ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Just when we thought that the rise of budget guitar ranges like Harley Benton and Vintage had heralded the demise of the Chibson and fake counterfeit guitar racket in China, the beast raises its ugly head again.
Recently I have received several warnings and questions about sellers using Facebook to sell knock off Chinese guitars and also I have been helping more people than ever with disputes when they have been among the many ripped off on Chinese websites.
I haven't made one of these warning videos in such a long time and I thought that this latest crescendo in issues indicated that it was long overdue.
Here then, is my latest horror story buyer beware video.
Please respectfully remember that I do not presume to TELL you what to think or do, I am simply giving you the straight talking facts as I see them. While I am totally against trademark infringements of any kind, I fully accept that all I can do is give you my opinion for what it's worth. So here it is...again!
Thanks for watching and take good care folks!
You have but one life - live and enjoy it. Peace :o)
#fakeguitars
#china
#copies
#chibson
#counterfeit
#lespaul
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It is fine to buy from China. Just not counterfeit brand name guitars. There are some Chinese builders that will build you a quality custom guitar for around $400US including shipping. 10S guitars being one excellent example.
Economically that's going to be about $85 in shipping and $315 in guitar, where other sellers of chinese made guitars in your home country got them shipped for much less in bulk and may have more value left over to sell you.
I have a real Les Paul that pretends to be a guitar.
I had 6 that pretended, at $12,000 ! My chibby is better for a third of the price ! At this point Gibson is selling a name not a product, and this guy is definitely either being paid or is playing boyscout by lying
For me, Chinese guitars gives me a chance to know about guitars. The fun is fixing them.
It's true as you're not messing up a 4k guitar but learning to set up and work on them. Goodness knows many of them need it!
@@Chinaguitarsceptic . . . as do the ones from Gibson!
I've got a little Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul I bought from Guitar Center and it's great for me. I can suck just as badly on a $200 guitar as I can on a $2,000 guitar.
I'm sure you don't mate!
And another thing I'll say... Gibson asked for this by far over pricing their guitars. Why should we give a crap if their brand is ripped off when they have ripped off their own customers for many years ? Charging $3500 for a guitar that cost them about $400 to make is a crime !
only a person who doesn't understand economics make an idiot statement like that. what's your hourly pay. hmm. want all give none
Chibsons have improved considerably. My 2017 LP is pretty good for $180 US. It has Epiphone pickups and could use better tuners, but it compares well with a €500 Epiphone. Any guitar bought online can be a disaster. You can end up with a half-decent guitar cheap or a piece of crap. Gibson ripped me off in 1991, refusing to honor a prepaid order, so I have no qualms about buying stuff with a Gibson logo on it; if it's crap, that means it's very close to the real thing.
LOL you actually made me chuckle out loud with your last comment. Glad you had a good experience and didn't get ripped off my friend. :-)
Spot on! You'd have to try very hard to make a guitar as crap as a Gibson!
Tell me about it
Which seller?
They are not Authentic Epiphone pickups the pickups are also faked
To be honest that purple LP looks amazing. I really hope Harley Benton will make a SC550 deluxe edition in that colour.
@They Live Very well worded! I have the same thing. Currently i still suck at playing guitar so HB is more then good enough for whatever i can do currently. And hearing what people can do with them shows me they are really good.
In fact there is a video from Eytschpi42 with a guy from Macmull playing strats in different price ranges. And yes the MacMull is by far the very very very best sounding one. But the 119 HB really didnt sound that bad specially compeared to the strats in the neighboring price class. Sure i understand that the finish and feeling isnt anywhere near the higher price ones but still it sounded really good.
If one day i can play well and can afford it i might buy a more expensive guitar. I kinda like the Chapman ghostfred guitars. But i might go for something higher end ibanez.
Okay and if i really really have the money. It will be a macmull boy those sound amazing. And a gibson lespaul r8 damn that one was so much better then the others.
I just ordered one. I have LesPaul standard which cost me $2900.00. A friend brought his Chibson over to compare $300. I immediately could tell the difference by the way it played and sounded. However its wasn’t that bad and looked great. These guitar are great deal. I don’t judge anyone. Just never try to sell as the real deal. The more people that are educated the less chance of this happening. So good for you.
Sept. 27, 2022 - I ordered a Steinberger clone (white w/2 humbuckers ala Vito Bratta)
Oct. 3, 2022 - I am told it has been shipped.
Oct. 7, 2022 - Tracking stops updating.
Today is Oct. 19, 2022 and I don't know if the guitar is still in China, or on a plane bound for the US.
I requested they remove the "Steinberger" name from the guitar so it shouldn't have any problem clearing Customs. The frustrating part is not knowing where it is at the moment because tracking stopped updating. I realize the guitar may very well be a POS, but it was only $153 USD (plus an outrageous $82 for shipping), but I can't afford thousands for a real Steinberger, and even the cheaper "Spirit" line of Steinbergers are hard to find for under $600. They sold for around $400 when new, so they're not worth $600+. I just wanted the guitar for it's cool body shape and to hopefully find the right stickers to put on it and make it a real White Lion guitar so it can keep my EVH stripe and Steve Vai Jem jr guitars company. 🙂
Good luck getting it. Hopefully it won't get confiscated
You can tell a fake from the real thing. The fake is built better and stays in tune.
I had an acoustic/electric built in the Taylor 914CE style. Had them delete all labels and model number stamps, etc. Had my logo done on the head-stock (+$20). Really lovely guitar. Not loud, actually quiet and muted as an acoustic, but the Fishman style system works fine. I just wanted a full on rosewood (Indian) and abalone inlaid guitar for show, and it's a show piece for sure. Gets lots of comments. Bottom line is some of the Chinese craftsmen are good luthiers/builders. One just has to do a LOT of research to find the small custom shop that will build what you want.
I'd never buy a fake with logo's and builder marks. Why? You know it ain't real. As soon as one of your friends who's a player picks it up, they'll know it ain't real and then the ribbing will start :D
For me, I wouldnb't buy from an online store, no matter which country, if I wasn't able to hold them accountable for meeting their obligations. Secondly, I will never buy a Gibson / Fender / Martin etc etc because the prices charged is just plain stupid....especially for a solid body electric. When you look at what you get for your money via Harley Benton, the the law of diminishing returns dictates that the Gibsons, Fenders et al are having a laugh at the people who get a hard on from seeing that logo on their instruments headstock!
