Real or epiphone?

[Twincam]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F142891195854

How would one know if this was real? Looks just like an epiphone pro with a Gibson decal on the truss rod cover. Surely they have a serial number on back of headstock or something? 

[Woodinblack]

They do look the same, same shape, the epi has the gibson pickups. But yes, the have a serial on the back of the headstock and as it is pickup only you can check it then,

[PaulWarning]

looks like it's had a headsock repair to me, aren't Gibson prone to headstocks breaking?

[fleabag]

He mentioned the headstock repair in the description

[pst62]

It's  a Gibson!  Two quick ways to tell A. Bridge placement B. Neck heel. With the Gibson, The Bridge is further back and they have a rounded heel. Epi Bridge is closer to the Bridge pickup volume pot, and the heel is almost squared.

Also, this real or Epi thing is a bit off, my Classic Pro plays better than the Gibson I tried.

Edited August 31, 2018 by pst62

[PaulWarning]

29 minutes ago, fleabag said:

He mentioned the headstock repair in the description

he says minor crack, looks a bit more than that to me, but then I'm no expert

[Twincam]

1 hour ago, pst62 said:

It's  a Gibson!  Two quick ways to tell A. Bridge placement B. Neck heel. With the Gibson, The Bridge is further back and they have a rounded heel. Epi Bridge is closer to the Bridge pickup volume pot, and the heel is almost squared.

Also, this real or Epi thing is a bit off, my Classic Pro plays better than the Gibson I tried.

That's a good bit of knowledge to have.

I also tried the Gibson and had briefly a epi pro. And they were pretty similar. Although I did feel the Gibson was slightly nicer made. Not to the degree of the price difference in my opinion. 

 

[FinnDave]

I had a Gibson and an Epiphone last year. I sold the Gibson because the Epiphone was a better bass all round (I bought it second hand and it did come with a Babicz bridge, to be fair).

[fleabag]

4 hours ago, PaulWarning said:

he says minor crack, looks a bit more than that to me, but then I'm no expert

Yup, and i agree with you -  headstock repair

[Paddy515]

Looks of that neck photo seems a big risk to take for over 1k (or near offer)

 

[Woodinblack]

I would say so. White thunderbirds aren't that rare, and generally go for that sort of price, in average condition for the year.  A neck break normally reduces the price, even if it isn't all the way though (and it is hard to say on a painted one how bad it is).

Sometimes though if you are prepared to wait you can find the buyer for stuff.

[dyerseve]

Shouldn't the title of this thread be 'Real or Epiphoney'?

[Christine]

A bit late, yes it is a real one, another couple of ways to tell are the pick guard screws, one lines up closely with the righthand line of the birds tail on the Gibson, the Epiphone one is off by about 10mm. If you look for tell tail fingerprints through the lacquer at the wing/body join, the Gibson has a vee joint and the Epiphone is a straight butt joint. The wings join the body at the 15th fret on the Gibson, on the Epi it joins at 16.

That neck break looks like an unrepaired crack to me, typical of the Gibson, it's a poor design that should have been rectified, I do like Gibsons but that one needs addressing

[T-Bay]

Strong money for one with issues, genuine or not.