How to NOT get Ripped Off Buying A Chinese Copy Les Paul Guitar | Counterfeit Guitar | Tony Mckenzie
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- At LAST! A video showing you in depth differences between a Rip off or counterfeit Les Paul and a REAL Gibson Les Paul. I made this video to highlight most of the rubbish you find on a COPY Les Paul against the real deal Gibson Les Paul after a friend got taken for a ride and lost loads of money buying the one on this video.
Check my channel for other videos and music related stuff: / tonymckenziecom and my website www.tonymckenzi... where there are hundreds of reviews to help guitarists.
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This Video (c) A B Mckenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2014.
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An update..The "C" guitar that I loved so much..Well, it's been a few weeks of having it in my hands..Big problems..The neck started to move on it's own.Not just up and down but side to side..Tried what I could to correct including fret jobs etc..Maybe I played it too hard but now the neck is coming away from the body!!! This is one of the upper end models...It will keep me warm on the fire this Xmas...Never again..Listen to this guy seriously..He knows what he's talking about...
Oh Roy, I am sorry to hear that. I know exactly how you feel and it does tend to make you have loss of faith in the stuff. The HB guitar I bought was terrible. I know that is different, but the result is about the same. You know what Roy, there will be many other guys that have travelled a similar route. I am grateful that you have highlighted the problems you have had because it will undoubtedly help other guys. There is so much said on the internet about the quality of those guitars being 'great' but that is not always the case by any means. You have commented and that helps other people. Remember this, there are guys out there that have been down a similar route but for some obscure reason still insist that the C guitars are wonderful and better than brand X of many times the price. But you have told it the way it was for you... and I commend that. Thanks. And thanks for watching.
They're not made so much to mislead you, or these sites would sell them for $2500, not $250. The person who pays $250, then turns around and sells it for $1200 or whatever, THEY'RE the ones misleading you. The builder didn't rip your friend off, the person who sold it to him did. Same applies with guns, a loaded .45ACP doesn't kill, the person pulling the trigger does.
+Randy Woolum If the headstock says Gibson and the guitar is not Gibson they ARE made to mislead you.
If you go to for example aliexpress, you can never find a gibson logo on the headstock. You'll have to ask for pictures to get that logo.
you're correct these can be bought for £199.00 from China anyone buying one of these and thinking its a Gibson is a fool, A friend of mine bought one of these and it sounds pretty good, much much better than a generic LP copy.
Just bought a second hand Gibson Traditional. Got home and found out they are faking this stuff. Luckily I now know that it is genuine. That video saved my day. Thanks!
Your comments are great - and that is one of the reasons I created this video in the first place. A friend of mine who collected guitars got ripped off by buying on eBay from a Vicar! It turned out not a real guitar... but when they are online sometimes they are close enough (might look that way) and when you receive it bam its a fake. Thanks for the comment and I am glad this video has helped you out. Stay safe.
I just bought one of these Chibsons and am really happy for it. Of course it won't sound as like a Gibson no matter what you do. But there is a huge price difference and as a person who plays guitar as a hobby, I think this difference is not worth paying. If I was professional I would get a Gibson for sure.
Yes, you CAN get a 'good' 'chibson' for sure, but it's that risk of what you actually receive I think is an issue - some are not easily fixable and then often the money could be lost. Actually this video was warning people about getting ripped off that was the main thing. Thanks for watching.
Also, Les Paul nuts are in fact plastic. I make custom bone nuts for them every week.
I'm sure you are right, but check the video and they are worlds apart from the counterfeit guitar for sure.
@@britishboxer6875 Ha what can I say? But I know where you should get them from ;-)
@@britishboxer6875 I'll desist from that line thanks.
@@britishboxer6875 Being rude to me does not work. Banned.
Seven minutes in and still blathering about how people are getting ripped off. Get started already!
Maybe you don't care? Thanks for watching.
It's not that you didn't make a video on an interesting topic. It's just that this could have been covered in 15-30 minutes.
Problem is, everyone that watches are not all 'experts' and know everything. You should consider that these video's are for all levels of viewer... even guys who have no knowledge of the subject. They are out there for sure. Thanks.
That's not what he meant. I found the topic incredibly interesting too, don't get me
wrong, but I thought exactly the same as Mark - and I guess I am one of those guys with
not much knowledge of the subject. Maybe some heavier editing would do?
Anyway, thanks for the insight!
No problem... Honestly I see this video at 56,085 views as I write and these two comments are just about the two to date that have remarked in this way. I always relate to what people say, but I suspect you're not an 11 year old and in the case of someone that old then they might have a different view re the length and what is covered and how its covered etc. Making ANY video shorter also makes what is communicated maybe less understandable and may in some cases actually deter from what the actual message of this video is... and that was exactly 'How to NOT get Ripped Off Buying A Chinese Copy Les Paul Guitar'. The owner of this guitar was actually ripped off! And he IS a reasonable guy I can vouch for him - and he was sold this junk by a priest! Hence my annoyance about these sort of things. Like I said it's easy to say the video needs 'hacking' shorter, but remember that there are guys that know literally nothing about what goes on. Thanks for the comment anyway, I don't really want to deter anyone from making their point if it's reasonable and it was, so please understand my reasoning about the vid and why I won't edit it any shorter. Thanks for watching too.
Tony, another quick tip. Typically Gibson factory pickups use the the long 1/2" base plate legs. After market and Epiphone use the shorter legs so they can fit in other guitars that don't have as deep a pickup cavity.
Great point and thanks for listing that on here... I never compared the two really. Thanks for watching.
I'm not a Gibson guy at all. I think you are getting ripped off when you buy real or fake. They're just not my cup of tea and they're overpriced. You can get good quality guitars from companies other than Gibson or fender, for a lot less money.
I agree with that... they ARE too expensive, but it's not just limited to Gibson... think PRS, Fender, Ibanez, Martin, Taylor, the list is endless. The top end stuff is way over priced for sure.
I personally think prs Se series is nicer than the high end prs and peavey and godin make guitars that are just as good for considerably less.
Thomas R. Bowen The SE is not bad... but it's controlled by PRS for the quality they say (? maybe so) but the SE prices are climbing too these days. Seems everything is creeping up much faster than the inflation figure to be honest. I did not try the others so can't really say anything about them... but I'm sure those two brands 'should' come up with the goods if they don't know how to by now its time to give up.
***** pice of everything is going up for sho
Among all my guitars I have Epiphone LP that sounds totaly like Gibson, but for almost ten times lower price. Also have some expensive guitars but there is not always difference in sound. Maybe some other things
There's one blindingly obvious detail you missed Tony, the Gibson neck volume control sits just past the tailstock towards the strap button. The chibson neck volume control sits between the bridge and the tailstock. That's been addressed on more recent rip offs, but most of the ones out there are like your mate's one! Great info. Thanks for taking the time!
I'm sure there are many other points :) And of course you are right on that - and its an older one where the controls are incorrect for a Les Paul... at least a Gibson one. Thanks for posting this one though - I did not cover it but hard to remember it all. Thanks and stay safe!
Thanks for your reply Tony yes I'm afraid I lack malmsteen said talent too you are not alone, although I must admit I got on quite well with the scalloped fretboard and still love it, although I was scepticle at first. Thanks again Tony.
Any time YJMfan...
they are great for the price....ive had bad gibsons...within 2 years the gibson selector and pots all crackle...and most guitarists swap out the pickups anyway...i did a full tour with one...sounded great through a 800jcm...had more guts than a SG
I think it's variable. So variable like playing R*****n Rou****e - you might be lucky of course, but the ones I have had never did come near to the Gibsons. Nearest? That is one of these: ruclips.net/video/bg4buTRVaYw/видео.html Thanks for watching.
Thanks, Tony. You've done the guitar community a great service by putting the lie to all the fake Les Paul's out there and the unscrupulous people who deal in them. Your videos are a delight, and I look toward to every one. Ny sincere wishes for your confined success. You are a rare gem.
Well I did see other sort of videos on here... and I certainly did not get every single point of the differences, but hopefully it helps guys not to end up paying for something that on the face of it looks great, but in reality is, (when all is said and done) just a cheap copy guitar. Thanks for those kind words... appreciated.
Also, the pole pieces for the bridge have slots. The original Gibson bridge has no slots.
Got one of those in the UK for £100 (around $160 at the time), and with a small amp included in the price; the only difference is that mine doesn't say Gibson. I spent weeks fixing it: from straightening the neck, to sanding the frets. It was barely playable as it came. Just bought it because it looked good in the shop, and need a cheap guitar at the time.
+May Flyer You will know what it takes to improve it. Some guys think these are Gibson replacements out of the box but I don't think so. Thanks for the info.
+tonymckenziecom I agree with you. The work I did on it was just to make it playable, but there's no chance it will ever be near a genuine Gibson; not even by changing the pick-ups and electronics, as some people do. These will always be cheap replicas.
Well done Tony! Why anyone would fall for this crap is beyond me..You'd be so much better off buying a genuine Epiphone & upgrafing the p'ups for $450 than paying $300 for a fake Gibson..I know here in the US you'll go to jail if you try to sell one of these fakes,"& rightly so!" You did a great job of showing some of the differences & the sad thing is people will continue to buy this crap only because of the fake Gibson logo..I'm a Fender guy myself but i do have an Epiphone Les Paul that i'd put up against one of these forgeries any day of the week!
Yes these counterfeit ones are not in reality very cool as a guitar. And even less cool as a copy. The fact is, that uninformed guys WILL buy these copies, and regret it later. Try and check one out on the internet and the problem becomes bad x 10 so I thought I would make this video to help others to try and be objective rather than judging the guitar by just how it looks. Tanks for watching.
The Chinese are even doing Epiphones too. Easy to tell. Very thick binding on the headstock compared to neck and body binding. Volume knob is behind bridge on a fake. Pickguard screw closer to the edge on a fake rather than near the middle of the pickguard.
The buyer of this at the time did not know all the pointers and was sadly sold it by a vicar on eBay! Thanks for the info and for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial I bought a EpiPHONY from an unscrupulous pawn shop guy. It just didnt look right. Should have known with the $300 price tag.
Live and learn.
:( Sadly its sometimes the way of the world these days and is likely to get worse with the economy bombing a bit. My friend learned too. I did feel sorry for him actually. When he bought it around, he said 'I think I made a mistake' and he had. It was nice looking stepped back but as soon as you got remotely near (the lid open on the case!) it was noticeably not what they said it was. Thanks..
Look at the mounting screws for the PU rings. Imports have the larger usually chrome oval heads. Gibson allway's uses smaller nickel, chrome, black, or gold FLAT heads. That should immediately jump out at ya. The nut on the switch is usually allway's a giveaway too.
This was an older video but thanks for the points and I'm sure guys will learn from those comments. Thanks for watching too.
Well, some people don't pay attention and they are subject to be ripped off. A Chibson can be had for around $225. At that price they are a great deal. For $225 one could hang it on the wall of their music room just for cool looking decoration!
That is true of course but the guy selling it was a priest? Would you trust his word? That is the real question. Me? I liken them to a really famous track called 'don't believe a word' :)
True you could hang them for decoration though... but don't give it a friend else he may not be for long :) Thanks for watching.
