Epiphone Dot Serial Number query

Bassbadger61

Hi All  - I'm having some fun trying to identify whether a serial number on a an Epiphone Dot is accurate.

The guitar is spotless and all appears to be in order - so I doubt it's a fake . But something about it doesn't ring true.

The serial number starts with S9802xxxx - indicating it was made in The Korean Samick plant - in 1998?

It just seems to be too pristine to be nearly 19 years old - so I'm intrigued - anyone have any views or know of a fake Epiphone 

issue?

The general opinion is that why would someone manufacture a copy of something that's essentially a copy itself?

Nitefly

Hi - I just had a look here - http://www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx - and it confirms Samick 1982.

I don't think it's unreasonable for a guitar that old to still be pristine  maybe it's "never been gigged"!?

My own Casino (2002, so a bit newer than yours) hasn't been out of its case in some years, and looks like brand-new.

I agree that it seems unlikely to be worth faking!

Are you thinking of buying it?

thermionic

Fake Epis have been around for a l-o-n-g time. There was a notorious post on the official Epi forum many years ago when a white Les Paul Custom took a knock and under the paint it was revealed to be constructed at least partly from papier mache or cardboard. I've seen a few fakes on Chinese sites of Epi models that Epi don't even make (a Steve Jones white LP custom springs to mind).

It makes a lot of sense to the counterfeiter - the buyer is likely to be less knowledgable/discerning, and they can get away with cheap Chinese hardware which would set alarm bells ringing on a Chibson (slotted bridge posts for example). The profit margin is less, but they'll get away with selling a whole lot more fakes.

A guitar that's not gigged regularly and looked after can easily look pristine after a couple of decades. Poly finishes and chrome plating can stay new-looking for a long time.