Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 While browsing through the website posted on ... "OT: Vintage Music Ads" thread, I saw a link to a guitar related site at the bottom of the page and clicked to see. Turns out it's these Trade Tang guys. I'm seeing more and more links to them everyday. You would think they'd be worried about lawsuits or whatever but instead, they seem to be getting bolder and business seems to be booming. WTF is going on?!? There are cheap copies of any guitar you can think of there.http://www.tradetang.com/for-sale/-Custom-Shop-Johnny-Signature-Guitar-Mint-/116679-1543757.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lp_junkie Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 They are counterfeits, being that it is illegal to purchase and own counterfeit goods here as well buyers can go to jail for importing them. Gibson and Fender are going after the makers in China and have had several successful prosecutions here in the US as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tim gueguen Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Given that they're in China it's going to be awful hard for say Gibson to take any sort of legal action against them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frankie pajamas Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 They are counterfeits, being that it is illegal to purchase and own counterfeit goods here as well buyers can go to jail for importing them.Gibson and Fender are going after the makers in China and have had several successful prosecutions here in the US as well. Could you point me to a statute that states it is illegal to own counterfeit goods? I've wondered about this before . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Could you point me to a statute that states it is illegal to own counterfeit goods? I've wondered about this before . . . I've also wondered about that. I don't know if there's a law about owning one but it would seem logical for there to be one against bringing them into the country. I'm just surprised to see how these guys seem to be growing and although everyone claims they would never buy a counterfeit, somebody sure as hell is giving them business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fred Buzz Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I've also wondered about that. I don't know if there's a law about owning one but it would seem logical for there to be one against bringing them into the country.I'm just surprised to see how these guys seem to be growing and although everyone claims they would never buy a counterfeit, somebody sure as hell is giving them business. I think it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I though this was going to be about a swingers site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thesockmonster Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Is it bad that I'm drooling over what an amazing copy that is? I'd KILL for a Johnny A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Is it bad that I'm drooling over what an amazing copy that is? I'd KILL for a Johnny A. Yeah, me too. Think about it though, if they would just eliminate the "Gibsun" name from the headstock, it really wouldn't be any different than any other of the millions of Gibson and Fender clones in the world. Would it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JohnnyRaincheck Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Yeah, me too. Think about it though, if they would just eliminate the "Gibsun" name from the headstock, it really wouldn't be any different than any other of the millions of Gibson and Fender clones in the world.Would it? hmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 It might be safer to purchase some of those guitars than it would others: I can almost imagine a SWAT team busting down your door if John Hall traces one of those Rickenbacker copies to your house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JohnnyRaincheck Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I gotta admit I've been curious about these too... Chances are, some are made in the same factory as other " name brand" Chinese made guitars. But ultimately, it's flooding the market with fakes. How many are re-sold to some poor sucker on Craigslist? I thought I read somewhere that the shipping charges are colossal also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I gotta admit I've been curious about these too... Chances are, some are made in the same factory as other " name brand" Chinese made guitars. But ultimately, it's flooding the market with fakes. How many are re-sold to some poor sucker on Craigslist? I thought I read somewhere that the shipping charges are colossal also. Yeah, considering how good some of these copies look now and not as easy to distinguish as they once were... I can definitely imagine some people being fooled. What I'm curious about is the name on the headstock. If they were a halfway decent clone, something that could be modded and upgraded, I'd seriously consider one of those Johnny A copies. I won't be buying any of the $4000-$6000 originals anytime soon. If I could get one without the "Gibsun" name on the headstock, I'd jump on one. I guess I could always order one and cover up the name but wouldn't like to send money to a company making conterfiets... although I've done it dozens of times by buying clones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 100%: Big discount for big order. hmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 100%: Big discount for big order. hmmm Yeah.If the guitars are anything like the English translation, they may not be worth the postage stamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pilon Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I actually got one of these counterfeit strats in a trade last week. At first glance they are convincing, but something just looks off. Once I ran the serial # online it all unraveld. Long story short I contacted him and we traded back. After spending a few hours with it easy to realize how shoddy it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I saw a "Gibsun" copy in a local pawn shop listed for $2,500. It was not built badly built, although the binding and finish were sloppy at the neck joint. It did have a two screw truss rod cover, but no fret nubs. At first I thought it might have been a refret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Just remember, you have to hold off on any real evaluation of the product when it's in your hands. You aren't buying the one in the pic. Many of these sites use pictures of the real deal, and their counterfeits don't make the grade. And with the rest, the pic is of probably the best one you could find. And what are you going to argue? That it is dishonest? As for legal stuff. Customs may confiscate anything counterfeit that comes through and you'll be out the purchase price. Otherwise, the real legal danger is if you go to sell, no matter how strongly you may state is is not a Gibson in your ad, the police or buyer and can always argue otherwise in court. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members IPlayMetronome Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I though this was going to be about a swingers site. BAAAAZZZZING!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 I saw a "Gibsun" copy in a local pawn shop listed for $2,500. It was not built badly built, although the binding and finish were sloppy at the neck joint. It did have a two screw truss rod cover, but no fret nubs. At first I thought it might have been a refret. Looks like the pawn shop owner got hosed or is looking for someone to hose. Do you think it would be possible to mod and upgrade or would it be a complete waste of time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Just remember, you have to hold off on any real evaluation of the product when it's in your hands. You aren't buying the one in the pic. Many of these sites use pictures of the real deal, and their counterfeits don't make the grade. And with the rest, the pic is of probably the best one you could find. And what are you going to argue? That it is dishonest? As for legal stuff. Customs may confiscate anything counterfeit that comes through and you'll be out the purchase price. Otherwise, the real legal danger is if you go to sell, no matter how strongly you may state is is not a Gibson in your ad, the police or buyer and can always argue otherwise in court. Agree with you that the photos are probably rope a dope. If I did decide to import one of these, it wouldn't be to the USA so I'm not to worried about the legalities. As far trying to trick someone into thinking it's a legitimate Gibson, I'd rather burn the bitch first or just keep it as wall art in the bathroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members paruwi Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 While browsing through the website posted on ... "OT: Vintage Music Ads" thread, I saw a link to a guitar related site at the bottom of the page and clicked to see. Turns out it's these Trade Tang guys. I'm seeing more and more links to them everyday. You would think they'd be worried about lawsuits or whatever but instead, they seem to be getting bolder and business seems to be booming. WTF is going on?!? There are cheap copies of any guitar you can think of there. http://www.Craptang.com/for-sale/-Custom-Shop-Johnny-Signature-Guitar-Mint-/116679-1543757.html Why promote them here With every click they went up in the ranking of google and other sites So it's easy to find them........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Badside Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Gotta remember too that these things are not replicas, but cheap guitar made to look like specific expensive models They're great though if you want to trash a Les Paul Custom in your band's video Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fistacuffs Posted September 25, 2010 Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 can anyone dig up pix of the copied ESP MX ESP's are sometimes photographed with the clear fret protecter still on The fake had a huge 23rd fret with an ESP logo on it a good couple inches of fretboard with no frets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted September 25, 2010 Author Members Share Posted September 25, 2010 Why promote them here With every click they went up in the ranking of google and other sites So it's easy to find them........ 'Cause I fucking felt like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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