These videos have been a great help to the counterfeiters. Chibsons are much improved now.
Well pretty soon they are going to see exactly how the Chibsons are. I have one coming that will undoubtedly shed light on all of that... but without the bull that many of the Chibson reviewers seem to extol on those guitars. Thanks.
I bought a chinese made 335 - I could never afford to buy a real one. I changed all the electrics for CTS, the epiphone branded pickups for Stewmac's Golden Age zebras, the pot metal bridge for a golden age nashville, put a set of real grovers that I had bought for another guitar, added medium gauge flat wound strings and I have a very playable jazz guitar that holds itself very well. All found, cost me under $900. I've played real 335's and I think I prefer mine and keep the change in my wallet. I have no intention to sell it, but if I did, I would sell it for what it is, not what it looks like.
Some of them are OK of curse... but it's the bad ones that this video is all about... oh and of course the counterfeit ones. Thanks for watching.
Not buy an epiphone thats genuine?
Nothing wrong with the genuine Epiphone as I have showed on a number of occasions. Thanks for watching.
Great informative video. Thanks for the very helpful info, greatly appreciated for your in-depth analysis of pretty much each and every little detail to look out for. Big thumbs up!
Thanks Raymond and thank you for watching... I hope it helps.
Now I understand there’s allot of garbage fakes out there but during covid while unemployed and unable to afford a real les Paul I took a chance on a company called “Elite” with their name on the headstock, so at least they weren’t trying to claim it was actually a Gibson. I wasn’t expecting much just something to play with. To be honest after a string change and some fine tuning I got one heck of a guitar for under $300 bucks. Know I by far probably am the outlier and just got extremely lucky, but a few friends of mine with way more guitar knowledge than me thought it was allot of guitar for the money. They liked the action, fretboard, tuners, and paint job. So you’re right a real Gibson is no comparison, but for some of us that aren’t financially stable the possibility to own something like this might be worth taking a chance.
Exactly right. My own experience showed a sadder result of the cheap ones I bought. It's a bit like a 'lucky' draw really - you get a reasonable one or you don't. The bad ones are terrible... but thanks for the post and for watching.
The plastic that goes on the end of the frets are called fret nibbs
Of course... thanks.
Too much emphasis is put on guitar labels, my philosophy is listen to your ears, not to what's trending
Oh I agree... however, I bought a number of Chinese guitars that turned out to be total junk (the videos are on my channel if you want to see them) and worthless. One I ended up sawing in half and the other one I gave away. Thanks for watching.
I requested photos of the woods.And I chose the maple grain etc..The guitar was made to my specification.Electrics,pickups etc down to the last detail...It is such a lovely thing..With the best hard case and shipping and a little bit of import tax..The total cost was £400...For a guitar made to measure it can't be bad..I prefer playing it to the real thing...
You clearly had a good time with buying that. People send me images that you would not believe how bad they can be. But the video is not really about buying a Chinese guitar from people that sell them in China and similar countries. But rather how to spot if you're being set up to pay for something that it clearly is not. Thanks for the info.
Yes,you are right of course..I have heard so many horror stories and maybe I was just lucky with mine..I enjoy your videos and will continue watching..Keep up the good work.
Once again a great clip. These things are a problem when folk are paying real guitar prices for an average. at best, imitation. I'm not a Gibson player. Used to have a Sonex way back during the days of hair. That wasn't one of Gibson's finest but it was a good deal better than this. I ponder whether I should get a 24.75 scale guitar and see if my opinion of them has changed. I also had an Explorer back in the late 80's or maybe 1990. Too long ago to remember. Think it was a '76 reissue. Got it new with a pink lined case that you could have slept in. The problem I had with the Gibson's was that they were 'too easy' for me to play. They felt rubber bandy to someone used to Strats and similar and I just couldn't get used to how easy it was to bend the strings. The Explorer always felt and looked just too precious to play which I know now was just plain daft. Do feel a difference switching between scale lengths or was it all in my much younger mind?
How much would you say this guitar is really worth and have you played it or heard it i action? Back in the late 70's/early 80's a couple of my mates had the Japanese clones of the day. The Columbus Les Paul was pretty poor but the Shaftsbury SG with a Bigsby was the most unplayable thing I've ever held. Is this latest manifestation better or worse than those old 'lawsuit' instruments. It pains me to see the prices being asked for so called vintage gear that was total crap and is now just old total crap. Then again some of the top end clones from back then were, and still are, as good as the stuff on which they were based.
For what your mate paid he could have got a top of the range Epiphone or even one of the lower end Gibson Junior models. You've gotta have your wits about you these days especially it seems with LP's.
Hope you and your are keeping well. Keep up the good work! Thanks.
The one you wanted was a 'Columbus' of about 72. It was a long time ago but the Columbus I thought was the best of them. I distinctly remember those and they seemed to be (in my uninformed mind then) a direct replica (but no Gibson on the headstock and a slightly different headstock end). I've seen newer 'Columbus' guitars that are NOT at all like that one from the early 70's (or even the end of the 60's) and were/are far inferior. I did NOT set this counterfeit guitar up or play it and did not want to. My way of thinking was to show the differences between a real Gibson and the counterfeit. Looking at the loose string tailpiece, bridge and nut should really tell you everything about playing this one so I wasted no more time on it. I guess it could be made to be 'reasonable' but like I said to Ariel below, playing is a little like promoting it, and could add coffers to their stash which they will use that money to make more... not really what I wanted to do. Rather educational all round, including the comments from different viewers - all valid I might add. Unfortunately the buyer wanted a Les Paul and thought he had bought one.... alas he ended up with this. I just hate to see people getting ripped off in that way. BTW the Explorers were too heavy :) OK when you're 18 (which I was in 68ish) but at 60 there's no chance LOL.
Dude, nobody thinks that these are real Gibson guitars, if you know anything about the originals.They are not made to deceive anyone. , but to give players a decent replica of a guitar that many cannot afford. Like Epiphone lps. they are made in the Epiphone factories for the chinese market. The US players are just catching on.
Actually they do. The problem is, that everyone is not like me and you... a friend of mine actually bought this guitar of a vicar! He trusted the vicar and hey presto there goes hundreds of pounds (or $) and he ended up with this guitar. He came around to me later and said he had made a 'mistake'. He really DID make a mistake and I wonder how many other young guys might have believed the vicar (a man of the cloth) and bought it?
There's nothing wrong with Epiphones for example (as you mentioned) but there IS plenty wrong with fuelling companies that make junk and this was one of them. BTW we recently bough an Epiphone for less cost than this would have been by a long way and that guitar was near enough perfect... check it out here under review: ruclips.net/video/QV6t9bbZnSQ/видео.html
Thanks for the comments and for watching.
Gibson own epiphone why on earth would their fake their own guitars?
Epiphone have their own factory they make ONLY EPIPHONE INSTRUMENTS...
They wouldn't knock out these second rate chibson turds.
It's like saying the Mexican fender factory are making snide American standard strats and selling them for 150quid.
There is no way that this guitar came from Epiphone you are right. This guitar was a Chinese thoroughbred for sure and I know of the history of it. BTW I never owned this guitar under review it was owned by my friend who got taken for a ride actually by a priest! The priest said it was 'genuine' so he paid the money - and this thing arrived :(
Some guys make out that this sort of thing never happens, but I can confirm that it does and ultimately its the makers that must carry the responsibility by counterfeiting decent brands so that people do get misled. Thanks for watching.
Ronald Roberson iiQ
Ha maybe you meant to say Incontinence Impact Questionnaire ;-)
Thanks for making this video. I have never bought a Gibson, and really not going to buy one in the near future, but it is good to know what to look out for if I decide to start shopping for one.
I saw something so ridiculous the other day, some people are selling guitar kits (on ebay and other websites) and they are saying that they are Gibson Les Pauls. And people were actually believing that they were Les Paul guitars for $180.00. I guess they think if they have to build them themselves the can get them really cheap. And they did get them cheap, CHEAP CRAP.
+Brice M Yep, that's life... and that's how some of us learn.
The simplest way to spot the fake even on an Ebay pic is notice the control knobs are always drilled crooked and the lower body horn is at an entirely different angle.
JH Scofield Hi JH... I would not say 'always' :) but its another good point to check thanks for posting it because these are the things that help guys to check.
One extra detail - on the fakes the bridge support adjuster screws have slots in the head - on the real deal they are thinner and do not have slots.
Good point... but bear in mind that the Tokai love rock has an exact match bridge ;-) but you are of course exactly right about these cheap guitars. Thanks for posting and for watching.
Years ago I bought a very similar one of these that was sold AS A CHINESE MADE GUITAR branded as "Elite". I paid about $229 for it. It's heavy, has Zebra pickups, metal tuner knobs, solid body not bolted on neck, and for that price I really got my money's worth. Was I EXPECTING a Gibson. Hell no. But where can you buy a Gibson even an Epiphone for this price and this guitar ROCKS! And, I bought it from someone selling one through a link on You Tube. Oh by the way it came with a very nice soft guitar case which was not a cheapo.
Seems like you are the lucky one! I have bought in total three Chinese guitars (this was not one of them - this was owned by someone who got ripped off) and each and every one of them has been very bad in many ways. In fact the third one (bought from eBay and shipped from China just a few weeks ago is about to be reviewed on my channel and I can confirm that it is nothing like your experience. When you see it then it will be self explanatory (from the included story when I bought it) that the seller intended to mislead the buyer. Unfortunately he got me as a buyer and I intend to show and name and shame him and I have absolutely no hesitation in doing so. To mislead buyers knowingly is not acceptable and as I said every guitar I have bought from China appears to do that. Won't be long before you can see the video and make up your own mind from what I show. I can agree that for the money you paid (if it worked) then that was a reasonable deal. But thanks for your experience with that gear and for watching.
Great informative video! But just because it’s a genuine Gibson doesn’t mean it won’t have defects or be a piece of crap. I have played some absolute dog genuine Gibsons. I saw a tuning key on a brand new genuine SG disintegrate in a guy’s hand as he was tuning it. I have a genuine SG that has to be top wrapped as the only way to stop the strings pushing on the back of the bridge and caving the bridge in, which is what happened 40 years ago to my 60’s Les Paul. Strangely, this isn’t the case on some good quality Japanese copies. Finally, the best Les Paul I’ve ever played was NOT a Gibson. Played like butter and sustained for days. It was a Burny!
Yes that's true. Same applies with every brand out there from my experience. Ah the Japanese Les Pauls for example (Tokai) I have one of those and they are great -mine is an older on that these today and I bought that for just £400! ($600) which is crazy. But examples of less than perfect guitars from high end (and low end) makers are there to see so check some... I really don't think any company could consistently never get something wrong occasionally. Point of this video was that I have a friend that bought this guitar... he's not a player and bought from a vicar (yes really) on eBay so he trusted the seller. He was so disappointed and it made me think a little as to how many other guys ended up with that gear... sad really. Thanks.
Finally got to try a Vintage Tony. It was OK but they had a Burny Les Paul copy that was way better. What a nice guitar. I knew nothing about these but they are Japanese and that explains the difference I think.
