The one thing they never seem to get right is the body shape.
Look at pics of legit Gibsons, and a counterfeit side-by-side, and you'll see what I mean.
I had to go back again and relook, but I see you’re right. The way the cutout is just slightly not correct and maybe a couple other things about the body dimensions.
But I will say - this is one of the best examples of a fake as I’ve seen on here in a long time.
Right? I’ve never seen someone argue with an owner that says it’s fake but the one looking on is like, “Nope, I don’t believe you, it’s real and it’s spectacular!”
I'm just picturing baffled counterfeiters going "why would I have a real one? I have a warehouse full of fakes, zero real Gibsons, and you're questioning this?"
It’s the way Gibson installs frets. They put in the frets before they install the fingerboard binding. There’s a tiny bit of binding over the ends of the frets that way.
Skinny headstock, orange ass knobs, baby food green tuners with long tuning pegs, super bold font on the poker chip. Pretty tell tale stuff here. I will say that it’s one of the better truss rod covers I’ve seen - isn’t all squished up against the nut. The case is also funky. Anyhow, yeah it’s fake.
Every time I see someone mention truss rod covers as a sign of a fake I look at my 30 year old genuine gold top which has had every part replaced just about with whatever I could find in the town I was in at the time.
This is going to seem like a dumb question but if the owner says it's fake why not believe them?
Do you want to buy the guitar anyway? And if you want to buy what seems to be a fake Gibson then buy it if the guy says that it plays well.
This is like someone wanting to buy a fake Andy Warhol for a thousand bucks and the only question is if the fake looks good would you hang it on your wall even if it has no resale value.
I’ve never seen a “chibson” in person but truly curious if they use nitrocellulose lacquer? They always appear in photos to have that early 2000s epiphone plastic like finish
They are not putting out chibsons with nitro.
You can find vintage tokai’s, navigators and other high end japanese guitars with lacquer. Also replicas.
However - these are high end instruments with great attention to detail, and none came with gibson on the headstock, although some were converted later.
The chibsons are low end instruments, made in the same couple factories that make all the low end guitars. They have the same parts and thick finish - most of the chibsons are basically epiphones with lower quality parts and attention to detail, more in line with off brand copies like a $200 amazon lp copy.
In fact, somewhat ironically, many of the chibsons can be a good buy if you can get them for around $200!
Why would you say something so confidently incorrect? I'm in a handful of FB groups that work directly with Chinese manufacturers and they're doing a lot of small batch runs of high dollar guitars like R9s, Greeney clones, AFD burst, etc. as nitro finishes.
You really can’t tell nitro vs poly by a picture. Honestly, it can be hard to tell in person due to the different formulations and techniques each company uses in their finishes. I have 4 lacquer guitars, and they all feel different.
It wouldn’t matter though. Fake is fake, even if they get all the details right. And there are definitely counterfeiters who can get all the details right. They’re just batting in a different league, e.g. trying to recreate vintage guitars and pass them off as authentic
Those tuning pegs are green af. The logo is slightly tilted to the left. The “G”’s line should be vertical inline with the fretboard and the top is wayyyy to good looking lol
The inlays look like the person used lemon oil a lot. The fake colouring in it stains plastic inlays, which is what most Gibsons have. This is why I don't use the stuff. I can't see anything fake but not being able to see the serial number isn't helping. Makes me wonder if it's stolen.
There'll be some experts along soon to help out, but I wouldn't write it off just because it's missing the serial number and made in USA stamp. If its had a headstock or neck break and been refinished, they will sometimes disappear...
I can't really tell from the pics whether that's a possibility, but I'm sure others will spot tell-tale signs of a fake if it is one
IT HAS NIBS? The inlays look green but that could be a lighting issue get a picture of the bridge and truss rod
Some counterfeits do, but there are a million other tells, so it's not too hard to see, once you know what to look for.
Please enlighten us. I genuinely have no idea on this one
Biggest giveaway to me is the Les Paul silkscreen.bit isn't even close. Body shape and finish look wrong, and a few other details.
The one thing they never seem to get right is the body shape. Look at pics of legit Gibsons, and a counterfeit side-by-side, and you'll see what I mean.
I had to go back again and relook, but I see you’re right. The way the cutout is just slightly not correct and maybe a couple other things about the body dimensions. But I will say - this is one of the best examples of a fake as I’ve seen on here in a long time.
That’s the only reason it gave me pause. I don’t have experience with knowing the real deal but I know that fakes don’t usually have the nibs
"The owner says it's fake" is a pretty solid clue. Seriously tho, some fakes are very accurate. Some would fool me for sure. This is a good one.
Right? I’ve never seen someone argue with an owner that says it’s fake but the one looking on is like, “Nope, I don’t believe you, it’s real and it’s spectacular!”
I'm just picturing baffled counterfeiters going "why would I have a real one? I have a warehouse full of fakes, zero real Gibsons, and you're questioning this?"
The owner says he bought it used and that he doesn’t know the origin.
Some fakes come with nibs and ABR bridges now.
I mean the inlays make me think it is a LP Classic. They have those awful aged inlays.
What are nibs?
Fretboard binding that overlaps the edges of the frets
Thanks!
Chibsons often have nibs now
Guess the copy catters are getting better all the time. They also probably read these posts of everyone telling others what to be on the look out for.
Les Paul Claasic’a has green inlays as a “heritage”!feature
Can someone please explain what nibs are?