I don't condone counterfeit products, but I also don't condone manufacturers of guitars (especially solid body electrics) from ripping off the musicians. Those companies can kiss my ass!!
I can't disagree mate. Good call on the Bentons. For me they are incredible value. 👍😍
The scary part... One might fall into a trap by buying them at a normal used market price online to avoid suspicion.
I bo't a Chinese replica Jaguar guitar $265 Cdn. I EXPECTED it to arrive with shortcomings. It has all the copyright infringement ink in place on the neck. I could not care less. I bo't it because it was the cheapest one available. The neck the pocket, (all wooden parts) are perfect. I did spot level a few frets but Fenders need that! Electronics worked but wiring hookups were terrible. Finish was terrible! Good. I'm a winner already because the wooden stuff is the foundation, everything else is easy fix. I rattle canned the body and rewired. My China Jag is a thing of beauty and a joy forever. People, you must consider these as kit guitars with huge potential. Do not slander them, they are items for sale to the public. Do not bellyache about them when you get them. They're cheap. Fix the shortcomings and enjoy. I will rub off and replace the "stolen" headstock decals. That is also a fun project. (I won't sell my beauty Jag until death do us part). Too many crooks are shanking guitar buyers. "
Ip theft never suits right. I know how it feels to have your ideas stolen
Excellent advice. Such a shame there are people in this world that willingly and knowingly buy fake products then slag people like yourself off. You keep on doing what you are and disregard the no marks. Al
Thankfully brother you are in the majority and most people get and support my efforts. It's very much appreciated though. Thank you! 😊👍
I've bought probably 10 different types and they're all a bit hit and miss. Probably 5 are really good with the other half having issues (2 with minor issues, 3 with major issues). I've had no real issues with strat copies and LP copies are generally good (although I've got 1 that's unplayable at the moment). I've also got a rick 325 that was pretty good.
To me (providing you get an acceptable one), they're a good platform for a project guitar and cheaper than starting with a squier or epiphone. As long as you go in knowing a lot of the hardware will be junk to a certain degree (tuners and pickups generally) and that they couldn't make a pick guard to save their life. The guitars will need to be setup (frets leveled, crowned, intonation adjusted, nut adjusted). Sometimes they surprise you and it's pretty close which is always a bonus. I don't care if it's 100% accurate with parts as it's a copy anyway. Generally I'll swap out the pickups as I'm putting together a specific "players" clone guitar. Just be prepared to put in some work on arrival as they're generally not playable out of the box - this is where the cost savings are.
Personally, as long as you don't have trade logo's on them, I don't see it being any difference to asking any luthier to build you a copy of that guitar, except the price is significantly cheaper. The issue here is you take your chances with quality. And if something goes wrong, they can basically hold you over a barrel. Buying from the same seller is generally a good idea if the quality was good the first time. But don't be fooled as the guitar could be made in any one of 6 factories, so quality can vary.
Funnily enough, when I've asked for no logo on the headstock, some will basically spray over it! (You can see the logo underneath if you look into the light). You could ask for a non finished (just sealed) headstock and just put your own logo on there and spray it when you receive it. It's a pretty easy weekend job.
It's harder to "make" a Gibson styled guitar as they're a set neck. Generally these days for a strat style, I'll buy a cheapie off ebay for the body and hardware and just buy a replacement neck and pickups - You're in business for around $250AU.
Now, after all that - I think because of this there are a lot of legit alternatives now (Like Harley Benton, Vintage, Artist guitars here is Oz). They're priced about the same (maybe a little more or less) however you know the qualities going to be there to a certain extent. They won't be an actual clone so the shape (especially headstock) won't be the same due to copyrights. It's more akin to buying a squier or epiphone but at a much lower price. If you can get over their headstocks, they're good for the price.
What I would say if you plan on buying a Chinese guitar to:
- Basically pick the EXACT guitar you want (style, colour, options) as changing the colour or options generally brings bad results (I've got 2 guitars that are basically unplayable because of this). Modify what you need when you get it (adding pickup rout's etc). You can ask for no routes for pickups and no pickups installed. By not changing too much yield quicker turn around and less likely they'll stuff something up.
- Ask for NO logos to be put on the headstock (including Made in). You can also ask for a specific serial number to be stamped.
- Look at the feedback from other buyers on quality, delivery etc (and also how long the stores been open). Some stores open and close like a window in the breeze.
- Know that the hardware and pickups will probably need replacing and the guitar will need some work in setting up the guitar. If you can't do that, leave them alone and don't buy.
- If the qualities good from the seller, use them again. But don't be afraid to buy elsewhere if the qualities not up to par. Also, don't be afraid to ask for a refund if the qualities not right. A few sites have buyer protection (such as ali express and ebay) if it's significantly not as specified. Refunds will vary and because of the return shipping costs, it's generally uneconomical to ship it back for a replacement.
- Get photo's before it's sent (doesn't always happen). If it's significantly not as specified, cancel the order. However you may not get all of what you paid.
- If the seller is stalling, it could mean there's quality issues and you're better off cancelling the order. The time frame will depend (I've had guitars received in 2 weeks when there's minimal changes) and up to 8 weeks (when there were issues). Around 4 weeks is the norm. Shit happens, so keep in contact with the seller. About 70% I've felt were generally good to deal with.
- Don't always go with the cheapest. I'd pay a few more dollars if the sellers had customers and they're liked the guitar over a cheaper guitar.
- Remember - it's a cheap guitar. It won't be the same quality as a Gibson. Expect that there will be some stuff that will need your attention. Just hope there's no rough work under the paint, the paint jobs acceptable and the frets are where they should be. All the rest can be fixed.
Sorry for the long post, but I hope people find it useful ;)
Very informative my friend and thank you for this. I am not against this type of deal where there will be no infringements as then nobody down the line will get ripped off by some con artist.
