i actually bought one of these specifically to smash on stage at a big show i was part of. BUT, out of the box, i couldnt bring myself to destroy it. it played beautifully, it sounds devine and i cant fault it. never loses tune, was even intonated strait outa the box. the finish was superb, action was perfect. in a blind test with 3 other guitarists from other bands, it was hands down a better sound than my actual gibson lp. i still use it and i did once think about re stickering it, but i decided to proudly play my $230 chibson. its still my fav guitar outa my 2 expensive gibsons and 2 strats. ive looked for one since but cant find a website anymore here in australia for another chibo. (also bought a $130 fake strat called econau from ebay years ago with amp, stand and accessories, also a very nice guitar once i set the action on the bridge, litterally 10 minutes work) theres so much to be said about cheap guitars, i feel a bit ripped off paying 5 grand for my les paul. i love the LP and strats, dont get me wrong, but i feel the world has been bamboozled by fender and gibson.
@@ULTIMATEPATCHES had it 10+ years, spent less on it than my fenders. cant really say the components have failed yet. but have replaced 2 tuners and 2 tone knobs on a strat that is half the age of the cheapy. i doubt ya can seriously say the cheapies are bad value for any reason. considering all fender parts are chinese. bith my cheapies are still 100% as bought and still perfect. if youre putting them down without owning one, then youre an overpaid brand warrior who only uses high end stuff even if its inferior. and i gotta say, fender seems quite inferior to the 100 buck guitars.
Not only are fender and gibson overpriced for what they offer, the markup is also insane where I am. I could get a decent entry level Cort, Ibanez, or Yamaha for less than the squier sonic telecaster. Chinese brands are even cheaper
THE BEST Les Paul for the money is an AGILE. Hands down great finish, you can set them up perfect! Yep, may need a small amount of fret clean up, yep, the electronics are ok, but could use an upgrade, but with a true full 3/4 maple cap, ebony fretboard, grover tuners these are awesome. Never will i buy a Gibson or Fender, way overrated and overpriced!
@@mathewfoley1531 yeah for sure, since writing that comment, I've pulled out the econau Strat and giving it a screaming revival. It's brilliant. Mines still how I got it of eBay years ago. Nothing new on it.
I have six of these and all had the bridge pickups were changed to EMG 81’s with Grover tuners. Not one person has called them out as fake yet. I eventually tell them they’re all fake and it blows their minds. I did bring one to a guitar shop here locally to have the fretboard reworked and it did take the guy a few minutes to look at it before suspecting it being fake. I joked with him and said I paid $3k for it at guitar center. He changed his mind and then said “maybe I’m wrong”. I then told him it’s a fake and when he took off the back coffin case plate he recognized it immediately with the bad woodwork underneath. It was the first time he had personally actually seen one of the infamous “Chibsons” and was impressed.
To my eye, that's not a solid flamed maple top...look at the side of the pickup hole around 14:00 and see if you can also spot the laminate. Great video, though, thanks!
cheap Les Paul copies were often made this way back in the '70's, Ibanez being one company who resorted to it, though some were non-laminated, glued-in neck jobs that were awfully good.
You look kinda intimidating with your head tattoos and shaved head, but then you start talking and have a voice of a true gentleman that has dedicated his life to making others feel welcome and safe in his presence Shame on me and my prejudices
I don't think the F stamp on the pickup means that it's failed. The neck pickup on my epiphone is also stamped with an F and the bridge has an R stamped on it. Unless epiphone sells their guitars with failed pickups the F can't be for "Failed", I think it stands for Front and Rear.
some manufacturers do, but they also label them B and N for Bridge and Neck. Ive definately got a few with F stamped on them (including a Dimarzio from the 80s) Also, dont some of them use F for F spaced?
I believe you, but it's quite a coincidence, considering that the designation is likely put on the pickup for the convenience of the factory worker. Does the Chinese word for "front" also begin with an 'F'?
the kerning in the "Grover" machine heads are a classic example of : it would have been the same price to make it nice! While much of Gibson copying is all about materials and saving costs, this video highlights the fact that the copy houses have been garnering luthier skills and experience over the last few decades and that even with cheaper materials a fine instrument can be had delivered in a hard case for little cost.
Not really a plot twist. A lot “high end” manufacturers are going way cheaper than they should, while some new comers are getting better quality and quality control while still being cheaper than the “high end” brands.
I really wonder.... it would be interesting to try and chase down the distribution chain from the seller of this one to the manufacturer and see if you end up at a Gibson factory.
Right. That's the main criteria I used for the last guitar I bought. Of course the tuners and string distance from the frets had to be right. I ended up buying a high end Garrison over a low end Gibson. I just liked the feel and sound of the thing.
@@Jeff-ik9zj those fake Gibson's are not made in Epiphone Factory nor are they made with Epiphone parts and any of them stamped with Epiphone on the back of the pickups are counterfeit it's just like the counterfeit Grover tuners.
At the end of the day it all comes down to the feel, playability and sound of the guitar. I came across Chibson last year and it felt really good and sounded very similar to a REAL Gibson. Yes these fakes are just wrong, but on a pure value for money level they are much better value than Gibson (most of the time).
You can tell plainly on the right side of the pickup cavity its a veneer. Also, the neck binding doesnt have fret knibs. The angle of the headstock. Dead give away. Actually nitro finish?
For $230, I'd buy a Gibson. *(Lots of people misunderstanding my comment. That was my way of saying I don't like the sound of Gibson guitars, and wouldn't pay much for one if I were ever interested. They sound a bit harsh or unpleasant to my ear. Let the Gibson fan-boy flaming begin.)*
@@joshs.5384 someday? They basically already are. A real supreme is better than this. But this compsred to a real standard. This is almost as good. Change hardware and put some wolftone or lollar pickups and boom. And im a gibson guy till death do us part. But damn. They are killing me
Ive got a 59' Les Paul re-issue fake aka " Chibson ". Beautiful fit and finish, as good or better than many of the real " Gibson" I've played. Paid $ 300 including Gibson labeled hard shell case. Replaced the tuners, added a pair of Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Specials wired with Emerson pots to 50's specs. Killer sound and looks with less than $ 600.00 invested.
I imagine fixing the orientation of the bridge, replacing the tuners, and checking the setup would be a good start. I suspect with the original tuners it'd sound pretty awful.
That is not the most important thing at all. The fact is it was sold deceptively as something that it is not. Dishonesty is dishonesty no matter how you slice it. If you can't sell something on its own merit then you are a crook. Love or hate Gibson, this is a blow up doll.
Casting about for a new violin and case, several years ago I caved to cheap and new.....and was astonished at the delivery of a quality sounding instrument. A minor flaw in the case....and I had to search around for a decent bow. But where, the playability, the finish, the wood construction was simply superb. And, I am happy, very happy with a full, rich sound quality. Placing that curious well comprised finding as a match up to Gibson knock off, well, not in the same realm. Where, as a perhaps 1954 Gibson mandolin, or a 64 hollow body...demonstrate a mastery of craft...as tone and build quality...remarkable to stringed instrument. Sheer demand, perhaps driving the new devices as rip off and shoddy quality where good and superb quality had gone before, anchored the brand to a best everything at price. Watching this post....I found myself breaking into laughter....as where I view a craftsman...with every pride in fitment and skill spotted sham components, slap dash alignments and just semi likeness to finished composites. Each finding delivered with a warning, as somewhere just ahead.....real scam potential exists and will strike the unwary, the would be collector with deficit in identifiiers. Such troublesome rip off avenues.....sadly...too common...too close in trademark...to often seized and where exist only to fraud and malfeasance. Alas. Thank you for the post...as I am now armed to roam my world, at once full in the craft led inspection as would be ghost in the gibson shell proved pseuo crab plastic where oyster shell exists to light reflection. M.
Been buying lots of "cheap" foreign guitars, very impressed for the most part, and just recently got my first "Chibson" which, you guessed it, could have "fooled me", so very much appreciate this. First time I've seen the pickup wiring without a back plate. Would have been nice to hear a sound sample. What did you think of the multi-layer binding? Cheers!
This was a totally awesome video. I appreciate you showing us how to spot a fake. Absolutely enjoyed the way you went through everything and pointed out the flaws. I am amazed at the solid maple in this fake. Thanks again for sharing.
The fact that the control knobs sort of "slant in" doesn't necessarily mean that it's a fake Gibson. Even on genuine Gibsons, the knob positions tend to differ slightly, depending on what the guy drilling the holes did the night before...
@@alexf1525 depending on what the inspection guy did the night before. The holes on my seventies ES-150 were drilled correctly... but the control knobs were completely out of line screwed to the headstock. How difficult would that job be?
13:54 - where you are scraping the pickup hole (at the "front" of the hole), if you look to the left of it (so in the picture, the area in the top left of the pickup hole if you were looking on the screen) you can see a line of finish where (I assume) the veneer top has been glued on. dunno if you notice this later in the vid as I paused it. I reckon that shows the glue line for the veneer. I may be wrong, but i cant see a proper flame maple top being put on that unless its from a less reputable source and therefore not a sustainable source. That could indicate illegal wood being used.
I thought that was a stain line.. However, I've been told by people who have refinished these that it is a veneer but such a thin one that you will struggle to see the glue line, quite amazing really.
