How To Spot Fake Les Paul Guitars
There is no end to the things people will replicate and try to sell as the real thing and knowing how to spot fake Les Paul guitars can save you a lot of money in the end There are obvious things that you need to be aware of to look for when purchasing a Les Paul from a private party, from China or anywhere in Asia, over the Internet on places like eBay or perhaps at an auction. Understanding the features of a real Les Paul will save you a lot of problems.
Check the headstock front, the Gibson logo will be a thicker font on a fake and is not angled like the authentic is. The letter G should start near the D string tuner post on a real Les Paul. The truss cover should be bell shaped and have only two screws. Fakes will often have three screws and will often have the word Gibson on it which is a dead giveaway.
The neck of an authentic Les Paul will be one piece, anything that has more than one piece is not authentic. Serial numbers can be fake, it is best to ask for warranty information. Ask the seller if the guitar originated in China especially if the guitar says it is Made in the USA. There are many fake guitars coming from Asia.
All authentic Gibsons have ebony fret boards, the Chinese fakes have rosewood and are very obvious. Check the bridges for slot head screw adjustments that are signs of a fake. The guitar should not have a colorful Gibson sticker on the pickups. The logo is silk screened on an authentic Gibson, a decal is an obvious fake.
A real Gibson will cost two to three thousand dollars, be suspicious of one that is for sale for less than this particularly if it is advertised for a few hundred dollars. Always buy from a reputable reseller to be sure that you get what you are paying for.
The case is made just as well as the guitar is, if the guitar does not come with a case or in something other than the original this could be a warning sign that it is not authentic. Ask where the original case is.
When you play the guitar you can hear the difference between a real Les Paul and a fake, the fake won't sound as good. Research what the measurements should be and measure it to make sure it has the correct dimensions, an undersized guitar is a sure sign of a fake.
All the pearl should be inlaid, always. The Les Paul script should always be done in cursive, any deviation from this is a clear indicator that it is not real. The control and pick up cavities should be clean and not painted or have sloppy wiring. Fakes are often painted black in the pick up cavity. Always request the owners manual and warranty inspection card to compare to the serial number on the guitar. Check the wiring, if it is plastic it is not a Les Paul. If you have any questions you can contact 1-800-4GIBSON to speak directly to someone who can assist you.