Epiphone SG Prophecy

[GuitarStv]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Exactly. Fake Gibsons, yes lots of them. Fake Epi's, I doubt it. How much time and effort is anyone going to put into faking a used guitar that sells for several hundred dollars? Come on boys.

No knock off Epiphones? Try this site: http://www.tbargain.com/. They even fake the Epiphone case . . .

Here are some more:
- http://guitar.china-direct-buy.com/v/4/products/0-s-g-1.html?qs=epiphone&qsm=0
- http://www.tradetang.com/wholesale+epiphone_c220505.html
- http://www.chinawholesalestock.com/wholesale_spec-Brand-new-Epiphone-LES-PAUL-CUSTOM-guitar-electric-guitar-879.html

. . . and that's just from 10 seconds of Googling.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

No knock off Epiphones? Try this site: http://www.tbargain.com/. They even fake the Epiphone case.

I doubt these are fakes. They're probably factory seconds, floor demos, and model close outs sold through other outlets. For what they're selling them for, they're not making any money if they're going to the trouble of making exact copies, and using Epi packing and promo literature. They wouldn't go to all that trouble for such modest prices, nor would Gibson sit by and watch them do it.

 

[crossbow]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

I doubt these are fakes. They're probably factory seconds, floor demos, and model close outs sold through other outlets. For what they're selling them for, they're not making any money if they're going to the trouble of making exact copies, and using Epi packing and promo literature. They wouldn't go to all that trouble for such modest prices, nor would Gibson sit by and watch them do it.

you make a good point, blueman and it could be an introductory or earlier model as mwalluk said...which as uOpt put it, gets adjusted as time goes by.

 

[Fusion1]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Pretty cool you got yourself a prototype or whatever. Here is a new website I just found out about today from an email I got from Musiczoo or something, where they have a serial # list for Epiphones even. Check the site and post back what year yours was manufactured.

Epiphone serial # guide

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

I doubt these are fakes. They're probably factory seconds, floor demos, and model close outs sold through other outlets. For what they're selling them for, they're not making any money if they're going to the trouble of making exact copies, and using Epi packing and promo literature. They wouldn't go to all that trouble for such modest prices, nor would Gibson sit by and watch them do it.

Dude, do you work for these guys or something? Don't take my word for it. Check for yourself . . .

I picked a guitar at random from the site . . . this Goldtop . . . http://www.tbargain.com/products/Epiphone-Les-Paul-LP-1956-Goldtop-P%252d90-pickups-Electric-Guitar.html.

Serial number can be read as 10021508111.

Then I checked the serial number: http://www.guitardaterproject.org/epiphone.aspx.

It's a fake.

EDIT - actually if you check the link posted by Fusion, the serial number doesn't even match Epiphone's numbering scheme.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

you make a good point, blueman and it could be an introductory or earlier model as mwalluk said...which as uOpt put it, gets adjusted as time goes by.

It just seems that if someone's going to fake something, they'd do it with something they could get a better profit on. When money's counterfieted, they make $20 bills, not $1's.

Like many other manufacturers, Epi makes guitars for other markets and other countries. What we get in the USA is sometimes different than what they sell in other parts of the world. Maybe these weren't originally intended for the US market. Epi certainly could have different distribution agreements outside the USA. Most Epi's here are sold to the big music store chains, and because they agree to purchase and stock large quantities, I'm sure the chains have a hand in setting the retail prices, which no doubt include ample profit margins for the distributors. When Guitar Center sells something for $500, they certainly aren't paying anywhere near that themselves. Overseas, the same guitars coud sell for more, or less, depending on contractual agreements. Global production and marketing gets complicated.

Then again, maybe they are fakes, but they're not getting rich from what they're selling in this country. Seems like a lot of trouble to go to.

 

[donahue]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

I don't know, but that is a sweeet looking SG! Nice!

 

[Kam]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

It just seems that if someone's going to fake something, they'd do it with something they could get a better profit on. When money's counterfieted, they make $20 bills, not $1's.

And you just explained precisely why they fake Epiphones. Because people think like that and they are FAR less likely to question it's authenticity.

Just ask that dude who posted here recently about the fake Zakk Wylde Epi he nearly bought.

EDIT: Also, I have no idea about the SG in the OP. It's a pretty sweet guitar, though.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Exactly. Fake Gibsons, yes lots of them. Fake Epi's, I doubt it. How much time and effort is anyone going to put into faking a used guitar that sells for several hundred dollars? Come on boys.

Fake Epis have been a problem for a while. Can as well swallow that fact.

Thing is, the copies are probably better

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Some guy posted a fake Epi Buzzsaw on here a little while ago. For what ever reason, fake Epi's *do* exist.

I don't think this SG is one, though.

 

[dominus]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Umm, I'm not seeing the EMG logo on the pickups...

 

[dominus]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

When Guitar Center sells something for $500, they certainly aren't paying anywhere near that themselves.

Are you talking suggested retail price, or the price they're selling it for?

If they're selling a guitar for $500 where the MSRP is $800, they probably paid $400 for it. When I was going to start distributing guitars back in the late 90s, MSRP was typically twice distributor cost.

To the OP -

Your pictures are nice, but they really don't show anything where we could tell if it's fake or not. Here's pics of a real one to compare:

That shows the back, is the battery location the same, or is it just tossed in the electronics cavity with the pots/jack? Also, verify the Grover tuners are the same model.

Different knobs. Verify the EMG logos.

 

[crossbow]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Interesting discussion guys....to stir the pot some more

GuitarStv re: the guitar dater project dot org are they updated or do they still need updating? There are some new chinese factories that are not recognized. example the There is now an Unsung Factory in China with initials UC following the numbers that signify year, month and production number.

updated list from gibson website

 

[crossbow]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Are you talking suggested retail price, or the price they're selling it for?

If they're selling a guitar for $500 where the MSRP is $800, they probably paid $400 for it. When I was going to start distributing guitars back in the late 90s, MSRP was typically twice distributor cost.

To the OP -

Your pictures are nice, but they really don't show anything where we could tell if it's fake or not. Here's pics of a real one to compare:

That shows the back, is the battery location the same, or is it just tossed in the electronics cavity with the pots/jack? Also, verify the Grover tuners are the same model.

Different knobs. Verify the EMG logos.

Thanks dominus I will try again tonight to photograph them.
no EMG logos by the way

 

[Wattage]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

There are absolutely Epi fakes out there. I don't think we get so many of them in the US as the rest of the world does but they're out there. Doesn't anyone remember the MDF top Epi LP Customs a few years ago?

I am not insinuating the OP is a fake in any way.

 

[crossbow]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Pardon my noobiness but whats an OP?

 

[Wattage]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Original post

 

[crossbow]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Thanks..
Hey youre about 20 min from me

 

[dominus]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Thanks dominus I will try again tonight to photograph them.
no EMG logos by the way

EMG pickups have logos.

Sorry.

 

[crossbow]

Re: Epiphone SG Prophecy

Dominus

All I'm saying is that the SG in the OP doesn't have any EMG logos on its active pickups.
Should all EMG Active pickups have Logos?