Regarding the centre line; did you do measurements? Are you sure that the neck and hardware aren’t actually straight and rather the flame laminate was glued on off-centre? That seems more likely to me.
@@Lamster66 I’m aware of that. However; in contrary, it makes sense Gibson doesn’t use a high grade maple top on a solid painted body. The whole point of using a high grade maple top is so people see the details of the wood.
That's just a little line of varnish or paint, you can see where it stops. Where'd the veneer go where he scraped it then? If it was veneer you would see it even better where he scraped it.
I agree. Even with a razor blade, you're not going to cleanly and effortlessly slice figured maple as you did, even along the grain. You should have sliced across the grain and it would have been apparent that this is veneer and you would easily see the glue line. Also, the proper way to identify the species of wood is examining the end grain with a jeweler's loop.
Dig your show!! I think you do a great job educating antique pickers like me! I've seen a couple of Chibson videos now and think I'll be able to tell which is what. The most obvious being the back of the guitar. Until recently, I've bought and sold mostly electric guitars.. I've sold 3 or 4 Les Paul's. Glad I never bought a Chibson by accident! Liked what you said about buying Chibsons to learn the Luther's Art. Absolutely love your show!
I'd love to see a video on real vs. fake Rickenbacker basses. I know of several people who thought they were buying the real thing only to wind up with a cheap copy - that they paid a lot of money for. I couldn't tell just by looking at it them that they were fakes - which is scary!
or its rejects from along the line, made to counterfiets to recoup the loss (thus the flaws) , or student guitars where they found a way to resell them and recoup costs, (thus the flaws)
I’ve looked up dozens of pictures of genuine Gibson LPs, and my own Gibson Trad Pro LP, and the adjustment screws on the tunomatic bridge actually do face forward towards the bridge pickup, not as you suggest the other way around, so that is not a fault on the Chibson. Having noted that, to me at least, I don’t understand why they mount it that way, as it just makes it more difficult to adjust them? Certainly on my Fender teles the screws face rearwards and are easy to access.
While you're chiseling away at the top why not just look at the edge of the pickup hole where the adjustment screw is cleared and you can see the veneer plain as day.
@Dave Males no one is making you buy one... If I wanna buy a chinese knock off ill do just that. That being said, I did order it intentionally unbranded. But I could easily argue you are a fool for spending thousands of dollars more on a guitar that is marginally better... Especially if your Gibson was made in the last decade or so.
A decent review. That being said, I've never met a craftsman who wasn't critical of another's work. It's like you getting the plumber in, and he says, "Who did this then?"
You say at 10.48. that the screws on the bridge are backwords. I own several Gretsch guitars which have the screws the same way as this guitar . I often wonderd why that is because you can't reach them with fine tuning. Do you know why the ( also high end ) Gretsch guitars make that this way?
When you said about the bridge being on backwards, that used to be a standard Gibson practice. Every 59 I have seen in books etc have their bridges on that way round with the screws pointing toward the headstock.
I agree with that. The screws can be either way. But in this case, the bridge is really on backwards. Look at the grooves in the saddles. The high E string is sitting in the widest groove. The low E in the thinnest.
My Gibson LP CB Standard had the saddle adjusters pointing to the headstock too. Come to think of it, so did my Gibson Flying V.... ... And my current (...on the bench project) Hohner L75 (Les Paul copy) is fitted likewise. . In fact, I've rarely seen 'Tune-o-matics' fitted with the screws facing away from the body... If one thinks about intonation adjustment, depending upon how low one sets the stop-tail piece, one usually finds that the strings, once over the saddle are at a sharp downward angle. Which makes fine adjustment with a flat-head screwdriver more difficult, because the the sharp angled strings impede access to the screw. With screws fitted on the pickup side, this is not an issue, access is unimpeded, as the strings are obviously level and one can get the screwdriver in position, beneath the string.
it's been a couple years since I first saw this video. But here's the deal. At the time I was messing around with guitar (before getting serious) and as my first electric, sort of as a "joke" I bought a Chibson. I must have gotten one from the right factory. It needed a good professional fret level and setup, but other than that it was quite nice. Perhaps foolish, I put a set of custom pickups in it and rewired it. Along the way, two years later I bought a genuine Gibson LP Standard, numbered, limited edition. But you know what? Every time I had a gig I grabbed the Chibson. It sounded as good as the genuine. Played as well as the genuine and was 2 pounds lighter than the genuine. Sold the Gibson and have no qualms at all about keeping the Chibson. I can never sell it legally anyway, but that's ok. It's as good as any electric I've ever played. My only (slight) regret is that I didn't order it with a custom label and it says Gibson on the headstock. But you know what? Nobody has ever guessed that it was a fake. In fact, one day I brought it into a Sam Ash and had it side by side with a genuine LP. I asked others to play them both and tell me which they preferred... 2 out of 3 preferred the fake. Sad, but true.
So I was trying to find a reference to compare to with what you were going over and pointing out. Couldn't find an example on the Gibson site, but I did fine something on a site called Sweetwater that looks surprisingly like this guitar (indicates it is no longer available, maybe it is the same). I would like to know how to identify a fake, but with (like you stated) lower quality of work coming out of Gibson these days how do you know this isn't actually a Gibson manufacture? The only reference I could find on Gibson site was a 125th Anniversary Supreme that of course has a different head stock insignia but the same gold plate at the nut. So how do you know it's not a Gibson with poor quality control? Is it just price or lack of Authenticity Certificate or something like that?
I know I'm nearly 4 years late to this video, but I just wanna mention that at 10:53, you mentioned how the bridge is "backwards". This isn't true. In fact, both Gibson and Epiphone seem to have their guitars come out of the factory with the bridges facing one way or another at nearly a 50/50 rate. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to this. Ultimately, it comes down to preference of the player. I own 5 Les Pauls (3 Epiphone, 2 Gibson), and all 5 of the bridges have the intonation screws facing the neck (the way it is shown in this video). You could easily change the orientation of the bridge, as well as the saddles inside, if that's your inclination :) I know this is essentially pointless information, but I did want to bring attention (in a friendly way!) to the fact that there really is no "wrong" or "right" way to have the bridge screws facing on an LP!
Shouldn't the screws for adjusting the intonation be at the back? If they're facing the neck then you can't adjust them with strings on the guitar, therefore defeating the whole purpose of their existence, to adjust the fucking intonation. Unless you go under the strings with a special around corners, understring screwdriver sold by Gibson? Baffling
@@papa_gummybear It's actually extremely easy to adjust them facing the neck. No special tools needed! Like I said, all 5 of my Les Pauls are facing the neck. I've never had any trouble adjusting the intonation at all. Edit: I should add, this is with the strings on. No problem!
Polishig my Epiphone Black Beauty 3 and have stumbled upon this gentlemans video. This is the second Black Beauty 3 I've had (Bought new) and the more I hear this guy talk away in my living room, the more I realise the 1st BB3 I loved, Cherished and wore round my neck as a teenager 18years ago....Was a fake!! The gold wear on the pick ups was faded silver, The "les paul" name wasn't present on the headstock and the knobs pulled right off. When changing between Rytham/Treble it made a "Uurrgggg!" noise. Maybe ignorance is bliss as a teenager. Anyhow thank you well spoken tattooed guitar Man! Got my guitar, Bottle of Broon and yourself educating me on the screen. Happy Sunday.
Aubrey Dana You do know Gibson sells guitars as fast as they can make them right? Let me guess you don’t even own a Gibson? I didn’t think so. Broke ass!
M L Haha!! I actually play three nights a week. I don’t just play in my bedroom like some people. I’m not rich I save my money. I know that’s a crazy concept. Have fun playing your FAKE Gibson.
BenS123 I dont own any Gibsons. I’d buy a PRS or almost anything else before a Gibson. I like them but theyre just way overpriced for what they are. I’d consider buying an older model
Say what you want about Gibson guitars but I've wanted one for quite some time, saved up my money and finally bought a 2018 Gibson Les Paul Traditional. I love it, it plays incredibly well and is very unique. Very pleased with mine!
I like mine to , it's a gold top . Very good crystal clear chords , good solid bite through my JCM 900 50 watt head , slim tapper 60s neck , what more can a guy ask for.
@@epasternak4206 a 1960 Tribute Epiphone new with '57 Classic Gibson pickups and new case and locking Grovers and series/parallel push/pull tone pots.... for $450 total outlay to my door
the 2018 models seem to be much better quality than a couple years ago. Hopefully the trend continues and someday when Im good enough to justify the money spent for a real Les Paul there is a quality instrument worth buying out there without having to find an old model.
I would have loved to hear you elaborate on the tail piece center line issue. I couldn't follow what you said about that. Was the center line of the tail piece, what made you say the neck was out of alignment? Maybe someone else can explain that part of the video. Thanks for looking at one of these for the rest of us.
I just bought a used 2002 Epiphone Les Paul made in Korea, for about $340 shipped w hard case . An incredible guitar. Incredible. You can't go wrong with Epiphone, and you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot. I'd go Epiphone before Chibson, at least you know an Epiphone has some sort of quality control.... Peace Vince
@@Crowbar11115 if you can get a used epiphone from a quality plant then I can see it. But if Im buying a new epiphone, or a new "chibson", Ill take the chibson for half the price. They are the same guitar. The epiphone MAY have slightly better QC, but anything the chibson needs to be worked on can be done for much less than the difference in price between the 2. That and its not like Epiphones come set up...
