Fake Chinese Gibsons - My Story!

tBird · 2011-02-23T16:34:55+00:00

Following a previous thread about the fake Gibsons being manufactured in China I secretly went about searching for these Chinese suppliers on the Internet with the view of buying one for myself. I found on online trading portal called Tradetang and searched through the infinite listings of traders selling Fake Gibson Les Paul guitars of various kinds, colours, models, shapes (yes, they seem to be different from guitar to guitar) and styles. I will not reveal the trader's name since I know that there are South Africans who have bought from him as well since I have read their positive reviews about other items, so I will just tell my story in short. I saw pictures of this beautiful black Gibson Les Paul Custom going for 280USD (including case) and added this as a favourite. After communicating with the seller back and forth for a few days I was comfortable that I was dealing with an honorable dealer (not that I had honorable intentions when buying a fake in the first place) and he even sent me private pictures of the guitar. So I jumped in and placed an order and paid with my Master Card - No problem. Shipping added another 80USD and the item was shipped with EMS. I tracked the item as it made its way to South Africa and was delighted when I found a thing in my post box 3 weeks later to tell me to come and pick up my guitar. Paid another R290.00 for VAT at Customs and rushed home with my guitar. I cut away the excessive brown tape from the Styrofoam box and was really happy to see a brand new black Gibson case. I opened it and there it was - My black Gibson Les Paul Custom! Lets move forward 10 minutes! On closer inspection I quickly realized that the guitar was just a p[iece of sh**. From the pictures on the website it looked awesome but on close inspection it is absolutely clear that the thing is just rubbish: 1) The neck is connected at a slight angle to the body with the result that the lower E-string falls off the neck. 2) The entire guitar feels extremely cheap, there are inferior manufacturing details thoughout, the body is pitted in some places and not filled properly, the edges of the body of the guitar are so sharp so as to hurt your arm when you rest it on an edge. The bridge & tailpiece is rubbish and their anchors only go halfway into the body with 3mm of thread still visible, the frets are so sharp so as to cut your fingers, no though was given to the binding and frets hang over this, the logo is incorrect, the diamond-shaped inlay on the headstock is at the wrong angle, the list goes on and on and on! 3) Everything plastic is more "plastic" than normal. The plastic parts of the guitar feels and looks like the plastic used in the manufacturing of kitchen appliances and kids toys and are soft and malleable, really weird to handle. I mean the back pickup cover can be pushed in about a centimeter. 4) Oh yes, did I mention that the guitar came with a broken neck. There is a serious crack just behind the heel of the neck and if you pull on it the crack opens up to reveal a gaping wound all the way through. Now here's the thing - the case is in perfect condition and without a scratch so this guitar was clearly packaged with full knowledge of the broken neck. The dealer claims that the guitar was damaged during shipping and that it isn't his problem and that I should take it up with EMS - what crap! So, I've been had! And you know what - Good! I deserve it! In a perverse way it almost makes me feel good! It got what I deserved! They say a fool and his money are easily parted and I have to hang my head in disgust and recognize that I am such a fool. Here's some pics: Just thought I'd warn you!

TomCat

All I can say is.....knowingly buying a fake to try and impress people........shame...!!!!! ??? ???

Then forking out more cash to get a replacement fake to replace the rubbish sent......stoooopid.....unbelievable......gobsmacking... ??? ???

What the heck were you thinking.......!!!!

I thought playing guitar is to enjoy creating music with an instrument that is difficult to master at the best of times.....

Edit: I would also love to get a genuine Gibson LP Custom one day and hopefully I'll be able to afford one. In the mean time I play an Ibby that somewhat looks a bit like a LP and sounds similar with a few mods and thoroughly enjoy the experience of playing it. And it only cost me R 2600.00 to buy it locally from TOMS.

kayDUB

There are many things I just don't understand in this thread, most have been covered, except one...

Why on earth would shipping the second guitar cost double shipping the first guitar?

What's that I smell?

TomCat

kayDUB wrote There are many things I just don't understand in this thread, most have been covered, except one...

Why on earth would shipping the second guitar cost double shipping the first guitar?

What's that I smell?

A good and interesting point..... :-\

Norman86

its for the empty box guys ?

G-Man

Unless he's shipping himself over to apologise in person for the first guitar being buggered? (only joking of course ? )

Tonedef

Nope, his dealer buddy is bringing over two guitars, one for twinkletoes here and one for the next schlemiel who decides that a fake gibson is a good idea. Isnt karma a wondrous thing?

Reinhard

kayDUB wrote There are many things I just don't understand in this thread, most have been covered, except one...

Why on earth would shipping the second guitar cost double shipping the first guitar?

What's that I smell?

