How To Tell A Chibson From a Real Gibson

A Fake Gibson or a "Chibson" came into the store so I though I would show you all some ways to tell a real Gibson from a fake Gibson!

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[Sighdaball]

Another tell tale sign to spot a Chibson from an authentic Gibson is the finish will be almost flawless...

[MesaGuitarGuy]

I bought a Chibson on purpose. I didn't want to bring my real LP 3-pickup custom out to gigs, so I bought a $300 version from China. Added a new bridge pup, the TP-6 fine tuning tail piece, and locking tuners.
btw, the Trump piece at the end had me rolling :)
thanks for the videos Dane

[strummercash]

Thank you!
I liked, subbed, appeasing the lords of the algorithms with a comment. Own only one Gibson, the Les Paul I bought at GC the day after my late-mother died in July, 2020. I needed something that—like her—was pretty on the outside, but had a power and was feisty within, an instrument that felt heavy around the neck, solid in hand, capable of churning out grieving and howling tones.
Honeyburst Classic was the best one there for me (I’d hoped they had a Cherry Burst Standard) and I was determined to leave with an LP, regardless.
Too broke at the moment to be at risk of unwittingly buying a Chibson, or anything-haha-however, I do appreciate the knowledge—the world of knockoffs and frauds, in general, I find fascinating.
Circa 2010, when I was very novice in eBay, social media, etc. I bought a 2 unit Shure Beta-58 package on eBay. A day later, got an email from Australia. No one I knew: “Good day, Mate! Odd to get word from a stranger, but I see you bought the same mics. Mine were fake, here’s what to look for when yours arrive…”
Great guy!
Mine were frauds, as well, and we both got refunds.
It was a serious wake up call.
Especially with electronics, if the product looks correct in packaging and casing, I really don’t know enough to look inside and know if I’ve been duped.
🙏🏽✌🏽💙 from Minnesota
It’s pretty flawless.

[TheSolidSnakeOil]

Another way you can tell is, if it's reasonably priced, it's probably not a real Gibson.

[donbabcock]

Big difference is the price. Normal people can’t touch a Gibson. Gibson doesn’t want people playing music so they block the tribute guitars. They’re paying homage to them, and helping starving musicians.

[donbabcock]

Gibson = $4, 000.00 on up
Chibson = $279.00 + free shipping.
That’s the difference.

[squirrel-]

The wiring and time sized potentiometers are a dead giveaway, the silkscreen logo and the break angle of the headstock as well.

[jetskirob]

Thank you very much a knew they was out there now I know what to look for probably just saved me around £1500 thank you for the video

[jazzbox]

The Gibsons have a thumbwheel but also the later models also have a hex socket in the thumbwheel post for adjustment

[srh]

If I'm not mistaken there was a Gibson that used an Allen key truss rod. Edit: The GT, I looked it up not to mention someone else commented that.

[chucklesm]

I bought a ES345 copy with a bigsby on eBay for $300. (I really just wanted the bigsby). There was a sticker on the headstock and under it was a gibson inlay and a serial number on the back. Fantastic guitar, i replaced the varitone and pots, kept the pickups. Also upgraded to a nylon ABR-1. Compared to my real 335, there is little to no difference in the construction and quality.

[the_fleeing_dutchman]

Thanks for this, but I had to laugh when you said at the end.. Oh it's got Seymour Duncans in them". If they can fake the Gibson head stock, what are the chances that they fake the PU's? Prety big wouldn't you say?

[kimseniorb]

usually the body shape is wrong, the headstock shape aswell. its very easy to spot if you’re familiar with how the original looks

[OddTimeMan]

The import style bridge with the large posts is an improvement. The smaller Allen-head truss rod is also an improvement. Gibson headstocks are notorious for breaking because that large trussrod cavity leaves very little wood behind. The less-severe headstock angle is also an improvement. The scarf-joint in the neck is also an improvement. There's a reason why no one else makes guitars the way Gibson does. Gibson just ignores all of their design flaws. Well actually, Gibson addressed some of those flaws back during the Norlin years with a multi-piece maple neck, less severe headstock angle, and volute, but all the traditional Gibson purists complained, and sales dropped...so Gibson eventually switched back.

[ST-xggy]

Thank you! Very good information. Did you happen to catch the bust they made in LA of 3000 fakes Gibsons? Wow!😮

[waterdog]

As you said " it's probably a great playing guitar', and for the most part they are. I have 4 of them and they are very very good (with a few minor changes). So I will keep my money and play a 'just as good' guitar.

[philchapman]

thanks for the heads up, good to know.

[zigzagrz]

There is one exception where Gibson did use a dual action truss rod with a Allen wrench adjustment, but that one is a rare. The les paul GT

[bgomusicco]

Gibson used tone pro bridges that have slots, made guitars that had allen key truss rods and made necks without fret nibbs.

[goodbetrue]

You will know it's a Chibson if the G-String stays in tune, No headstock breaking, the paint is Polyurethane so it's perfect and doesn't age, and most of all it's reasonably priced. At $300 you should be able to enjoy playing a "Gibson Les Paul" without getting scammed by buying an overpriced CNC'd piece of wood for $5, 000 to $12, 000.🤭 Chibson is actually the equalizer. Chibson FTW!🤘