99% of my guitars on e-bay, but now I will be very VERY careful about anything with Gibson on the headstock-- look up Fibson.com on the net if you want to see how good the fakes are getting-- scary.
Cheers
Andy k
I have been a regular on this forum for a couple of years now, and have owned,and still own some nice Gibsons, but a couple of years ago, came across a White custom, autographed by Steve Jones- sex pistol on uk e-bay.
I made a few enquiries- and it turned out to be a Jap copy, which has some provenance that it was actually signed by Jonesy, the seller admitted he had done a trade in good faith, and had not realised it was a Jap copy ( I asked him to pull the pickups- and they have made in Japan on them)
I am a big fan of the pistols, and still did the deal by trading for a low price studio re-fin.
Today I was having a good look at this custom, and apart from the pickups- I still can't believe it isn't a genuine Gibson---
There are a few other things that point to fake-- but anyone who hasn't done a LOT of research could miss --
This thing has--
Pearl headstock inlays-- Definately inlaid-- missing dot over the I, but 74-75 Gibsons have that too
2 hole truss cover-- looks good to me,
Well worn Grover machines-
Correct binding to headstock- correct angle,
Bone nut,
Custom shop decal on back of headstock- very professional looking, and under finish.
7 digit serial number--imposed into wood-- NO CS prefix, which was one of the things that made me suspicious, but having looked around- there are a lot of variations of serial
Nice chunky neck shape- can't make out any scarf joints, or joints on headstock
Definately isn't an ebony board, and inlays look a little cheap-- which is the biggest tell-- I think.
It has binding nibs,
Real nice top carve, with plenty of recurve
I can make out a couple of joints in the top- 3 piece top at least,
Can't make out joints in back, which is nicely battered, and is Definately mahogany,can't make out any joints to indicate a pancake.
It has the small correct bridge posts, and a wireless ABR, which looks a little cheap,gold plating worn off.
This guitar was presented to me as previously been owned by a guitarist with a pistols tribute band- that toured the US, and appeared on a radio show hosted by Jonesy- which is where it was signed. I looked up this band on the net, and it is all documented- with photos of them in the studio, with Jonesy.
It came complete with a DVD of their live show in Dallas, and a recording of the radio show, and a signed pic of the original owner.
Like I say- I THOUGHT I could tell a fake easily, but some of the things with this guitar are beyond the normal TELLs for identifying Gibsons,
I guess I got a fake Gibson,via a fake band member- signed by the original artist-verified.
I don't think the real Gibson custom shop version of this guitar, was ever offered signed by Gibson.
I have bought 99% of my guitars on e-bay, but now I will be very VERY careful about anything with Gibson on the headstock-- look up Fibson.com on the net if you want to see how good the fakes are getting-- scary.
Cheers
Andy k