Fake Les Paul Custom?

The serial on this looks fake to me - and the price is a bit too good. What do you guys think?

http://images.craigslist.org/5N45I75Y13E73K63F5c5oc2a16262868f1b13.jpg

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/msg/3036847227.html

Serial number 02005602 may be on several fakes.

Need lots more pictures.

I just did a Google on LP serial numbers, it came up with this:

http://guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx

(I just noticed the page was not showing the info, just enter the Ser. #).

It said it was an '05 made in Nashville. :?:

Inlays on the front of the headstock don't look right to me. I smell bad fish all around. I'm not any kind of Gibson expert though.

Thanks - all I found was the Gibson explanation pages that didn't really list this serial number. The stamp still looks to me a bit large.

Finally looked at the other craigslist pics - the whole thing just looks wrong to me - the shape of the nut, the shape of the headstock, the color of the inlays - looks like a Chinese fake to me.

http://reviews.ebay.com/spotting-fake-gibson-guitars-addition?ugid=10000000001431008

See number 4 on the ebay Fake guide. pretty much nails this as a fake.

Here's a good pictorial guide. The seller's photos make it hard to decipher some of the details. the serial number I think is the giveaway.

http://www.samash.com/opencms/opencms/samash/buyers-guides/guide-counterfeit-gibson-fender-ibanez-guitars.html

bell cover is wrong, width below E tuners is wrong, nut is wrong. No doubt this is a fake. When it's too good to be true, usually is...

That is a Chinese fake. You can tell by the volume and tone controls. They should be lower on the guitar. Many of the fakes have that problem. The control nearest to the tail piece should be a bit below it,not above it.

It's a fake. Stay away.

I'm leaning towards fake. The volume control should be level or just behind the tailpiece on a real one - this one is just in front of it, but the photo. I've asked for more photos. Here's a new photo.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7270370708_4c99e66f46.jpg

a huge photo is here: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7217/7270370708_d6af7f552b_k.jpg

the bridge pins are too wide in diameter - more like an Epiphone.

http://images.craigslist.org/5Id5Gf5E13Ee3M73Icc5o86939fc863b71c2d.jpg
The front of the headstock of the guitar from the ad.

and the headstock of a genuine Gibson Les Paul custom.
http://www.rarityguide.com/museum/images/electric_guitars/gibson_custom_silverburst__2007_/gibson_custom_silverburst_headstock.JPG
The tuners are spaced further apart, the general shape is different, the diamond inlay is bigger.

"Everything is work good"

Just sayin'

Damn - it sure makes buying guitars a lot more dangerous.

Yes, I think the headstock is too thin - like Epi too. If I could see the head angle, I'll bet it's not arched back enough - which explains that huge nut as opposed to the real mccoy.

And now that I look at the photos side by side - the truss rod cover isn't right either.

Still a pretty good fake. If you are seriously looking, find a reputable dealer that will make a deal on a new one or a certified used one. Between fakes, duds, and stolen stuff i won't risk buying anything from some fool. I know too many people that have been burned big time.

So I posted on CL that this is a fake, and within 5 min. my post was removed. His post is still up. I've emailed CL that this is a scam, yet his post is still up. It IS a good fake - that's the trouble. It's good enough to fool someone.

No nibs on the fret ends, that's the easiest thing to look for. they never have nibs. a guitar that new and in that good of shape would not likely have had a refret. It's definitely fugazy.

The ability of many TDPRI members to ID the real from the fake axes always amazes me, very cool y'all. Thanks for the insights!

Offer him 260 and free shipping...what he paid for it on Tradetang. :mrgreen:

Black Custom Les Pauls look just great .

Nibs - the white plastic that lays over the ends of the frets - that's a good clue to look for.

Here's a nib/no nib comparison (one refretted):

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/attachments/other-guitars-other-instruments/95175d1315258679t-sg-standard-dating-headstock-stamp-question-fret-ends-jpg


No nibs on the fret ends, that's the easiest thing to look for. they never have nibs. a guitar that new and in that good of shape would not likely have had a refret. It's definitely fugazy.

I just did a Google on LP serial numbers, it came up with this:

http://guitardaterproject.org/gibson.aspx

(I just noticed the page was not showing the info, just enter the Ser. #).

It said it was an '05 made in Nashville. :?:



The Guitar Dater Project is notoriously unreliable and should never be relied on especially as it can only tell you if a serial number is valid but not whether a guitar is fake or not. I cannot understand why anybody gives that website any credence at all. Even Gibson mentions on their website that it is useless.

"Everything is work good"

Just sayin'


Exactly.

The fact that the price seems too good to be true should be an indicator that it is. I know everyone dreams of getting a steal but we need to be realistic.

It IS a good fake - that's the trouble. It's good enough to fool someone.


Not if they know anything about Les Pauls it isn't. I realized it was fake just by looking at the first picture (the one with the serial number).

So I posted on CL that this is a fake, and within 5 min. my post was removed. His post is still up. I've emailed CL that this is a scam, yet his post is still up. It IS a good fake - that's the trouble. It's good enough to fool someone.

Don't count on CL doing anything or even a human reading your email. You'd get better support from a jock strap.

... gone!