Fake Guitars Seized From Oakdale Music Shop (Counterfeit Gibsons)

Newsday ^ | 18 Sep 07 | Joseph Mallia

[Drew68]

An Oakdale music store owner was arrested Monday for selling fake versions of the legendary Gibson guitar at his Montauk Highway shop, the Suffolk police said.

Investigators seized 15 fake Gibsons from the store, the police said.

Bernard Musumeci, 44, of 2 Domino Way, Centereach, surrendered to the police Monday night, and was charged with trademark counterfeiting.

After he was released, Musumeci turned over another 18 guitars from his home, and Gibson Guitar Corp. experts will determine whether they're authentic.

The arrest came after a two-month investigation by Fifth Squad detectives, working in conjunction with the Nashville-based Gibson company.

After authorities were alerted that Musumeci may have been selling fakes at Oakdale Music, at 925 Montauk Hwy., an undercover security expert from Gibson determined that several guitars from the store were, indeed, counterfeit.

Suffolk detectives applied for and executed a search warrant earlier this week and the 15 guitars, all of which were determined to be counterfeit, were seized at the music store.

Now based in Nashville, the original Gibson Guitar and Mandolin Company was founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, Mich., by shoe clerk and musician Orville Gibson.

Gibson now produces what many consider the world's foremost guitars, especially reissues of the Les Paul model first manufactured in 1952.

Authentic Gibsons are pricey. An original 1959 Gibson Les Paul Flame Top guitar was listed on eBay Monday at a buy-it-now price of nearly $100,000. And a 2007 reissue of the same guitar was listed for $4,500.

[Drew68]

This is a growing problem and is different than buying a fake Rolex for $40 --a watch that the buyer knows is fake and obviously looks fake. People are paying several thousand dollars for knock-off Les Pauls. More and more of them are finding their way to these shores.

Many of these guitars are handcrafted by Chinese and Korean luthiers and so closely mimic the originals that experts from Gibson had to be called in to verify that the guitars were fake. In many cases, these instruments far surpass Gibsons in quality and playability!

[whatexit]

I was gonna say that they are probably a step up from Gibson’s current productions... but ya beat me to it!

[bubbacluck]

In many cases, these instruments far surpass Gibsons in quality and playability!

Now that's interesting.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Heritage guitars are made in the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan by some of the same luthiers that made Gibsons before they moved to Nashville. These are very high quality guitars but are a bit cheaper than the Gibsons. They make guitars that are similar to pretty much every model Gibson makes or made (e.g. ES-175, ES-335, Les Paul, etc. etc.). Worth a look if you’re in the market.

[Alouette]

I used to own a J-45, many years ago.

[tired1]

wait till we get swamped with Supernotes.

[daku]

I have just purchased a 2007 Flying V and it’s a beauty

[bannie]

The idea of someone selling a "fake guitar" without the buyer knowing that it wasn't really a guitar was...amusing.

[4yearlurker]

About 2 years ago I went to a local music store to by a Gibson SG. I have been playing guitar since 1975 and I was always a Srat man. I gave myself a two thousand dollar budget. I played about 5 SGs in the store and told the store owner that Gibson’s quality is surely lacking these days. The guitars were Crap! Action sucked. Finish did not look professional. Sound wasn’t what I expected. My cousin bought a SG in 1972 and he still has it. What a fine guitar that is! That’s what I was expecting. I think they were all Chicom knock offs.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I have an old SG I bought used for $75 over 30 years ago. Great action. Great guitar.

[Drew68]

They make guitars that are similar to pretty much every model Gibson makes or made (e.g. ES-175, ES-335, Les Paul, etc. etc.). Worth a look if you’re in the market.

Nah... I already own the real deal :-)

However, there are two noteworthy makers in California who built flawless Gibson knock-offs. The late Kris Derrig built 1959 copies and became famous when one of his Les Pauls was procured by Slash and used to record GnR's Appetite for Destruction. Another luthier goes only by the name Peter "Max" Baranet and still builds them. These guitars are identical to Gibson Les Pauls, including the "Gibson" logo on the headstock. They sell for well above the $20,000 range and are highly sought after.

[4yearlurker]

I love the fat sustain sound with out all back round fuzz. Sounds great when banging out chords too!

[Drew68]

I gave myself a two thousand dollar budget. I played about 5 SGs in the store and told the store owner that Gibson’s quality is surely lacking these days.

Gibson's quality control leaves much to be desired these days. I would never buy a Gibson without playing it first. There are some gems and some klunkers. When I bought my Les Paul Classic, I didn't even need to plug it in. As soon as I held it in my hands, I knew I would be walking out the store with it!

Funny thing though, when I feel like jamming out, I almost always reach for my Highway One Stratocaster. It cost about 1/3rd of what my Paul set me back but I just love it! My Paul is just too d*mn heavy!

[ScreamingFist]

Many of these guitars are handcrafted by Chinese and Korean luthiers and so closely mimic the originals that experts from Gibson had to be called in to verify that the guitars were fake. In many cases, these instruments far surpass Gibsons in quality and playability!

Interesting statement. I suppose the chinese and koreans will knock off basses, drums and cymbals next, then corner the market on musical instruments.....oh wait. to late..... On an a side note, I have a Lee Jackson Metaltronics (complete with instructions signed by Lee Jackson) and a few very nice really beautiful old tube amps that I will keep for my kids.....enjoy your chinese junk.....

[bluetone006]

Heritage guitars are better than the real deal.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Agree! I also like the fact that there are a lot of frets and they are all accessible.

[stratman1969]

I know some people who have a Tokai Love Rock and Edwards Les Paul copies. I personally wouldn’t mind getting one of those. Then again, I tried out one of the newer Epiphone LP Standard flametops and was impressed with how the workmanship had improved. I’ve been a Strat guy, but also have a 335TD. Would love to get an LP & possibly a Tele.

[MarkL]

It's been a long time problem with Fender guitars, and many custom guitars as well...

Here's "my baby:"

And "my baby" on a visit to "her papa" for some loving care last December:

That's Carl Thompson with my bass that he built back in December of 1975, one of the first dozen or so he built.

Mark

[Drew68]

I have an old SG I bought used for $75 over 30 years ago. Great action. Great guitar.

If it is still in good shape it would now be worth about 50 times what you paid for it.

As a teenager back in the 80s, I had a friend who wanted to trade me a mid 1960s SG with a Vibrola tailpiece and trapezoid inlays for a pair of cheap skis I had just received for Christmas. I turned him down. Those skis are long gone and that SG is worth well over $10,000.

The mistakes we make...

[bluetone006]

For cheap check out the Samick artist series LP’s from a few years back. I have two. I originally bought one as a back up to my 70’s LP Goldtop. After putting in some SD pups it sounded and played so well I put the Gibson away and bought another Samick.