I was wondering the same thing. Maybe the seller only pays $80 for these guitars. So for a $160 he covers cost+shipping.

raithza

It's all probably part of the schtick. IMO this guy makes guitars which he tries to sell off as real gibsons. Then the rejected stock (like ones with complete failures as serial no's and broken necks ...) gets sold to people. When these people complain, they apologise and offer to ship a new one - for the low low cost of double whatever shipping was on the previous one. I'm guessing the next step involves the deported king of china's son and a large sum of money that needs to be moved abroad.

I'm quite curious to see if/what will arrive next but now you guys have scared tbird off ☹

Norman86

Nope... He's viewing right now...

Tonedef

raithza wrote I'm quite curious to see if/what will arrive next but now you guys have scared tbird off ☹

Either a "shit-plank" (rawfle) or an air guitar. The latter is the lesser of two evils IMO.

tBird

kayDUB wrote There are many things I just don't understand in this thread, most have been covered, except one...

Why on earth would shipping the second guitar cost double shipping the first guitar?

What's that I smell?

I was surprised when I bought the guitar originally that I was only charged about 80USD for shipping, when the transaction clearly showed 160USD.

They probably realized afterward that they made a mistake and sent me a damaged guitar.

I'll keep everyone here \ posted "IF" the other guitar ever arrives. Then we take it further.

Let me just end off by saying that unlike most forum members here who have made their comments from a moral perspective, I on the other hand don't give a rats ass about morals.

There are thousands of these fake Gibsons in South Africa and the guys at Customs know all about them. When I went to pick the guitar up I was even asked by a smiling agent which model I bought. These guitars are imported on a daily basis and they don't care, as long as we pay the VAT duties. South Africa and China have strong diplomatic ties that go back much further than 1994 and there will be no way that this will be stopped.

The police? Please! Buying a fake guitar legally from China is the least of their problems. Half their own gear comes from China!

There are hundreds of these guitars in South Africa and people are importing them on a daily basis, it's just that they keep quiet about it.

Norman86

tBird wrote Let me just end off by saying that unlike most forum members here who have made their comments from a moral perspective, I on the other hand don't give a rats ass about morals.

Then, my friend, you deserve what you get.
And it wont be a Les Paul Custom.

Tonedef

tBird wrote There are hundreds of these guitars in South Africa and people are importing them on a daily basis, it's just that they keep quiet about it.

The "guitars" aren't quiet though, they whisper "I'mapieceofshitI'mapieceofshitI'mapieceofshitI'mapieceofshitI'mapieceofshit..."

Have fun playing your shit-plank, china!

tBird

Before I forget, I'm still dreaming about a real Custom and will eventually buy one, and when I do I'll share with fellow Gibson owners. Think of me any way you want, but I too admire and love a real Gibson and all the classic elements that come with them.

OK! ?

Tonedef

tBird wrote Before I forget, I'm still dreaming about a real Custom and will eventually buy one, and when I do I'll share with fellow Gibson owners. Think of me any way you want, but I too admire and love a real Gibson and all the classic elements that come with them.

OK! ?

You'll never buy it, I know it and you know it. You have no respect for the instrument, the brand or the people who made it what it is today.

Most of all, you have no self-respect.

But don't feel bad about your shit-plank. Go have a klippies, then you'll feel right as rain and the world will make sense to you again. :?

singemonkey

You admitted yourself that you have no morals. That makes just about everyone an authority with regard to you, wouldn't you say? There's nothing admirable about having no moral compass. In what world would people respect that? The only people that respect that kind of attitude are the ones we all hate, you included, that we want in jail - because they're the ones that steal from us, cheat us, attack us, and generally reduce our well-being.

And your defense of "everyone's doing it.' and "our civil-servants are corrupt and don't care, so it's ok," (which I don't believe. you're free to lie about that because you don't give a rat's ass about morals. I've never met a customs official who'd know a Gibson from a Jackson) is beneath contempt. You make it sound like your ethics haven't advanced since you were four.

DonovanB

Does anyone else see the connection with music piracy?

tBird

Anyway, to wrap up! I think this is a great guitar forum and I have learned everything I know about guitars, their inner workings, how to modify little things like wiring, pickup replacement, coil tapping, frets, action, radius and what not from this site. All this without even being a "Member".

Just appreciate that I give frank reviews and opinions, unlike some here who probably have skeletons in their closets too! I know of at least one prominent one here, but that's a story for another time.

Great and keep it up! ?

Warren

MikeM

tBird wrote Anyway, to wrap up! I think this is a great guitar forum and I have learned everything I know about guitars, their inner workings, how to modify little things like wiring, pickup replacement, coil tapping, frets, action, radius and what not from this site. All this without even being a "Member".

Just appreciate that I give frank reviews and opinions, unlike some here who probably have skeletons in their closets too! I know of at least one prominent one here, but that's a story for another time.

Great and keep it up! ?

Again, we don't care. None of this makes any difference to who you are.

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