I have some nice guitars, among them an Ibanez Artist AS200 & Kramer Baretta 1 (with the headstock inlays). I've priced them both @ ~ 1500 to 2K ea, and my Epiphone Traditional Pro (with probuckers) is every bit as good. Unbeatable gtr for the money.
Doug625 same, I’ve got a 2012 Epiphone MIk that I absolutely love. One thing not mentioned here is Chibson holes seldom line up or are sized properly if you’re putting in real electronics, though I suspect Chibson buyers are more for show than to play for any duration.
Tuonelan Joutsen My mistake...it was Teisco Del Ray (I think his real name is Dan Forte) who first said it, reviewing 'el cheapo' guitars in Musician magazine in the early 80's. He later had a column in Guitar Player, then went on to the editorial staff. Art followed, as a column writer for off the wall guitars, then as a editorial staff member.
I have 2 les pauls - a gibson studio deluxe and a studio. both have offset centers where the wood lines up to the left just like this one. I'm not a luthier, but both of mine were bought new and are just like this one. Is that a bad thing on gibson then??
It looks like a veneer. At about 12 minutes in, 12:10 or so, on the inside of the pickup cavity that is facing the camera and is facing the same direction as the guy talking, you can see the glue line. He can't see it because it's hidden from him. But, don't forget that some of these guitars have a photo-flame in which photosensitive material is sprayed onto the guitar, a mask put over it, exposed to light, and, boom, flamed maple top out of generic wood. It's amusing to me when you see these imports and in the description of the kind of wood the body is made of, it simply says, "wood."
True .. he's scraping WITH the grain of the wood when he should be against the grain. Same as looking at a sound hole edge on a flat top guitar.. it looks like a solid top until you look at the sides.
You can see that he chipped the finish off the top between the neck and the pickup rout. He shaved too many times when it was already clear it was a maple top. The owner may have given permission but I doubt he wanted him to chip the finish off the top!
Axe Slinger I’m just not seeing that, wherever you’re looking. The pickup trim ring buts right up to the neck anyway. It would have to otherwise the crappy stain job would be evident. 😆 Now, when he started in on the *other* side...
It was clearly a veneer, if you look at the side of the pickup hole. He wouldn't have seen it from where he was standing, but you can tell a 1/16 line.
I must've gotten really lucky. I bought a Gibson LP Furure Tribute new from a Musicians Friend blowout sale for $500 bucks and it's pretty much flawless.
I think the neck may be correctly set and aligned with the bridge - but the top lamination/veneer is off-center. You know how a glue-up can drift when two large flat surfaces are glued together? Once the two surfaces make full contact, they are almost immediately impossible to move further and/or there may have been a surface blemish that forced the layout for rough-cut slightly off-center.
Truth be told - I think it's a brilliant tinkering project. I love getting el cheapo guitars, disassembling them and doing everything that much more expensive guitars have. By the time I'm done it's still cheaper than the higher spec model, but much more to my own liking.
Let's see. It's a guitar with Gibson name on it BUT as YOU say it's built with quality wood, it's well made, plays well (with few tweaks) and it costs next to nothing comparatively. So, WHERE CAN I BUY ONE?
What stood out to me is how jagged and unregular the light seems to break in the highlights. On smooth curves that should look smoother right? The highlights seem to indicate that the curves on this guitar are very irregular.
A real flamed maple top? What about the sides of the picup cotout (where the hight screws go), should you not be able to see patterns in the wood there if it was flamed?
@@greg4673 its def a thin veneer. There is no flame or anything to the maple cap underneath. With how flamed the top is its be soo noticable. Like my flame top when i sanded the sides. The edges were flamed as all hell
+Carl Valentin Is that why?? Wow wtf gibson ever heard of quality control. Was wondering cos I was actually checking how much a LP went for recently and noticed there was just no gibsons. I've head good things about their Harley benton LP copys though
+Pauly Mack Thomann sold a lot of custom-guitars specially made for them by gibson, called "faded","tribute" ... These "original" gibsons went for 500-700 bucks and had poor qualty. European Ebay is full of these guitars. Gibsons-prices for standards and custom-shops may have helped to end their cooperation. And Zero-frets and electric tuners are not everbodys taste of guitars. They try to fill this segment wit Tokai, Düsenberg, PRS I think.
+Carl Valentin I've just bought a Tokia Love Rock from Thomann just yesterday. I've also got a Tokai Breezy Sound Telecaster copy. This plays better and sounds nicer than all the Fender Telecasters I've had in the past. Hope the Love Rock Les Paul is as good.
Oh yeah, the world can ow go on because you have a real Les Paul. I hope you're precious Less Paul gets stolen from you and you never get it back. I'd punch you in the throat if I could.
+parttroll1 Idon't think they're single coils mate. All all mine are white and black epi "zebra" humbuckers. unpotted pieces of crap. But that's an easy fix. I switch them out for a set of Duncans.. that's all it takes really to make these guitars sound amazing
Damn! I thought a "humbucker" was two single coils connected so as to cancel out the hum! Edit: Yep. A humbucker is two single coil pickups with the magnets point north as "up" in one single coil pickup, and the other pointing down. Thanks for your "info", though!
Sad to say, but I have a genuine Gibson with terrible binding work also... The other sad part about this is that most all of the points raised in the investigation could easily be addressed to make these even more difficult to spot :(
XD PLEASE QUIT YOUR JOB AND GET ONE MORE YOUR LEVEL OF APTITUDE. LIKE WASHING HOTWHEELS CARS. you aren't capable of washing real cars. stick to your toys cause you are going to fucking ruin all sorts of people's gear/
Which is why some luthiers 'diss' Gibson quite a lot. You can get a hand-built instrument to your spec from a craftsman for the price of an off-the-peg Gibbo. Once you can ween yourself off the romance of the Gibson name you can get much better value or much better quality.
NICK nikki So? Chinese guitars aren't bad at all once the regulations have been cranked up. Back in the 80's and 90's when China was still a peipheral country the quality was utter horseshit due to low costs. But take a look at the Classic Vibe 50's and 60's, they're almost equal to a MiM strat but for $200 less.
+Richard Jagger Are there honestly people who don't know that Gibsons are mass produced? I don't understand your point. You might as well inform us that Nike shoes are also mass produced.
Tatts are no longer being sported by bikers and rough types. Everyone has them nowadays, even my 40 year old eldest daughter and good luck to her and anyone else feels like a tattoo. I might get one too I'm 64 and a crappy musician now that's two good reasons to mark up my skin. Oh yes,..also mine won't fade before I'm dead..
Well done on the break down of the details exposing this as a knock off, interesting that some of the early knock off Gibson brands like Lotus probably had better hardware on them.
Someone gave me one as a gift not knowing it was fake ,but it doesn’t tune right what should I do. Buy authentic parts or are there trick to make them sound better. I dont know alot about them
It’s 2020, and I just got my first Chibson, a 59 custom black beauty. It’s gorgeous, and I found only one QC issue. A small sliver on the fretboard, only a small flaw that’s hard to see, and doesn’t effect play. The truss rod is wrong, but it’s a two way, and works as well. I have a crappy little amp at the house, and it sounds fine for my home use. I’ve been playing for a while, and this is a quality guitar.
Fender started all this in the 70s. They got Uncle Mat to make their guitars cheaper than was possible in the US. When they actually figured out the damage this would do to the brand, they renamed the US/Euro market ones 'Squier'. But the cat was out of the bag.
Honest to God, before I saw this video when you mentioned that former, Chinese Epiphone employees are making these Chibsons, I had the exact same theory when I first heard about the Chibson counterfeit ring. I reckoned that the reason the Chibsons were highly "accurate" to the average guitarist is because Chinese Epiphone employees most likely make detailed measurements, and take photos of the Epiphone parts, designs, construction methods, etc... How else could they get so close to the real thing? Also, I watched a documentary about China's manufacturing industry, and this Chinese factory owner proudly boasted that they steal western technologies, and products, and make their own copies on the side. Apparently US, and other Western businesses are very aware of this, but that's the price they pay for getting their product made cheap, by a corrupt government that has no standards, and has no shame in not having any original ideas. It makes me angry at how bad we Americans, and other Western countries got screwed by our businessmen, and politicians on the NAFTA deal. China is definitely laughing all the way to the bank, along with our businessmen, and politicians. What little the West does import to China gets taxed so high no one can afford it.
Congratulations to "OldOakSyndicate" -- After watching the video and reading mostly inane comments here, I have over an hour gone. Finally some one gets it - at least mostly. Until now, NO ONE has mentioned that Gibson (and every other US manufacturer) is being ripped off by the Chinese. It isn't right and when you buy these things you are supporting counterfeiting. If the "Chibsons" are so damn well made, why doesn't the rip-off artist simply put his own brand on them? They do it because morally bankrupt people will buy them and think they're getting one over on Gibson. The Chinese that build these things aren't doing it for fun. They make a profit; off Gibson's work product and most likely also on the backs of workers who are being exploited like hell. So, I hope y'all feel good about yourselves. If you were building a high end product and the Chinese ripped you off it wouldn't feel so good would it? And all I'm hearing so far is "buy it and put genuine parts on it". Right. Lets buy a fake and then make a dust cloud headed to the "real" parts shop and make it better. You people are sickening. And, BTW, those of you getting a "tee-hee" out of the "mother of toilet" thing are just showing your ignorance. That expression has been around forever
@@nickswango869 you don't have a clue what youre talking about. The reason these fakes are made with gibsons logo and not given a brand is because gibson sues everyone for copying their guitar shapes, headstock shapes. In my opinion, buying one of these is supporting guitar makers too.
