Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: mikeluke on November 24, 2008, 10:14:23 AM

Title: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 24, 2008, 10:14:23 AM
Folks

Spotted an unusual one on eBay - link below - I've tried to track this one down via searches and can't get a guitar that matches - few things make me think that it might be a fake - serial number seems odd and is printed on rather than embossed in the wood - tuners are kidney-shaped not tulip shaped - tuners are not branded (Grovers???)


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350128888690&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:middle:uk

Anyone out there have a view if this is genuine or a fake?

Thanks

Mike
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 24, 2008, 10:44:26 AM
FAKE!!
Truss rod cover is the biggest giveaway - 3 screws to hold on
Doesnt use the normal Gibbo truss rod
Serial numbers for Gibson dont start with a letter

And look carefully - just doesn't look like a Gibson
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 24, 2008, 10:51:46 AM
Agree - it just doesn't look 'right' to me
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Ratrod on November 24, 2008, 11:46:12 AM
Yep, it's fake.

The shape is a little off. The truss rod cover is a dead give-away.

Probably Chinese.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Twinfan on November 24, 2008, 11:46:36 AM
Wonky diamond inlay on headstock
Three screw truss rod cover
Non-Gibson serial number
Serial number not stamped into the wood
Non-symmetrical headstock?

Going by the serial number, it's a Korean 335 that has been Gibsonised.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Philly Q on November 24, 2008, 12:22:22 PM
I wonder if the seller knows it's dodgy?  He's certainly not using the "I know nothing about guitars, selling this for a friend..." approach.  :?
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 24, 2008, 12:25:43 PM
Let's ping him and see what he says.....
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Philly Q on November 24, 2008, 12:43:37 PM
Let's ping him and see what he says.....

Go for it Mike!
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Ian Price on November 24, 2008, 12:46:35 PM
Let's ping him and see what he says.....

Good idea - I saw a blondish early 80's 335 on eBay once. I asked the seller a question about it as he had claimed some famous people had played it. He said that Hendrix had had a go on it - when challenged that Hendrix wasn't alive in the 80's the seller apologised and said it was Jimmy Page that had played it.  :? :o
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Ian Price on November 24, 2008, 12:48:52 PM
And look carefully - just doesn't look like a Gibson

The waist 'looks' too narrow IMO. Is there such a thing as a 365?
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Philly Q on November 24, 2008, 01:11:35 PM
I don't think there is a 365.  There is a 356 though, which he mentions elsewhere - I believe it's a scaled-down model like the 336 and 339.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 24, 2008, 01:53:43 PM
Can anyone spot what is wrong with this one ?
Signed by all of the Who including Keith Moon (who sadly died in 1978)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110309136270&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D110309136270%26_fvi%3D1 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110309136270&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D110309136270%26_fvi%3D1)
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 24, 2008, 01:59:53 PM
Let me guess - guitar was not manufactured until 1980s/1990s?
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Ian Price on November 24, 2008, 02:04:41 PM
Can anyone spot what is wrong with this one ?
Signed by all of the Who including Keith Moon (who sadly died in 1978)

Ridiculous!

As a side issue why would somebody sell this guitar when it has absolutely no connection to the guitars that Townshend plays (citation needed but I don't recall him playing a floyd rose equipped guitar)!!
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: WezV on November 24, 2008, 02:31:34 PM
here is a 335 i have in at the moment, i think its genuine and all that... but the serial number and label bug me

(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/fullfront.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/headback.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/label1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/pickuproute.jpg)

pot codes put it at about 2000 which suggests a 63 re-issue - but that should have an orange label.  they did change production factories in 2000 so maybe its a transition one.  Gibson dont recognise the serial number but dont think its fake either and every aspect of its construction is pure gibson
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 24, 2008, 03:46:30 PM
Pinged the Gibson folks - they think that it is fake too...
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: shobet on November 24, 2008, 08:46:50 PM
It just looks wrong, I'm not even sure the body shape is correct. It's not as funny as Mooney rising from the dead to sign a guitar though. £900+ ouch that's going to hurt.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 24, 2008, 09:01:02 PM
It just looks wrong, I'm not even sure the body shape is correct. It's not as funny as Mooney rising from the dead to sign a guitar though. £900+ ouch that's going to hurt.

