7. They’re absolute garbage. On the top screw, the real one has very little space between the screw and the outside of the cover. Jonathan paid the man $1,000 for the guitar, but once he got it home, he could tell that something wasn’t right. Truss rod: For now at least, this is the surest way to tell a fake from the real thing. Next, look at the truss rod cover. notice that the "Gibson" is painted on. Intending to purchase the advertised Les Paul Standard, Jonathan and his father visited the seller at his house, where they were persuaded instead to purchase a Wine Red Les Paul Custom, which the man said he’d bought off a traveling musician. If it’s plastic it isn’t a true Gibson. They are only made to look like a Gibson, and they do a poor job of that.”. Next, look at the binding on the headstock. They play terribly, they feel terrible. “There were victims who really had no idea what they were getting was fake,” Olsen says. some data are taken from the 11th Edition of "Blue Book of Electric Guitars", By Zachary R. Fjestad-----1952 - 1960 SOLIDBODIES-----When Gibson start the production of solidbody guitars in 1952, a new serial number system was developed. Pricing can also be one of the easiest giveaways for a phony guitar. Pricing can also be one of the easiest giveaways for a phony guitar. Some even feature trademarked headstocks and logos, but upon close inspection the guitars don’t feel or sound like a true Gibson, the serial numbers aren’t registered with Gibson, and most are not of good standard of quality overall. This can be easily decoded to show the exact day that the guitar was manufactured along with the location of the Gibson factory. © 2014 Detect-a-Fake. Fakes usually have the serial number either engraved too deep into the wood or inked (with too much ink). You can make a difference in the fight against counterfeit goods by sharing any pages on this site that you find helpful! NOTE – Gibson USA goes to a 9 digit serial number in early July 2005.. The following indicators require you to remove covers see inside. Other sources for counterfeit instruments are auction websites like eBay, which currently have hundreds of instruments resembling not just Gibson guitars, but also other brands. Though some guitars are especially deceptive, Gibson’s Customer Service Manager Jason Davidson says, “Usually we can spot a fake right away. - In 1977, Gibson introduced the serialization method that we primarily use to this day at Gibson USA, Gibson Acoustic, and the Gibson Custom facility in Memphis, TN. To link to this page from your website, simply click inside the box, then copy and then paste the code to your web page. The serial number will be an 8 digit number impressed into the … Fake serial numbers often appear white. The real one is thin and the fake one takes up over half of the headstock thickness. Check the wiring. The high school sophomore alerted police, and following an investigation, the North Carolina man who’d acquired the guitar from a Chinese website and resold it to Jakubowski was arrested on two felony counts of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark. We’re trying to protect their investments by thwarting the counterfeit problem.”, The majority of the Gibson counterfeits appear to originate on e-commerce sites based out of major cities in China such as Beijing and Shanghai, though Olsen says, “That’s not to say we don’t have domestic problems, too. Next, look at the frets. Examine headstock and headstock logo to determine that they match those of authentic Gibson guitars. Consumers should also be wary of sales that offer exorbitant shipping prices that exceed the price of the guitar. Next, look at the bridge. The staff at a local guitar shop confirmed Jakubowski’s suspicions—the guitar was a counterfeit. It should also have "Made in USA" underneath the serial number. The real Gibson, on the left, shows the Gibson is an inlay of Mother of Pearl. From 1977 to 2013 Gibson have used an 8 digit serial number on all of their guitars. Of his decision to buy a Gibson, Jakubowski explains, “Eric Clapton is my main influence, and he played Les Pauls for a long time.”. Here's an example of a fake headstock. Modern numbers are 9 digits but older/vintage Gibson guitars are much shorter. “The first thing that struck me was that there were three screws in the truss rod cover instead of two.”. Keep in mind, Gibson never inked serial numbers on the Gibson Les Paul Standard but they did ink the custom shop series and some Les Paul Classics. “The ultimate goal here is that we want people to be happy Gibson customers. This is but one of several reports that have prompted Gibson to lead an aggressive industry fight against the growing problem of counterfeit instruments being shipped from and sold by outlets and individuals in China. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to our, Gibson Leads Industry Fight Against Counterfeit Gibsons, http://aws2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/CounterfeitGibsons.aspx, Measure the guitar to check that it’s not undersized. 