How to Save Yourself from Buying a Fake Guitar from Gibson Guitar Shop?

During the last years, and especially since the Internet has become a viral medium for all types of purchases, the sale of fake Electric Guitars has increased with great force, and what is worse, most of the time without the buyer having proof of this.

There are a growing and an alarming number of counterfeit products from Asia. In Brazil, some already begin to spread and cause severe damage to the market, in addition to apparent losses for stores that sell used products, the primary victims of the blow, the loss of brand credibility is inevitable.

The growing proliferation of fake guitars native to China is impressive. Consumer icons such as Gibson, Fender, PRS, Ibanez, Gretsch, Taylor and Epiphone suffer from the vigor of that parallel industry. Counterfeits infringe on property rights and fuel an illicit trade. Distinguishing a replica, copy and counterfeit are essential.

The replica is a perfect reproduction, conceived with the intention of accurately recreating an original piece that adds historical concepts and factors. That is, it is the art of re-editing a design or a referential with absolute thoroughness. That type of cloning is not intended for commercial dividends, only the piece based on a concept is recreated.

The copy is already produced on a large scale and without authorization from the original manufacturer. It is the typical example of appropriation of intellectual heritage without the intention of "passing" by the original. This is the case of traditional companies in the market that will produce similar or inspired copies of the original. However, they use their logo.

When buying a guitar, we must know what we intend to buy, both the model of the guitar and its characteristics that are different even among the same model (type and brand of pills, machinery, bridge, electronics, etc.). More specific Gibson or Epiphone Guitars, check that their serial numbers correspond to the manufacturers (in some cases the serial numbers do not exist or do not correspond to the model announced).

In the same way, ask the seller for their manuals, original box, accessories (Allen key in all cases) and depending on the brand or model, their certificate of authenticity (in Gibson all must have a certificate, in Epiphone only the individual models, Custom or limited they have a certificate).

These purchase rules can also apply to other brands such as Fender, Ibanez, ESP, LTD, etc. Asking for a serial number is an effective way to verify authenticity, even if you do not physically see a guitar, you can determine whether or not it is authentic.

Some ways to determine the authenticity of a Gibson guitar are:

• The truss cover must have two screws, no more.
• The cavity where the pills are placed should be painted to the color of the body.
• The cavity where the tone and volume knobs go should be on a metal plate, not on the wood directly.
•  Request a certificate of authenticity, serial number, and warranty.