let's see them "lawsuit"/copy/rip-off guitars!!!

[Rumble]

How much was that Wahsburn?

Seems like it was around $100 (edit: $130). That was about 8 years ago. Not sure what they go for today.

Here's a headstock shot:

[Mad-Mike]

Most of my copies/rip-offs/pawn shop prizes have been modded to heck and back

Homebrew Explorer copy (modified Hondo Deluxe Series 780 Explorer) - EMG Pickups, Washburn Trem, Kramer Neck


1980's or 1990's Segovia Bass (looks like a rip-off/cross between a Musicman Stingray, and a Kramer Focus 7000/Kramer Forum bass)


The "Mutt" Strat - DiMarzio Body, Squier Neck, Arbor electronics, Pro-Tone Bridge from GC


Zenta/Dana/Sears Telecaster Copy, 1973ish

[ugly casanova]

i like that tremolo on the last one

[Pacafeliz]

damn i don't know why i, somehow, love explorers. i'm still sorry for selling my old ibanez destroyer (the exact gibson rip-off that's been sold for thousands now cuz the killers guy uses one of 'em)....
but they just don't feel and look right on me.

Pat.

[duckpow]

I had a guitar looking a lot like this some time ago...
Same head stock, same body, same pickguard... But mine only had one pickup and no tremolo... And "Jedson" written on the headstock...

[Telenator]

Well, I have a few too.

When I called Rickenbacker to ask if they do custom work, they were such arrogant jerks that I set out to build my own.

Here's a couple 360 style guitars I built from scratch that flat out smoke the guitars they're modeled after. (just ask anyone who has ever played them!)









Perhaps the only thing more fun than playing these is, knowing that the Ric snitches light up the switchboard every time I post these photos! 


Here's a guitar I just finished a couple weeks ago. The roar of a Gibson SG in a well balanced body of an L6-S.

[Rumble]

Those Ric clones are impressive Telenator!

[Telenator]

Those Ric clones are impressive Telenator!

Thank you! They took about 7 months to build and I play them alot!

[valley_parade]

How much was that Wahsburn?

Seems like it was around $100 (edit: $130). That was about 8 years ago. Not sure what they go for today.

Here's a headstock shot:

I found two on eBay with a $279 BIN. Hmmmn.

[Telenator]

I love the name "Retrotone!"

[richfolkes]

Here is a difference between a Gibson and an Ibanez lawsuit copy that's not as well known as the others.

The headstock of a Gibson Les Paul custom uses an ebony (or similar) veneer to which the binding and inlays are self-contained. The Ibanez 2350 on the other hand, the headstock itself is bound and the face is painted, then two decals are applied; 1) the headstock logo, 2) the split diamond "inlay". Then the neck is then finished. Here are are some illustrations for your edification.


Figure 1. Using the neck of a Chinese manufacturer to illustrate, the Ibanez 2350 has the headstock itself bound. The 2350 uses a 4mm hex key as opposed to a Les Paul Custom using a 5/16" ring spanner.


Figure 2. The finished neck. Note the truss rod cover has three screws as opposed to two on the genuine article.


Figure 3. The neck for the Gibson Les Paul Custom. Again I'm using a photo of a Chinese made neck to illustrate, to which I photoshopped in the shape of the Gibson style truss rod access point.


Figure 4. The headstock veneer. Note the binding and inlays are self-contained on the veneer instead of the headstock itself. Hence the headstock binding appearing to run continuously with the fretboard binding.

Figure 5. The finished neck. The truss rod cover on the Gibson has two screws as opposed to the lawsuit Ibanez 2350 having three.

Gibson Les Paul Customs in the 70's usually had ebony fretboards. whereas Ibanez pre-lawsuit and lawsuit 2350's always had rosewood boards. The same also applied to other Ibanez copies of Gibsons which came with ebony fretboards. Eg, the 2457 (ES 355TDSV copy).

The design of the Ibanez 2350's bridge also happens to be a staple on today's "Chibson" knock offs. And on many Chibson Les Paul Custom knockoffs, the same method used on the Ibanez 2350 headstock is still used on Chibsons, except the headstock is properly inlaid (wonky as some inlays may be; Epiphone sized split diamond, Gibson logo slightly at an angle, etc.) instead of being decalled.

Note also, while Ibanez may advertise the fretboard inlays are mother of pearl, they are actually pearloid. In other words, "mother of toilet seat" as opposed to genuine mother of pearl!

Hope this bit of lawsuit trivia is of some interest.

[offsets4life]

Ahem...

Ibanez Concord 698M



M for maple. Neck, back, sides...



A couple of small detaily differences; An inlay here, pickguard décor there, bridge, tuners...
But it's a lot closer to an old J-200 type Gibby than I'll ever be able to afford, if I hadn't got this one. Or even a good re-issue.
I could have a LOT of cool electrics for that kinda coin.



There's a Fishman Ellipse pre-amp system peeking out of the top of the soundhole that I got cheap and put in myself.
There was already an input jack mounted at about 8 oclock on the lower bout.
Maybe to prevent accidents if the guitar was dropped on the endpin? I dunno...
But the headstock is the right shape.



Currently, I don't much like the piezo pickup's plugged in sound.
Going to swap for a soundhole pickup and possibly a contact mic for the soundboard.
Later... having an electric rig relapse at the moment after dropping everything for a bit over a year.
Bridge saddle needs attention too. And I should probably have got double-hump tuners for the proper seventies vibe, man.
But it plays well and sounds lush. It nearly feels like an electric neck.
Not sure how many years they made these?... No serial number on this one either.
Serious contender for being my favorite guitar.

[HH1978]

1992 Chery Les Paul on the right and 1993 Cheri on the left (after a change of brand name and design, due to the company beeing sued, most likely).

The Chery was my first electric guitar. It's an accurate copy and it plays and sound so good that I still use it sometimes, even after I acquired the 1980 Custom in the middle, 5 years ago.
The Cheri has a great neck, but it didn't sound good stock. It has now BG pure90 pickups, but I hardly play it these days.

They were made in the Cort factory in Korea and sold on the European market, mostly in Germany, but I bought the Chery here in Belgium and the Cheri in France.

[northern_dirt]

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[Tumtrah]

1975 Ibanez Strat, body refinished.