Somebody want to write to the buyer and point that out ?
I actually pointed out to the seller but they never got back to me (surprisingly)
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Twinfan on November 24, 2008, 11:26:27 PM
That one you have Wez is WELL strange!  :?

Looks totally Gibson but that serial number is WRONG surely???
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: WezV on November 25, 2008, 08:11:39 AM
its certainly proving hard to pin down, which is weird for a relatively new guitar (going from the 2000 pot codes since the wiring appears proper and the guitar had obviously not seen a tech). 

anyway, it was in a right state when it came to me, covered in star shaped stickers, had a huge superglue run most of the way down the back and some chunks missing from a couple of frets.  thats almost more strange to me, the guitar is not that old and would have cost someone a lot when new, yet its been treated like cr@p

looking good and playing well now though

Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Twinfan on November 25, 2008, 08:21:40 AM
Definitely an odd one with a story!
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: WezV on November 25, 2008, 09:27:22 AM
i decided to ask at the gibson forum, gibson europe were helpfull to a point (the point where they had no clue!!) but i need to know.... these things drive me mad
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 25, 2008, 10:49:34 AM
Wez - sounds like standard Gibson 'quality control' to me.....

Probably left the factory like that....


 :lol:
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: Ratrod on November 25, 2008, 11:16:11 AM
I wonder when the guitar will apear that has been played and signed by Jezus.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: ToneMonkey on November 25, 2008, 01:22:41 PM
I wonder when the guitar will apear that has been played and signed by Jezus.

Funny you should say that, want to buy mine?  Only £910
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: noodleplugerine on November 25, 2008, 04:49:42 PM
Can anyone spot what is wrong with this one ?
Signed by all of the Who including Keith Moon (who sadly died in 1978)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110309136270&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D110309136270%26_fvi%3D1 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110309136270&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D110309136270%26_fvi%3D1)

Okay, this is just MESSED up!
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: mikeluke on November 28, 2008, 11:42:17 AM
That 365 or 335 is still going up in price - I've pinged eVil Bay to tell them it is a fake and nothing seems to be happening! Someone is in for an unpleasant surprise...
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: WezV on November 30, 2008, 12:55:21 PM
well good news on the one i have here... still no definate age on it but its between 2000-2006 and appears to be #12/200  made especially for the japanese market by Gibson USA (not custom shop).. possibly commisoned by guitar centre who would then export them

no doubts on it being a genuine gibson from quite a few people in the know.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: WezV on November 30, 2008, 08:19:00 PM
although i suppose i should post the otherside of the argument from the Gibson forum

Quote
This just don't smell right. I'm still feeling like this is some type of fake, and maybe you are trying to get some idea of how hard this guitar would be to pass off as real.

Don't take it personal, but that's my take.

nice!!!
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: ToneMonkey on December 01, 2008, 09:42:15 AM
Some people are just miserable gits.  Tell him not to take it personally, but you think he's ugly.
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: noodleplugerine on December 01, 2008, 11:33:57 AM
Some people are just miserable gits.  Tell him not to take it personally, but you think he's ugly.

:D
Title: Re: Question for Gibson Lovers Out There
Post by: WezV on December 05, 2008, 07:58:06 PM
well i did eventually get the 335 i have pinned down almost exactly and authenticated by gibson

Quote
It seems serial number links to guitar which was part an special run for the Japanese Market. The “Y’” letter in the beginning was for Yamano our Distributor in Japan, but remember that was only an internal code. Unfortunately, we can not confirm you the production year of the guitar, but we assume could be 2000 because of the pot codes.

i find it funny that gibson could not tell me this info till i had done all the legwork. 

I hadnt really heard of yamano gibsons before, apparently with japan being such a big market for gibson they used  to be really picky with the guitars they accepted... and get the odd run of special models like this.  apparently worth a little more because of it.   I dont think yamano distribute for gibson anymore, much like rossetti over here