Yes, this tells me not to fall asleep in front of the TV after a heavy meal that included libations. My bald head will be redecorated by a diaper Da Vinci.
Do the Chibson necks break as quickly as on an authentic Gibson Les Paul? It's a built in factory feature on all Gibsons to have breakable necks, it's why you have to pay twice the price of any other similar guitar. The kind of craftsmanship needed to break necks on a whim is an exclusive Gibson feature and they make you pay for it.
I'd take that fake anyday, it has a great wood, so I would only slap in a couple of gibson burstbuckers, gotoh tuners, bridge, potetiometers and 3-way switch and would have a kick ass guitar to play @ home. I mean, I can see how it's wrong to sell those fakes as an original gibson, this is absolutely wrong, but to have this as a cheap project guitar to play at home is something I can vouch for. (I would as them to write CHIBSON on the headstock, would look great xD)
So? And if the Chinese used wood which is protected by CITES? The US Customs will tear your a** apart. The Chinese give a shit about severe deforestation, they are the cause.
I cannot believe that you watch this video and see the faults of this guitar. Then come away believing that this SUPREME P.O.S.would make a decent guitar. These guitars are total trash. Just find a decent lower priced guitar.
Better add a refret and some way to fill those massive body cavities to your long list of fixes! And the wood looks like basswood, with a micro-thin veneer, IMO.
If you drop it slightly and the neck breaks off then it means it’s real
Yeah, that's the way they test them.
Hehehehehe👍
Lol
Then iets real broken
Hardly.
i actually bought one of these specifically to smash on stage at a big show i was part of. BUT, out of the box, i couldnt bring myself to destroy it. it played beautifully, it sounds devine and i cant fault it. never loses tune, was even intonated strait outa the box. the finish was superb, action was perfect. in a blind test with 3 other guitarists from other bands, it was hands down a better sound than my actual gibson lp. i still use it and i did once think about re stickering it, but i decided to proudly play my $230 chibson. its still my fav guitar outa my 2 expensive gibsons and 2 strats. ive looked for one since but cant find a website anymore here in australia for another chibo. (also bought a $130 fake strat called econau from ebay years ago with amp, stand and accessories, also a very nice guitar once i set the action on the bridge, litterally 10 minutes work) theres so much to be said about cheap guitars, i feel a bit ripped off paying 5 grand for my les paul. i love the LP and strats, dont get me wrong, but i feel the world has been bamboozled by fender and gibson.
@@ULTIMATEPATCHES had it 10+ years, spent less on it than my fenders. cant really say the components have failed yet. but have replaced 2 tuners and 2 tone knobs on a strat that is half the age of the cheapy. i doubt ya can seriously say the cheapies are bad value for any reason. considering all fender parts are chinese. bith my cheapies are still 100% as bought and still perfect. if youre putting them down without owning one, then youre an overpaid brand warrior who only uses high end stuff even if its inferior. and i gotta say, fender seems quite inferior to the 100 buck guitars.
Not only are fender and gibson overpriced for what they offer, the markup is also insane where I am. I could get a decent entry level Cort, Ibanez, or Yamaha for less than the squier sonic telecaster. Chinese brands are even cheaper
THE BEST Les Paul for the money is an AGILE. Hands down great finish, you can set them up perfect! Yep, may need a small amount of fret clean up, yep, the electronics are ok, but could use an upgrade, but with a true full 3/4 maple cap, ebony fretboard, grover tuners these are awesome. Never will i buy a Gibson or Fender, way overrated and overpriced!
Econau strat it's awesome
@@mathewfoley1531 yeah for sure, since writing that comment, I've pulled out the econau Strat and giving it a screaming revival. It's brilliant. Mines still how I got it of eBay years ago. Nothing new on it.
Workers in China watching, taking notes for the correction of the next batch
They don't need to - they're made quick and cheap, and they have enough dumb customers to keep them in business.
@@andytraverse who’s really the dumb ones here, the people who spend 3k plus on a guitar, or the guy who can buy one that looks identical for 300
@@andytraverse
I'm looking to buy the Elvis Gibson for display only
My Chibson from 5 years ago is going strong Spent one year in storage just got it back. Needed new strings. Nothing fallen off, twisted or broken.!
If they fix all these issues, their QC would be better than Gibson proper
You should have had little Rabbits tattooed all over your head.
From a distance they can be mistaken for Hares.
*slow clap*
Not last time I looked. And it didn't sting when I had a piss.
I had a delayed laugh when I finally got it. lol
Hilarious!
Then he can join the Hare Club for Men along with Randy and Stan Marsh .
I have six of these and all had the bridge pickups were changed to EMG 81’s with Grover tuners. Not one person has called them out as fake yet. I eventually tell them they’re all fake and it blows their minds. I did bring one to a guitar shop here locally to have the fretboard reworked and it did take the guy a few minutes to look at it before suspecting it being fake. I joked with him and said I paid $3k for it at guitar center. He changed his mind and then said “maybe I’m wrong”. I then told him it’s a fake and when he took off the back coffin case plate he recognized it immediately with the bad woodwork underneath. It was the first time he had personally actually seen one of the infamous “Chibsons” and was impressed.
between the voice and the head tattoos, I imagine your shop is located in a lair underneath a volcano
Good thing he is a luththier. Imagine showing up at job interview with head tattoo. (Sorry no offense 😂)
Or Hastings!
Try just outside Dorchester in good old Dorset…their workshop is down the road from me
The voice does not match the head tattoos 😂
Menacingly Posh 😁
Shaun W
He sounds like he should be wearing a tweed smoking jacket talking about classic cigars
He looks and sounds like Rob Halford, so it seems to be a good match to me.
@@Kjca_1998 LOL , exactly !
That was a dare project.
You really redeemed yourself at the end of Thor: Ragnarok.
Very funny!
Ha! He was!!!
Hilarious!!!
Bahahaha! You sir win the internet today.
If Skurge went "shaky cam" on some asses, maybe he'd have lived.
To my eye, that's not a solid flamed maple top...look at the side of the pickup hole around 14:00 and see if you can also spot the laminate. Great video, though, thanks!
cheap Les Paul copies were often made this way back in the '70's, Ibanez being one company who resorted to it, though some were non-laminated, glued-in neck jobs that were awfully good.
Yes I saw exactly the same veneer very clear :)
Yep, glad someone else has noticed this. Definitely laminated, even visible in the screw hole beside pick up cavity.
One way you can tell it's not a real Gibson is that the headstock isn't broken off.
LMAO!!!!!!
Lmfao burn burn😁
The Rogue Tomato 😂🤣🤣
It's not hard to keep a Les Paul in good condition. Just look after your guitar and you won't have an issue
Yet.
>goes bald
"I see a canvas here."
Ahhh soooo! I am Chinese thank you for point out all mistates we fix all those in next run and you no tell differencts
th-cam.com/video/-8mtk4Hf2Ds/w-d-xo.html please visit my channel.
Zone47
Can you fix my motorcycle its a Wooflungdung 125cc?
@@g4joe I just sent you a to0b of superglue! That is all you need.
Boo
Ahhh thats what you are a shameless pig who knows nothing but copy. So yes you go do what you do best fucktard.
You look kinda intimidating with your head tattoos and shaved head, but then you start talking and have a voice of a true gentleman that has dedicated his life to making others feel welcome and safe in his presence
Shame on me and my prejudices
Judging voices is still a prejudice
"...often used to refer to preconceived, usually unfavourable, judgments toward people or a person because of their..."
Private school meets biker!
BAU agent here
He's a freak. An educated freak, but still a freak. Keep him away from dogs and children.
I don't think the F stamp on the pickup means that it's failed. The neck pickup on my epiphone is also stamped with an F and the bridge has an R stamped on it. Unless epiphone sells their guitars with failed pickups the F can't be for "Failed", I think it stands for Front and Rear.
some manufacturers do, but they also label them B and N for Bridge and Neck. Ive definately got a few with F stamped on them (including a Dimarzio from the 80s)
Also, dont some of them use F for F spaced?
Jeff Barber
"F" on chinese neck pickup means "Front". Bridge stamped as "R" - "Rear"
badagon i swapped epiphone pickups recently. your are right.
F = front R = rear.
I changed pickups to our singer's Epi SG and it had the same F stamped on the neck pickup too. And R on bridge pickup.