Andrew Butcher Ah yes I know of the Berny stuff those are cool. A bit like the other one from Japan (I forget the name of it) that they say is the same at least as the real deal, but those fetch about $1200 now... Not sure what the Burny's go for but let me know... thanks for that info.
Boy have times changed from when you made this video!! For $400 I can have a chibson that will compete w any top shelf epiphone, and if you put gibson pickups and good tuners on it through a Amp you'd not be able to tell the difference.
Well I can STILL tell the difference here. Many times I have tried to buy a 'cheap' guitar like this one but it actually works and I never have found one yet. I'm not saying they don't exist - and you could be right. I found alternatives of course but not really that 'cheap'. Sound wise, basically you're making it in to a Gibson so it should sound somewhere there :). Maybe I'll look again at some time and 'find the one' :) - anyway, thanks for watching that old video and I trust that it was OK. The video was made on 3rd Nov 2014 :) and still going.
It also looks like the body is missing that distinct line, caused by the wood grain. Going from the strap button, through the bridge up to the neck. Am I right in thinking that's a standard Gibson trait on finishes that you can see the wood grain through?
The body on this copy was veneered over the back to give the appearance of a one piece body. Many Gibsons have 2 part bodies but this one under the veneer (as seen from the ands of the body) had about eight or more pieces of some sort of wood... but I could not determine exactly which wood it was. The back veneer was mahogany but not so sure of that wood inside... Some Les Pauls have dark or black finish to the back of the body. In that case you would not know exactly which wood it could be. Scary really... I always feel the weight of the guitar but that can also be very misleading as I've had Les Pauls (real ones) that are light or heavy as heck. Thanks for watching.
Ah ok thank you, and yeah. I have a traditional Les Paul and it is a ton weight. I hear a lot of musicians get them hollowed out.
Dylan McGreevy Well usually that's a factory thing... they make hollowed out and non hollowed and the weight think can really hurt if you have a heavy one and use it for 3 hours at a time... ouch...
Thanks for the great tips Tony! Always appreciated!
mate: they use Epiphone parts on the Chibsons now. By the way....ALL the big names have guitars made by the big four Chinese and Korean builders. Only the Custom Shop units are American made. FYI A 40 some year guitarist here.
Hi Ronald... If you check this video it is all about counterfeit guitars made by the very people you mention. Counterfeit is counterfeit whatever name you apply to it.. but just as an aside, the nasty copies I have seen have been so far removed from the real deal it would not really be productive to promote them to people that trust my opinion. Thanks for watching.
Anyone who buys an expensive guitar off of fleabay deserves to lose his hard earned money?! Come on...go to your local guitar store try out several and pick the one that's right for you...watching this,and seeing that your buddy has no recourse only confirms that in the words of the late, great P.T. Barnum.."There's a sucker born every minute"
Tubman55 That's not a fair rendition of how things work. I have bought loads of gear off eBay without being taken for a ride. Buyers don't 'deserve' to be ripped off by scum. I would generally agree though that to support your local dealer is a really good thing. I often support my local dealer and in fact just spent near enough £1700 or $1500 so I guess I'm one of the good guys? But come on... no one DESERVES to be ripped off.
Notice the question mark at the end of my opening sentence? Didn't state that he deserved to be ripped off,,,I'm sure he didn't,just seems silly to me to make an expensive third party purchase w/o some due diligence which really isn't possible on ebay..just sayin
Tubman55 I understand. BTW I have bought some very expensive guitars off eBay without issue. Let me point out about that seller who sold this guitar on eBay... he was a priest. Now I guess you might trust him a little more right? as indeed many would. The point is, it's not eBay that make the problems of buying a guitar... its the crooks and charlatans and they are there no matter what.
Finally someone out there who realizes these knockoffs are crap and sound nothing like the real thing!!!! It's pisses me off that you get people putting up videos up that the $290 les Paul ripoff sounds so great I just had to replace the pickups, bridge and tailpiece, pots, tuners, volume knobs, frets had to be leveled, pickup rings had to go, and it goes on and on, I have a 1992" Gibson les Paul studio ebony fretboard, weighs 10pds, it's a beauty all it needs is more playing time!!!!!!🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Exactly correct Jeb... I tend to put all of that down to the 'emperors new clothes' effect. They see what they want to but many of them have never really played the real deal Gibsons. Others seem to just use videos to promote what are more often than not a (very) poor man's Les Paul. I guess in reality they could afford better. But some guys simply won't spend money on decent gear and they 'glorify' some of the rubbish I have seen in ways that only they could. Then there's the angle of guys getting ripped off for a guitar that 'claims to be' what it clearly is not.
The Chibson boys probably don't like this video but to be honest it's aimed at education and you can't educate everyone, some are just not good candidates. It is a pity that China cannot develop a guitar (of the cheap counterfeit types) of its own design that is a 'winner' and they then would not have to attach such rubbish building guitar lookalikes to such an incredible real deal.
The Gibson Studio I reviewed here: ruclips.net/video/PcMoczyGBGY/видео.html eats these Chinese things for breakfast. Thanks for that input and of course for watching.
I want to know if a Les Paul build kit is any good and so a review on a DIY kit vs a true Gibson Les Paul would be deeply apreciated because I like building things but I don't know if the DIY kit would sound as good as a true Gibson Les Paul.
+Dre Gramlich Clearly they are different. Often the 'kits' use screw on necks where the real deals are glued, but some kits do have the glue in type too. I don't have a kit to make one but its an interesting consideration. Thanks for watching.
Not just Slash, any of the models made directly for the Artists, are farmed out to people who may build 10± guitars in a year. They are VERY high-end craftsmen, who are charged with making these special guitars, because the Nashville plant cannot afford to have someone spend that much time on one guitar. Same with Fender, or any major builder that produces guitars for big name players.
Actually, the Gibson Deluxe tuners are not perfectly on line. The one on the upper 3rd of the head are a bit farther outside, to compensaste the natural diagonal headstock angle. But nonetheless they look totally different. Much sharper and they are little metal boxes.
Thanks for that info... always appreciated... and thanks for watching.
the scarf joint is also visible on the older epiphone stuff... i don't know about the new stuff tho...
in any case, it looks like an old epiphone with a gibson logo, which for the money it costs is actually a pretty good deal (if you are not getting scammed off course)...
still not gonna buy one, i have 3 original Gibson LPs and i'm very happy with them, not everybody is me tho...
Problem is, that the quality is very variable and if you get a bad one... it will stay that way because reshipping to China would cost you more than the guitar :). Thanks for watching.
Sorry to hear that your friend got ripped off. What also tends not to get mentioned is that there are the guys that buy these and mod them out and then take them out to gig with.
So at this point there are thousands of people that see these instruments that say GIBSON Les Paul model on the headstocks.
Hence when they see one offered on the cheap like your mate did it starts to become where these people really end up thinking that they are getting the REAL GIBSON Les Paul model because the one they saw the guy in the band playing one it looked just like it. This is what tends to piss me off Tony when it comes to these things. Now they got a guitar that they can't even SELL legally without getting into trouble with the law.
In any event GREAT VIDEO and it's great that a stand up guy like you took the time to make this for people to see.
That's a great point and one I failed to raise... a very valid point indeed. FYI this one had been on eBay and apparently it got thrown off at some stage. And thanks for watching - your comments appreciated...
If you have no idea what you're looking at . The one I was looking at was on a local website .
Top Job Tony, ok you got a few words wrong (ha like I don't half the time) but yup all the things to look for, on a real gibo the fingerboard inlays are put in deeper than the hole cut for them then Gibson sand them down as they radius the finger board which is why they totally flush fit when new, Any how top job, And no Gibson have never use scarf joints on necks even though there's an argument that it's stronger that way, Gibson have never done it on lespauls.
Hi Carl, yes I do not always get the words out when I'm recording the video... on the spot so to speak. Yes the scarf joint thing I never saw on any Gibson I ever owned either. Thanks for watching - appreciated.
Hi Tony, I enjoy your videos a lot but I do have to say most folk who buy these Chinese guitars know what they are doing. Like you they feel better playing a fake with the Fender or Gibson logo on it. I have a '93 Les Paul and was wondering how this would compare so I bought one out of pure curiosity and was pretty shocked to find out how bad the pickups were but how good the wood and the neck was. Mine came with a great two piece body, fret end bindings and no scarf join on the neck, it does have a small join at the heel. Gibson used to make guitars for working musicians now I think they only make them for Lawyers and collectors. No way are these great out of the box but If you know what you are doing you can make them pretty decent guitars without spending a huge amount. That said I know where you are coming from re buying and selling these. Its not illegal to buy or own one for personal use but it is TO SELL. Anytime I come accross one on Ebay or Craigslist I flag it as prohibited to stop folk getting ripped off.
Whoa... I don't play 'fakes'. The guitars I have that I put a logo on are using fully authorised parts in the main and indeed genuine Fender parts. Those are not fakes so let's set that one on the right side immediately.
While you can 'take the gamble' of buying Chinese counterfeit guitars and hope you get one that works that will never be the case with any real brand - and even if you had an issue then the company (Fender, Gibson, Ibanez and all the others) will stand by the guitar and solve your problems. These cheap counterfeit makers will not.
It is absolutely illegal to import a counterfeit product in to the UK or Europe no matter what use it has.
I think on counterfeit products you, I and everyone else has a responsibility to stop that from happening - it affects peoples lives and businesses irrespective whether we 'like or not' the originating manufacturer. You do the right thing stopping counterfeits from being resold. But importation (Ill say it again) of counterfeit goods is and always has been completely illegal no matter what the story. Import one, go along to the governing body then see if it's illegal if you don't believe me. I'll visit you in jail.
I disliked to see someone get ripped off as my friend did... so my view is simple... don't allow counterfeit products in to the country in the first place.
Thanks for watching.
I believe Gibson doesn't actually use files on their bridge saddles. They lightly bang the strings with a mallet over the saddles to make the grooves in bridge.
Careful Corey someone just might believe you LOL. They file them as I can clearly see in the Gibson's I own and have ever owned.
Tony you forgot to mention the gibson wings added to the head stoke. The piece of would added to each side of a real gibson headstock to make up the width
Good point... But I think those 'outboard pieces' as I call them might get added at some stage. Thanks and well spotted.
Dear Huw Akiba-Jones:
I'm not convinced that even in their worst state Gibson (or Fender) would issue guitars down to this counterfeit's level. What are you compromising firstly is simple... You are compromising the jobs of employees who work for guitar companies that developed the guitar by paying for these counterfeit guitars. Its also a bit like other stuff... I noticed Land Rover (from the UK) have an 'Evoke' model that was largely copied (the design that is) by Chinese companies in China. They went to court but the Chinese government backed the Chinese car maker... well I guess they would. When anyone buys one of these guitars it infringes the intellectual property rights that the originators hold. These are the primary reasons not to buy those guitars. I understand guitars CAN get stolen at gigs.. but I never had one stolen in over 40 years of playing... dropped maybe... but stolen no. And that's because if you watch your guitar and look after it then you will undoubtedly be there with a base ball bat when they try... right? I was.
