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Gibson will be happy then, as to be sure you'll need to buy them new.. </conspiracy>
It will happen though, same as with the Japanese guitars before them, everybody laughed at them and 'knew they would never be as good as the real thing', and then they were.
Out of interest, are there many Chinese fake Rickies around? I know (don't I know) they protect their brand to the max, but it obviously wouldn't worry the Chinese at the moment, but I don't think I've ever come across any. If not is it because they are too small a market or is it because Ricky don't have any variants made out there already..?
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The only rickenbacker copies I've seen are rockinbetters... I tried two, one was awful, the other was really fantastic.
I've only ever played the shit ones. I did once have the loan a 1970s Shaftesbury 4001 copy which was quite good though.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
IBCM, I think you got a good one there. I take it that is veneer on the back?
I alkways thought that the obvious external photo differences are the binding on the cutaway. I thought real gibsons had a thicker band on the cutaway that tapered, rather than a continous thickness of binding. However, looking at a lot of them, this isn't always the case and in fact many Standard and Traditionals have laquer half over the binding at the cutaway, due to where the masking was put in the laquer process. That said though, the binding around the neck and neck angle and general attention to detail gives the Chibsons away, especially around the neck joint underside also. Also check the grain of the body wood runs through the sides on the thing, to prove that it is solid and not a veneer. It's all the attention to detail where you will tell instantly.
I agree with people wanting a gigging guitar that is more expendable than their pride and joy, just because of the price of them. At the end of the day, it's not to prevent dings and stratches. Everyone knows that those headstocks break real easy and once broken hundreds are wiped off the value of thing and worse case sometimes it cannot be repaired.
I'm currentl gasing for a solid mahogany Les Paul, but it won't be a Gibson, too much. Irony is I had a Maison white Les Paul custom, made in Korea in the '80's. I sanded it down and refretted it and it was a great guitar and 100% solid mahogany with one piece mahogany neck, actually with a full thickness maple cap but the headstock snapped off it. maybe too close of a replica. I'd like an old Aria, but that volute just puts me off, so what can you do?
I've considered Chibsons, but it's all show and glitter, I'd rather have something that was solid mahogany but looked shit. Even if you don't get a scarf headstock, it's all a veneer. I guess I should get an Aria.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Does anyone know what these chibsons are even made of? A guitar needs to function, not just look like something. No surprise to see jokes about Gibson quality control, very predictable. I've owned a fair few Gibsons and they've all been of the highest standard.
I'm sure Gibson's sales have not taken a hit because of these, but buyers have been ripped off by these guitars, and that is enough of a reason for them to be banned, seized, whatever they need to do, just like they do with fake Armani jeans on TV.
They didn't see fit to finish the inside of the f holes though. Instead, there is just nitro cellulose drips running down it in a few spots, leaving behind the bare plywood unfinished. Some of these drips landed inside the body, too, and we're left there.
That *is* shitty quality control. Might not affect the instrument, but I think it's up for £2300 or so. I would expect perfection, and no less. Rickenbacker are guitars I cannot get along with, but the standard of fit and finish is miles higher.
They're not all bad, I've tried a few lpj's out and they're nice for the money. But that 335 is an absolute joke. I've seen £100 Chinese shine guitars that don't forget to finish the inside of the f hole. Again, might not affect how good it is as a guitar, but its over £2000, which is European luthier territory (feline, mayones).
Besides, a lot of these Chinese guitars *are* good guitars. They are missing something the Gibson ones have (thin finish, better hardware) but other than that, it's a good guitar. And they likely come from the same factories as epiphone, who have moved the guitar world more than Gibson have recently in terms of innovation (dual outputs with piezo and a blend for mono, tuner built into pickup ring).
These fakes are bad for the industry, but it's up to Gibson to do something about it. I think, for me, the nitro finish would be the giveaway, but if you're not a guitar nerd (not all of us are) it's going to be a minefield. If they changed the headstock and added a new logo, they would probably be an accepted brand.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Perhaps the stories that post flood Gibsons are improved are true. It makes sense as they were able to make a fresh start with all the insurance money.
As for fakes they are much easier to spot when you have them in your hands as supposed to just looking at pics of them. Which is another reason to not buy one second hand online without trying it first.