Gibson Asking Players to Report Counterfeit Guitars

yep that's been going around

 

Gibson's recourse isn't precisely nothing, because - on paper at least - China has acceded to international laws on trademark, copyright, and other intellectual property. In practice, getting China to enforce those laws against Chinese companies that are bringing money into the country isn't easy. In the US, these situations are usually resolved with a cease-and-desist letter and never reach the point of filing a lawsuit. Gibson might be hoping that it can cut down the number of counterfeits a bit just by sending out threatening letters, if it knows where to send them.

But in the big picture, you're probably right, and they won't accomplish much. The publishing company I worked for felt pretty good when its lawsuits got a handful of copyright pirates fined a few hundred thousand dollars each, but in the end it had no real effect on the piracy that was undercutting profits and it made the company look like an ogre to a lot of mostly-honest customers.

 

How could I have possibly known this was a fake??? Two screw truss rod cover...check, genuine inside label....check....

 

Looks like a fake to me. Look at the thin plastic truss rod cover hiding nothing, thick orange peal poly finish? Smell it. Logo looks off, fret position markers look like cheaper plastic, fretboard looks like an epi's. I think that's an ej200 epi modded into a fake like they do with the les pauls etc.

 

It's not my job to do their job, but if they insist.

 

That's the new Offset Truss Rod model, right? Innovative.

 

I won't turn anyone in, but I might be willing to sell whatever info I may or may not have. Yes, there is a price to find out I know nothing. Life is a gamble.

 

Lovin' these Gibby hate threads. There are only two guitars that I really would consider buying anymore and they are both Gibson's. Maybe all of this will drive the prices down, so that I could justify them.

C'mon, bring it on!

 

I'm yet to see a fake of this model.

 

yeah, that one's pretty safe

 

Technically impossible.

As Spock woulda said, "It's not logical, Jim".

 

If the fakes start building to proper spec with the right materials, lacquer finish etc and Gibson start using Pau Ferro or other rosewood substitute fretboards to get around the Cites issue it is possible the fakes could end up being closer to a real les paul imo.

 

I tend to agree with at least part of your statement. No one who is truly in the market for a Gibson will be happy with a Chibson, I don’t see Gibson losing sales here. Annoying as hell and certainly wrong but I’m not so sure they are losing new product sales.
I believe a majority of these are likely purchased by folks who could never afford a Gibson but want to have something that scratches that itch.
Now my experience with these fakes (yes I’ve played 3) is that they were damn good players at their price point but in no way real competition to Gibson. Admittedly 3 is a very small sample.
I see it more similar to someone bolting on a bunch of aftermarket parts to a Mustang so it looks like a Shelby. It’s not the real thing but it’s far cheaper and the owner is happy.

 

Hahaha.... yes they do fit that exact description!!!!

 

I have only seen one fake in person and played it, pulled it apart and checked it over. It was very poor quality and it was around 9 years ago. It was not something you would choose to play over the average Epiphone or any other functional guitar. Like most things i'm sure they vary in quality. I'm not being a snob about it, a friend bought one and brought it over to have me set it up and check it out. I couldn't set it up properly as it would not intonate properly and the action needed to be high to get around a twist in the neck and poor frets.

 

I think that may have been tongue in cheek humor as a close up of the label is a comedy

 

Snitches get stitches and wind up in ditches.

 

And I’ve read similar opinions of the older ones being absolute dog doo. All the ones I’ve seen are current production and while still no comparison to a real Gibson were pretty well made. They rather surprised me.

 

I didn't look properly at the label to notice it was hereb guaranteed.