How to Spot a Fake Gibson ES-175

**Jack** · 08-27-2016, 02:06 AM

I'm thinking about purchasing an ES-175 secondhand and I'd like some guidelines for telling if it is real or not.

**JazzNote** · 08-27-2016, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by Jack

I'm thinking about purchasing an ES-175 secondhand and I'd like some guidlines for telling if it is real or not.

I think the easiest would be to post some pics and maybe a description & s/n here.

**GNAPPI** · 08-27-2016, 03:32 AM

There are a few websites that have tips and pics for picking out the worst of the cloners.

**plasticpigeon** · 08-27-2016, 06:25 AM

Usually the biggest gove away is the lacquer. Most fakes have thick shiny polyester lacquer, but real ones have thin cellulose or solvent based lacquer whichsinks into the wood more and isn't quite as shiny. It is really just a matter of familiarising yourself with them

**BigMikeinNJ** · 08-27-2016, 06:39 AM

ALL of the above and really being careful about where you are buying it from. If ARCHTOP.COM or GuitarsNJAZZ is selling it you are quite safe, those guys are crazy smart and honest to boot...

**vinlander** · 08-27-2016, 06:53 AM

+1 on what was said
Also buying a guitar online is more tricky than in person to evaluate a fake or not.
In any case stay away from the kin of alibaba.com or aliexpress.com as most of the stuff there is blatantly faked and sometimes they use legit pictures from other websites...

**Doctor Jeff** · 08-27-2016, 07:37 AM

On a somewhat related note, wondering if anyone here has unwittingly bought a fake guitar from Ebay or Reverb?

If you have the guitar in hand, that makes it easier. Unfortunately it's ridiculously easy to clone serial numbers, so I don't know that that would help. (I found a "Tag Heuer" watch once with a legit-looking back and SN, unfortunately not a real Tag...)

The most reliable way I would think would be if you could take out the pickups and see that they are legit. Sometimes owners replace the pickups with cheaper ones and sell the pickups separately, which is another issue.

I've bought a lot of stuff including guitars online but these days I'm leery of buying anything semi-collectable except from a reputable dealer as noted above. Sometimes the sellers don't even know the item they're selling is fake or has replacement parts...

**Top of the Arch!** · 08-27-2016, 07:46 AM

Ive found that the nut is usually the first give away of a fake. Most of them are oversized and look like they are made of chalk, secondly the 1/4" threaded bridge screws with screwdriver adjustment scream "STAY AWAY" !! Along with everything thats bee said already. Bob

**Thumpalumpacus** · 08-27-2016, 03:16 PM

Yeah, the biggest fluffs I've seen on the fakes are metric bridges, TRC being too close to the nut, lack of wings on the headstock, and knob-placement.

**aboutIt** · 08-27-2016, 04:02 PM

You might find Adrian Ingram's book 'The Gibson 175: Its History and Players' to be a good primer on what to look out for. It's not exhaustive, but it's a great resource.

**Herbie** · 08-27-2016, 04:04 PM

Is there a lot of counterfeit ES175s?

I mean, Strats and LPs are so much easier to copy and they are 100 times more profitable ones to copy. Not to mention that the buyers of ES175s are adults and more careful lot.

So the archtops are maybe not the easiest field of pirate products.

Or am I wrong?

**aboutIt** · 08-27-2016, 04:07 PM

Also this site has a lot of info:
Antique Vintage Guitars collector info - collecting old VINTAGE GUITARS

**Jehu** · 08-27-2016, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by Herbie

Is there a lot of counterfeit ES175s?

I mean, Strats and LPs are so much easier to copy and they are 100 times more profitable ones to copy. Not to mention that the buyers of ES175s are adults and more careful lot.

So the archtops are maybe not the easiest field of pirate products.

Or am I wrong?

You never know. I own a counterfeit Dupont Selmer.

**MaxTwang** · 08-27-2016, 07:08 PM

You can email pics of the entire guitar, close up of the headstock and close up of the body, along with serial number to Gibson's customer support and get their opinion.

You could also find a reputable repair person, or shop that does appraisals, in your area and bring it to them for verification. A professional can spot a fake pretty easy.

The truly funny thing is Gibson/Fender/G&L/etc. issue Certificates of Authenticity as if someone could accurately copy a guitar but would be unable to Xerox the COA.

**vinlander** · 08-27-2016, 07:27 PM

Well I have seen many attempts to pass L5, L7 and even 350 as legit from aliexpress.com with pictures taken from legitimate instruments from reverb, gbase, archtops.com and the likes.

I usually don't link to counterfeit stuff but here it is just grotesque, no one could really fall for that ...I hope lol
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pro...470738681.html

At least they don't mention Gibson anywhere so it is not that bad lol

But some of them have the Gibson logo which can fool people
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale...rchText=es+175

FAKE!!!!!
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/GN-C...a6b6527b&tpp=0

**Herbie** · 08-27-2016, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

You can email pics of the entire guitar, close up of the headstock and close up of the body, along with serial number to Gibson's customer support and get their opinion.

+1

I have been very surprised to see that Gibson Customer Service really works! Even the Europe division. And even for customers of second hand instruments.

Even if You have to know the dc ohms of the pots of Your hollowbody. Send them a question with serial number and they answer. Not in a day but in a week or two.