I believe you, but it's quite a coincidence, considering that the designation is likely put on the pickup for the convenience of the factory worker. Does the Chinese word for "front" also begin with an 'F'?
the kerning in the "Grover" machine heads are a classic example of : it would have been the same price to make it nice! While much of Gibson copying is all about materials and saving costs, this video highlights the fact that the copy houses have been garnering luthier skills and experience over the last few decades and that even with cheaper materials a fine instrument can be had delivered in a hard case for little cost.
plot twist: that's a real gibson
Marcos Pintor now that would be a heck of a plot twist 😄
Not really a plot twist. A lot “high end” manufacturers are going way cheaper than they should, while some new comers are getting better quality and quality control while still being cheaper than the “high end” brands.
LOL, good one, ironic
I really wonder.... it would be interesting to try and chase down the distribution chain from the seller of this one to the manufacturer and see if you end up at a Gibson factory.
And the calls - they're coming from INSIDE THE HOUSE!!!
But how does it sound!?
Right. That's the main criteria I used for the last guitar I bought. Of course the tuners and string distance from the frets had to be right. I ended up buying a high end Garrison over a low end Gibson. I just liked the feel and sound of the thing.
It can't sound too good with shit on backwards and misaligned.
@@Jeff-ik9zj those fake Gibson's are not made in Epiphone Factory nor are they made with Epiphone parts and any of them stamped with Epiphone on the back of the pickups are counterfeit it's just like the counterfeit Grover tuners.
Idead you do not know Gibsons. Easiest way to say it is not Gibson is that neck binding does not go around fret edges...
@@ivanrohal7489 Really??? Have a look at 2015 model year.
I'd like to see this redone today and see how far they've come along
At the end of the day it all comes down to the feel, playability and sound of the guitar. I came across Chibson last year and it felt really good and sounded very similar to a REAL Gibson. Yes these fakes are just wrong, but on a pure value for money level they are much better value than Gibson (most of the time).
You can tell plainly on the right side of the pickup cavity its a veneer. Also, the neck binding doesnt have fret knibs. The angle of the headstock. Dead give away. Actually nitro finish?
@@nicholasdufek8944 Yes, I'm surprised he didn't mention the fret nibs. I'm pretty sure these fakes don't have nitro finishes.
There are much better guitars than this one on the market. Strange that you don't see any videos about them.
Great review Sir, do you have any information about the fret board? Is it engineered wood?
@@markcheetah4960 I was pretty sure I saw stain bleed in the pick up hole. So I think you're right. Good eye
Plot twist: It really is a Gibson.
Would anyone be surprised?
For $230, I'd buy a Gibson.
*(Lots of people misunderstanding my comment. That was my way of saying I don't like the sound of Gibson guitars, and wouldn't pay much for one if I were ever interested. They sound a bit harsh or unpleasant to my ear. Let the Gibson fan-boy flaming begin.)*
13:33 changes his story , has a real flame maple top! He better get some more ugly skull tats
Gibson makes great guitars!!!! I have a slew of them..
@@jimr5703 I'll see your $230 and go to $200.
It was fun to watch you take the guitar apart. Actually I have seen real Gibson's with worse finish blems and binding issues. Overall a good time.
GuiTar
There are a tone of chibson videos out now. Has anyone realized that videos breaking them down is the same as posting a training video for them?
Good point. Let's not help anybody get BETTER at this.
True, but if people put out enough of these videos, maybe someday the Chibsons will be even better than Gibsons lol
@@joshs.5384 someday? They basically already are. A real supreme is better than this. But this compsred to a real standard. This is almost as good. Change hardware and put some wolftone or lollar pickups and boom. And im a gibson guy till death do us part. But damn. They are killing me
i brought that point up on a Gibson Les Paul page and they pretty much laughed me out of it. i'm glad someone else thinks this way.
IMO you can give them all the info you want. It still costs money to do things the right way.
letter spacing is Kerning, not kerfing. kerfs are cuts in a stick that allow it to bend. They use those to support acoustic tops.
Kerf is the width of the cut.
Ive got a 59' Les Paul re-issue fake aka " Chibson ". Beautiful fit and finish, as good or better than many of the real " Gibson" I've played. Paid $ 300 including Gibson labeled hard shell case. Replaced the tuners, added a pair of Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Specials wired with Emerson pots to 50's specs. Killer sound and looks with less than $ 600.00 invested.
I feel like you forgot about the most important thing... The sound and how it plays.
I imagine fixing the orientation of the bridge, replacing the tuners, and checking the setup would be a good start. I suspect with the original tuners it'd sound pretty awful.
The mis-alignment of the bridge actually occurred in some of the original" '59 holy-grail" guitars.
That is not the most important thing at all. The fact is it was sold deceptively as something that it is not. Dishonesty is dishonesty no matter how you slice it. If you can't sell something on its own merit then you are a crook. Love or hate Gibson, this is a blow up doll.
Not going to play very well with frets that feel like sandpaper
I bought a Les Dawson , could this be fake ?
Les Dennis would be mate
Could be worse, could have been a Mel Gibson...
Na man no worries... les Dawson is the real deal...everytime ...
Casting about for a new violin and case, several years ago I caved to cheap and new.....and was astonished at the delivery of a quality sounding instrument. A minor flaw in the case....and I had to search around for a decent bow. But where, the playability, the finish, the wood construction was simply superb. And, I am happy, very happy with a full, rich sound quality.
Placing that curious well comprised finding as a match up to Gibson knock off, well, not in the same realm. Where, as a perhaps 1954 Gibson mandolin, or a 64 hollow body...demonstrate a mastery of craft...as tone and build quality...remarkable to stringed instrument. Sheer demand, perhaps driving the new devices as rip off and shoddy quality where good and superb quality had gone before, anchored the brand to a best everything at price.
Watching this post....I found myself breaking into laughter....as where I view a craftsman...with every pride in fitment and skill spotted sham components, slap dash alignments and just semi likeness to finished composites. Each finding delivered with a warning, as somewhere just ahead.....real scam potential exists and will strike the unwary, the would be collector with deficit in identifiiers.
Such troublesome rip off avenues.....sadly...too common...too close in trademark...to often seized
and where exist only to fraud and malfeasance. Alas.
Thank you for the post...as I am now armed to roam my world, at once full in the craft led inspection
as would be ghost in the gibson shell proved pseuo crab plastic where oyster shell exists to light reflection. M.
Smoking strange substances?
Been buying lots of "cheap" foreign guitars, very impressed for the most part, and just recently got my first "Chibson" which, you guessed it, could have "fooled me", so very much appreciate this. First time I've seen the pickup wiring without a back plate. Would have been nice to hear a sound sample. What did you think of the multi-layer binding? Cheers!
This was a totally awesome video. I appreciate you showing us how to spot a fake. Absolutely enjoyed the way you went through everything and pointed out the flaws. I am amazed at the solid maple in this fake. Thanks again for sharing.
If you need to go through all that to spot a fake Gibson,then maybe you should just take a guitar player with you next time to the store... 😳
CaSayVopWochoot4faks!
Letter spacing you refer to is called kerning... kerf is the width of a saw cut
The fact that the control knobs sort of "slant in" doesn't necessarily mean that it's a fake Gibson. Even on genuine Gibsons, the knob positions tend to differ slightly, depending on what the guy drilling the holes did the night before...
it will not pass the inspection then..you really think they would sell a guitar with different holes
Them Gibson holes are drilled with a gang drill .
Just like the Gretsches from the 1950s. Quality wasn't consistant, but they sound good all the same.
@@alexf1525 depending on what the inspection guy did the night before. The holes on my seventies ES-150 were drilled correctly... but the control knobs were completely out of line screwed to the headstock. How difficult would that job be?
13:54 - where you are scraping the pickup hole (at the "front" of the hole), if you look to the left of it (so in the picture, the area in the top left of the pickup hole if you were looking on the screen) you can see a line of finish where (I assume) the veneer top has been glued on. dunno if you notice this later in the vid as I paused it. I reckon that shows the glue line for the veneer. I may be wrong, but i cant see a proper flame maple top being put on that unless its from a less reputable source and therefore not a sustainable source. That could indicate illegal wood being used.
I saw that too and wondered if that was the veneer line.
Not only that, but the flame in the top doesn't appear on the side of the pickup hole. It's most probably a veneer.
It probably is, there is another video of a gibson owner tearing apart a chibson, and shows that it is a veneer.
Guy Persona Which is what all the Epiphones (that seem to be the model these things are based on) have, so most probably it's a yes.
I thought that was a stain line.. However, I've been told by people who have refinished these that it is a veneer but such a thin one that you will struggle to see the glue line, quite amazing really.
Look at the top of that pickup cavity, how do you not see the glue line between the veneer and the maple top?
8:36 - The distance or spacing between letters is called "kerning".
From a former phototypositor.
Adjustments between letter pairs is kerning - broadly though the right term is letterspacing or, synonymously, tracking.
Surely, the spacing between letters is the kern, and kerning is the verb for refining that spacing !
not Mother of phototypositor ?
A kernel is a bit of corn, if that helps...
@@thetessellater9163 Not necessarily: "plating" is both the verb and the metal that has been plated onto the base metal.
"I'm not an expert on Gibson..."
*Demonstrates the sharp eye for detail and the knowledge of a Gibson expert.*
Regarding the centre line; did you do measurements? Are you sure that the neck and hardware aren’t actually straight and rather the flame laminate was glued on off-centre? That seems more likely to me.