Interesting that you have 10 and 5 are good with 5 not so and 3 major issues. I would say you have been pretty lucky as from the messages I get the hit rate is 50:50 at best. That could of course be because they are telling China Guitar Sceptic! LOL
@@Chinaguitarsceptic that makes sense - your audience is probably seeking you out in their frustration. But if a person does their research, is specific about their wants, and communicates frequently with the seller, I would like to think it would be greater than the 50:50 you are seeing.
Chinaguitarsceptic Funnily enough, the two that I wanted them to modify were the two that had the issues! The ones I got that I didn’t change were fine except for a few minor issues. I did get a few bucks back as well for the two I had major issues, but nowhere what I paid. These are on to To Do rack 😝
That's encouraging mate, but only when they are genuine like you and not getting the branding trademark infringement guitars. I worry that many of the best will be the non custom fakes. I hope my advice and your kind knowledge shared here will help people steer towards God decisions. At the end of the day we can only inform and respect that it's the choice of the individual what they choose to do. 👍
Chinaguitarsceptic It’s the guys that onsell as genuine and real prices you have to be careful about
The guy expresses his concerns about Chinese guitar makers ripping off Gibson, but what he's not aware of is that Gibson rips HIM off. Why protect the interests of a company whose only goal these days is to pull as much money out of your pocket as possible? I'm not trying to defend counterfeiters; I just hate it when people fall victims to marketing BS from major brands.
You have a fair point and I'm not defending Gibson. I have no dog in the race. I am just against the principal of intellectual material theft. As a creative I have been victim of intellectual theft many times and it always sucks to see liars and thief's making money from your ideas.
@@Chinaguitarsceptic Thanks for making that clear. I see where you're coming from.
Can I say, I have every respect for what you do. I think your playing is at a level that I aspire to and appreciate your time and commitment to pointing out the pro's and cons of these guitars.
Best regards.
Thank you Bob, this kind of supportive kindness and feedback is what drives me to keep making new content. Thank you so much 😊👍
The point is my friend, is that Gibson needs to do something about their atmospheric prices and quit consigning everyone who isn't in their price range to Epiphone. They indeed have improved over the years , but they are NOT a Gibson and that's why people who need that logo on top of their guitars will go to ridiculous end to get one. Me, I play a Hamer Special, made at the old Arlington Heights Illinois factory.a few miles from my house, not coming off a freighter from Shanghai. China Guitar Sceptic, keep up the good work! I love your channel!
Thank you Anthony I really appreciate the kind support for the channel brother. I think you also hit the nail on the head with the driving force behind why people buy these. As I always say though, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. I love Hamer guitars and I have tried a few but never owned one. I may have to find one to review here! Take care my friend. :-)
An added bit.
I have a 70's chinese made LP copy branded as a Vibra. Pretty well built and very playable. I use it thru an Ampeg SVT amp and cab with a tube screamer up front just for shits and giggles at some of the gigs we do. The guitar itself has a very unique sound which is only added to with the rig i play it through. I don't think it was anywhere as cheaply built as the modern chinese copy as i have only had to do a re-fret and new volume pot a couple of years ago. all the electrics, pots, pups, and even the solder joints look as good as any western manufactured stuff. The finish (gloss black/white binding/chrome hardware) is checking like nitro should and all the binding and chrome has held up very well.
Who knows if the same factory is in operation, but the quality was really good.
What is a counterfeit or trademark violation?
Counterfeit merchandise is merchandise that “bears a trade-mark owned by [someone in] the United States, and registered in the . . . [Patent and Trademark Office].” The counterfeit mark can be on the “merchandise, or the label, sign, print, package, wrapper, or receptacle” itself. 19 USC 1526(a). A counterfeit mark is a spurious trademark that is identical to, or substantially indistinguishable from, a registered trademark. 19 CFR 133.21(a). If you do not have permission of the trademark owner to import the merchandise, it’s illegal to import it.
Easier just to buy quality copies like Harley Benton/Agile/Tokai.
Spot on mate 👍😊🤘🎸
but you don't get to flash that status symbol logo and make people think you spent big bucks (as long as they don't look too close)...
@@SgtPnkks true. In seriousness the head stocks are kinda funny looking on the gibson models but for the $180 I spent on a harley benton tele, it plays and sounds damn well better than any MIM tele I've played.
I've been hearing some good things about Harley Benton and seen demonstrations on TH-cam. I will own one of those guitars.
I've done several myself dude. In the process of making a comparison video.
Buy dent, blemished guitars from reputable dealers. Never buy from china unless you know what you are getting into.
Used high end guitars are cheap if you shop and keep an eye out for a deal estate sale or moving sale. A high end guitar that's ten year old w dents is still a high end guitar
Literally a better option, it's a shame that a blemished les paul isn't as accepted as a mud dragged overkill fender relic
Been watching your videos for years, I think you’re great mate! Solid advice! Forget anyone that tells you different!
Thanks brother I'm really delighted to hear so many very kind and positive comments. I just try to be honest and polite and have some fun making videos for you my friends. 😊👍
I am cautious, but I have a problem. The guitar I want (EDS 1275 double neck) is not available in a LEFT hand version. I could never afford the Gibson, but would gladly buy the Epiphone version, if available. I can spot a bad fake pretty easily but I’ve found what looks to be a very good one now. They’ve responded to my questions and supposedly have representatives in California. It is so tempting....
I know just how you feel mate but tread very carefully. Sometimes you can get a decent guitar but you have to be aware of the pitfalls.
Just my thoughts.....
I can say that I take issue with the Far East manufacturing and selling copies of brand name guitars IF they use any of the trademarked identifiers from those brands, no issue if they don't. I get that not everyone can purchase an American built Gibson, Fender, etc.. The prices are somewhat prohibitive for most people.
I recently purchased a bottom of the food chain Gibson LP Faded T (Wine), plain jane with zero bling that set me back about $1000.00 Canuckistan Kopeks. That said, except for my '59 Gibson LP Bastard (read: re-necked at Gibbo custom shop in '80, New pots, wiring, tail & bridge, with original pups and finish), the Faded plays, sounds, and feels better than any other LP i've ever played.
