Chinese guitar knock-offs... opinions?

I cant see a 300$ a guitar being plecked in any meaningful way shape or form

i don't know about anyone else, i can play 20 guitars and not like any of them for one reason or another

the chances of me liking a $300 is nil
 
This same topic comes up over and over, lolz.

Everyone has an opinion and here is mine.

I own both Gibson and Epiphone. Fender and Squire, ESP and Ltd. Plus a lot of other brands where I have the low end and high end.

Anyone who thinks a 3-500 guitar can compare to a 2000 + guitar is delusional.

Additionally, the only people I've ever seen saying they are "just as good" are either trying to sell one to you or are just hobbyists that play for fun.

also if these cheaper "budget" models were just as good, why is it that there isn't a single pro player using them for recording or live performances?
 
Here's my Agile from Rondo Music: http://forum.fractalaudio.com/lounge/89445-agile-guitars-anyone-post1078911.html#post1078911

500$ - Doesn't quite cross the knock off line, so no guilt. All the parts are pretty good quality though I'm not sure what grade of wood they are using. Plays great for me, but, just doesn't have that "something" my 1700$ sg has... Did I just get lucky with the SG? Donno - I also have a 1600$ Carvin that I don't really enjoy any more than the Agile. One thing I like about Rondo is that they are lefty friendly which is less and less true of mainstream manufacturers like Gibsun and PRS who keep reducing the number of lefty models they sell.
 
Severed said:
This same topic comes up over and over, lolz.

Everyone has an opinion and here is mine.

I own both Gibson and Epiphone. Fender and Squire, ESP and Ltd. Plus a lot of other brands where I have the low end and high end.

Anyone who thinks a 3-500 guitar can compare to a 2000 + guitar is delusional.

Additionally, the only people I've ever seen saying they are "just as good" are either trying to sell one to you or are just hobbyists that play for fun.

also if these cheaper "budget" models were just as good, why is it that there isn't a single pro player using them for recording or live performances?
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A few players you might recognize, lol.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Epiphone_players

Throughout the years, a lot of pros have used Epiphones.



Sent from my iPhone
 
I'm a firm "no". I don't these Chibsons to give Henry a good reputation or perform advertising for him. For the uninitiated, Gibson is routinely ranked the worse place to work and are notorious for not honoring warranty claims, mine included.
 
I'm in the "no" club also. Why? Just because I don't like guitars pretending to be an original with manufacturer serial stamp, Logo and all details in every aspect. I'm in the "yes" column when it comes to builder quality made in far east luthiers - Know a couple of very nice manufacturers. Personally I like to choose a guitar by hand, feel and ears, not by brand.
Currently I use a japanese LesPaul style no-name guitar, which for me is the best instrument for all my needs. There were several players who visited my amp workshop tried out my main guitar and were absolutely enthused!

I also own a cheap made Strat from UK/PRC-manufacturer Tanglewood, this was a pre-production instrument, which I bought new for 120$ direct from the distributor aka their guitar specialist back in the days, as said - pre production. Don't know anything bout the main production instruments....
Well the guitar is cheap made in every aspect wood wise, hardware, mechanics, but tone wise what an awesome instrument! I love that guitar....crazy but true! Maybe it was just a lucky strike

I used it on various clips back in the days...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bKkcTP7jLk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcFTCkgD9QU
 
I mostly focus on playability and tone over time. I have had so many Fenders or Gibsons costing a small fortune that simply went haywire wood-wise.
For the last ten years I have only bought old Japanese squirs or Orville Gibsons with at least 20+ on the back.
When I get them and they are highly playable I'm fine. I always upgrade the electronics - but the wood is ... fantastic.
And it will stay that way untill the carpenter make my coffin out of them.
 
Count me as a big no to the Chinese counterfeits... and not because I don't think the quality is there. That's not the issue at all and I really don't care what their overall build quality is. When a Chinese company goes so far as to use the Gibson logo and Made in USA that's just crossing an ethical line I don't want to touch. Counterfeit is counterfeit and there's no getting around that.

Agile and various other guitar makers that make their own brand of near copies aren't in that group. They make great quality instruments at a decent price and don't try to fool anyone into thinking they are real Gibson's or Fender's. I don't have issue with that at all, and when I was jonesing for a Les Paul type guitar but didn't want to spend the insane coin that Gibson asks for theirs, I happily ordered an Agile from Rondo. I'm very happy with the guitar and have friend's who have told me that it plays as good or better than equivalent Les Pauls that they've tried. Again, this is NOT a counterfeit, but a lower-priced alternative that's not trying to fool anyone. If Gibson's pricing wasn't so over-the-top and their quality control wasn't so dicey, then I probably would have saved up a bit more and bought a Gibson.
 
I was thinking of ordering a few of these knock-offs in order to decorate my bar/home theatre. Originally, I thought of trying to make them myself but holy smokes, it took me years of time, money, trial and error, to knock-off Vai's flame guitar. As purchasing them isn't illegal and I see no moral reason why I couldn't so I decided to pull the trigger on a Chinese AFD LP. Purely out of curiosity and hoping that it will at least make a good wall-hanger.