13:55 in, look at the line on the low E side of pickup cavity- CLEARLY appears to be a veneer
Yeah you are correct. There’s no way they’d use a high grade piece of maple for a cheap piece of shit lol
@@Lamster66 I’m aware of that. However; in contrary, it makes sense Gibson doesn’t use a high grade maple top on a solid painted body. The whole point of using a high grade maple top is so people see the details of the wood.
That's just a little line of varnish or paint, you can see where it stops. Where'd the veneer go where he scraped it then? If it was veneer you would see it even better where he scraped it.
I agree. Even with a razor blade, you're not going to cleanly and effortlessly slice figured maple as you did, even along the grain. You should have sliced across the grain and it would have been apparent that this is veneer and you would easily see the glue line. Also, the proper way to identify the species of wood is examining the end grain with a jeweler's loop.
I can imagine him drunk sounds like captain Jack sparrow 😂😂
Dig your show!! I think you do a great job educating antique pickers like me! I've seen a couple of Chibson videos now and think I'll be able to tell which is what.
The most obvious being the back of the guitar.
Until recently, I've bought and sold mostly electric guitars.. I've sold 3 or 4 Les Paul's. Glad I never bought a Chibson by accident!
Liked what you said about buying Chibsons to learn the Luther's Art.
Absolutely love your show!
I'd love to see a video on real vs. fake Rickenbacker basses. I know of several people who thought they were buying the real thing only to wind up with a cheap copy - that they paid a lot of money for. I couldn't tell just by looking at it them that they were fakes - which is scary!
Some terminated epiphone employees must have got together and decided to start a company.
or its rejects from along the line, made to counterfiets to recoup the loss (thus the flaws) , or student guitars where they found a way to resell them and recoup costs, (thus the flaws)
Apparently you haven't played a NEW Epi....they are knockin out some pretty damn nice instruments these days....
I’ve looked up dozens of pictures of genuine Gibson LPs, and my own Gibson Trad Pro LP, and the adjustment screws on the tunomatic bridge actually do face forward towards the bridge pickup, not as you suggest the other way around, so that is not a fault on the Chibson. Having noted that, to me at least, I don’t understand why they mount it that way, as it just makes it more difficult to adjust them? Certainly on my Fender teles the screws face rearwards and are easy to access.
One of life's little mysteries.
While you're chiseling away at the top why not just look at the edge of the pickup hole where the adjustment screw is cleared and you can see the veneer plain as day.
Spudboy182 exactly what I was thinking. A solid flamed maple top on a Chibson smh
they spray paint the tops . That is pine board ... Not Maple. Not even maple top...
@Dave Males Wood grain effect can be applied into the paint, by a skilled faker.
@Dave Males no one is making you buy one... If I wanna buy a chinese knock off ill do just that. That being said, I did order it intentionally unbranded. But I could easily argue you are a fool for spending thousands of dollars more on a guitar that is marginally better... Especially if your Gibson was made in the last decade or so.
A decent review. That being said, I've never met a craftsman who wasn't critical of another's work. It's like you getting the plumber in, and he says, "Who did this then?"
You say at 10.48. that the screws on the bridge are backwords.
I own several Gretsch guitars which have the screws the same way as this guitar .
I often wonderd why that is because you can't reach them with fine tuning.
Do you know why the ( also high end ) Gretsch guitars make that this way?
When you said about the bridge being on backwards, that used to be a standard Gibson practice. Every 59 I have seen in books etc have their bridges on that way round with the screws pointing toward the headstock.
Freddie Ellis This. My legit Epihpone also has it.
My 56 VOS Goldtop also has the bridge like this.
I agree with that. The screws can be either way. But in this case, the bridge is really on backwards. Look at the grooves in the saddles. The high E string is sitting in the widest groove. The low E in the thinnest.
My 2000 studio has them that way too.
My Gibson LP CB Standard had the saddle adjusters pointing to the headstock too.
Come to think of it, so did my Gibson Flying V....
... And my current (...on the bench project) Hohner L75 (Les Paul copy) is fitted likewise.
.
In fact, I've rarely seen 'Tune-o-matics' fitted with the screws facing away from the body...
If one thinks about intonation adjustment, depending upon how low one sets the stop-tail piece, one usually finds that the strings, once over the saddle are at a sharp downward angle. Which makes fine adjustment with a flat-head screwdriver more difficult, because the the sharp angled strings impede access to the screw. With screws fitted on the pickup side, this is not an issue, access is unimpeded, as the strings are obviously level and one can get the screwdriver in position, beneath the string.
it's been a couple years since I first saw this video. But here's the deal. At the time I was messing around with guitar (before getting serious) and as my first electric, sort of as a "joke" I bought a Chibson. I must have gotten one from the right factory. It needed a good professional fret level and setup, but other than that it was quite nice. Perhaps foolish, I put a set of custom pickups in it and rewired it. Along the way, two years later I bought a genuine Gibson LP Standard, numbered, limited edition. But you know what? Every time I had a gig I grabbed the Chibson. It sounded as good as the genuine. Played as well as the genuine and was 2 pounds lighter than the genuine. Sold the Gibson and have no qualms at all about keeping the Chibson. I can never sell it legally anyway, but that's ok. It's as good as any electric I've ever played. My only (slight) regret is that I didn't order it with a custom label and it says Gibson on the headstock. But you know what? Nobody has ever guessed that it was a fake. In fact, one day I brought it into a Sam Ash and had it side by side with a genuine LP. I asked others to play them both and tell me which they preferred... 2 out of 3 preferred the fake. Sad, but true.
....right on...
So I was trying to find a reference to compare to with what you were going over and pointing out. Couldn't find an example on the Gibson site, but I did fine something on a site called Sweetwater that looks surprisingly like this guitar (indicates it is no longer available, maybe it is the same). I would like to know how to identify a fake, but with (like you stated) lower quality of work coming out of Gibson these days how do you know this isn't actually a Gibson manufacture? The only reference I could find on Gibson site was a 125th Anniversary Supreme that of course has a different head stock insignia but the same gold plate at the nut. So how do you know it's not a Gibson with poor quality control? Is it just price or lack of Authenticity Certificate or something like that?
The guy who brought it to me bought it direct from China.. doesn't get more fake than that B
I know I'm nearly 4 years late to this video, but I just wanna mention that at 10:53, you mentioned how the bridge is "backwards". This isn't true. In fact, both Gibson and Epiphone seem to have their guitars come out of the factory with the bridges facing one way or another at nearly a 50/50 rate. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to this.
Ultimately, it comes down to preference of the player. I own 5 Les Pauls (3 Epiphone, 2 Gibson), and all 5 of the bridges have the intonation screws facing the neck (the way it is shown in this video). You could easily change the orientation of the bridge, as well as the saddles inside, if that's your inclination :)
I know this is essentially pointless information, but I did want to bring attention (in a friendly way!) to the fact that there really is no "wrong" or "right" way to have the bridge screws facing on an LP!
Meechree , very nicely written .
Shouldn't the screws for adjusting the intonation be at the back? If they're facing the neck then you can't adjust them with strings on the guitar, therefore defeating the whole purpose of their existence, to adjust the fucking intonation.
Unless you go under the strings with a special around corners, understring screwdriver sold by Gibson? Baffling
@@papa_gummybear It's actually extremely easy to adjust them facing the neck. No special tools needed! Like I said, all 5 of my Les Pauls are facing the neck. I've never had any trouble adjusting the intonation at all.
Edit: I should add, this is with the strings on. No problem!
@@Meechree Ive had the Bridge facing both ways,prefer facing the neck as the screws were being worn away by the angle of the strings
If the screws are facing the neck the bridge is on backwards, Period! 😂
pretty sure, F is Front pickup :)
Polishig my Epiphone Black Beauty 3 and have stumbled upon this gentlemans video. This is the second Black Beauty 3 I've had (Bought new) and the more I hear this guy talk away in my living room, the more I realise the 1st BB3 I loved, Cherished and wore round my neck as a teenager 18years ago....Was a fake!! The gold wear on the pick ups was faded silver, The "les paul" name wasn't present on the headstock and the knobs pulled right off. When changing between Rytham/Treble it made a "Uurrgggg!" noise. Maybe ignorance is bliss as a teenager.
Anyhow thank you well spoken tattooed guitar Man! Got my guitar, Bottle of Broon and yourself educating me on the screen. Happy Sunday.
However, I wouldn't say those are $4000 worth of discrepancies. Hence, the problem with Gibson and the demand for these fakes.
Aubrey Dana You do know Gibson sells guitars as fast as they can make them right? Let me guess you don’t even own a Gibson? I didn’t think so. Broke ass!
@@Panic42000 Get better at playing guitar instead of getting better at buying them, Blues lawyer
M L Haha!! I actually play three nights a week. I don’t just play in my bedroom like some people. I’m not rich I save my money. I know that’s a crazy concept. Have fun playing your FAKE Gibson.
BenS123 I dont own any Gibsons. I’d buy a PRS or almost anything else before a Gibson. I like them but theyre just way overpriced for what they are. I’d consider buying an older model
@@Panic42000 why would i buy a Gibson when i could buy a Ibanez or a schecter or a PRS or a fender or a literally any other guitar brand...
Say what you want about Gibson guitars but I've wanted one for quite some time, saved up my money and finally bought a 2018 Gibson Les Paul Traditional. I love it, it plays incredibly well and is very unique. Very pleased with mine!