00= 1976. The one on the left is pretty bad. “I’d only played Les Pauls in the guitar shops, but something tipped me off, and I ended up going on the Internet to see what some typical signs are for a fake guitar,” Jakubowski says. Correct measurements can be found on. 99 = 1975. The fake one has a screw slot where the bridge recesses on it. The sixth number is now a batch number- batch 0 starts at the beginning of the day, and once we stamp 699, the batch number will change to 1. To ensure the authenticity of a Gibson, consumers can check any of the references below when examining a guitar: We use cookies to understand how you use our site, give you an awesome experience, and deliver our services. Still, Olsen cautions that it can be difficult for a non-professional to distinguish between fake and real. With so many variables to take into account—the weight and finish of a guitar, the tone and playability, electronics and hardware, among other things, Gibson urges consumers to leave the detective work to its Customer Service department. When all else fails, contact Gibson Customer Service at. They should extend all the way to the binding. Always ask for the Gibson Owner’s Manual and Gibson Warranty Inspection card. It doesn't have the Mother of Pearl "Gibson" or crown inlay. “Protecting our consumers’ investments and the Gibson name is paramount,” says Ric Olsen, Director of Security and Loss Prevention at Gibson. Next, check for the serial number on the back of the headstock. “Until you actually plug the piece in or take the truss rod cover off and notice that there’s Teflon in there rather than the metal nut, it can be hard to tell to many consumers.”. The fake doesn't make it to the edge. Fakes are often too close. All Rights Reserved. Some even feature trademarked headstocks and logos, but upon close inspection the guitars don’t feel or sound like a true Gibson, the serial numbers aren’t registered with Gibson, and most are not of good standard of quality overall. People will try to make up their own version of a Les Paul and start selling it, but the major battle is this China crisis.”. 06 = 1977. To report incidents, consumers should file a police report, and may also visit http://www.ic3.gov/. For questions about a guitar’s authenticity, contact the Gibson Customer Service team at service@gibson.com or 1-800-4GIBSON. The first 5 numbers remain the same, the last 3 numbers will remain the same. The real one is solid. Another thing to look for is whether the numbers are too close. If a guitar is up for an online auction at a fraction of what it would typically cost, consumers are taking a great chance by purchasing it. The fake has much more and is crudely cut. Serial numbers: Gibson serial numbers are stamped on the back of the headstock, and appear dark. Here are two more fake headstocks. “We will continue to do everything in our power to protect our consumers and the integrity of our family of brands,” says Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. To curtail the growing problem, Gibson advises all consumers to purchase Gibson instruments only from Gibson’s network of authorized dealers, found on the company’s website at www.gibson.com. Make sure the pickup cavity is not painted black inside. “We hope that by issuing this warning our consumers will be armed with the right information to protect themselves and understand what they need to do to ensure that what they are purchasing is indeed an authentic Gibson instrument.”. “They know if a knob was the wrong year. Last year, 15-year-old Jonathan Jakubowski of Cary, North Carolina emptied out his savings account to purchase a Les Paul he found advertised in the local newspaper. From 2014 onwards Gibson changed the serial number format to a simplified 9 digit number which can still be used to find the year of manufacture. On the real one, you can see the binding actually rides up, just a little, on the fret. Check the control and pickup cavities for sloppy routing or wiring. They’ll know that a wire that was used was incorrect.” Consumers may even send Gibson Customer Service pictures of a guitar that they have questions about—full front and back photos and close-up shots of the front and back of the headstock are best. Consumers are also encouraged to contact Gibson’s Customer Service team, whether the guitar in question is new or used. Only the newer ones have the year on them so it's not necessarily a fake if it's not there. “We have professionals that know these pieces inside and out,” Olsen says. It should have a serial number on top. Check that Les Paul model script is always in cursive. 8. Gibson Serial Numbers. Verify that there’s not a three-screw truss rod cover. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Chinese counterfeiters are starting to improve their fakes to the point where it's almost impossible for a beginner to know whether a Gibson is made by Gibson USA or some factory in China! 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