A modern long scale EB-2 with a three point?

Psycho Bass Guy · May 18, 2011, 11:37:33 AM

Quote from: uwe on May 18, 2011, 10:34:02 AM
And those things have a Gibson headstock?

China has been openly counterfeiting Gibsons in pretty large quanties recently. I saw a fake "Zak Wylde" copy that fooled quite a few people locally a few months ago. FWIW, the build quality was on par with about half the new legit Gibson's I've seen. Fo rthe money Gibson wants for their instruments, they ought to put a little more QC into them.

Basvarken · May 18, 2011, 11:47:52 AM

Those Chinese fakers have the O in the Gibson logo a bit too wide open. That's why some people call 'm Gibsun

exiledarchangel · May 18, 2011, 01:06:00 PM

Quote from: Basvarken on May 18, 2011, 11:47:52 AM
Those Chinese fakers have the O in the Gibson logo a bit too wide open. That's why some people call 'm Gibsun

There's always Givson guitars for the brave ones amongs us.

http://www.givson.com/

eb2 · May 18, 2011, 01:55:13 PM

So, if they made a fake later Tbird, would it be a Gibson or a Bach copy? Either way, I could use the gas money so good for them.

OldManC · May 18, 2011, 03:25:42 PM

Quote from: uwe on May 18, 2011, 10:34:02 AM
And those things have a Gibson headstock?

You can buy just about every Gibson model these days as a Chinese forgery (as well as many other marques). Some of them are closer than others but even the best ones have flaws that are noticeable to trainspotters like us (Logo ever so slightly off, inlays not quite the same, etc) but maybe not so noticeable to non guitar/bass obsessives.

I have a friend that has 8-10 guitars that he's gotten from Chinese sellers. He upgrades the electronics on the ones he thinks warrant it and plays the snot out of them. He says some of them are easily on par with the one Epi LP he owns (a blackburst Ace Frehley model). Other than that Epi, he was never a Gibson guy before the Chinese hooked him in.

Dave W · May 18, 2011, 07:52:59 PM

There are some very good instruments coming out of China today, including some surprisingly good acoustics. Problem is, it's still a gamble finding out what's good and what's junk. I wouldn't buy anything direct, only brands through an established importer. And I wouldn't buy any forgery no matter how good it might be.

Freuds_Cat · May 18, 2011, 09:47:34 PM

Quote from: Dave W on May 18, 2011, 07:52:59 PM
There are some very good instruments coming out of China today.......

Based on my "Crafted in China" Squier TelePaul I have to agree. This thing is as good as any guitar I've ever played. Fitted neck and all.

http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/Freuds_cat/Squier-Tele/?start=all

Dave W · May 18, 2011, 10:29:26 PM

That's nice! Is it a newer model? I don't recall seeing it on US sites.

Freuds_Cat · May 18, 2011, 11:50:00 PM

It's a: Squier Thinline Tele HH I bought it about 2 or 3 years ago from a Fender dealer here in Adelaide. It was a series that ran from 2005 to 2007 when it was discontinued. They did a Brown trans and other variant versions as well. Both are set neck, 24.75" scale length Teles.

CY: C = China, Y = Yako (Taiwan), "CY05" = made in the Yako Musical Instruments factory in Taiwan in 2005.

There were variations on them like this one as well:

And the Brown chambered version:

The Squier guitars site has a page that lists them here about halfway down the page http://www.squierguitars.com/news/index.php?display_article=67&show_archives=2 but the links to the individual instruments go to pages that says "ERROR: Product detail not found. "

Sorry for the left turn into F3nd3r and Geetard territory .....your normal Gibson bass programing will now resume.

exiledarchangel · May 19, 2011, 12:02:07 AM

Quote from: Dave W on May 18, 2011, 07:52:59 PM
There are some very good instruments coming out of China today, including some surprisingly good acoustics. Problem is, it's still a gamble finding out what's good and what's junk. I wouldn't buy anything direct, only brands through an established importer. And I wouldn't buy any forgery no matter how good it might be.

Couldn't agree more. The usual suspect is ofcourse the hardware. One friend bought a les paul guitar copy from them, it was beautiful but string buzz was everywhere. Then he noticed that the tuneomatic bridge had a completely wrong radius compared to the fretboard, he changed the bridge with a wilkinson (I think) and the guitar plays superb now.

PhilT · May 19, 2011, 08:23:30 AM

Does this MIA/MIJ/MIM/MIC thing happen in any other industry? I'm just struggling to imagine Apple launching an iPad with an MIA version (gold plated case, scratch proof screen, superior build quality) - MIM version (black metal case, standard screen, not badly made, but you might cut yourself on the edges) - MIC version (all plastic, might last 3 months if you're lucky).

Basvarken · May 19, 2011, 08:32:39 AM

I think all iPads are made in China...

Dave W · May 19, 2011, 08:54:22 AM

Phil, I can't think of any other industry where it's this common.

Pilgrim · May 19, 2011, 08:44:59 PM

Quote from: Dave W on May 19, 2011, 08:54:22 AM
Phil, I can't think of any other industry where it's this common.

I think automobiles may be the closest. They are sourced and assembled in various countries in a somewhat similar fashion. The key is probably the labor cost.

Freuds_Cat · May 20, 2011, 12:48:14 AM

I think you might have something there Al. My wife bought one of the the last of the Nissan Pulsars. Nissan built this brand up by making a very reliable small car in Japan and once the brand/model was established in Australia (I assume its the same in other coutries) they switched to making them in Thailand. Perception true or false is that the cars are of lesser quality therefore the resale value is lower. Sounds like guitars to me