I have played many LP style guitars from other manufactures such as Epiphone, ESP/LTD, Ibanez, etc. and found them all very good playing and sounding guitars ( a few after some minor fretwork and set up). Some offerings from these brands can get into Gibson/Fender USA made territory but you can get a great guitar at a relatively affordable price point that are vastly superior to the fakes for perhaps $100 more than a fake as well.
My choice would be any of these over the fakes.
I love it when a man stands for his belief!
Keep it up CGS!
Thanks brother! 😊👍
One of the real reasons why people go today's fake Gibson sites like dhgate and AliExpress is because you can get the guitar that looks like a signature guitar take for instance Steve Vai Jem or evh Relic Wolfgang stealth and you can put new parts in them and level the frets... one of those guitars cost $14,000 from evh. Personally I'm not going to pay that something I know is not worth it first of all and second of all I can make it play close to that level. For a fraction of the cost. You are right you have to beware it may be a hit and miss but I know a lot of people that are satisfied and videos and also write good reviews about these guitars and how beautiful they look. I guess there is some bad in everything. Great video
a shallower angle at the head: That means that Chibson accidentally fixed the biggest flaw in Gibson Les Pauls?
😆yes
Keep hearing people trying to justify buying these by saying Gibson is overpriced or that real Gibson quality is garbage. In reality, those people want to just pretend they have a Gibson. If all they wanted was a guitar like a real Les Paul they could easily buy an Epiphone or a legit copy by a company like Burny or real Chinese company like Harley Benton or Grote and make a few of the upgrades they do to the counterfeits. They don't do that though because they want the open book headstock and Gibson name on it so they can pretend to have something they don't. Those real companies are going to produce better guitars than the factories doing counterfeits and will stand behind their products. Instead, they roll the dice to get an un-warrantied guitar that may or may not even be playable and undermine the real companies that stand behind their products and don't break the law.
well said !
Been there, done that. I received a guitar that was close to what I asked for, but the quality wasn't satisfactory and I would have been better off spending my $$ on a good used Epiphone, PRS SE or Ibanez. At least you don't have to dance around legality and you can enjoy playing an 'honest' guitar.
Spot on brother. I remember and we shared your story didn't we as you were among the first to get your own logo instead of infringing. 👍
The only thing i disagree with is : if you are looking for a real genuine gibson you expect to pay several hundreds dollars. More about a thousand or so for used. It's nothing like the kind of money you will put in a fake chinese gibson. Sure those guitar are fakes and outlawed but they only do harm to gibson if the copys are better than the originals... for me it's only cheap beginner guitars. I recently got a fender acoustic guitar made in china, it's crap but it's legit.... my point is : it does not matter to me what is written on the neck....what matter is the quality of the guitar. Did you get your money worth i mean a 300$ guitar, does it worth it ?
Mmm, I think it would be a good idea to buy from some Indonesia and Thai builders if you look for good copies, like NNG, Lavish, ArtRock and Alvin Custom Guitars. Also some Korean are great like Gilmour Custom Guitars.
We had a Chibson donated to a charity I work for. No idea how old it was but when I took it to my workshop to look it over it was horrible. The "rosewood" fretboard was actually plastic, the tuners wouldn't tune, the bridge was flaking but best was the truss rod. It looked ok when I first took the cover off, but then I realised it was actually welded in place - so it did absolutely nothing. The guitar looked pretty, but it was the biggest heap of junk I've ever seem and believe me, I've owned some junk in my time.
Must admit I've been tempted.....but if the fakes are getting harder to spot that's really scarry....as I always buy second hand and there's some dubious people out there !!!!! Thanks for the up.
Yes that's one of the scariest things - although most of the Chibsons are obvious once you get them in your hands. They definitely give themselves away to any experienced player at that point - and the sound!!! Ew!!! :-)
Save your money and get a Burny Les Paul, you can find them for $350-400. Wolf guitars also make great looking and playing Les Pauls.
I absolutely agree that passing these guitars off as brand names is reprehensible, and I'm sure there are still many dishonest sellers out there. I live in China and have managed to find a stand up guy. I have purchased 4 guitars from this guy, and am happy with them. The quality is much improved lately. Any problems have been corrected at the sellers cost. And the cost is minimal for these. A Strat, L.P., Tele, and 335, and all of them sound great. I am in the position that because of being left handed and left handedness(?) not being allowed in China, my options are limited. Maybe I'm just lucky.
to be fair, it doesnt say gibson, it says gibsun so any idiot would be able to tell
I don't agree. There are tons of people who have been duped in the past. Some of us would certainly know, but not all.
RIP, Mike. Fortunately, others have taken up the cause, and are pointing out the potential pitfalls of buying Chinese fakes. Personally, I don't mind them making unbranded copies. Buyer beware, though, as one can plan on them needing work in order to make them playable. I'm in the process of trying to buy an unbranded copy of a Yamaha SBG from a seller on eBay. We'll see what happens. I'm going into it with my eyes wide open, and am prepared to do some work as long as it isn't a POS and has potential. Cheers, all.
You perform a valuable service to the guitar-playing community by exposing these criminal practices. I almost wish you would name and shame the guilty, but I understand and respect why you choose not to.
I saw a bloke selling Chinese built ‘replicas’ via Facebook Marketplace. None of the pics showed the logos, but he had a website and they were clearly fakes. I spoke to him and challenged him about claiming his fakes were in fact replicas. He didn’t want to engage, because he knew what he was doing was illegal. I reported him to both Facebook and Trading Standards, but whether anything actually happened, I don’t know.
Well done brother!
Chinaguitarsceptic Well, it seemed the only thing to do. He was looking to pass off fakes as replicas. They weren’t cheap, either.
Good on you!
I owned 2 Chibsons. Purchased 2nd hand. $200 and $250. Imo they are a bit lower than low level Epi models in terms of quality. However The Epis seem too at least keep proper QC whereas the Frauds are made of mismatched woods,tons of filler and questionable or below avg components but all done over in a really nice wood/color finish in most cases. They are what they are. Cheap knock offs. By the time you ad the real components that make the Gibson sound and play better too begin with your $350 Chib now has another $400 plus added on. You gotta hand it too them though they do some impressive "pig painting".Ymmv.
