1954 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top - real or fake?

[AbstractDino]

I have the opportunity to buy this guitar (S/N 4 0377... if genuine). Can anyone tell me if it's real or if they think it could be a fake, if possible? Thanks.

 

[charliechitlins]

No expert here, but it looks good to me.'
Serial number font looks right.'
Backs of tuners look weird...like they were sanded or something...but the photos are pretty terrible.
It's disturbingly clean.
Better get a look under the hood.

 

[zhivago]

Is the logo placement a bit high on this one?

 

[Phatfrank]

Logo is too high, and the top looks refinished to me. A bit too clean and sparkley, but difficult to see from these pictures. Case is also newer. Backside looks legit, but the logo is for sure wrong. Get some pics of the cavities. EDIT; the back of the neck almost looks as it has flames? Sure it’s not renecked?

 

[designerseye88]

I mean it's a Gibson, but it's not an old actual 54 Gibson

 

[AA00475Bassman]

The guitar is in limbo one foot in one world one foot in another , if your looking for a original 54 keep looking !

 

[Treble_Booster]

Its a reissue mate, the seller is a bit of a dope, he has got photos of all the paperwork. I asked last night haha!

 

[brandtkronholm]

I think the guitar in the picture showing the back of the headstock is a different guitar than what we see in the other pictures.

Too many red flags:
a) Modern re-issue case of some kind. (Not really a red flag, but see e) below.
b) The front is crazy clean.
c) Unususal Gibson logo placement.
d) Those are some low quality pictures.
e) The guitar looks like a modern re-issue. Treble_Booster is likely correct.

 

[brandtkronholm]

Logo is too high, and the top looks refinished to me. A bit too clean and sparkley, but difficult to see from these pictures. Case is also newer. Backside looks legit, but the logo is for sure wrong. Get some pics of the cavities. EDIT; the back of the neck almost looks as it has flames? Sure it’s not renecked?

"Ribbon mahogany" is a thing. It's basically the same phenomenon that we enjoy in maple. Sometimes it's seen on Gibsons.

 

[Treble_Booster]

I think the guitar in the picture showing the back of the headstock is a different guitar than what we see in the other pictures.

Too many red flags:
a) Modern re-issue case of some kind. (Not really a red flag, but see e) below.
b) The front is crazy clean.
c) Unususal Gibson logo placement.
d) Those are some low quality pictures.
e) The guitar looks like a modern re-issue. Treble_Booster is likely correct.

I nearly bought this guitar last night ? seller was convinced it was an og 54. I did some digging, and he then sent me this:

 

[AbstractDino]

Thanks for the good advice. Best avoided then.

 

[charliechitlins]

Dodged a bullet!
Damn sweet guitar, though, for the right price...just not for original '54 money.

 

[Phatfrank]

I nearly bought this guitar last night ? seller was convinced it was an og 54. I did some digging, and he then sent me this:

View attachment 16820

Serial doesn’t match the one in the picture…

 

[Treble_Booster]

Serial doesn’t match the one in the picture…

Exactly... the dude had it up for £950. Dodgy af. He said it sold now anyway.

 

[AbstractDino]

Lucky escape. The guy looked a bit iffy, but I try not to judge a book by its cover. The search continues.

 

[brandtkronholm]

I nearly bought this guitar last night ? seller was convinced it was an og 54. I did some digging, and he then sent me this:

View attachment 16820

Dang bro! You've only just played your first "vintage" Gibsons in the past week or so and now you're hooked!
With patience, a nice vintage piece will be yours. It takes time these days.
But...welcome to the group. My name is Brandt and I suffer greatly from GAS - Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.
I'm in a 12 half-step program...

 

[charliechitlins]

This forum does more harm than good. If the guitar belongs to one of 4 people, 12 same names praise it to moon. If it doesn't, its fake, fugazzi, the worst ever as proclaimed by same names. I'll be attacked by the same people for saying so.
Then the "fake" will end up with one of the 4 and it will become celebrity played for 3x normal price.

Wait a second...it's a reissue being sold as vintage AT BEST.
All the modern paperwork was shown.
What's the problem here?

 

[S. Weiger]

This forum does more harm than good. If the guitar belongs to one of 4 people, 12 same names praise it to moon. If it doesn't, its fake, fugazzi, the worst ever as proclaimed by same names. I'll be attacked by the same people for saying so.
Then the "fake" will end up with one of the 4 and it will become celebrity played for 3x normal price.

What meds did you forget to take before you wrote this??

 

[58 special]

you came here

 

[S. Weiger]

Gents, I think we got ourselves a bona fide



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