The other thing you compromise you are right... you also compromise the tone and the quality... why buy a decent guitar to leave 'at home' and use one of these for your audience? That does not add up. Sometimes I do think that people buy them because they are 'wanabee's (if you get what I mean) - they would never buy the real deal, but 'strut' around with one of these thinking it looks 'cool'... it does not.
I do understand your views for sure, but you really don't want to be supporting companies that counterfeit other companies products, do you? It sounds like you have not actually considered anything much other than the cheap guitar when it arrives - think of all the other ramifications of supporting that industry and then maybe you will see the point... its repercussions are much wider than what people first think in general.
A 'kid' starting out does not buy a Gibson Les Paul (for example) to 'get started' with. There are plenty of quite reasonable (and cheaper guitars than this counterfeit) guitars available without supporting an illegal industry...
Now doesn't that make more sense?
Derek Charette I would not have used those particular words... but I understand what you mean and I am absolutely sure that as you say Fender and Gibson Et Al will be suffering in a big way because of counterfeit guitars flooding the world. If you can edit this entry above I really would appreciate it... because there are many guys that come on to this channel and some may be offended - its better not to do that really. Also of course there are younger viewers... but thanks for watching Derek its appreciated.
+Derek Charette +tonymckenziecom first lets correct some facts. What do you think Gibson actual owns? There is no intellectual property when it comes to a 60 year old guitar. FACT: Gibson legally owns the trademarks i.e. their logo and perhaps the shape of the truss rod cover - that's it. Gibson owns epiphone. Epiphones are made in China. Many other known companies make les paul copies completely legally. Next - what you say is just an opinion. Those who buy so called counterfeit gibsons have done 1 thing wrong, and 1 other thing wrong potentially. 1 - its illegal to buy something that infriges on the trademark. 2. It's even more illegal to resell it (your local laws may differ), but we can't assume everyone buys to sell or to pass it off as something real. Opinion - these guitars CAN be just as good as an Epiphone in terms of construction.. and just by saying that, it infers that it can be just as good as a Gibson. Period. There is enough opinions on the net that can support that claim. Move on. FACT: People buy these guitars because they are CHEAP. If it's crap, not much is lost. FACT: Gibson and epi's have their own well documented quality control issues. What people do not consider is that a USED Epi can be a better buy than a chinese knock off. But that doesn't deter them mainly because they are simply intrigued by the idea that they can get a guitar that appears to be gibson at a fraction of the price. FACT: This is a competitive world. Gibson will sink or swim with or without counterfeiters. Their attempts in 2015 to innovate and do things differently was a failure. 30% price increase, upgrades that people don't want. Customers are tired of Gibson shenanigans. Company that doesn't survive this will sink or be bought out eventually. FYI - there are forums that discuss the differences in counterfeits, how to upgrade them, pros/cons, etc. This is not new information to most.
+ken masters They own the shape of the headstock as a trade mark, they own the name as a trade mark, likely the exact body shape as a trade mark and numerous patents. Lets add the truss rod because you said it. Epiphone are made under license so nothing applies. Anyone can make them legally if authorised, and illegally if they are not. Glad you agree its illegal. Buy one and keep it forever... especially if its as good as the cr*p I've seen over and over again from Chinese rip off guitar makers. And let's not just make it Chinese... Korean, Indonesia and other areas are all well known for it. Some people DO pass on these guitars for sale (as you said that in itself is illegal). Epiphone make reasonably good guitars without the truss rod problems, without the pickup problems, without breaking the law, without not being able to sell it if you want to legally, without all that other baggage. The used Epiphone is better and that remains a far better choice than any of the Chibsons out there. Exactly... the chibsons 'appear' to be a Gibson 'at a fraction of the price'. And there lies the deceit in it all. It's wholly misleading.
FACT: a Chibson, will never be a Gibson, but more importantly now you raised the question... a Chibson will never even be an Epiphone. Sums it all up really.
I don't visit forums often as they tend to be somewhat overfull of people that hide behind silly little names. Prices increase from everyone... even from the bread you buy daily? Gibson is not exempt from cost price increases either. I guess as Gibson has been around a while (and the quality of the ones I have just bought show) that they will be there for a long time to come no matter how some people knock them in the way that sometimes directly compares them with Chinese, Indonesian, Indian or other cr*p.
As you said, its just my opinion. And what you wrote is just yours.
Personally I hate rip off equipment like those people are selling and that is simply because they remain as misleading after your comments as they did before your comments. Nothing changed. In any case thanks for watching and for your comments. I may disagree with some of them but its good to get another opinion.
+tonymckenziecom Yeah i dont' condone the practice. Many feel the same way you do, but yet the sales continues. Nobody intelligent will think a chibson is a gibson. Maybe one day a chibson will be eventually good enough to pass as a gibson. Gibson guitar's unfortunately are not high tech/proprietary and can be easily replicated (unlike advance rolex movements or electronics...). But just a small correction. Epiphone are not made under license. Gibson owns Epiphone. Also, Gibson does not own any patents or trademarks on the body shape. They lost that battle a long time ago. Walk into any guitar store and you'll see many LP look a likes from ESP, Greco, Heritage, PRS... You must have heard of Ibanez lawsuit regarding the headstock design. Funny thing, all the mfg's started to adjust their designs slightly afterwards. Long story short - the Chinese are not the first to replicate gibson designs. If you get a chance, look at your Chibson and you will also notice that the headstock is not the same too. It's slightly smaller.
+creepyguy Sorry buddy I'm arguing against this video in some ways, however, I don't agree with you. Your first sentence is incorrect. A chinese mfg cannot make you a les paul exactly like a Gibson. You may think you getting something better, but you are NOT. Trust me I've tried and I speak their language. Second, you cannot say that someone deserves getting ripped off. If I sold you a fake for $1000 instead of $200 you probably think its real too and don't say you wouldn't - because I've seen much better fakes. Leave this to Gibson and their legal team. Everything else is just opinions and nonsense.
Decent video in all, but one thing to say that the pickups are epiphone. If they faked the pickups, they'd stamp em gibson. But either way, you're right, they ain't Gibson pups.
I was and remain hesitant to say that simply because nothing can be trusted to be what it says on these Chinese guitars. You could be right of course, but knowing the sneaky ways these makers work, you could be wrong! I remain uncommitted to what they actually are but they are not Gibson :) just as you said. Thanks RCC.
First off let me say thanks for all the great videos Tony. I really enjoy watching them and one of the reasons I went ahead and bought a Grandmeister. Almost went with the Tubemeister until I watched your review of the Grandmeister and glad I spent a bit more and got it instead. As far as these "things" they are calling Les Paul's...wow what junk. I played one that a friend got and after an hour of "trying" to set it up, it still played like just what it was, crap. Thankfully he knew what he was getting and being a guitar teacher wanted to show students the old you get what you pay for lesson. What really makes me sad are the people that buy off certain internet sites and think they are getting something they are not. Makes me sick that there are people out there enabling companies to do what they are doing by saying what a great deal this junk is...Just disgusts me. These things are like the old saying, " you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig". No matter what you change you'll still have a sub par piece of.... Thanks so much for this video. Hopefully it may save someone from falling into the trap that is these copies. Bought my first Gibson LP in 1976 and have been loving and buying them ever since. Well up until the 2015 line up...but that's a rant in and of itself! lol. Thanks again for all your time and work putting out these videos.
I know of lipstick on pigs :) but I can't name them :) or they may never talk to me again LOL (I'm just joking of course). Clearly you know the difference between that cheapo counterfeit guitar and a Gibson Les Paul.
As you might read below... I've had guys saying.. 'go on play it' etc... which I will not because I think it gives the counterfeit guitar 'some' credibility... but others that propose those cheapo guitars often don't care and (it seems to me) that they wilfully push that stuff... indeed as I type there are many guys showing the 'chibson' as they call them with complete disregard to the fact that often those guitars are completely illegal. It does not seem to bother them... but I guess that you can tell a lot about someone's outlook on life by their actions.
So thanks for watching this video and for your comments which do go some way to confirm the true position... a Gibson Les Paul is exactly that... and a cheap piece of sh*t is just that.
***** I agree with you on not playing the "thing", Tony. No reason to give them any more due then they deserve. There is a video from a person, (again not going to give him any due by mentioning his name), where he states how great they are right out of the box and how great they sound...Now this person states he builds guitars, so he knows what he's talking about. All I can say is if he thinks these rip offs are great I'd certainly never want him building anything for me! And if they are so great, why the hell don't these scumbags put their own name on the headstock? My only conclusion is, because they aren't!!! And are made specifically to burn people. Anyhow thanks again for all your video's and Happy New Year!
MrNitrocat I've seen those videos... (I think it's him - he did a PRS Counterfeit last). Well, I put here what I put on his video... (I'm sure you know about this but many do not).
If you import counterfeit goods (either personally or for resale) then you can (and will if they catch you) be dragged through the courts big time. You will have to pay for your attorney (if you dare to try and contest it) and when you lose (you will) then they can either give you massive fines and/or a prison sentence and even seize your assets.. I guess it's a bit like trafficking drugs.
Now let's face it, the absolute best way of letting the government know that you have done any of that is to firstly import one, secondly make a video saying how great they are (and telling others where the counterfeits come from and then making another video (often) about how they play and again (just for good measure) telling the world where to go and break the law!
Clearly these people don't always think right do they. My guy who bought this counterfeit on this video was sold it as genuine! and he has paid the price... he is so annoyed at himself, but in reality it is not he that should carry the can is it? It's the slime ball that probably imported it and then 'passed it off' as a genuine Gibson Les Paul. My friend is NOT a player, he simply collects guitars that look nice.
BTW In fact some of them DO put their own name (or 'nickname' on the headstock... it makes no difference because most guitars are copyrighted by the headstock shape and body shape... so even with a different name added (usually where it would be Les Paul) they are just as counterfeit.
I have not seen ONE comment anywhere except which I have made regarding the legality of it all and the consequences of importing counterfeit goods.
The scary thing for those guys is that ANYONE could report them for importing counterfeit goods and I'm absolutely sure that then they might start to dislike the thing they bought.
Happy new year to you too...
MrNitrocat their not made to burn people their made for people to burn lol
These are 200$ they are at least worth the price,Rather have a blank headstock though.It is the people who buy them from them who resale as real.
Some of them are and some of them are not worth the price... the problem is that they are all so variable in quality. This video was about a friend who got ripped off with one... and I wanted to show the common problems on the guitar to check online. Stay safe.
The pickup rings are much larger on a fake also
Thanks for the info... and for watching too.
I''ve seen some of those for sale as well and especially the videos that you talked about. How could anybody ever think, that those things are great right out of the box? Expecially now, that you showed how badly they're made, I honestly can't get over this shitty quality. I personally own two Gibson guitars (the real ones of course) at the moment and I know, how much quality control goes into those things. That's one of the reasons why they sound so good and play like a dream. This terrible copy right here just hurts my eyes (and probably my ears too). Thank you for making yet another great video, Tony. Now I know can totally tell a copy from the real deal by just looking at it on the internet. Keep up the good work, Rock N' Roll!