Spot on mate! 😂
Hmm and they aren’t cheap as well,I mean with a little effort you can get an Epiphone Les Paul standard/classic,or maybe a Japanese counterfeit (Greco,ibanez) and they play a lot better compared to an oem Gibson counterfeit
I used to sorta understand Gibson's position, it is a trademark after all. But I always go back to the Rory Gallagher relic'd Strat that Fender flogs for a stupid price and suddenly I don't care as much. Cheers from Canuckistan.
I think these companies would thrive if they made something proprietary because I immediately know I won't touch a company with zero morals and intentionally try to dupe people
To speak in Van Halen language: Fair Warning 👍
seriusly
Here’s why you do buy from China. Aliexpress has some great ones. Mine was a standard looking LP. Real pearl inlays and logo, maple cap with nice quilt, all Epiphone hardware and pickups.
They are good guitars for $188. They’re amazing guitars for that price. Mine is of Gibson quality. Not saying much these days.
Some being the operative word here my friend. Some but crucially not ALL, which is the impression 'some' people give.
There is no way that it is of Gibson quality. That is a gross overstatement and justification to yourself to buy a fake cuz you can't afford a real one. If Gibsons weren't worth what they are priced at they would be priced out of the market. The market dictates prices for goods so they sell for fair market value. You can get a Gibson Les Paul or SG for between $700 and $1,000 with their lower tier models and $1000 to $1500 for the mid tier models. Even cheaper if you buy used. Epiphone top out right where Gibson picks up at. You're fooling yourself.
Here in the USA there is a guitar store in california that sells Wolf Guitars. If you buy a Wolf guitar directly from the manufacturer you might not be pleased with your purchase, from what I have heard they have a reputation of selling some very bad instruments. That being said, the California store has a special deal with Wolf in that every guitar that is sent to their store had better be top quality, blemishes and no issues at all! If a guitar is sent to them in such a condition it will be returned at the manufacturers expense. Once this store gets the guitar they do a complete and thorough inspection of it as well as a complete professional set up prior to it being shipped to the final buyer. They sell Les Paul style, PRS style, ES style, Strat style and a few others and let me tell you something - those guitars are gorgeous!! I have watched a few videos of You Tubers demonstrating those guitars and they have nothing but great things to say about them. You can buy one with some very unusual coloring that are just stunning and all for less than $300 USD!! Shipping is free and they offer a great warranty. So why would anyone take the chance with some Chinese company that has no problem ripping you off?
I did not put the name of the store in case you don't want things like that advertised, if you don't care, respond back and let me know and I will reveal the name of that store.
If it's a legal company of course I encourage you to spread the word my friend.
All in one guitars?
@@krakdaus5442 yes thats who it is.
@@alabamahebrew the wolf Telecaster neckthrough looks gorgeous
@@krakdaus5442 - Yes it does! They have a lot of gorgeous guitars don't they? And like I said before, everyone who has reviewed them has nothing but good things to say about them.
I appreciate the honesty idk why any serious player would give you a hard time for research and your opinion on your own research I am glad you made the videos so one knows what to expect
They don't cut the horn wide on most fakes .
From here in the Colonies the prices of the Chibson's have gone up $50.00 to $100.00 each from 6 months ago. Don't know if that's Trumps Tariff's or what. Visa told me it was in the Dealer agreement that the seller had to pay for return shipping. If that is true VISA can force a vendor to take it back and pay for the return. I've learned my lesson and don't want to go back and need to test that. I have heard they are knocking off lesser brands on less known differences. Probably some CHiPRS ones...
I bought two genuine Gibsons Les Pauls about 2 years ago. On one, the binding was atrocious and on the other, the join between the finger board and the neck was rubbish even though they are hand finished. My fake Epiphone Les Paul has none of these problems. Gibson deserve to be faked. So how does that fake play and sound?
Fair enough brother. I'm not here to defend the brands either, although I'm aware Gibson have had some wilderness years of late. Let's hope the new ceo jc will be a better force for good there. BTW eppihone is not fake, they are authorised copies under the Gibson umbrella. This guitar plays and sounds OK after all the time and money invested in correcting the faults.
Great info as always buddy! My first trip to your channel (a few years back) was searching out info on Chinese fakes as they interested me. Your channel along with your experiences and wisdom turned me completely away from the Chinese fakes. For me, it comes down to a moral thing and I don't want to own a fake (like you said, I will always know it's not a real "______"). If anyone takes time to actually watch your videos, you NEVER have promoted buying Chinese fakes. Also, I love your playing and enjoy your originals that you've done on the channel and I think your content just keeps getting better and better. Rock on bro!
Thanks so much brother 😊👍
hi mate well bloody said!!! i am so proud of you standing up to those who sell these guitars, i would never buy one, all my guitars beit not gibson or fender are epiphone and hohner and hohner les pauls are rare indeed!! very well done mate a great professional presentation again!! oh and your guitar playing is effin brilliant!!!... keep on rockin.
Hey brother, thank you so much. Kind support and appreciation like yours is why I keep doing the YT thing. Cheers mate! :-)
Btw, I got the idea to build myself some nice copies in my own style invest 1000 euro and bought 20 bodies, some necks, hardware, pickquards and pickups. Like Valley Arts did in the 80/90's. Its a nice experiment. My SuperDuper guitars will cost 399 euro only. Everyone can build his own guitar nowadays.
This surprises me man. The comments I mean. I found you after buying an IYV (Vietnam/Korea) off of Amazon and being pleasantly surprised by the quality. I think it goes without saying any serious guitar player/lover would rather buy a legit Gibson over a Chibson. I think what you do is great tbh. It reinforces the chances of the pitfalls that come with buying counterfeit…not just legally but quality wise.
If you ever need someone from Canada to give their opinions on what I can get from here just let me know.
Cheers from London Ontario Canada
PS…I think the main issues/crybabies are the novices or beginner guitar players that focus too much on the appearance rather than the quality/feel/playability. I’ve played many actual Gibsons and a few knockoffs, and yes the knockoffs can look alright but I haven’t seen one that even comes close to feeling real.
