How to spot counterfeit guitars

With the increase in number of counterfeit guitars shipped out to different parts of the world (mainly from China and overzealous private guitar manufacturers), major guitar companies like Gibson, Ibanez (mainly for the JEM series) have already sent out alarm bells to all potential buyers and victims. Luckily, the fellows from HARMONY CENTRAL have started a new forum called "Counterfeit Info Central," that's dedicated to helping people identify whether what they're buying is legit or not.


Below is a copy of the newsletter sent out to all members of Harmony Central:

Dear Musician,

It's happening to too many people. They save up for some great guitar, then are "lucky" enough to see a great price on exactly what they want on the net. So they spend their hard-earned cash, only to find that their guitar doesn't quite feel like what they tried at their friend's house or at a music store. And then a couple months later, cracks appear in the finish, and the tuning pegs start to "grab"...

Counterfeit guitars (and other instruments) are becoming more and more common. While we're certainly in favor of musicians getting the best deals they can, counterfeit instruments almost invariably lack the quality of what they're imitating, and the "low price" is much higher than the instrument's actual value—which is more on a par with a budget "beginner's guitar."

Of course, some musicians don't realize they're playing counterfeit instruments—until they need a repair or try to resell it. And companies have a real problem with counterfeits, but interestingly, it's not always about the lost income; after all, there are plenty of legitimate, low-priced guitars that play very well and provide honest competition. Rather, it's concern about the company's reputation. What if you buy what you think is a gorgeous guitar, and six months later, the neck is warped? If you don't know it's a counterfeit, you're going to think nasty thoughts about the company; and due to the power of the internet, putting those thoughts online can affect a company's reputation in a way that's almost impossible to undo.

Because we owe our success to the Harmony Central community, we want to do what we can to make sure you're not victimized by counterfeit scams. So, we're starting a new forum, "Counterfeit Info Central," that's dedicated to helping people identify whether what they're buying is legit or not. For example, one musician was able to identify a counterfeit Les Paul that "didn't feel right" because it had three truss rod cover screws instead of two. This eventually led to the arrest (on two felony counts) of a North Carolina man who'd acquired the guitar from a Chinese web site and resold it.

These days, it's not difficult to make a guitar that looks legit, but whose flaws become apparent only after a period of time—at which point the seller has moved on. "Counterfeit Info Central" is intended to provide information that helps the HC community make sure they're buying the real thing, and well as provide tips on how to identify counterfeit goods. We want you to spend your time being musicians—not being victims of scams.

—Your Harmony Central Team