I like mine to , it's a gold top . Very good crystal clear chords , good solid bite through my JCM 900 50 watt head , slim tapper 60s neck , what more can a guy ask for.
@@epasternak4206 a 1960 Tribute Epiphone new with '57 Classic Gibson pickups and new case and locking Grovers and series/parallel push/pull tone pots.... for $450 total outlay to my door
I agree 💯 great guitars.
the 2018 models seem to be much better quality than a couple years ago. Hopefully the trend continues and someday when Im good enough to justify the money spent for a real Les Paul there is a quality instrument worth buying out there without having to find an old model.
I would have loved to hear you elaborate on the tail piece center line issue. I couldn't follow what you said about that. Was the center line of the tail piece, what made you say the neck was out of alignment? Maybe someone else can explain that part of the video. Thanks for looking at one of these for the rest of us.
I just bought a used 2002 Epiphone Les Paul made in Korea, for about $340 shipped w hard case . An incredible guitar. Incredible. You can't go wrong with Epiphone, and you don't have to spend a lot to get a lot. I'd go Epiphone before Chibson, at least you know an Epiphone has some sort of quality control.... Peace Vince
Snagged a 2010 Epi SG a few days ago and I can't stop playing it! I was blown away. $199 with a case!
@@Crowbar11115 if you can get a used epiphone from a quality plant then I can see it. But if Im buying a new epiphone, or a new "chibson", Ill take the chibson for half the price. They are the same guitar. The epiphone MAY have slightly better QC, but anything the chibson needs to be worked on can be done for much less than the difference in price between the 2. That and its not like Epiphones come set up...
I have some nice guitars, among them an Ibanez Artist AS200 & Kramer Baretta 1 (with the headstock inlays). I've priced them both @ ~ 1500 to 2K ea, and my Epiphone Traditional Pro (with probuckers) is every bit as good. Unbeatable gtr for the money.
Korean epiphones are generally better quality than the Chinese epiphones.
Doug625 same, I’ve got a 2012 Epiphone MIk that I absolutely love. One thing not mentioned here is Chibson holes seldom line up or are sized properly if you’re putting in real electronics, though I suspect Chibson buyers are more for show than to play for any duration.
Mother of toilet seats....
Art Thompson's been using that one for YEARS...
JopesTV
You don't say.
Tuonelan Joutsen My mistake...it was Teisco Del Ray (I think his real name is Dan Forte) who first said it, reviewing 'el cheapo' guitars in Musician magazine in the early 80's. He later had a column in Guitar Player, then went on to the editorial staff. Art followed, as a column writer for off the wall guitars, then as a editorial staff member.
Laughs in rock -n- roll.
You're all wrong. I know genuine mother of bowling ball when I see it.
I have 2 les pauls - a gibson studio deluxe and a studio. both have offset centers where the wood lines up to the left just like this one. I'm not a luthier, but both of mine were bought new and are just like this one. Is that a bad thing on gibson then??
Yes, sadly. Their quality control sucks. Solid though, just aesthetically off. B
Inside is a note that says- help I'm being held prisoner in the basement of the Epiphone factory!
This! B
It looks like a veneer. At about 12 minutes in, 12:10 or so, on the inside of the pickup cavity that is facing the camera and is facing the same direction as the guy talking, you can see the glue line. He can't see it because it's hidden from him. But, don't forget that some of these guitars have a photo-flame in which photosensitive material is sprayed onto the guitar, a mask put over it, exposed to light, and, boom, flamed maple top out of generic wood. It's amusing to me when you see these imports and in the description of the kind of wood the body is made of, it simply says, "wood."
True .. he's scraping WITH the grain of the wood when he should be against the grain. Same as looking at a sound hole edge on a flat top guitar.. it looks like a solid top until you look at the sides.
Thinking i could see veneer while looking at the upper screw hole area of the pickup cavity you removed.
I don't know why it bothered me so badly when he was chiseling away at the wood. Just wanted to yell "stop it!!!!"
You can see that he chipped the finish off the top between the neck and the pickup rout. He shaved too many times when it was already clear it was a maple top. The owner may have given permission but I doubt he wanted him to chip the finish off the top!
Axe Slinger I’m just not seeing that, wherever you’re looking. The pickup trim ring buts right up to the neck anyway. It would have to otherwise the crappy stain job would be evident. 😆 Now, when he started in on the *other* side...
It was clearly a veneer, if you look at the side of the pickup hole. He wouldn't have seen it from where he was standing, but you can tell a 1/16 line.
That killed me too!
Curtis Brayfield Yes, I saw that too.
I must've gotten really lucky. I bought a Gibson LP Furure Tribute new from a Musicians Friend blowout sale for $500 bucks and it's pretty much flawless.
I think the neck may be correctly set and aligned with the bridge - but the top lamination/veneer is off-center. You know how a glue-up can drift when two large flat surfaces are glued together? Once the two surfaces make full contact, they are almost immediately impossible to move further and/or there may have been a surface blemish that forced the layout for rough-cut slightly off-center.
Truth be told - I think it's a brilliant tinkering project. I love getting el cheapo guitars, disassembling them and doing everything that much more expensive guitars have.
By the time I'm done it's still cheaper than the higher spec model, but much more to my own liking.
Let's see. It's a guitar with Gibson name on it BUT as YOU say it's built with quality wood, it's well made, plays well (with few tweaks) and it costs next to nothing comparatively. So, WHERE CAN I BUY ONE?
You should buy en epiphone if you want a proper made guitar that looks like a Gibson, and that is not fake and also comes with a guaranty.
Yes, get an honest Eppi, if you giged wiv that fake one you would get every Gibson nerd on the planet, hitting on your bad planet logo.
@@vtg100 I guess that a good Eppiphone also would sound better, and also last for longer.
@@oysteinsoreide4323 nah...buy a Harley Benton for 1/2 of an Epiphone from the same factory
@@peteanddrake4242 They might be cheaper, but you can't buy them from stores in Norway. I will have to import one. No point for me to do that.
What stood out to me is how jagged and unregular the light seems to break in the highlights. On smooth curves that should look smoother right? The highlights seem to indicate that the curves on this guitar are very irregular.
A real flamed maple top? What about the sides of the picup cotout (where the hight screws go), should you not be able to see patterns in the wood there if it was flamed?
I totally agree, from my high def view, it sure looked like a veneer to me.
@@greg4673 its def a thin veneer. There is no flame or anything to the maple cap underneath. With how flamed the top is its be soo noticable. Like my flame top when i sanded the sides. The edges were flamed as all hell
I was gonna make the same comment; you can clearly see the veneer on the side of the cavity without any chiseling
Photo-flame and no veneer?
@@pedaloof6917 Yes the easiest way to tell the difference is Photo-Flame does not shimmer like solid or veneer flame maple.
“For the inlay they used mother of toilet seat!” 😂😂😂 I just cracked up laughing! That’s awesome!
And he said Gibson was the same
I'm gonna steal that line 🤣
They did a good job on my house, only thing I had to do was swap the front door for the back, not bad for $230.
The largest European reseller , Thomann, does not sell Gibson Guitars anymore. Due to quality prolems. LOL.
I hadn't heard that! This is seriously bad news for the company that used to be the best in the business, so so sad!
+Carl Valentin Is that why?? Wow wtf gibson ever heard of quality control. Was wondering cos I was actually checking how much a LP went for recently and noticed there was just no gibsons. I've head good things about their Harley benton LP copys though
+Pauly Mack Thomann sold a lot of custom-guitars specially made for them by gibson, called "faded","tribute" ...
These "original" gibsons went for 500-700 bucks and had poor qualty. European Ebay is full of these guitars. Gibsons-prices for standards and custom-shops may have helped to end their cooperation. And Zero-frets and electric tuners are not everbodys taste of guitars. They try to fill this segment wit Tokai, Düsenberg, PRS I think.
+Pauly Mack Harley-Benton is low-price made in china. Quality comparable to Epiphone.
+Carl Valentin I've just bought a Tokia Love Rock from Thomann just yesterday. I've also got a Tokai Breezy Sound Telecaster copy. This plays better and sounds nicer than all the Fender Telecasters I've had in the past. Hope the Love Rock Les Paul is as good.
This was so stressful watching and checking the flaws against my LP. I think mine is real.
Oh yeah, the world can ow go on because you have a real Les Paul. I hope you're precious Less Paul gets stolen from you and you never get it back. I'd punch you in the throat if I could.
What about the fret nibs? Did Gibson quit using doing that? I dont think ive ever seen a fake with them.
Re: bridge or stop being off center: any chance it was the veneer on top that was off?
I remember my friends Les Paul copy the "humbucker pup's" where in fact single coils in the casing!
+parttroll1 Idon't think they're single coils mate. All all mine are white and black epi "zebra" humbuckers. unpotted pieces of crap. But that's an easy fix. I switch them out for a set of Duncans.. that's all it takes really to make these guitars sound amazing
Damn! I thought a "humbucker" was two single coils connected so as to cancel out the hum!
Edit: Yep. A humbucker is two single coil pickups with the magnets point north as "up" in one single coil pickup, and the other pointing down.
Thanks for your "info", though!