Cheers brother
For the last 20 years,. All I ever wanted was an Ibanez Universe. Problem is,..I'm a south paw. Ibanez never built a left handed model,..ever. So I decided to invest in a Chibanez ChUniverse. What a nightmare! The asshole didn't bolt the damn neck in properly. The action was literally 6 inches from the neck. Currently it's in the shop being rehabilitated. Please keep me in your prayers.
Bro I play 30 years and I think there is nothing wrong with your playing trust me know so bad musicians ain't no nothing about music and they believe are number one so to those loosers who can only talk I'd say Duck off ...Man you are great I always love to watch your videos and I appreciate it so much...
Thank you brother that means such a lot to me. 😊👍
Out of curiosity, I had a look on A********s and they're even making fake cheaper models now. Their site is littered with fake ESPs, Jacksons, Ibanez & PRS. It concerns me that if I went to buy a guitar from Gumtree, apart from poor craftsmanship, I would have no idea how to spot if these are fake. Puts me off buying a second-hand guitar now.
That's one of the biggest problems about the fake trade in that they dilute the second-hand market and you never know what you're buying anymore
Honestly my Epiphone is a fake Black Beauty I bought some years ago on Amazon to whom I complained. I persuaded the seller to reduce it by £100. If you are thinking why fake a cheap guitar, I thought the same.
If you purchase the item with your Credit Card, you can make a dispute with the Credit card company,
On an illegal counterfeit transaction?
Oops. Thanks for keeping this issue in the forefront. I have only bought Epiphone Les Paul's as they are the only legitimate copy endorsed by Gibson. I have taken crap from others online for this and I don't care. All of these fake Gibson's should be impounded for copyright infringement and destroyed. Thank you again!!
I dont like that you try to control what your audience comment.
Its all opinions, good or bad.
Like your channel and you have prevented me from getting another one. (Bought a scetchy Les Paul Surpreme 2yrs ago)
Thanks Mr. CGS ✌🏼👋
Thank you and I'm glad I've helped.
I don't try to control what my audience say I just don't allow profanity or rude comments. I try to keep this channel for adults who have the intellect to express a point of view politely and not with insults that's all bro. 👍
@@Chinaguitarsceptic thanks. I may have been in grumpy mood or didnt understand you. Thanks for clarification.
No problem at all brother. In fact I'm pleased as your polite criticism proved my point really nicely as I not only left it up but was able to respond. Proving that when polite criticism without being hurtful or rude is written it will always be left up in my comments section and I'll equally politely address it. Cheers my friend 😊👍
Sorry I missed this live, I was stuck at work. Great info as always my friend!! I have a fake but knew what I was getting into when I got it but others aren't so lucky.
Gibson is overpriced. The Chinese are out doing Gibson on quality!!!
Never again. I ordered a joe perry les Paul with a case and my buyer protection ran out. After receiving email after email that it was being built over 6 months the seller said he sent it out. I received nothing and suddenly the seller stopped communicating. £335 out of pocket. No buyer protection. Absolute joke!
So sorry to hear this brother and I hope lots of people read this and see that it's a REAL RISK and I'm not exaggerating. There is no effective protection even where it appears that there is. Thanks for sharing mate and again sorry you got ripped off like so many people who contact me.
Some think Gibbo does nothing about these counterfits because it boosts their sales of parts and that allows them to keep overpricing their own guitars. Either or, I'm dead against it. I have a Keiper LP copy, it was my first ever guitar that I bought 3rd hand for £40. I'm in the process of high-ending it but I'm not interested in trying to make it look like a Gibson or any other brand. At the same time I'm dead against Gibbo for over-pricing, their own quality control is shot to shit anyway and I'd rather have a fake. Bang for buck. That being said, I'm never buying a branded guitar ever again. With the plethora of youtube videos I've learnt about setups, wood working, design, and a bit of arts n crafts. I've bought all the equipment I need, minus a few things and I have a few projects on the go. From now on I'm building from Body blanks. My support for companies wil come in the form of buying parts.
I found two Chinese sites selling luna guitars. What confuses me is they are the same price as they were originally (599.99). Are these legitimate? Luna Apollo guitars are very rare.
They could well be as easily as if they are fakes
The return of the original Chibson channel! Quality of videos look great, too.
Thanks buddy 😊👍
Much love, brother. You are the real deal, and screw all the naysayers. Thanks for all you do!
Right back at you my brother. Thank you! You Rock my friend :-)
You just have to know what you are buying, to buy a Chinese knock off and expect it to be perfect like the real thing is foolish. I just bought an SG style knock off and I know it's going to need work, I only paid less than $300 for it. Also, I only buy from credible websites, Ebay, Reverb, Wish, etc...and ONLY pay with Paypal! Wish being my new favorite site, I bought a guitar from them and it came dinged, they refunded my money right away and still let me keep the guitar!
Thanks for info. I've been shopping around and can't find anything " not made in China". I'm in the US but everything I see is just way too expensive unless it's a Chinese made guitar. I'm just ready to give up.
RIP mike. loved your videos. so sad for me today. sending love to your family.
RIP Mike Condolences to his family🥲
If people could afford the name brand, they’d most definitely buy it instead of a fake. Does it matter to you that most the guitars are made overseas anyway? What’s the difference between a U.S. Strat and a mim strat? About $600 and how much the employees get paid. Nothing else. I’m not trying to be mean but this is about music and tone quality. If the instrument nails the feel and sound, it doesn’t matter who makes it. I understand what you stand for wholeheartedly, however, all I see are taxes and inflation. A good guitar is a good guitar.We’ve all gotten the occasional lemon from just about every brand.. It’s about time the industry get humbled. It’s not like anyone is shutting down Walmart…. Same thing right? Great everyday prices for foreign goods……… If Walmart can do it, then we’re all entitled to. Also, have a good day. Lol
I bought myself an "Chibson" a mounth ago. A wonderful guitar, Pelham blue, retro tuners, a totaly new type of bridge with a locking funktion and the end piece is different to, the whole package stands a much higher quality compared to Epiphone, Benton made in China etc.