Good to hear you Bud... well I guess if you are in front of one its relatively easy especially if you are informed which is why I made the video. But buying on the internet... ouch.. it could be a painful deal... they even used a genuine serial number so if you checked online it matched. Plain and simple - misleading counterfeit to get your money. Some guys think that I should have played the guitar, but I think not. Nothing was as it seemed. Thanks for watching and indeed for the support.
Actually I've bought $200. Error free CNC made Squire that are perfect. Made in China I have several 40th anniversary that are perfectly made. How ever I prefer Old handmade guitars with slight errors and tool marks from the builder. I still have my second Guitar a LPC Black n Gold 1980 I plan on selling it. It's worth to much now. So I bought a Studio LP to replace it ( used).I have Fireflies and IYVs that are a lot of quality fun for the money. I own mostly Fenders not perfect but good enough. Not everyone can afford over price Greedy Gibson.
Every 'cheap' guitar is not bad... I know that. Seems to me I get the bad ones!. Remember this, the bst guitar I own cost me $500 second hand including shipping from the USA years ago. That remains the same today and I own well over 20 guitars some costing substantial money. Thanks for watching...
No problem bruda. Mahalo for answering.
Not everyone that buys one is getting ripped off. I knew mine was fake, but I also had trade tang leave the headstock logo.
That is true if you get what you should. The problem is that often its a 'hit or miss' affair re the quality - once it's here it's an awful long and expensive way to send back. You are right though on this video, it was made to show how someone could mistake the guitar for genuine over the internet. Thanks for watching.
Worth a grand to me.. Sucks it got sold as a Gibson Les Paul. But Japanese Les Pauls are my jam. No so much the Chinese ones but not a lot of experience with them. My Tokai Love Rock sounds but more importantly PLAYS BETTER than any Gibson Les Paul I have owned or ever played.
You know what, I own a Tokai Japanese Les Paul - bought originally used for £400 ($550) and its a great guitar. For me, the Tokai IS a great guitar, but I do have some Gibson that plays better... having said that, it cost more by a long way and is an old guitar (mid 90's). I also have a 2008 custom that is good. But the Tokai can be recommended for sure. Here's a link to the original video of it: ruclips.net/video/bg4buTRVaYw/видео.html when I had ran a contest for guys to guess the brand... and here: ruclips.net/video/AOojR8S4D6E/видео.html where I fitted a set of Fishman pickups and rewired the guitar. Only very short playing on that video but as soon as my studio is completed building there will be more on those pickups in that guitar. Yes the Tokai was just £400 at a show so I grabbed it before it sold. :) Thanks for watching...
very in depth, but you still missed a few tell tail details, the bridge is set back further on a copy. the tone and volume knobs are spaced wrong, the screw spacing on the back cover is not right, the hand scoop cutout is a rougher cut. the pickup rings are wider diameter side to side and also the colour of them does not match the binding perfectly, the neck pickup cavity on the copy is cut too close to the fretboard, and maybe few others i missed even. but good video over all.
Great and very useful extra info for sure and thanks for that - I'm sure that will help many not to get 'taken for a ride' as sometimes guys do. Thanks for watching also.
From the Luthier videos i have been watching for the last year, they have been utilizing the Scarf Joint and Volute at Gibson lately, to avoid the "Breakaway Neck".
+Kilgore Trout Strange... I just reviewed a Les Paul 'All Wood' that has no scarf joint or volute, and am about to review a LP Custom Shop Quilt that also has no scarf joint or volute? Maybe they do that on some of the lower models? BTW my 1971 SG had a volute when I bought it back then. Thanks for watching.
i cannot be sure what their policy is across the models, but i have seen it in many YT videos, as a way to address the breaking headstock, along with the Volute. i will have to see if i can find the sources i found this on. i watch so many Guitar videos, it may take while. Take Care. Curious, why would 'All Wood' be in quote marks?
+Kilgore Trout Because some of them use 'richlite' which is not quite the same.
You can cut to the chase in one small detail. Pop the truss rod cover. If it is a 5/16" nut, it is a USA Les Paul. If an allen adjust, it is Asian fake.
Trouble is that might well change in the future. I did check this one BTW off camera and it was the cr*p one.
The bridge is always the big giveaway. The chinese ones do not come with the same kind that USA Gibsons have. And I've never seen a chinese gibson or genuine epiphone with a USA gibson style allen wrench bridge.
But the point on the fret nibs and cheap nut is good.
I own a Gibson (2014 SGJ) and several epiphones, and I can say that they are different, but one is not necessarily better than the other.
+Cr2 Good point on the allen key bridge for sure. The truss rod adjuster is really a very good pointer to show the counterfeit guitar. Thanks for watching.
One reason Gibson is removing the fret nubs is that when the neck changes due to weather, it can create a gap between the fret and the nub, and the high E string can get caught in the cap. And a scarf joint can actually be a good thing. The tilt of the headstock on a solid wood neck goes against the grain, and makes it weaker. A scarf joint can make the headstock more durable because the grain follows the tilt. Don't get me wrong -- I'm 100% against cheap Gibson copies, not only because they're inferior, but especially because they violate the law and are deceptive. But some of your points aren't really well taken. A good scarf joint and lack of nibs CAN BE a good thing, if implemented by a reputable company.
Actually I own a number of Ibanez with scarf joints and no issues. On the 'nibs' thing I have also heard of 'strings catching' on them, but not on the ones I have owned since 1971 - so for me I really preferred the nibs. Unfortunately, although I go through the points on this guitar, those are really there to help advise how not to get ripped off by buying one of these on the internet. Indeed as a friend of mine was. The points I raised were 'pointers' to offer some education to guys that would not really know about Chinese guitars and how they could identify them before buying.... Thanks.
@@tonymckenzieofficial Thank you for that. People should know the ramifications of buying a fake Gibson from China, and you did a good job communicating that. Yeah, my only "good" guitar is a Gretsch 5422 and it has a scarf joint. I'm an amateur luthier so most of my guitars are cheap used or (God forbid) even a piece of trash Glarry that I try to fix up and make playable. I sold my '66 Gibson ES-335 in 1983 and have forever regretted doing that.
@@theroguetomato5362 All interesting stuff. There are many that bestow 'their' truth about some of the Chinese guitars, and while I honestly never really had a problem with PRS Chinese or Epiphone Chinese (or similar country), the ones like this shown by lots on RUclips that 'glorify' this guitar shown here IMO really do mislead. There's nothing wrong with 'good' low cost guitars but there really is so much junk too. Thanks for that info...
@@tonymckenzieofficial Exactly right. I have a cheap Harley Benton SC-550 B-Stock that arrived in almost perfect condition. One high fret, and that's it. And it's made in Vietnam, where a lot of companies have gone to avoid the tariffs on Chinese goods. Epis made in China are excellent, too. It's the "fake" factor that bothers me the most. If you really want a Gibson, buy a Gibson, not a cheap guitar with Gibson on the headstock. If you can't afford a Gibson, there's always Epiphone or, as I said in my example, a Harley Benton or some such decent quality guitar. Don't lie to people with your headstock, and heavens please, do NOT try to (illegally) sell that guitar as a Gibson.
@@theroguetomato5362 I hate to say this.... but the Harley Benton I received was WORSE than the guitar on here. Check it yourself here: ruclips.net/video/2gDvEqH3VD8/видео.html when you have watched that - compare it with what you received from them. And that is the problem with most … there is no 'normal' and BTW I have had others contact me about exactly the same issues (hard to believe but true). I never saw that sort of thing on Epiphone... Let me know your thoughts...
Tony, with great interest I have watched the video. As I said before when I see those prices at the Fender sites, I got a ugly feeling about those guitars. Are they really made in the USA or at Alibaba subsidiaries, for a fraction of the costs, who knows...even with papers with the guitar claiming that it is the real thing, who can tell me?
For me personally I don't give a damp, cause I don't have to make a buck professionally for a living, you see. For me it's pure nostalgie, when I was a kid playing in a band of my own.
But Tony thank you for sharing this warning video, take care...
Hi Anton, well I don't make money from music these days... who does? But I thought that it was a pity that a very decent guy got ripped off on this copy guitar that he bought with hard earned money. I won't go in to depth about who or what he bought it off but let's just say you might meet the seller in church on a sunday.... and if that is not taking the biscuit I don't know what is. I'm sure my friend won't be the last to lose money in this way and that over time these copy companies will get so good that we all will need to watch what we buy... The papers (there were none with this one) are not usually worth the paper they are written on... so it's a slow decline in to the murky world of what is basically a counterfeit. In any case Anton... as always thanks for watching...
I won't be selling it as a Gibson nor do i plan on selling them at all therefor I don't want the logo but real mother of pearl would be desired as well. And if supplied the money for the materials I will make more and the person who wants my build will only have to pay for the materials being wood and and other components like electrical and other components, paint, stain and whatever else they want added as well as shipping.
no 2 guitars play setup or sound alike that is a fact how ever the fakes guitars you can get some good ones but most of the time they are bad from what i have been seeing.. spotting fakes is pretty easy with a little home work.. and it is a shame that so many people get screwed over
You are correct... but it can be harder over the internet especially if you trust the seller. In this case it was a priest! Personally I don't believe a word they say anyway, but others might hold them in high regard. Thanks for watching.
:)
Slash’s was giving to him to achieve his tone cause he couldn’t get it with b c rich and the guy who built was a true pro prob better than the actual Gibson cause I’m willing to bet more attention to detail went into it
Indeed - he used it in the studio I think as they felt 'sorry' for him with the guitar he was using.. or something like that. It's a classic fact that the Gibson 'slash' Les Paul was not a Gibson :) just as you say. Hey if you like Slash, I have a whole section on my website regarding the amp he used.... and it includes a second section about the #39 amp they used here: tonymckenzie.com/afd100_review.htm you might like that - it has some interesting info on the #39 amp here: tonymckenzie.com/afd100_history.htm stay safe.
if you look at the Gibson logo on the original vs. the copy. the copy actually says "Gibsun" instead of "Gibson".
Maybe that's Gibson in Chinese :)... just kidding. Thanks for watching.
tonymckenziecom now that was funny...lol
:)
The stop-tailpiece being too far back relative to the volume knob, and the "lazy" cutaway gives these away every time. Chibson's are getting better here in 2020 though... but who knows if you can even get one now with everything going on.
Yes there are many obvious issues of course. This video was made because I know a guy who bought one on eBay :( and he lost a pile of money. The seller was a priest! Should have been trustworthy, but maybe the priest went to the 'other side'? When it's on eBay and places like that (especially a few years ago when this video was made) it was less obvious... he was just a collector and not a player :( In any case thanks for that info... and stay safe.
@@tonymckenzieofficial These things are actually illegal, by the way. In his shoes, I'd have got my money back and then shopped the priest to Plod.
I enjoy your info, and also the quality of your camera was pretty good!
Thanks for your effort!
I bought a 2015 Gibson LesPaul Double Cut Special (new) at Z Zounds and I used your info, well I believe I have a Real Gibson, thanks Tony!
+David German Thanks David and thanks for watching - appreciated.
I really like your video, but why do you have your real Gibson bridge on backwards??? Saddle screws point to the back of the guitar so you can adjust the saddles
+jordan Embleton Some are fitted the other way around... I guess is the answer ...