I had a cheap copy with one single coil pickup in a humbucker sized box.
Yeah,I had a copy like that.cant remember the brand.
So what does and play and sound like?
All the cosmetic stuff doesn’t really matter.
Nobody counterfits a Yamaha RGX121, just sayin.
Sad to say, but I have a genuine Gibson with terrible binding work also...
The other sad part about this is that most all of the points raised in the investigation could easily be addressed to make these even more difficult to spot :(
why did you buy it? Does anyone examine before selection???
I have a gibson sg special....and a chibson sg special.....chibson with new pickups....sounded better....this is sad and not ok
How are the pots secured to the top since they are not mounted from the back?
why don't you ever play these instruments? it would be interesting to have a comparison.
You would make the ultimate movie villain.
+liam clemson thank you :)
XD PLEASE QUIT YOUR JOB AND GET ONE MORE YOUR LEVEL OF APTITUDE. LIKE WASHING HOTWHEELS CARS. you aren't capable of washing real cars. stick to your toys cause you are going to fucking ruin all sorts of people's gear/
I total agree 😊 I imagine Ben stroking a white cat and saying: “So, Mr Bond, you want me to build you a guitar, mawawawa?!
Liam CM I
@Toney Bartlett ...good for me...bad for you.
Have you seen the D.H.GATE guitars like the Peter Green model that looks like the original right down to the scratches ? Please review.
I can see the veneer on the left side of the pickup cavity. There's no way that's a solid flamed maple cap.
Yes at first glance i thought that also but soon realised it was finish absorption.
@@businesscrimewatch199 it's a veneer. Look at the frame at 12:34. You can plainly see the veneer on the left side of the pickup cavity.
@@DesertScorpionKSA Oh really, Please explain why your claimed veneer was not revealed during the tech's chisel tests?
@@businesscrimewatch199 if you can't see the veneer on the left side of the pickup cavity, you're legally blind.
@@DesertScorpionKSA Nah, your blinded by the truth. The fluorides obviously working.
Wake up all Gibson`s are mass produced. There are factory vids on You Tube.
Which is why some luthiers 'diss' Gibson quite a lot. You can get a hand-built instrument to your spec from a craftsman for the price of an off-the-peg Gibbo. Once you can ween yourself off the romance of the Gibson name you can get much better value or much better quality.
+NICK nikki Welcome to marketing.
NICK nikki So? Chinese guitars aren't bad at all once the regulations have been cranked up. Back in the 80's and 90's when China was still a peipheral country the quality was utter horseshit due to low costs. But take a look at the Classic Vibe 50's and 60's, they're almost equal to a MiM strat but for $200 less.
+Richard Jagger Are there honestly people who don't know that Gibsons are mass produced? I don't understand your point. You might as well inform us that Nike shoes are also mass produced.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\AND YOUR POINT IS.
How much would it cost to get the parts from gibson and grover to make it as gibson as possible ?
if i were to just hear you speak i never would guess you have tattoos all over your head. lol
I like dichotomy in all things, thanks for your support!
+Robert Weeks I like dichotomy in all things too. Can I have a medal please?
Tatts are no longer being sported by bikers and rough types. Everyone has them nowadays, even my 40 year old eldest daughter and good luck to her and anyone else feels like a tattoo. I might get one too I'm 64 and a crappy musician now that's two good reasons to mark up my skin. Oh yes,..also mine won't fade before I'm dead..
He also sounds taller
Bam Bam Bigelow
Well done on the break down of the details exposing this as a knock off, interesting that some of the early knock off Gibson brands like Lotus probably had better hardware on them.
What do you think of Jackson Monarkha JS22 lower prices model, I love it why?
It's amazing how some tattoos go out of fashion so quickly.
This dude takes bad tattoos to another level.
It has a veneer, you can see it clearly at the side of the pickup hole.
I noticed that but wasnt surtain
Diego
You are incorrect. Definitely, definitely not a veneer.
I know, I was screaming, “look at the side you idiot”!
Someone gave me one as a gift not knowing it was fake ,but it doesn’t tune right what should I do. Buy authentic parts or are there trick to make them sound better. I dont know alot about them
Ah-ha...sank you mister...we fix these things for our next run of fake Gibsons...I tell boss-man what we must fix. lol
KJS Stewart (OMG 😂😂😂😂😂)!!!
Hahahahaha
It’s 2020, and I just got my first Chibson, a 59 custom black beauty. It’s gorgeous, and I found only one QC issue. A small sliver on the fretboard, only a small flaw that’s hard to see, and doesn’t effect play. The truss rod is wrong, but it’s a two way, and works as well. I have a crappy little amp at the house, and it sounds fine for my home use. I’ve been playing for a while, and this is a quality guitar.
Lmao
Nahh, they wont, it'd take too much time and trouble to all that, besides, they'd have to charge more for it.
It's very interesting to hear the Devil talk about guitars
lifewithjesse 😂😂😂😂😂
@marlene riggs Calm down, Marlene.
marlene is feeling kinda angsty.. Lel
Satan!
@marlene riggs MAGA KAG marlene
Fender started all this in the 70s. They got Uncle Mat to make their guitars cheaper than was possible in the US. When they actually figured out the damage this would do to the brand, they renamed the US/Euro market ones 'Squier'. But the cat was out of the bag.
Honest to God, before I saw this video when you mentioned that former, Chinese Epiphone employees are making these Chibsons, I had the exact same theory when I first heard about the Chibson counterfeit ring. I reckoned that the reason the Chibsons were highly "accurate" to the average guitarist is because Chinese Epiphone employees most likely make detailed measurements, and take photos of the Epiphone parts, designs, construction methods, etc... How else could they get so close to the real thing? Also, I watched a documentary about China's manufacturing industry, and this Chinese factory owner proudly boasted that they steal western technologies, and products, and make their own copies on the side. Apparently US, and other Western businesses are very aware of this, but that's the price they pay for getting their product made cheap, by a corrupt government that has no standards, and has no shame in not having any original ideas. It makes me angry at how bad we Americans, and other Western countries got screwed by our businessmen, and politicians on the NAFTA deal. China is definitely laughing all the way to the bank, along with our businessmen, and politicians. What little the West does import to China gets taxed so high no one can afford it.
expect nothing more to be what it is crap put together with luck as their guide
Congratulations to "OldOakSyndicate" -- After watching the video and reading mostly inane comments here, I have over an hour gone. Finally some one gets it - at least mostly. Until now, NO ONE has mentioned that Gibson (and every other US manufacturer) is being ripped off by the Chinese. It isn't right and when you buy these things you are supporting counterfeiting. If the "Chibsons" are so damn well made, why doesn't the rip-off artist simply put his own brand on them? They do it because morally bankrupt people will buy them and think they're getting one over on Gibson. The Chinese that build these things aren't doing it for fun. They make a profit; off Gibson's work product and most likely also on the backs of workers who are being exploited like hell. So, I hope y'all feel good about yourselves. If you were building a high end product and the Chinese ripped you off it wouldn't feel so good would it? And all I'm hearing so far is "buy it and put genuine parts on it". Right. Lets buy a fake and then make a dust cloud headed to the "real" parts shop and make it better. You people are sickening.
And, BTW, those of you getting a "tee-hee" out of the "mother of toilet" thing are just showing your ignorance. That expression has been around forever
@@nickswango869 you don't have a clue what youre talking about. The reason these fakes are made with gibsons logo and not given a brand is because gibson sues everyone for copying their guitar shapes, headstock shapes. In my opinion, buying one of these is supporting guitar makers too.
I think your kid has found your magic marker-beware!!
Yes, this tells me not to fall asleep in front of the TV after a heavy meal that included libations. My bald head will be redecorated by a diaper Da Vinci.
Shouldn't the binding on the neck cover the fret tangs (nibs)?
Beautiful guitar, I'm glad I'm not picky about my guitars, I just play them
When Hannibal Lector finishes a stint as a touring member for Biohazard
Do the Chibson necks break as quickly as on an authentic Gibson Les Paul? It's a built in factory feature on all Gibsons to have breakable necks, it's why you have to pay twice the price of any other similar guitar. The kind of craftsmanship needed to break necks on a whim is an exclusive Gibson feature and they make you pay for it.
I'd take that fake anyday, it has a great wood, so I would only slap in a couple of gibson burstbuckers, gotoh tuners, bridge, potetiometers and 3-way switch and would have a kick ass guitar to play @ home.
I mean, I can see how it's wrong to sell those fakes as an original gibson, this is absolutely wrong, but to have this as a cheap project guitar to play at home is something I can vouch for. (I would as them to write CHIBSON on the headstock, would look great xD)
So? And if the Chinese used wood which is protected by CITES? The US Customs will tear your a** apart. The Chinese give a shit about severe deforestation, they are the cause.
All it'll end up being is just a wall-hanger when the totally unseasoned wood starts to warp and makes it totally unplayable.
I cannot believe that you watch this video and see the faults of this guitar. Then come away believing that this SUPREME P.O.S.would make a decent guitar. These guitars are total trash. Just find a decent lower priced guitar.
Better add a refret and some way to fill those massive body cavities to your long list of fixes! And the wood looks like basswood, with a micro-thin veneer, IMO.
Can't beat a good wood!!!