With regards to describing these items; Until they're under your possession there's no way to label the purchase per se but this is how I understand it.

Counterfeit: You purchased what you thought was the "real deal" but were deceived buy paying for one that was not authentic.
Knock-off: An imitation that generally wouldn't include any of the original logos/trademarks (i.e. gibson logo) and may have some physical differences
Replica: Close or exact copy of the original product.
Legal Replica: Non-functioning exact copy of the original product.
Prop Replica: Legal non-functioning exact copy of the original product used in movie/theatre productions etc.
Reproduction: Most often refers to the re-creation of an original that is usually licensed/approved by the owner(s) which can be sometimes limited in quantities.

I know its illegal to sell counterfeit goods but is it illegal to make a copy/replica for your own use? I'm guessing not but could never find any info on it...

Here's a pic of my flame knock-off with different headstock and 4 scalloped frets. I prefer a pointy headstock with this style body. The original one that performance used was actually a black Gibson Explorer style.
Anyway, if I could have bought this style guitar from China, I probably would have!

flameguitar_zps756ece87.jpg
 
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Genghis said:
Count me as a big no to the Chinese counterfeits... and not because I don't think the quality is there. That's not the issue at all and I really don't care what their overall build quality is. When a Chinese company goes so far as to use the Gibson logo and Made in USA that's just crossing an ethical line I don't want to touch. Counterfeit is counterfeit and there's no getting around that.
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Agreed, but its only counterfeit when the seller is fraudulently deceiving you by stating that its the real product AFAIK.
 
A to the T said:
Agreed, but its only counterfeit when the seller is fraudulently deceiving you by stating that its the real product AFAIK.
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Isn't putting a fake Gibson logo and stating that it's made in the USA when it's not pretty much doing that? It's at least taking it half-way there, and if it's not illegal, it's at best highly unethical. Seems like a really fine line there.
 
I get that Americans are proud of Gibson and the LP is iconic. I don't understand why you'd want people to think that you're playing something you're not. IMO you're a better player if you sound amazing using a Squier f.ex.

That being said I don't know why people think Gibson guitars are premium. Their quality is not premium. F.ex. PRS kills Gibson any day. Also I've never played a LP with a G string that stays in tune. They're uncomfortable and too heavy. :) Sorry to say this... Great sounds though!

Fake guitars are bad.
 
Genghis said:
Isn't putting a fake Gibson logo and stating that it's made in the USA when it's not pretty much doing that? It's at least taking it half-way there, and if it's not illegal, it's at best highly unethical. Seems like a really fine line there.
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not when the ad says its a copy and they show photos of it being made in their chinese factory. many sellers disclose this. many don't. so if the seller is saying its "made in usa" by Gibson and authentic in every way and you receive a knock-off then its counterfeit.
 
You guys, got me on a three hour detour yesterday. Call me ignorant, but never knew this existed. To be completely honest I have a real 90's les paul standard, and I agree with Clark, the g string goes out of tune constantly, it usually stays on the wall. I always wanted one and I got one in a trade, years ago. I just don't play it. Why I got distracted, is that I didn't realize the quality was that good, then I Started looking for chibsons on the Internet and got lost in a quagmire of people who review these things. Now, if the quality is that good and if I could get my own design made, with my name for a logo and my own headstock design, that would be pretty cool. Definitely cheaper then a warmoth parts guitar. I like the idea of getting my own design for 300 bucks, even if I have to change out the hardware. I don't want a guitar that wants to be something else, I want something that would play well and have my touches.

Has anyone who has bought one ever done that?

I found this guy and watched for about an hour.
 
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If these companies are so good, why don't they make their own, original guitars? Is it because coping is all they know how to do? Just food for thought.
 
Rotti said:
Since you're down in Conroe, be veeeerrry wary of Chibsons in pawnshops around B/CS.
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I won't go to the Conroe pawn shops for guitars. Honestly, I avoid them for the most any reason, most of the local shops are scam artists. I shop st Katz guitars and pawn in The Woodlands, now and then, but they are an actual guitar dealer. However, I have never bought anything more than a strings, and picks from them.
 
BrainalLeakage said:
If these companies are so good, why don't they make their own, original guitars? Is it because coping is all they know how to do? Just food for thought.
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From my understanding, there are a lot of manufacturers, in China who do this, not just a couple. You interact with sellers, who don't work for the manufacturer, but make a profit from you, by being the middle man. I learned a lot yesterday, but what I was always left with was how people on YouTube were justifying it somehow, like I said it was an interesting rabbit hole to go down yesterday. Thanks for the discussion, kind of intrigued me, for some reason.
 
It's a fraud... no for me.

I run into these in my day job a lot, universally by people who think they are the real deal claiming values in the thousands. Some refuse to believe me when I tell them their precious Les Paul is a fake. What I am saying is not everyone is going to know what distinguishes a real Gibson from a knock-off and the laws that exist are to (amongst other things) protect the buyer who simply doesn't have the experience to tell the difference. Of course, it's also to protect the manufacturer.

I see it like our rights and laws as songwriters. You create it, you own it. No one should be able to steal it and make use of it with you totally out of the loop.
 
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