Beware Of Fake Gibsons From China

Gibson Guitar warns consumers about counterfeit instruments being sold in USA      18/04/07
Beware Of Fake Gibsons From China
Gibson Les Paul - This Is A Real One
Gibson Guitar continues to protect its intellectual property rights and provide consumer protection against the growing problem of counterfeit instruments being shipped from and sold by outlets and individuals in China.

Several complaints from consumers who were sold fake instruments has prompted an aggressive move on Gibson Guitar’s part to work with government officials and other instrument marketers in an effort to curtail the growing problem. Gibson Guitar advises all consumers to purchase Gibson instruments only from their network of authorized dealers. Authorized Gibson dealers can be found on the company’s website and should be referred to by consumers when purchasing their choice of Gibson instrument. A consumer is warned against purchasing any Gibson brand instrument outside of the authorized dealer network and the inevitable risk of purchasing what can turn out to be a fake.

The growing problem, originating out of China, has been reviewed by the U.S. Trade Commission and currently has the attention of Washington. China regularly defends its record in fighting piracy and counterfeit production of merchandise, however many pirated consumer products continue to be sold in various Chinese cities which affect a multitude of international manufacturers across many categories.

Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar told us, “We will continue to do everything in our power to protect our consumers and the integrity of our family of brands. 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 insure that what they are purchasing is, indeed, an authentic Gibson instrument.�

Consumers can check any of the references below when examining a Gibson guitar in an effort to insure its authenticity:

  • Make sure the size is not undersized
  • The headstock and headstock logo should match those of authentic Gibson guitars
  • Pearl should always be inlaid
  • Les Paul Model script is always in cursive
  • If the guitar has a 3 screw truss rod it is not authentic
  • Check the control and pick up cavities for sloppy routing or wiring
  • Real Gibson guitars use one piece necks
  • Many fake Gibsons have their pickup cavities painted black inside
  • If purchasing a Gibson always ask for the Gibson’s Owner Manual and Gibson/Warranty Inspection Card
  • Check the wiring, if it is plastic it isn’t a true Gibson
Other information on spotting a fake guitar can be found on www.ic3.gov/

In a recent case in North Carolina, a man was charged with trying to sell counterfeit guitars after a 15 year old discovered the instrument he bought from the suspect was a fake. The man was arrested on two felony counts of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark, following an investigation by the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Trademark Enforcement Section. The investigation was initiated by a complaint to the Secretary of State’s Office from a victim who allegedly bought what appeared to be a Les Paul model Gibson brand electric guitar from the man. The man had advertised the guitars for sale in the local paper.

Auction websites currently have hundreds of instruments which resemble Gibson Guitars and other brands. Some even feature trademarked headstocks and logos. Many of these items carry a very low sale price but exorbitant shipping costs. Upon close inspection the guitars will not feel or sound like a true Gibson and most are not of good standard of quality overall. If a guitar is up for an auction for a straight price or a fraction of what one would cost typically, the consumer is taking a great chance in purchasing it. Gibson Guitar warns against such action. Consumers should be wary of such sales that also offer shipping prices that are more than the guitar.

More information:

  • www.gibson.com

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    15 Comments...  Post a comment    original story
    madmax    Said...

    Get a Tokai or Burny and avoid the problem altogether.

    18-Apr-07 09:13 AM

    Juarez    Said...

    Just to let you know, When you said that the gibsons always have a one piece neck. This is NOT True. My Father owns a 1971 Gibson SG Deluxe and the neck is in fact three parts of wood glued together and the headstock is five. I can assure you that the guitar is genuine but has a 3 piece neck.

    02-Apr-08 05:56 AM

    Juarez    Said...

    Just to let you know, When you said that the gibsons always have a one piece neck. This is NOT True. My Father owns a 1971 Gibson SG Deluxe and the neck is in fact three parts of wood glued together and the headstock is five. I can assure you that the guitar is genuine but has a 3 piece neck.

    02-Apr-08 05:56 AM

    JUAREZ    Said...

    Just to let you know, When you said that the gibsons always have a one piece neck. This is NOT True. My Father owns a 1971 Gibson SG Deluxe and the neck is in fact three parts of wood glued together and the headstock is five. I can assure you that the guitar is genuine but has a 3 piece neck.

    02-Apr-08 05:56 AM

    bob from london,ont.    Said...

    gibson has a factory in china,japan and other countries.cheap guitar center has updated their site and mention that all their guitars are made from basswood and the hardware comes ftom korea.for more info go to that site.

    17-Jul-08 12:38 AM

    JazzFusionGuy    Said...

    madmax is spot-on! Tokai's PRS clone is AMAZING! Illegal in USA but not via Canada and eBay (where I grabbed mine). Free Axe rock: www.JazzRock-Radio.com

    19-Nov-08 10:11 AM

    yourcheesymoma    Said...

    vheese

    18-Jan-09 06:45 PM

    Less Poll    Said...

    Sounds to me like Gibson just wants to get in on the action.They've priced their guitars out of reach and now they want a taste of the international market.And with their own factories over seas,how can you say these are fake,when Epiphone has been over there for years?

    11-Apr-09 04:30 PM

    John    Said...

    Real gibsons do not always have one piece necks, many have a three piece neck, especially 70's era Les Pauls and the current Zakk Wylde Custom Shop guitars. Also check here: http://fibsons.com and here: http://www.guitarsite.com for lots of information.

    25-May-09 03:45 AM

    too many of those things    Said...

    Can you honestly believe you can buy a real Gibson for $400. Come on, by the way I have this piece of land--- cheap.(heard these things were of Epi. quality)

    11-Jun-09 11:05 PM

    apenk    Said...

    you can say that what about the real gibson but in this case people of my country better choose the fake gibson because cheap i think, why gibson make some gitar with ridiculous price right now, like gibson custom $ 4000, in my country you can buy a jappan motor cycle with that price, everybody love gibson but what about the third country who's love gibson?

    regards

    14-Jul-09 03:15 AM

    dave crawford    Said...

    As I was looking at some tab the other day I ran across an ad for Gibson and fender guitars so I took a peek. The old saying goes "If it looks too good to be true, it is." Les Pauls for less then $300? Maybe in 1964, but not 2010. I'm sorry to see these guys are still out there bilking the public. If you run across one of these deals, run, don't walk away from it!

    09-Jun-10 11:52 AM

    Guitarmaker 271    Said...

    Gibson now has at least 4 factories in China. One makes pianos, mostly, but also makes some guitar parts. The other 3 are guitar factories, which also have custom shops. Gibson is in partnership with the Chinese communist government and their rules apply. They allow good, productive employees, to use materials, make extra guitars and the manager sells them, wherever, and they all split the money. Some of the "fake" Gibsons appear to be coming out of the Gibson factories. How are we expected to deal with that?

    27-Jun-10 10:47 AM

    slowhand124    Said...

    Its true that gibsons had 3 piece necks. the chinese imitators however, have actually a two piece neck that is curved from about 5 inches from the headstock. you can see it under the paint. i just saw a jimmy page knockoff very light great neck, body too light, paint wrong, fooled a lot of people.

    13-Aug-10 12:44 PM

    deadmananchor    Said...

    built your own guitar would be better...

    23-Oct-11 06:31 AM

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