U.S. customs officers seize 3,000 counterfeit Gibson guitars

TribeLive ^ | Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 | Patrick Varine

[cuz1961]

... U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials on Saturday announced the largest seizure ever of counterfeit Gibson electric guitars.

Working with U.S. Homeland Security and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, agents recently seized more than 3,000 counterfeit guitars at the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest seaport complex.

...

All three agencies will be on hand with Gibson officials Tuesday morning in Carson, just a few miles north of the Port of Los Angeles, to detail the seizure and — in advance of the holiday shopping season — to caution consumers about fraudulence products sold on e-commerce platforms and other sources.

Here is a quick primer video on distinguishing a fake Gibson — often made in China and referred to as “Chibsons”

[frank ballenger]

Rather than thinking of Jimmy Page when I see a double neck guitar I remember the thrilling days of seeing John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra live. He once said he was educating the audiences as he was traveling on his early tours. Great moment in my history of loving guitar music.

Current Downbeat issue has a cover story of his induction into the Downbeat Hall of Fame.

https://www.google.com/search?q=images++john+mclaughlin+mahavishnu+orchestra&sca_esv=4e100859034c9131&udm=2&biw=1052&bih=479&ei=KXpCZ9z4L6mwptQP7_jN4AM&ved=0ahUKEwicscDk4fOJAxUpmIkEHW98EzwQ4dUDCBA&oq=images++john+mclaughlin+mahavis

[Bullish]

Well, the bitter comes out better on a... Oh, never mind.

[rmccullo]

“Only a Gibson is good enough”.
There ya go, however when you need a strat or a tele that’s what you need.

This is true....i stand corrected....

[frank ballenger]

RE: Epiphone Casino “for the low, low price of only $3499.

I believe my 1976 V-8 Pontiac Ventura was $4,000.

Oh, well.

[Drew68]

There ya go, however when you need a strat or a tele that’s what you need.

As a rule, you can do everything you need to do on electric guitar with a Telecaster.

Leo got it right in '52.

[TalBlack]

There are reviews of these fakes on YouTube. If I recall they play fairly well.

[Drew68]

Like the photos of the u shaped front driveway of your home when you parked all the luxury cars out there.

Sadly, no luxury cars. I'm not rich. Just a middle-class Navy Chief.

Electric guitars are my passion, and really, not that expensive of a hobby.

Funny story, someone acted shocked when I told him I spent $3k on my Les Paul (now about twice that). He was gobsmacked that someone would spend that much on an electric guitar. Turns out he spent twice than on the exhaust system for his crotch rocket.

[gibsonguy]

Yeah the varitone was pretty worthless but l liked the stereo pick ups

[TalBlack]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio, mid nineties, 900.00 bucks new, rock solid Gibson guitar to this day. Never needs much setting up intonation wise. Can get any of the well known Gibson sounds out of it.

[frank ballenger]

Good one.
We all have our priorities.

“When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.”
-—– Desiderius Erasmus

[Drew68]

There are reviews of these fakes on YouTube. If I recall they play fairly well.

They're not bad guitars. Hartley Peavey introduced CNC machining to the guitar making industry, previously reserved to only making rifles. This absolutely raised the bar on entry-level guitars. Those old plywood s--- guitars we got from Japan are gone. Even the cheapest Squire today is a playable instrument.

And a Chibson is a playable instrument.

It's still a counterfeit. That fake Rolex that you bought in Dubai from a guy on the streetcorner might keep good time but it is still a fake.

[Drew68]

I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio, mid nineties, 900.00 bucks new, rock solid Gibson guitar to this day. Never needs much setting up intonation wise. Can get any of the well known Gibson sounds out of it.

Despite owning a '58 Historic Reissue, I found myself really jonesing for a simple Studio. I previously owned one of the old Norlin Studios from the 80s. Again, long gone.

So I bought myself a husk from the Stratosphere dealer on eBay/Reverb. He specializes in buying guitars, stripping them out, and selling the parts.

For $699, this arrived in the mail.

I built it up exactly as I wanted, with Les Paul Classic push-pull wiring, and added it to my collection.

It remains one of my favorite Gibsons.

[Vendome]

😉

[Vendome]

I’m jealous, though I do possess a 3.5 octave voice...that’s more range than taylor swift

[gibsonguy]

I have a 64 strat too love it.

[Drew68]

I’m jealous, though I do possess a 3.5 octave voice...that’s more range than taylor swift

My unpopular take here is that I actually LOVE Taylor Swift!

She's the biggest pop star for a reason. She's damn good at writing and recording pop songs.

Like so many though, she should just shut up and sing.

[Mama Shawna]

Ooohhh...that looks nice. And 22 frets, even better! I love my strat, just wish I’d known you needed 22 frets to play the lead from Money whenIbought it! Dangit.

[Drew68]

I have a 64 strat too love it.

You wanna sell it? FR mail me...

[BradyLS]

Ha, ha!

[Vendome]

Dang, and I was just getting to like you.../s