I like the Epiphone Les Pauls. I think that it's a reasonable compromise, although I couldn't yet get myself to buy one.
They are 'reasonable' but from when I did a lot of research about 9 months ago there was an awful lot of things on the Epi (particularly the Les Paul Versions) that were not really what they seemed. For about 600 I preferred the Studio from Gibson which did deliver for me. Thanks for the input Garry and for watching.
I ended up buying a used Gibson Les Paul Std, 2014, but to this day I always check out the Epiphones because they look so close in quality. I think that the pickups are excellent on the Gibson's.
Yes Epiphone do look 'close' as you say... and in my shop review I posted today I showed some Epiphone's with my friend Kane. They look great. Careful analysis does show the Epiphone to be reasonable. But it's not all good. Having said that, the guitar is being made down to a price and there is only so much they can do within the sell price. Question is what is reasonable? That varies for different guys. The Gibson pickups are great for sure and the original 490 and 498 pickups give that great Gibson tone we have all heard for years. They might be in your Les Paul too... or you might have the 'burst buckers'. In either case they are pretty cool pickups. Better choice with the Standard over an Epi, but it's often the budget that determines where we all end up. Thanks for watching Gary and the update.
hi tony just like to say in my opinion tony does know what he is on about, I had the privilege of visiting tony and have to say his guitars are awesome like every thing in life you only get what you pay for, buy a cheap piece of steak and you will chew on it for weeks, buy a quality steak and it will almost melt in your mouth. well done tony hope to meet and jam along again soon, regards ian hugo
Ian Hugo Thanks for those very kind words. You are more than welcome to come over any time... thanks again.
another tell is the strings anchor a real one is closer to the bridge than the closest knob.
Very good point and thanks for sharing it. Thanks for watching.
Tony; after a bit of further investigation into the Jeff Loomis, 7 string Schecter build. It is clearly junk! 3 skirt cut maple neck, 2 carbon rods added to boalster strength to a weakened neck. Floyd Rose Copy tremelo, Grover Copy tuners. As you have shown, I wonder if its even a genuine "Maple" overlay or a "wrap graphic" heat shrunken on? Love your work, love watching your videos! Keep on keeping on Tony!!!
Well there's one thing Steve looking at them on the net (I love to check the net too) but once its in our hands often the stuff is not quite what it should be... there are clear exceptions - my bass guy bought a cracking 'b-stock' bass for just £400 (list 749 or something like that). It had a mark that we removed with wet or dry paper in seconds... and is really well made (even for a far east made guitar - it was a Cort). But I have been caught out myself on a number of occasions where the guitar looks good but when you get it it's not quite what I thought. Schecter - I had a Schecter Stratocaster many years ago (it was USA made) and that was a really good guitar if a bit heavy. They seemed to push production eastwards (probably pricing issues) and while some of it is good some is less good. It ought to be real maple for the £1100+ price tag but like everything far east you have to look very closely on some of it. In any case... better to check in real life. Thanks for the info.
Thanks Tony!! I figured the very same thing! Gord Olson had a hissey fit when I spoke the truth of the very cheap, lacking quality build of the guitars! Oh well, lol! I guess he likes Asian market cheap builds?!
See the truth is Steve, what is acceptable to some people is not acceptable to others. I for one (and probably you) want a guitar that IS what it looks like... and not a dressed up something else that it claims to be. I could liken that to women... but better not :) I have had to listen to countless people that either do or do not like that bottom end stuff and every guy (well some of them) are sincere that they think the 'low cost' option made in (fill the dots here) is every bit as awesome as top brand X. The truth is there IS a big difference. I notice on the brands that have USA built guitars and other country lower cost 'the same' guitar models that the differences between the two 'same' guitars can be extraordinary in some cases. I tend to want to let 'those guys' do and think what they want... its a free world and all good until they are disrespectful or rude (some can be) and then I stop them. Don't worry too much about different guys views - we're all the same really :) it's just that some of us know the difference between a bad guitar, a good guitar or a great guitar. :) But buying something that is not as it looks or seems is not a good option to me. You would ALWAYS in your mind be thinking 'I wonder what that other version is really like' and it's not a good feeling really. Especially if you bought one like that and end up stuck with it... hopefully my videos try and help but I'm just one guy and money is finite. Oh well :)
Now where's my Chibson :) (not!)
***** I actually use your video's to educate others who believe that cheap, & easy is the way. Only a scant few ever really get out of line, & when they do, I report the comment, & let it be at that. Gord Olson scoffed, & made light of me insightfully correcting him. When I used 1 of your videos though, crickets, silence.
I use your videos as a huge educational point for any person that thinks the fast, cheap, easy guitar buy is the choice. Then in the end when things begin to fall apart, & the cheap stuff falls to pot. The repair, replacement bill climbs well over the total purchase price. They realize very quickly, cheap, & easy has a price that exceeded their idea's.
I have seen this very scenario play out myself. From point of purchase, less than a year later, volume/tone pots, input jack, pickup failure. Tuners literally fallen apart into pieces. Of course the questions of can you fix it are asked. Well, yes I can, but new parts are going to be the only way to fix it. How much is that going to cost? Typically $300 to $500 in parts, less labor, which in some cases. I felt really bad, & waived my labor, & only charged for parts.
Flip side, I have dropped the hammer on Schecter guitars, & nearly all their Asian build models, signature or not. I thoroughly ticked off ESP guitars. Asian market build Jackson as well. I am spreading the word about these cheap, lack luster Asian market builds. Making only a few friends in it, but oh well! It is what it is! I have a huge amount of respect for you & what you do. I take it to a new level & tell everyone that this is not the way. Save your money, wait & buy a good guitar that will bring you joy for a lifetime. With over all minimal cost on up keep & maintenance.
Exactly correct Steve about the sector of the market. I just read a second post on here that I'm about to reply to. He tells me its 'OK' for young guys to learn on 'cheap' (his words) guitars. I beg to differ and will be telling him. The 'cheap' guitars I have tried go from really not good to incredibly unplayable (even though some claimed to have checked and set them up before shipped to unsuspecting customers) and I can see young inexperienced guys simply giving up because they thought what they were playing was actually how guitars play. Top points Steve.
I agree 1000 % with everything you said Tony! Great video!! Not only are those guitars garbage they are not worth the money you will put in to make them decent. If it sounds to good to be true........ It is!!! If you can't afford the real deal then buy an Epiphone etc. At least Gibson owns them and do have quality control. Also you won't be promoting ripoffs, copyright and flat out counterfeiting!
+Wilde beast I think you are right on the quality in general of those. Anything with a warranty is better than anything without for sure. It annoys me sometimes because some of the guys that do buy the nasty ones can ill afford to buy them in the first place. Imagine being 16 or 17 and you just saved up for some time... its your first guitar and you get a bad Chinese guitar... it could literally put you off for life. Some of the Vintage brand from Trevor Wilkinson and the Epiphone (and even some of those PRS bottom end guitars) are all better Chinese guitars in my view than these bad alternatives. Good points and thanks for watching.
+tonymckenziecom Thank You. I agree. Also another huge issue for me is the theft of years and years of hard work, patents and design and then putting the Gibson Name on it! What could be worse then that? They Also do this with other major brands which is disturbing. Funny story Tony years ago when I was 16 I saved up for a Believe it or not Ibanez Destroyer! Back then in early 80s Ibanez was not as big as today. But I wanted the guitar because a band I liked as A kid ( Iron Maiden) played one. My point is save your money and buy something you really like and pay for the real thing! Needless to say the Ibanez brand became much bigger over the years. But one last thing. If you become a better player and invest in a high end guitar it's well worth the extra money! If taken care of you should most likely get a piece of gear you will have for a lifetime!
+Wilde beast Yes many just walk over the 'intellectual property rights' of the originators... it is ridiculous really and ultimately will reduce sales by the well known brands - because people think they are getting 'the same thing'. I listen to posts all the time trying to justify some of the junk that's out there and suggesting its 'all good' when in reality some of it is horrendous as this video hopefully showed. In the mid 80's Ibanez made some really great guitars... but I find today that the low end ones are one standard and the high end ones almost like a completely different company (which I guess in reality they are). Take the 7VWH Korean one and put it against the 7VWH Japanese one and there is a massive difference - they look the same, but they are so different. By Bass guy Alan has the Korean one and I have the Japanese one so we have compared them side by side. I said 'you show me yours and I'll show you mine' :) But the worst thing is a Chinese one... I reviewed it here: www.tonymckenzie.com/ibanez_chinese_copy_review.htm and there is no doubt that no amount of 'setting up' will solve the issues on that piece of rubbish. But like you said... it is effectively theft of the design.
Some people think that's fine? I disagree. Anyway happy new year.
Great in depth video Tony. I must admit to picking my internet bought Les Paul Faded T up about 15 times during the video to have a closer look at it. Thankfully, it seems to be ok lol. Keep up the good work :-)
Well an informed person may well not make the mistakes that my friend did. So I made the video for that reason and you were right in checking your gear... even I check mine :). Thanks fore watching.
Tony you should have had a look under the truss rod cover
Correct... it was an omission on my part. Well pointed out... and thanks for watching.
Sorry, but the chibson I bought from Sarah Lee on Alliexpress, with upgrades, looked, played and sounded as good as my three genuine Gibson Les Paul's!
That's OK. The point of the video was 'how to not get ripped off from buying a counterfeit guitar'. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Ton' Believe you me I can tell right a way I own 16 Les Paul's. 5 Fender's Brother PS your a damn good player mate !!
+Frank Vella Ha me too - the real deals are completely different. I just bought a 'Harley Benton' V6 series 450 (like a Les Paul in shape) and you would not believe what I found... I won't disclose it until that video appears - but when you see it its likely that NO ONE would buy one at any price - basically unbelievable. It might take a week or two to get that online but honestly... those guys who tell me that cheap Chines guitars are 'great' will have some answering to do... and it came from Thomann... it should have gone immediately back - but I decided to turn it in to a project. It IS scary... watch this space and thanks for watching this video.
Are we talking about LP copies in general here? To be honest, I got a Guild Bluesbird LP and I think it is made in Asia as well. It is an excelent guitar for 4 times less the price of a Gibson Classic or Standard LP.
Hi Dennis... well the answer to that question is really in the title of the video: "How to NOT get Ripped Off Buying A Chinese Copy Les Paul Guitar ".
The video was made because a friend of mine was taken for a ride by a vicar! the vicar was selling a Chinese counterfeit guitar. So that was the real reason why the video was made.
There are plenty of better guitars for less than a Gibson Les Paul of course, but Chinese counterfeit guitars are not some of them. Thanks for watching.
Hi thanks for the reply. When I wrote that comment, I was somewhere at the beginning of the video but I watched through the full video and realized after my comment that you were talking about a fake Gibson, since they did even put the brandname on the headstock.
Yes you got it :) and trust me that guitar on there was NOT a very good guitar. Thanks.
How many of the knockoffs of the world are having an impact on the major companies. Shouldn't they also be illegal to sell???? For your information , My Chibson LP has all Epiphone parts and plays and sounds amazing!