The head angel is steap, a one pece neck made of mahogany with a compound profile, V - Flat D. Woops!
Plays well sounds good.
I tell ya these new Chinese guitars they are seriously kicking ass. There are truly no competition in the low/mid budget segment.
Good video and good advice. BUT: I bought a dhgate "Fender jauar" complete with ripoff logos & S/N. I chose THAT ONE because it was the CHEAPEST offset I could buy anywhere. My very 1st offset. The wooden components were/are excellent. Finish & wiring TERRIBLE! Guitar refinish and setup is my hobby. I shimmed, repainted, new CHEAP pickups, retained original pots, switches. So now this Chaguar is magnificent. Only thing is it's got that bloody Fender misinformation on headstock. I will scrape that junk off and do a new waterslide of my own liking. I have no use for Gibson and Fender guitars because they aren't good enuf for the money. Better dollar value in budget stuff because China doesn't make krappy guitars any more. You just have to plan on doing some refinement when you get them. All things you can do at home on your kitchen table IF you have the initiative. It's not my fault when the China factory places F or G logos on a guitar that I want. It's there for me , I want it, I'll damwell have it! But I condemn anybody who buys these guitars to swindle someone, to a miserable experience and to being discovered as a swindler. Looks bad on a resume.
Very good observation.
Buy them as a scratch-n-dent fiddle or as a practice platform for modding/repairing guitars so you don't mess up your expensive ones.
By same token though, Gibson, Fender and the like need to lay off the "looks like a Gibson but is clearly not branded a Gibson" style of guitars, Honestly I think some of the none Chinese brands would sell great, but Gibson keeps them out of the western world with an iron grip; because a competitor means they would have to give a damn about their work, and we know Gibson only care about money.
Mate totally agree with you. Can you just edit your comment please so I can leave it up on my channel without swear words - cheers dude!
@@Chinaguitarsceptic there, don't know if you class "damn" as a curse word.
Thanks bro! You Rock! :-)
I wouldn't even buy them as a practice platform for modding - its just encouraging them more to keep making fakes. Even if you do mod them so that they have all decent parts, play well etc - you are still stuck with something you can't legally sell. You are better off buying a 'cheap' 2nd hand Epiphone, Squire, Ibanez etc as a practice platform or scratch-n-dent fiddle (as you put it).
There are reputable dealers with very cheap (Harley Benton for example) reasonably decent and totally legal guitars for the same money but come with better warranty and are great for practice modding on too if you want.
I bought a copy DG Trini Lopez a few years ago. I always loved that pelham blue Gibson Dave uses, but in no way could I afford one. So I took a chance (and did a lot of seller research), and ordered one for $249. I asked them not to put any markings on it (even though they did any ways). Bottom line is (and I may have gotten lucky), but it is a great guitar. The finish is excellent and the electronics are solid. I have stamped "fake" on the back of the head stock since I received it. You can get a great guitar, or you may get a clunker, dealers choice.
Never get the need to own fake Gibson for playing. To put Guitar Looking Object on the wall for aesthetic - yes. But for playing? The no brand you've got with kill switch was sooo good.
Totally brother 100%. :-)
Wow, is this debate still raging? (& as heated as ever I see lol). I have to admit, I did buy one, a few years back out of curiosity mainly & I was quite fortunate to have got a pretty good one (especially considering the amount of absolute dogs I've seen come from over there). However, I did a tremendous amount of research prior to ordering so I knew exactly what to look out for, what the pitfalls were & how best to avoid said pitfalls. Guys like Chris & Pixxylix (Steve from Boston) were kinda like the vanguard who risked their money to give solid info to other potentially interested parties, even risking lawsuits in some cases. Now although I got a decent guitar, I paid extra to get exactly what I wanted with very specific upgrades. I got one with a proper flamed maple cap, not a veneer, one piece body/neck, plus an ebony fretboard & when I finally got it I spent even more on authentic Gibson hardware, Kluson vintage tuners, SD pups & a 50's wiring kit with CTS pots, plus Switchcraft selector/input jack (not to mention the inevitable fret levelling job I had to do myself, 'cos for some ungodly reason they don't seem to be able to make a guitar with level frets that you can play straight out the box still) so after all that, I may as well have just paid an extra couple of hundred quid & bought a used Gibson. I've got several authentic Gibsons & I could have afforded to bite the bullet had my curiosity bitten me in the arse but for someone just starting out playing there really are much better options out there nowadays. They really aren't worth the risk, nor the money & anyway, the only reputable sellers I know on there now refuse to put Gibson/Fender on the headstocks because they've had so many guitars seized by UK customs recently.
As always good video may I add if people want a half decent kind of copy guitar have a look at harley benton
Very well said mate! I will admit that I bought a couple out of sheer curiosity, when they first became " the rage", but had ZERO expectations about receiving anything close to what they were trying to copy. I also refused to put the brand name on it, and chose to leave the headstock and truss rod covers blank on both. They proved my expectations right, and after a bit of work to get them playable, they now just function as "beater" guitars, which I don't really care about battering the hell out of. As they are unbranded, I won't be trying to flog them off down the road as the real things. It is beyond evident to anyone that knows anything about the real instruments, that these are fake, and poor fakes to boot.
I have noticed lately that the pricing, from when I bought mine, has gone through the roof, yet you are still getting a "sh*te" instrument, for want of a better way to put it. By the time you factor in taxes, duties, etc, you would be far better off investing that money into either a used brand name guitar, or put it down as a down payment at your local music store, and get the real thing. Most do decent monthly payment options which won't break the bank, and will allow you to get that real brand name instrument that you really want. I have an acquaintance who persists in ordering branded fakes from those websites who shall not be named, and you just have to shake your head at some of the dross that he gets. It takes a ton of work to get these things anywhere near a playable state, yet he will not see logic. He's also had a few nasty experiences with sellers, who can turn on a sixpence from calling you "friend" to the many expletives that we all know and hate.....lol. Listen to this man when he says BUYER BEWARE! He knows of what he speaks.
Keep up the fantastic work on your channel, mate, and "gan canny" as we Geordies say!!