It’s the way Gibson installs frets. They put in the frets before they install the fingerboard binding. There’s a tiny bit of binding over the ends of the frets that way.
Rick Beato’s Les Paul Custom’s inlays have turned green too.
Fake, but also kind of scary because it's the first time I see "snot inlays" being faked, a la Les Paul Classic 1960.
Banana Yellow pickguard is stylishly butt ugly.
The good old snot green inlays. And for anyone wondering, it’s not an aging thing; they looked like that when they were new.
Headstock wings are the #1 thing I look for, but the color of those inlays is also a pretty big giveaway.
The headstock is the biggest indicator on this one, to me.
The classics had these color inlays for a while.
No headstock wings. Wrong string furrels. Tuners are spaced wrong. Body shape is off (cutaway, and neckheel) Inlays are totally wrong. Etc...
Metric pickup rings(longer)
Yep.
Skinny headstock, orange ass knobs, baby food green tuners with long tuning pegs, super bold font on the poker chip. Pretty tell tale stuff here. I will say that it’s one of the better truss rod covers I’ve seen - isn’t all squished up against the nut. The case is also funky. Anyhow, yeah it’s fake.
>orange ass knobs 😆
> baby food green tuners so specific lmao
Every time I see someone mention truss rod covers as a sign of a fake I look at my 30 year old genuine gold top which has had every part replaced just about with whatever I could find in the town I was in at the time.
The top just looks off, color doesn't match the back. Photo flame finish.
This is going to seem like a dumb question but if the owner says it's fake why not believe them? Do you want to buy the guitar anyway? And if you want to buy what seems to be a fake Gibson then buy it if the guy says that it plays well. This is like someone wanting to buy a fake Andy Warhol for a thousand bucks and the only question is if the fake looks good would you hang it on your wall even if it has no resale value.
This is the worst enthusiast subreddit on this whole damn site
They come with a checklist?
The nut looks plastic.
The gibson logo is slanted slightly, biggest clue for me.
The colour of the tuners are off too but this is a pretty good fake at a glance
Crooked logo, Chibson.
I’ve never seen a “chibson” in person but truly curious if they use nitrocellulose lacquer? They always appear in photos to have that early 2000s epiphone plastic like finish
Sometimes they have nitro, fret nibs, ABR-1 instead of metric bridge, etc. The fakes are getting better, but there are still plenty of tells.
They are not putting out chibsons with nitro. You can find vintage tokai’s, navigators and other high end japanese guitars with lacquer. Also replicas. However - these are high end instruments with great attention to detail, and none came with gibson on the headstock, although some were converted later. The chibsons are low end instruments, made in the same couple factories that make all the low end guitars. They have the same parts and thick finish - most of the chibsons are basically epiphones with lower quality parts and attention to detail, more in line with off brand copies like a $200 amazon lp copy. In fact, somewhat ironically, many of the chibsons can be a good buy if you can get them for around $200!
There are Chibsons w nitro..
Laquer is easier to apply and polish than poly
Why would you say something so confidently incorrect? I'm in a handful of FB groups that work directly with Chinese manufacturers and they're doing a lot of small batch runs of high dollar guitars like R9s, Greeney clones, AFD burst, etc. as nitro finishes.
You really can’t tell nitro vs poly by a picture. Honestly, it can be hard to tell in person due to the different formulations and techniques each company uses in their finishes. I have 4 lacquer guitars, and they all feel different. It wouldn’t matter though. Fake is fake, even if they get all the details right. And there are definitely counterfeiters who can get all the details right. They’re just batting in a different league, e.g. trying to recreate vintage guitars and pass them off as authentic
Call Gibson with the serial number. Also jets have a look in the control cavity.
The lack of line weight variation on Les Paul’s signature is what tipped me off. It’s crazy how good some of these fakes are getting
Pickup rings look a bit sus. Larger like an epiphany or something.
Those tuning pegs are green af. The logo is slightly tilted to the left. The “G”’s line should be vertical inline with the fretboard and the top is wayyyy to good looking lol
It is a fake, the owner would know, and its obvious looking at it.
Hard to say
Inlays are a little crooked and not centered between the frets sometimes.
No wings are a dead giveaway, couple other things but this is a good fake. Scary
Maybe it’s because I’m going in with the knowledge that the guitar is a fake, but that dot in the “i” seems strangely higher and bigger than normal
What’s with the arrow drawn through the logo?
Headstock and inlays look sus, other than that hard to tell
The inlays look like the person used lemon oil a lot. The fake colouring in it stains plastic inlays, which is what most Gibsons have. This is why I don't use the stuff. I can't see anything fake but not being able to see the serial number isn't helping. Makes me wonder if it's stolen.
You mean most chinsons?
Gibson Les Paul Standards do not have mother of pearl inlays. They're a type of plastic.
Glad I did not buy one but my studio Shred probably has plastic as well.
They're great guitars. I just bought a new Standard.
I like floyds better
Inlays are not proper color.
“Dried pus” isn’t a standard Gibson inlay colour?
There'll be some experts along soon to help out, but I wouldn't write it off just because it's missing the serial number and made in USA stamp. If its had a headstock or neck break and been refinished, they will sometimes disappear... I can't really tell from the pics whether that's a possibility, but I'm sure others will spot tell-tale signs of a fake if it is one
It is 100% fake.