A Guide To Counterfeit Gibson Les Paul
Each guitar is forged in different ways, and counterfeit guitar makers are learning new ways to correct their mistakes every day. However, you can safeguard yourself from becoming the victim of a guitar scam artist by learning the most common tells of a fake Gibson, Fender, or Ibanez model guitar.
Counterfeit guitars have no resale value because it is illegal for dealers to resell them and most private buyers know a forgery when they see one. This elevates the need for careful attention as you go through the guitar selection process, which you’ll find is rarely difficult beyond deciding which brand and model you prefer.
Gibson, Ibanez, and Fender are the three most commonly replicated guitars on the market, and have different visual tells that prove their authenticity or forgery, from wood types to inferior electronics to simple aesthetics.
Keep in mind that the Gibson, Fender, and Ibanez web sites have quality, authentic photos of their guitars. Compare those, or the ones on Sam Ash’s site, with the guitar photos and prices on the presumably counterfeit site to quickly determine whether the guitar in question is real or fake.
FIG. 1 Headstock Shape
Note the shape on the fake. It has a more severe, less sweeping flow, and a deeper notch. The logo on the forgery is not Mother of Pearl (as is on Les Paul Custom models).
FIG. 2 Serial Number
The forgery, has a deeper and larger font, done sloppily. Note the flecks of missing paint. In this case, the forgery has 9 numbers, a similar Gibson will have 8.
FIG. 3 Nut and Neck Binding
Note the low profile Corian nut on the Gibson. Gibson nut slots are cut shallow, to allow the player to adjust to taste. If the player wants a lighter string, a new nut is not required. A heaver string, requires just a bit of filing. The nut on the forgery is generic, cheep, deep cut plastic. On the Gibson, the binding stays the same width and ends neatly at the nut. The forgery has a much wider binding at the nut (actually an extension of the headstock binding). You will find this style of binding on Epiphone Les Paul guitars, and some other non-forgery import models.
FIG 4. Adjustable Bridge
Gibson has manufactured a number of different tune-o-matic bridge styles. Never have they made one that has a large bore slotted head, like the forgery in Figure 4. The saddles are not as low profile.
FIG. 5 Toggle Switch
The forgery has a large hex nut, instead of a circular splined nut. The toggle switch itself is also a bit longer. The font on the poker chip is larger than on most Gibson’s.
FIG. 6 Body Binding
The Gibson Les Paul guitar’s triple-bound body has crisp clean lines. The Forgery is a wavy train-wreck.
FIG. 7 Neck Binding
The Forgery has cheap malleable fret wire, and unlike the Gibson, The binding does not cover the edge of the fret.
FIG. 8 Headstock Binding and Inlay.
Extra thick binding on the fake. The split diamond inlay, is neither pearl or the right shape.
There are many more differences between the Real McCoy and the Cheap forgery. The differences noted above are visual only. Remember, the forgeries are getting harder to spot, but are never up to Gibson quality. Sam Ash only carries genuine Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul guitars.
How To Spot A Counterfeit Gibson Les Paul – with Sam Ash’s Mike Rock
Counterfeit guitars have no resale value because it is illegal for dealers to resell them and most private buyers know a forgery when they see one. This elevates the need for careful attention as you go through the guitar selection process, which you’ll find is rarely difficult beyond deciding which brand and model you prefer.
Gibson, Ibanez, and Fender are the three most commonly replicated guitars on the market, and have different visual tells that prove their authenticity or forgery, from wood types to inferior electronics to simple aesthetics.
Keep in mind that the Gibson, Fender, and Ibanez web sites have quality, authentic photos of their guitars. Compare those, or the ones on Sam Ash’s site, with the guitar photos and prices on the presumably counterfeit site to quickly determine whether the guitar in question is real or fake.
How to spot counterfeit Gibson Les Pauls:
FIG. 1 Headstock Shape
Note the shape on the fake. It has a more severe, less sweeping flow, and a deeper notch. The logo on the forgery is not Mother of Pearl (as is on Les Paul Custom models).
FIG. 2 Serial Number
The forgery, has a deeper and larger font, done sloppily. Note the flecks of missing paint. In this case, the forgery has 9 numbers, a similar Gibson will have 8.
FIG. 3 Nut and Neck Binding
Note the low profile Corian nut on the Gibson. Gibson nut slots are cut shallow, to allow the player to adjust to taste. If the player wants a lighter string, a new nut is not required. A heaver string, requires just a bit of filing. The nut on the forgery is generic, cheep, deep cut plastic. On the Gibson, the binding stays the same width and ends neatly at the nut. The forgery has a much wider binding at the nut (actually an extension of the headstock binding). You will find this style of binding on Epiphone Les Paul guitars, and some other non-forgery import models.
FIG 4. Adjustable Bridge
Gibson has manufactured a number of different tune-o-matic bridge styles. Never have they made one that has a large bore slotted head, like the forgery in Figure 4. The saddles are not as low profile.
FIG. 5 Toggle Switch
The forgery has a large hex nut, instead of a circular splined nut. The toggle switch itself is also a bit longer. The font on the poker chip is larger than on most Gibson’s.
FIG. 6 Body Binding
The Gibson Les Paul guitar’s triple-bound body has crisp clean lines. The Forgery is a wavy train-wreck.
FIG. 7 Neck Binding
The Forgery has cheap malleable fret wire, and unlike the Gibson, The binding does not cover the edge of the fret.
FIG. 8 Headstock Binding and Inlay.
Extra thick binding on the fake. The split diamond inlay, is neither pearl or the right shape.
There are many more differences between the Real McCoy and the Cheap forgery. The differences noted above are visual only. Remember, the forgeries are getting harder to spot, but are never up to Gibson quality. Sam Ash only carries genuine Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul guitars.
How To Spot A Counterfeit Gibson Les Paul – with Sam Ash’s Mike Rock