Just so you're clear... what you mean is that the parts say 'Epiphone' on them... you cannot prove they are actually Epiphone at all. Those parts maybe as counterfeit as the guitar you own. Just a thought which might not have entered your mind. How can you trust any company that counterfeits by default... answer? you can't! Thanks for watching.
not all les paul gibsons had fret nibs gibson got lazy also as many people will tell you gibsons quality control has been very bad for a lot of years unlike my 65 custom. i love gibson but they are very over priced for a bit of wood and alloy as are fenders. Not a guitar for every day people with a family like how ridiculous is 30,000 for an Ace Frehley. so people will buy these it is very wrong to sell as real but if the person is buying it for themselves and not to sell i feel that they should be allowed too.
I think Gibson was at the start of looking at how to reduce costs, rather than 'being lazy'. While the 2015,16,17 Gibsons had much to be desired, they basically got rid of the old CEO and replaced him with at least someone that corrected in many ways the errirs of those times IMO. Remember that PRS made guitars with at least $30k prices and even now many with $12k (or £12k in the UK) price tags. As you say, most 'ordinary' guys won't buy them. The Ace Freeley is no different than the $30k PRS? I have even shown Fender with incredibly high costs too. My view? But something 'if you want to'... but it IS possible to buy one of those $30k guitars for as low as $10k and sometimes even less if you look around enough and are patient. Thanks for the post, good points, and thanks for watching.
I've got an Epiphone, because I love the Les Paul and there's no way I can afford a real one. I'm also scarred to death of buying a used LP. I really like the Epiphone and it serves its purpose for me. I'm no pro.
Hi Dan, there's not much generally wrong with Epiphone guitars... especially for the money. I know what you mean about buying a second hand LP too. In fact this video was made because I had a friend that bought the one in the video a a real deal Gibson. It turned out not to be. It's why I made this video to help guys identify a real Gibson from a counterfeit guitar. Thanks for watching Dan.
Dear Tony, you are absolutely right. Anyway, I had a chance to hold one of Chinese Les Paul copies in my hands. And guess what, there were some differences compering to the original, but overall it was a fu*king good guitar. The fraud is in the stolen intellectual property and Gibson name, but nobody was fooled by the bad guitar, because guitar simply was not bad. Fooling people as it is original Gibson is an act of crime. However, now I am talking about guitar but not about someones attempt to make a fraud. The Chinese guitar was done perfectly, high quality wood, high quality finish, high quality hardware, high quality electronics, and it sounded great. I compared it with original Les Paul Custom, gold top, 1996 year of production, and 3 experienced guitarist could not recognize the difference in the blind test. I have seen hundreds of youtube videos comparing original Gibsons with Chinese ones, and the most of them tuned to extreme stupidities when it comes to the sound. Scratching behind, in about 80% of "serious" analyses between original Gibsons with Chinese ones, were sponsored by Gibson. Gibson does not want us to know, how cheap is really making the guitar that we are buying for about 3000 USD. Chinese manufacturers are creating guitars with 20% lower quality, but for 90% less money, and that makes copy guitar with much higher price/quality ratio than the original Gibson could offer. That is the fact that nobody will tell you people. Of course, the proud Gibson owners would never say I am an idiot buying something for 3000 if I could pay the similar for 300 bucks. Such proud owners could not be called guitarists but snobs. So people, if you want great guitar for yourself (not to re-sell as a fraud deal) contact Chinese manufacturers. They are always eager to customize you guitar project for you. Instead of 300 USD, you will pay your guitar about 420 USD, and you will have the instrument with sound and quality matching 2000-3000 USD original Gibsons.
Interestingly this video was actually all about "How to NOT get Ripped Off Buying A Chinese Copy Les Paul Guitar - Copy Guitar" as in the title. The guitars coming out of China (and indeed the kits) are clearly made in a similar construction methods to an Epiphone guitar (nothing wrong with Epiphone) except for the deception trying to sell it as a Gibson as I stated in this video.
Let me show you my 'last attempt' at buying a Chinese guitar and the results thereof especially if you think that the 'quality' is good? Take a look: ruclips.net/video/E0xwbea1ss8/видео.html and I'm sure that you will agree that for the $100 that many spout about that in fact I did get less value than the $100+$75 shipping half way around the world.
The problems with cheap (often) Chinese guitars is 1: IP rights are often disregarded, 2: really not very good quality and 3: (most importantly) often the sellers are either con men (as per my link) or simply they knowingly sell rubbish. They also know that it's unlikely when you receive the 'guitar' that you won't pay the return shipping half way around the world back to China (global warming here we come). The truth is, that for many Chinese companies they also often sell equipment that can be dangerous (particularly where mains voltages are concerned) and have NOT been through CE approvals, but rather they lied and say equipment is CE approved (or FCC if you will).
None of these traits are particularly good, especially if you are a buyer. I have seen a number of Chinese made guitars and I still have yet to find one that actually works! Take a look at this Ibanez 7VWH Chinese copy: tonymckenzie.com/ibanez_chinese_copy_review.htm and tell me that's a 'good guitar'. If you did tell me its a good guitar then clearly I would question that because having seen that guitar first hand, it was fit for the dumpster alone.
Comparing your Chinese guitar with a Gibson Les Paul custom gold top and the point that three guys could not tell the difference huh? that's classic!
Hey, you know when you go and buy a can of coca cola, those guys ARE drinking it and not snorting it? right?
Unfortunately, from first hand experience (not from watching fake reviews) I can absolutely confirm that Chinese rubbish is actually far from being even to Epiphone standards. BTW I own Epiphone, Ibanez, Tokai and other low end guitars and each and every one of them remains substantially better than the type of junk you are suggesting is something other than what it really is. Oh and by the way if you really want to see Gibson quality check here: ruclips.net/video/8-f8E9W78oA/видео.html or try this one: ruclips.net/video/79XrrgDJ94A/видео.html
Thanks for the comments and view (I have no problem with that) but I'm sure that all the guys that make the fake reviews, all the guys that dislike Gibson and all the Chinese makers will agree with you. But I won't. So maybe 'Dear Tony, you are absolutely right' was a mistake on your part? or maybe you were the lucky one in a hundred that actually received a guitar that could play? In any case, buying a Chinese guitar is rather like playing Russian roulette, but there are five bullets in the chamber... and it's your turn first! BTW I like Russians!
Seems to me that most guys should do the right thing and buy an Epiphone? Here's the review where I show you the Epiphone compared to a real Gibson Jimmy Page guitar: ruclips.net/video/GhIht3xl--4/видео.html and lastly a look at my guitar collection without a single instrument that suffers in the way that most Chinese guitars do: ruclips.net/video/hx10F6hhH5Y/видео.html
Maybe I'm one of the 'snobs' that you talk about? Factually not... I have bought Chinese rubbish, some of which I have shown in the links. Thanks.
@@tonymckenzieofficial Dear Tony, and I don't have second thoughts when I say "Dear Tony" I'm trying to be a polite human being. Firstly, I clearly said that the fraud of selling fake guitar as an original actually is a serious act of crime. Secondly, Chinese guys are doing serious idiotism by stealing the IP of branded guitar manufacturer, and I would burn them because of it. I am not some hot-shot teenager arguing about stuff on social media. Believe me, I am medical doctor and I have a successful career in my business. I am also a bass player (guitar is my second love), playing basses and guitars for the last 30 years, and I simply love musical instruments, especially basses and guitars. I do not have complexes for the guys with expensive guitars, that would make me being jealous on them. I have 3 basses and one guitar, all of them mostly pricey. I have all original P-bass standard S9 series that i've bought 26 years ago, one of the last 700 pieces produced in S-series, in very rare sienna sunburst color, I have ESP AKI signature Silver Sparkle bass (quite pricey) with bodystyle of Mosrite basses, and Tokai HardPuncher bass (by the way, it's also far away from being marked as a low end bass). I also have an original Fender Telecaster Thinline guitar MiJ custom shop. So I don't have a reason to speak my words from jealousy. I just don't like the generalized opinions, like is the one about Chinese guitars as garbage guitars. There are good guitars, and there are garbage guitars, regardless if they are made in China or somewhere else. I simply deeply disagree with generalized opinions often presented in the "objective reviews" of Chinese guitars. People take 100 $ Chinese guitar and then compare it with 3000 $ Gibson, and showing what "details" are different. Of course that the "details" will be different. I would like to politely ask these same guys to buy an American 100 $ guitar (if there is any in money hungry America) and to compare it with beautiful 3000$ Gibson, just to see if they would bring better result. It is completely different story when you pick the Chinese 300 or 380 $ guitar from the carefully chosen manufacturer, and pay some extra cash for guitar to be produced in a way it should be. I had a chance to see, listen, play and fell such guitars and I was stunned by the quality of exactly the look, sound, playability and feel. That is the actual reason why I can't stand the hot-shot guitar "experts" claiming that Chinese guitars are rubbish.
Hi Bubica… The only issue for me, is that I ALWAYS tell it like I find it! And all of those cheap Chinese guitars (below Epiphone) have all been either bad, extremely bad or not really even guitars... and my channel shows every one I have bought. What others find is really their business and their results might be different. I can only report what I find to viewers of my channel and whatever other products I own or don't own does not really have any bearing on my unbiased findings. If any of them were good and worth the money from my findings then I would say so.
I sincerely trust that you are not including me in your 'hot shot guitar experts' label as that would be tantamount to saying that I would not be telling the truth. That assumption would be wrong, and where Chinese guitars are concerned (as per the ones I have bought) I could be the singular channel that actually tells the truth from personal experience of buying them... who knows? And frankly I don't really care what other channels or people do with some sort of glorification of cheap Chinese guitars - the ones I have bought have all been bad. But the secret in this video is the title. A friend got sold that guitar as a genuine Gibson. Thanks.
@@tonymckenzieofficial Hi Tony, thanks for the answer. I really do not see you as a "hot shot guitar expert", and that was the reason why I was free to comment on your video. I fully understand your point, and regardless of the fact that it might seem different I also support your stand. I mean, I don't have enough bad words to describe what do I think about people selling fakes as the originals. Anyway, sometimes the line between these 2 is so confusingly narrow. Not so long time ago I was guest on some joint venture organized by the Chamber of Commerce in my country for Chinese businessman. I had the chance to meet the executive of the Chinese factory of one really famous world brand of the guitars. The guy was really confused by the fact that I am from the medical device field of business and that I still have such interest in the guitars. He honestly told me that his guitar factory has contractual obligation to produce 12.000 pcs of guitars annually for his foreign principal and brand holder. Anyway production capacity of his factory is 50.000 guitars annually. They simply produce 38.000 more guitars without authorization of their foreign principal and brand holder, and sell them trough other distributors, couple of them listed on Aliexpress. These 38.000 guitars are made from the same materials, from the same suppliers, by the same hands belonging to the same workers, with the same quality controls as the first 12.000 guitars. Now I don't want to go into the legal aspects of such conduct, but just thinking of the guitars. These 38.000 guitars made without brand authorization are sold for 3 times less money per piece than the 12.000 authorized guitars. The fact that they are exactly the same made me think of what am I paying when buying the real brand name guitar, and made me a little bit confused. Even more, on RUclips I've found video by what I considered one "hot shot guitar expert", comparing these 2 guitars, not knowing all above mentioned circumstances. Of course, that genius has almost scientifically found that the authorized brand guitar is excellent and that no-brand guitar was junk. Knowing this, you will probably catch my point much better. All the best. Bubica.
