The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Denis on March 13, 2020, 07:42:02 AM

Title: Epi Vintage Pro question: fake?
Post by: Denis on March 13, 2020, 07:42:02 AM
Ran across a white Vintage Pro Thunderbird last night at a local store.
It had lots of paint flaws in the back: thin spots, spots that looked like a different shade of white, cracks in the paint about 2" below the spot where T birds traditionally break, etc.

The back of the neck itself almost looked like a satin finish whereas the body was a gloss white.
The serial number was stamped into the headstock, but covered with a sticker with another number.
Also stamped into the headstock above the tuners was "2nd".

My Vintage Pro has the serial number silkscreened in gold and was made in Indonesia.

If this white one really is a Vintage Pro made in Indonesia, why would they bother to send a "2nd" to the US?

Is there such a think as a fake Epi Tbird, as ludicrous as it sounds?
Title: Re: Epi Vintage Pro question: fake?
Post by: FrankieTbird on March 13, 2020, 03:46:02 PM
That was most likely refurbished by a third-party outfit, not a factory job.  There are several companies doing this.  They get the damaged products from the shippers, or insurance companies, or whatever, fix them up and sell them as "USED" or "2ND".  The biggest one is in I think Tennessee or somewhere in that vicinity, the name escapes me.
Title: Re: Epi Vintage Pro question: fake?
Post by: FrankieTbird on March 13, 2020, 03:48:35 PM

This is the place I was thinking of:

https://mircweb.com/