Forgers will use cheaper or more readily available woods. If it’s a 1965 serial number on a guitar that’s clearly much newer, you know something’s up.įake guitars are often much lighter (or can be heavier) than their genuine counterparts. The serial number will give you an indication of when that guitar should have been made. Of course, a forger will also happily copy a serial number if it makes their creation appear more genuine. There are several online databases where you can check if a serial number is genuine. The logo may be slightly the wrong shape or size, or even in the wrong place. The two companies most targeted for forgeries are Gibson and Fender.Ĭompare this to photos of genuine guitars from the manufacturer or authorised seller’s website. There will be a few tell-tale signs that your guitar isn’t the genuine article. If a bunch of questionable fakes are floating around under their name, this is only going to cause damage to the brand’s reputation. Brands like Gibson and Fender are well known household names because they are companies with a long history of producing exceptional guitars. Given that they regularly exhibit fundamental problems, you could have totally wasted your money on essentially a piece of junk.Ĭounterfeits damage the credibility of famous brands.

They will likely fall into trademark infringement if they copy a reputable brand’s headstock shape or logo.Ī fake guitar will have no buyer protection or guarantee, and no after-sale care. This isn’t always the case, and sometimes counterfeits can be very well produced. They may look the part, but counterfeits are often made on the cheap, with cheap hardware and a lack of quality control. They are often a cheap imitation of a genuine brand, exhibiting manufacturing flaws sometimes making them unplayable and causing problems at set up. Fake guitars should be removed from circulation, so that further down the line they cannot be used to then con someone else. Even if you openly sell the guitar as a fake, this is still against the law. The buying remains legal as it relies on you making the purchase in good faith. Under UK law it is legal to make, buy and own a counterfeit guitar, but selling one is illegal. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous and dishonest individuals who may try to rip you off by selling a counterfeit guitar posing under a famous brand name. When buying a Gibson, Fender or any other branded guitar, that is exactly what you should get.

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