The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

[PFDarkside]

Re: The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

The newest generation of fake SD's are showing up in the wild. Here's a recent post: LINK

And here are pics of the pickups. I bet 99% of the readers of this thread wouldn't even know to question them. Yes, even the bottoms are engraved with realistic SD logos!

As a player and hobbiest, I’d have no idea with these.

Actually, wait... I zoomed in, it all looks kind of funky. Screws, studs and printing all seem off, right

 

[Masta' C]

Re: The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

Yeah, if you look closely, the finish and edge contour of the bobbins are off, the screw poles are slightly different, the slug poles are very different, the logos aren't quite right, and the neck pickup has heavily rounded corners on its mounting tabs, but they'd be passable for most players, even most Duncan fans. The mounting leg length is another discrepancy, but you can't tell easily from the pictures. Install them in a guitar and they become even harder to tell real from fake!

The fact that they have the engraving on the baseplate down so well is what bothers me the most! Well, that, and the fact that they are copying the legitimate retail packaging!

For those that didn't see the photos posted by the buyer in the other thread, here are the bottoms of the pickups shown above:

 

[Mincer]

Re: The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

Since there doesn't appear to be any way of distinguishing the fake ones from the real ones, it's probably prudent to just stop buying any SD products known to have these clones. Specifically the JB, '59, Jazz, Full Shred, and Blackouts should be off your buying radar for the moment. You might be OK buying new from a reputable dealer - but given the very close replication of all visible indicators I'd say it's becoming a risk and likely to be unsafe to do so soon.

This is ridiculous. Just buy from an authorized dealer, and you'll be fine.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

Exactly. Just be aware that these are out there, albeit in small numbers for now, and remember that authorized dealers are at virtually no risk of carrying these products

 

[larryguitar]

Re: The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

This is ridiculous. Just buy from an authorized dealer, and you'll be fine.

If you give up buying any product that's getting counterfeited, you're going to be:
1. Walking to gigs
2. Playing a unique, homemade guitar
3. Not ever playing in a bar or place that serves beer
4. Calling all your friends on a 1950's Bell landline phone


Personally, I'll just stick with Dave's advice...

Larry

 

[dotsdad]

Re: The Counterfeiters are Getting Better!

Thanks for helping to keep the fleas off of ebay!