Thank you brother. You have made my day. I wish everyone could be as wise as you. I see lots of people like your friend and I call it the magpie effect. No matter how much rubbish they get sent they think that next time they'll get something closer to a decent guitar. Rarely happens bro. 👍
They’re making them good now. I received mine a few days ago. Outstanding
Very pleased for you. You were very lucky.
I recently saw Gibson Les Paul Corvette Guitars being offered. These limited editions are normally very expensive ($9K-$12K). The fakes were offered under $600 and they are not very good fakes to boot. Buyer beware.
You make excellent pointsbut I'd rather buy three guitars I didn't ask for and it still be five times cheaper than a real Gibson lol
I hear you 👍😊
Anyone ever receive a les paul with two serial numbers? As in a similar serial number being stamped over the original serial number and MADE IN USA being double stamped off center kinda giving the illusion of a shadow
Never
My New Chinese Guitar is awesome! It doesn't need a Luther. However my real expensive USA Guitar needed a lot of expensive work. No matter who makes it, You take a chance!
So true my friend.
The best advice is try it out in a shop ! I bought a supposedly amazing guitar on the internet,,, it was literally the worst guitar I’ve ever felt - I’ve handled worse cricket bats !
Never buy online ever again
Love it mate. Great advice. However I'm sure you also get some crooks and loons so be careful brother. 😊👍
Lol. 🤣👍
The fakes are getting better, but they are still fakes and counterfeits, a violation of many laws.
I don't deal with any Chinese vendors directly, as there is very little recourse from the sellers.
However, there are very reputable sellers that do sell Chinese made, non-counterfeit guitars.
Some of those are great bargains in their own right. Just shop around. Good redux video!
YEsss its been a while since you uploaded, i always find your videos great even though i am able to afford legitimate guitars, i just enjoy them greatly
Been uploading regularly mate. Check you have the notifications set to 'all'. :-)
Can't create magic with fake instruments
Good advice, I get exactly the same comments on my channel re - the fake Gibson Les Paul I bought about 5 years ago. IE, you work for Gibson or stop buying these fakes your only promoting crap! As you know there were a few things up with it when I bought it. It says a lot that it was the only one I bought! Next to a real Gibson it feels like a toy ( I have two real Les Paul's ) If you want nearer the real thing get a Epiphone or a S/H one. The biggest annoyance to me is the limp looking horn shape on the fakes, fail!
What are your thoughts on legitimate chinese brands?
There are some great ones and I have nothing but respect for them. I'm only anti fake, not anti Chinese 😊👍🙏
THANKS FOR THE WARNING DUDE!! YOU JUST SAVED ME ABOUT $1,000 DOLLARS!
You are very welcome my friend
I'm enjoying your videos, but I have to take issue with this one, I'm lefty PRS don't offer any standard American models lefty only private stock (I have two older PRS lefties) Gibson offers very few lefties and even less of the signature models, I can't walk into a guitar shop and try guitars out because most guitar shops only have a black Mexican Strat and an Epiphone Les Paul (if you're lucky) I don't consider it "ripping off" if it's a copy of something that doesn't exist.
It's more enticing for lefties I will grant you that bro
Hey brother thanks for replying to my comment the other day.i myself got bit by the chibson bug and bought a cherry burst some years back and it was rubbish.i could never get it to intonate right and it never took a set up well so I gave it to a friend of mine that wanted a wall hanger so after that I just started building my own so I could make it to what I wanted and recently I've been buying strat parts and just building myself strats.that way I get them way cheaper and I can make them into what I want and play like I want them to.that way if I do sell it I do as a partscaster and I'm not breaking any laws.i totally agree with you on the buying of these guitars.your not fooling anyone but yourself.and if you do want a Les Paul all you have to do is go on stratosphere.com and buy a real Gibson body at a big discount and put the parts you want on it.im saving up right now to buy one of those.anyway nice talking to you brother.God bless you and your family as well and keep rocking.and by the way I wish I could play as good as you.dont listen to the trolls.you do you and screw them.cheers brother and thanks again
Thanks bro, that is great advice and I hope you enjoy the build process. I wish I had my workshop space from the old place and my dad's shed. I think a conversion of the summer house is well in order this spring. I set it up for the kids den but they never use it and I could start my project guitars again.
Thanks again so much for your positive vibes and wishes and I hope you and yours are all very well to brother.
Rock on my friend! :-)
@@Chinaguitarsceptic This is 100% what you SHOULD encourage over these fakes; DIY'ers! with a little bit of learning how a guitar is put together and practice, practice, practice with scraps, and you can make great playing guitars for a fraction of the cost of a high end model, more like an epiphone or mid-priced Jackson pro.
Can't recommend Pitbull guitars enough, the fact they offer custom DIY kits and take the time to do what the Chinese don't (EI; QC the kits) you can be sure of a good product! Another cool thing is you can get them to send just the body and neck, no electronics or hardware which I think is a must because why spend money on that chinese junk when you can put THAT money towards some nice, quality parts.
Would 100% recommend stains or dyes as well as a oil finish though, 1000 times easier (and less equipment/weather intensive) then sprays
I mean... Gibson overcharges ludicrously. Doesn’t mean I’ll buy China guitars. I hope that they get just as good for 1/10th of the price so Gibson has to lower their goddamn prices. You’re just paying for brand name.
Fender can be expensive too. But no where near Gibson. They know the value of their guitars. Not their “brand name”.
Now excuse me while I go put on my Gucci shoes, dolce gabbana sunglasses, and SUPREEEEEME branded t-shirt hahaha
Why take the risks of buying Chinese les Paul copies when you can buy vintage v100 and Harley Benton which are amazing guitars for under £300
Here here! 100% my message too brother. 😊👍
Nice one CGS. I would love to know which UK store are selling the fake knock offs? Not that I would ever buy from them though. Also, it sucks that your site has been hacked!! Cheers buddy & have a sound weekend.
You can get pretty cheap real used Gibsons like The tribute series. Much better that regretting buying unplayable crap that sounds like liquid ass. I also checked serial numbers online sometimes to be on the safe side back when I was looking for Gibsons