Is it a fake?

[plankton]

This popped up locally, it's got to be a fake. The body shape looks all wrong, and no serial number. It's advertised as a MIJ LP Junior. What do you guys think?

MIJ Epiphone junior | Guitars & Amps | Gumtree Australia Adelaide City - Adelaide CBD | 1317230303

Made in Japan 2007 Nitro laquer Great player, no issues Gig bag No swaps, 1317230303

www.gumtree.com.au

 

[DrBGood]

Body shape seem OK, with maybe a little lens distortion. Thing that caught my eye, is knobs position. But still, in those years, some templates were funky. There seem to be a punched serial just above the Made in Japan.

I say it's legit.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Comparison…

Epiphone Les Paul Junior MIJ 2006 Vintage Sunburst Made in Japan w/ Hard Case | Reverb

This is a super rare made in Japan Epiphone Les Paul Junior from 2006. These have comparable specs to the Gibson models with top tier Japanese craftsmanship. This guitar features a beautiful nitro finish, and sounds fantastic! Very light and resonant Junior at 6.17 pounds. This guitar does ...

reverb.com

 

[pancake81]

Is it your guitar or do you have access to it. Other than internal photos, electronics, the headstock front and back is the best indicator

 

[plankton]

I thought about lens distortion as well, but that upper bout just seems way too big. I can't see the punched serial number either.

It's for sale, although I'm not thinking of buying it, just curious really.

 

[papagayo]

Post a picture of this MIJ Les Paul Jr headstock.

 

[Brooklyn Zeke]

I think it's a fake. I'm basing this opinion on the body protruding past the width of the neck, where it joins the body.

 

[DrBGood]

I think it's a fake. I'm basing this opinion on the body protruding past the width of the neck, where it joins the body.

From Reverb

 

[Silvertone]

I think it's a fake. I'm basing this opinion on the body protruding past the width of the neck, where it joins the body.

That is one of the defining differences between a set neck LP Standard and a setneck LP JR. It just means that the neck tenon is the same shape as the fret board, tapered. This is how every LP JR from the early 50s until now has been constructed.

 

[Silvertone]

It's probably a DIY kit guitar. Even a DIYer, or Chibson, would not use that body shape if they wanted to copy a Gibson. So yes, it's not a real Gibson.

Cheers Peter.

 

[Decadent Dan]

It’s an ‘05-‘07 MIJ Epiphone like this one…

 

[DrBGood]

It's probably a DIY kit guitar. Even a DIYer, or Chibson, would not use that body shape if they wanted to copy a Gibson. So yes, it's not a real Gibson.

Cheers Peter.

No claim for a real Gibson here, but a real Epiphone.

Look up Epiphone Les Paul Junior LQ and you'll find multiple examples of the same construction.







Even the new Billy Joe Armstrong is built the same.

 

[plankton]

It's probably just a bad picture. The listing is gone so either it got sold or someone called it out. It did have a correct looking headstock, it was just the body shape that looked so off, but as the good Dr. pointed out most likely just a bad angle with a mobile phone camera. Thanks for indulging me in a distraction.

 

[Silvertone]

No claim for a real Gibson here, but a real Epiphone.

Look up Epiphone Les Paul Junior LQ and you'll find multiple examples of the same construction.

View attachment 52543

View attachment 52544

View attachment 52545

Even the new Billy Joe Armstrong is built the same.
View attachment 52550

Why are you replying to me regarding this? I pointed out this very point about the standard Gibson LP JR having the different neck tenon than a standard resulting in the little shelf in the body on the treble size of the neck.

Actually looking at that first pic again it could be a angle of the picture issue. About 5 yrs ago Gibson cracked down on kit guitars being too close to the body shape and a lot of kit makes changed the shape. Mainly raising the waist and having a larger upper bout. It was almost comical looking.

 

[DrBGood]

Why are you replying to me regarding this?

Nobody was suggesting it was a Gibson, you went there by yourself.

So yes, it's not a real Gibson.

 

[Silvertone]

Nobody was suggesting it was a Gibson, you went there by yourself.

Still don't get what you are saying. So "noone said it was a Gibson". I said it was not a Gibson. Those two sentences mean the same thing! I'm a little lost here!

 

[Decadent Dan]

Still don't get what you are saying. So "noone said it was a Gibson". I said it was not a Gibson. Those two sentences mean the same thing! I'm a little lost here!

Nobody asked if it was a Gibson.

 

[Silvertone]

Nobody asked if it was a Gibson.

Except the OP??

This popped up locally, it's got to be a fake. The body shape looks all wrong, and no serial number. It's advertised as a MIJ LP Junior. What do you guys think?

So he was asking if it was a MIJ LP Junior and wanted to know if it was a fake. MIJ LP Juniors are Gibsons, no?? You do know that Epiphones are made by Gibson, right? Or is it a summantics thing? No I guess it's not branded "Gibson" but "Epiphone". What do you think he is asking? Maybe it's a fake Epiphone made by Gibson?? LOL

 

[plankton]

Except the OP??

So he was asking if it was a MIJ LP Junior and wanted to know if it was a fake. MIJ LP Juniors are Gibsons, no?? You do know that Epiphones are made by Gibson, right? Or is it a summantics thing? No I guess it's not branded "Gibson" but "Epiphone". What do you think he is asking? Maybe it's a fake Epiphone made by Gibson?? LOL

No, the question was never is it a fake Gibson, the ad clearly stated Epiphone. Just because Epiphone is a branch of Gibson doesn't make them the same thing. Because of the odd looking body shape I was wondering if it might be a fake Epiphone. I hope that's clear enough now.

 

[DrBGood]

MIJ LP Juniors are Gibsons, no??

Nope, Gibson makes their guitars in the ZOO.S.A., none are made in Japan. Some Epiphone were made for the local market in Japan, but that's over now.