as the other guide on here suggests, there are several fake gibsons floating around on ebay, and I just wanted to point out some ways to spot a fake gibson. I have been around high quality gibsons for my whole life as my father as well as myself are gibson collectors, so i know these guitars top to bottom. I have found some other unmentioned key identifiers of fake gibsons on ebay that i would like to point out. Please read and know that there may be some variance, but most of these points ring true.

1. Truss rod cover: although it was previously stated, look at this first. NO, i repeat, NO real gibson will have a three screw truss rod cover. HOWEVER!!!! many japanese made epiphones will have two hole bell truss rod covers, as well as the true "open book" style head stock. I have seen people take off the clear coat and retro-fit a gibson logo onto the head stock, and just about anyone would be hard pressed to know the difference, so you have to look for other indicators.....

2. Serial Number:  That is where serial number would come into play, the one upside is that japanese epi's (as well as lawsuit ibanezes, burnys or orovilles) do not have serial numbers stamped/engraved onto the back, they will most likely be a silk screen serial, which will not resemble a true gibson serial. There are some gibson's that will have a silk screen serial number...most of which are custom shops and classics. Just because Gibson can confirm a serial number, doesn't mean that the piece you are looking at is the one that was built with that serial. It is easy for anyone with good knowledge of Gibson serials to copy one....or look at another auction to copy the number.

3. Head stock: most gibson knock offs have some sort of variation to the "open book" head stock, but most do not copy it exactly (with the exeption of the previously mentioned japanese epi's, burny, and oroville...which are actually pretty good gibson substitutes made by gibson japan...) these chinese knock offs have an open book style  BUT any gibson afficianado will be able to tell. However, for those who cant tell... a real gibson head stock will have the open book syle, but the points at the end of the head stock below the "E"  tuning posts will be closer together than the points at the top of the headstock, forming an asymetrical taper from top to bottom, that does not bow out as severely as the fakes. 

4. Head stock inlay: One of the most duplicated models of les paul i see is the customs, these are for the most part the easiest to decipher. on a real les paul custom, the split diamond will be rather large, with the bottom points of the diamond reaching the top of the truss rod cover, with the top points going past the top tuning posts(or very close. and the side of the diamond touching, or very nearly touching the "a" and "b" tuning posts. On a fake the diamond will be much smaller, and have a very fake looking pearl inlay. The abalone used in real customs is one of the most appealing features, with obvious color variances (greens, purples, etc). Some of the newer customs will not be as obvious, but any newer custom should be selling upwards of $2,000 dollars.

Unless you can actually look up close at the guitar itself it is hard to tell from the body and fret board to pick out fakes in pictures (unless it is a bolt on neck, then it is obvious...or at least i would hope so). I write this to try to shed a little insight for those who may be in the market for buying a very expensive instrument. This is a bit of a price scale for different models that you will find on ebay(this is just an average for a non-vintage, or custom shop, re-issue, etc.. instrument)  Les Pauls: special $500-850, studio- $600-$1100, standard/classic/delux $1100-$2400, custom $1400-$3,000. Any other model ( jimmy page custom model etc...) will be higher, but thorough knowledge of gibsons should be on hand before diving in to that kind of investment. SG's: special $500-850, standard $800-1200, customs $1300-2500, '61 re-issue $1500-2000. Again, these price points are for run of the mill production line gibsons and do not include specialty models.

"AND MOST OF ALL!!!MOST REAL GIBSONS WILL NOT BE SENT FROM CHINA OR MOST ANY OTHER ASIAN COUNTRY", IF THEY ARE, THE SELLER WILL BE THOROUGH WHEN LISTING DETAILS.

 PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN BIDDING ON ONE OF THESE GUITARS, A REAL GIBSON CAN BE A WONDERFUL INVESTMENT AND A REAL TREAT, BUT A FAKE WILL CAUSE YEARS OF AGONY!!!