Chibson Firebird

guitargeek62

Forge said:

BTW, the fret edges will reveal if it is a Gibson or not - Chinese guitars do not have the plastic fret ends.

Some do, it's really getting harder to tell without closeup pictures. The general giveaway now seems to be the hardware used - I've yet to see one with a "proper" ABR-1 etc. 

Neil

It's unfortunately a well known feature of some counterfeit Chinese sellers that what you get is different to the pics of the original stuff they post up. 

guitargeek62

chrisj1602 said:

guitargeek62 said:

Also, the way the light is reflecting off of the finish implies it's nitro. The serial & stamp themselves don't prove that it's a Gibson, neither does the case - they're easy to copy, but the tuners alone are very suspect given that this would be the first Chibson I've seen that used this style.

The binding colour & pearloid for the inlays look spot on too.

I have never seen a Chibson with the serial stamp like that, and the case just backs up that it is a Gibson.  It is just a borrowed picture I guess.  I have found a Chinese Firebird, doesn't look too bad:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-Firebird-Thunderbird-three-electric-guitar-pickups-guitar-xiexie/1554568397.html

That's more like the ones I've seen - I'd be surprised if it's actually a thru-neck though, and that one doesn't have banjo tuners, the right finish, or even the rib carve.

TTony

I keep getting offers from Chinese manufacturers, and Indian wood suppliers, to supply stuff for Kawai Guitars.

Maybe I should suggest some samples!

Fatfingers

I just emailed the fella selling it again and asked for assurances that what he is sending me looks like the guitar in the pics. He insists it is.

But then he's hardly likely to say anything else...

jesone

Has it arrived yet?

Fatfingers

Yes it has. I'll try to get some better pics tonight. Thee are ones I took to email the seller to highlight the differences between what he advertised and what he supplied.

In short, it's a different colour, the pickups are full size humbuckers rather than Firebird style minis, the headstock is slightly the wrong shape and it doesn't have banjo tuners.

On the plus side, it has a thru-neck, it's pretty well made and sounds surprisingly good.

It's just a shame I ordered from him. I've since spoken to another supplier who seems much more on the ball (could well be the same guy that made the Trini for guitar geek). He says there are no Firebird style banjo tuners in China or he'd be using them.

I should have gone to Spec Savers.

Fatfingers

Fatfingers

Fatfingers

Sorry guys. I posted one pic but now when I try to do it I just get a little blue box with a question mark in it. I'll try from home later.

Fatfingers

This is the Chibson.

Fatfingers

This is the Gibson.

underdog

What did it cost you all in mate? Looks nice

chrisj1602

Looks decent, like a cross between a Firebird V and Studio.

Fatfingers

Yeah - I suppose that's how I should view it. Unfortunately I wanted it to look exactly like a Firebird V.

All in cost was only 190 quid though.

GuitarMonkey

Fatfingers said:

I wanted it to look exactly like a Firebird V.

I think your expectations may have been too high. 

Are you sure it's a through-neck? I think that's unlikely for the money.

Fatfingers

Well it certainly looks like one!

Fatfingers

Fatfingers

Fatfingers