@@bubicabubili8280 Thank god for that! :) It's interesting about the factory guy and his excess production ability and I understand that. In fact at one time I owned 1/4 of a Far East manufacturing company. And making 'more' guitars than authorised is not a problem, that is, until they are making the same guitar, or worse, making copies etc. That would be wrong. But staying back on the subject... I also made a video of an Epiphone and a Les Paul Jimmy Page model comparison. And the Epiphone was a closely designed guitar although there were a few differences for sure. What I found was that the Epiphone played very well, sounded good and while there was a difference compared to the JP Les Paul, for the price of the Epiphone then that guitar was a really great deal and it worked well.
With Far East manufacturing, it often comes down to other things for success of any manufactured product and from my experience it's usually western management more often than not that allows a product to be created as it should be, that has decent quality, and is made to an acceptable standard for the cost of the item.
BTW in the case of the Epiphone comparison I felt that while playing the two, that the Gibson JP Les Paul had a better feel to it (differently designed neck shape) and the pickups were better quality and IMO more inspiring overall. In fact if you watch the video, you might notice that when I'm playing the JP Les Paul that its slightly better playing as opposed to the Epiphone. But make no mistake that Epiphone (which was borrowed) was very good. In fact it was so good that I later bought one. Here's the video: ruclips.net/video/GhIht3xl--4/видео.html and I think you will agree that the Epiphone was a success. Unfortunately in my case, as I have demonstrated, all the cheap stuff for me was not a good experience - even when distributed by known companies.
Remember this also (which I just picked up on in your post) that the 'three times cheaper' comment you made, did NOT take in to account ANY distribution or dealer costs and those guitars often have no warranty to talk about because shipping them half way around the world back for anything is financially prohibitive. So, warranty goes out of the window. To be honest, I would all day prefer an Epiphone (for £350) with a great warranty and support, than some guitar from the other side of the world seller that does not have the same cover for issues - which tend to be there because of either wood issues, electrical issues or plain old bad workmanship.
I can't comment for the 'genius' out there, but I am always fair with equipment reviews and purchases that I show on video and that's the only way to be. Anything else? I really don't understand why some create misleading content, except for the fact that many of them get free gear... I always pay! And that says a lot about the internet and how some can present what looks like factual information, but in reality is nothing more than promoting because of free gear and trying to make it sometimes look better than it really is.
It is a pity that RUclips don't develop some kind of 'trust' factor rating for anyone making videos because at this time there is no way of really knowing whether what you are listening to or watching is bunkum or factual information.
In any case thanks for the comments.
I think it's good if it sounds good. I've heared Chibson Les Paul that sounded like Epiphone Les Paul. Chibson Les Paul is like $200-$300 and Epiphone around $500. If it sounds good I'll buy it. Get Chibson Les Paul ($200), get tuners ($100), get Alnico Pro 2 ($150), get bridge and nut ($50). That's all $500 and it will sound (probably) like slash's. (I don't know prices excatly but I hope it's somewhere around that)
+Vuccazz You're probably not that far off... but how do you fix the bad truss rod? That is the main stumbling block I have seen on the Chinese stuff that can't easily be worked on. Thanks for watching.
+tonymckenziecom Oh well I didn't know, but anyways respect for you, and your videos. You earned one more subscriber.
+Vuccazz Appreciated...
+tonymckenziecom You really deserve it. You proved that age is just a number. I wish you and your channel good luck.
+Vuccazz Thanks.
Hi Tony, I wanted to start out by saying that I love your videos and they are truly great. The problem I run inot lots of times is I can't afford a real Les Paul, sad but true. I had them when I was younger, but alas I lost them over the years. So what would you suggest for a guy who wants a decent Les Paul copy, but not having the money to get a real one? Thanks and keep the videos coming , I always learn something.
Well I've been there too where the only running thing in my house was rats LOL... trust me I know what you mean and don't just say that. Well personally I did have a Columbus back in the very early 70's (they were about $150 then) but they are long gone of that quality now. The Gibson alternative is their cheaper guitar that they put out ... the Epiphone. While they are not USA at least the quality is overseen by Gibson (they tell us). A second user one can be improved on over time and for the money they are not that bad. Certainly better than what's on this video. Thanks for watching as it does take me a lot of time on them and indeed on all the replies.
I noticed that even on the genuine Gibson that it didn't have the volume/tone pointer washers but maybe that was a request from Jimmy Page on that model ?, always like the videos Tony, tasty playing too !!, Peace.
+Keiran Bradley Thanks for watching Kieran... yes I did not mention that well spotted and thanks for those kind words.
***** You're very welcome my friend, BTW did you once own an original Maple-cap Blonde 62 Strat, i don't know if i'm confusing you with someone else, Thanks.
+Keiran Bradley Not original... but I have these: ruclips.net/p/PLD38427759E821683
It's one thing to knowingly buy a Chibson knock off for $350, but to resell it as the real deal is darn right criminal. It sounds like from the comments below you friend has no
legal action he can pursue to get his money back,,bummer!
On a side note:
I have no idea what Gibson's master plan is raising their prices 26% on all guitars for 2015. The Les Paul standard will start at $ 3,800 ..lol
It seems that will create more demand for the Chinese fakes.
And as the fakes get better... honestly I feel that one day they will be a REAL threat to companies like Gibson... and that's the sad part.... indeed they could even go out of business. BTW it appears that the seller was a religious guy by job... something to think about really. Maybe it will warm up some time in the future for him.
Thanks Tony, you just saved my £200. I already knew what was for sale was a fake and as you say they are plenty of convincing RUclips videos recommending them so I thought it might be half decent, but another 300 might get me a genuine studio that is worth having.
I agree that these will damage Fender & Gibson because people forget how big China is, and they can produce more than F & G's entire output in just a few years. I would like to see music shops prosecuted for selling these if they're so easy to spot but the police are not interested. I tried a £2000 Taylor last year in Reigate, and it was, OK, or about the same as a £200 acoustic in the same shop. I checked the serial number and details online and turned out that was a very obvious fake, since the label inside was for a different model. I told the shop it was a fake and they just said "your word against ours", then the guitar disappeared, and popped up later in another branch in London.
Brian Lavery Yes when it comes down to it all they will affect the USA guys for sure... and that's a pity. But none I have ever seen do actually come close to the real deals. Unbelievable about the Taylor! I would never go back. If you see that sort of thing don't think police... just tell the trading standards who will I guarantee it investigate big time. Anyway thanks for the info and thanks for watching.
Excellent video!I am sure it will help prevent this kind of fraud in the future..
Thanks.
kinda look at les paul copys like the new marshall there copys of somthing they once where most there parts made in china gibson are nothing like the pre 80's....fact is its not the gear but how much time you spend learning keys cords scales
I might have agreed with that, except that I can actually cite at least two guitars that I have bought brand new that were not actually playable by anyone. That is the real problem. And scarily both guitars are brands you will know... none of them were Fender or Gibson though... on the newer Marshall amps actually those little 20w units are very well made and do sound very good. I have bought many amps from £500 to £3000+ and £1400 to £2700 I can show you some real 'humdingers' that the makers call great but in reality they are a complete lacking compared to those little 20w Marshall amps. While the hours of playing are certainly top of the agenda for any guitarist, the gear actually does matter... and in the case of this video its just about as bad as it gets regarding someone getting ripped off for a piece of rubbish. There are many LP 'copies'' like the Japanese Tokai that are really up there with the best and if you check my channel you will see them in bucket loads... but the bad stuff whether amps, guitars, effects and the like really IS bad. Thanks for the post and for watching.
2015 dont have the frets done with the binding on the end unless ordered
Agreed... and thanks for watching.
I had a real Led Paul custom and my chinese les paul is easily more fun to play, sounds better and I don't worry as much (I couldn't stand being overly protective of expensive guitars) I also have my Saga Strat that I love. I work on guitars so it's easy for me. I rebuild pianos too. My Chinese Gibson has a quarter sawn one piece neck that's amazing.
John Oquist Hi John... yes I get the point of 'more fun' on the real deals you are always watching if you are going to damage the guitar in some way... but I always look after my gear myself.. some do and some don't. Sounding better is subjective really and I'm sure that many guys might dispute that view, but if it sounds better for you then you're halfway there... lets hope it sounds better to your audience though.
There's nothing wrong with lower cost guitars, except if they are counterfeit in my view as this one in the video also shows some of the bad features included free with Chinese rip off guitars. Most of the necks I've seen have loads of trouble with the truss rod (most don't even have an operational one so I guess you will know what that means).
I've owned some quite nice guitars in the style of, but honestly, I personally don't condone any purchase of counterfeit equipment. Some guys don't care... but I do think that effectively 'ripping off' someone else's design is plain and simply wrong. But that's just my perspective...
Good video..Made me get real skeptical and cautious. I would hate to get taken like that.Especially since I'm not rich.I would have to save and save and sacrifice.. Good information here.Thanks.
You took the video as intended... to help guys NOT to get ripped off as my friend did. Knowledge really is power and thanks for watching.
Also the genuine Gibson has Mother of pearl inlay for the name, not paint. On my guitar anyway, a genuine Slash reissue.
Very valid point and thanks for that. But be aware that I have seen some actually engraved as well....
Totally agree with Tony, these guitars will never be as good as a genuine Gibson Les Paul's.
I got my 2013 USA Gibson Les Paul LPJ for around £530 from PMT earlier this year. Even though it is the entry level USA Les Paul's, the parts are the same and the only difference is the finish and lack of binding, which if you can live without, should be a no brainer. Why people knowingly buy these fakes and then throw hundreds of £ or $ into it, trying achieve making a Les Paul, when you can get a real one for close to that, it just pure idiocy. In my opinion anyway.
Tony, is there any hope of your mate getting his money back? I really can hear your anger in this video and I can't blame you mate.
PS- Sent you a email, I've got the Flying V back and sent you a quick pick of it :)
Hi Dan... replied to you... No I don't think he will get his money back... it's a long story which he explained to me and I really think the seller will get away with it... and that's a pity. I hate to see guys get ripped off and it does rear its head from time to time so I made the video as I thought it would be a good idea to show others what happens if you are not really careful.
Is all gibson have that binding frets? Cos I completely forgotten if mine has it. I have this gibson from year 2000 and do refrets on 2012/2013. And i forgot if the original have the binding frets.
well I seen all your issues that you're pointing out I can build a kit guitar up to any specific specs of Gibson down to the mm
Same. Actually you missed the point! The secret to this video is not related to how good or bad the guitar under question is. It's related to this 'How to NOT get Ripped Off Buying A Chinese Copy Les Paul Guitar' and shows what to look for from a typically not that well made far eastern guitar being offered for sale as a genuine Gibson and how to spot that over the internet so you don't get ripped off. Thanks for watching.
tonymckenziecom I'm just fooling with you man it's a good info video for folks who don't know
:)