Shipment of Fake Guitars Seized

[madison]

A shipment from China of 85 fake Gibsons, Martins, Fenders, Kramers, and Taylors was recently seized at Dulles International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Some also had fake autographs, such as a Les Paul with a Slash autograph that would be valued at $8,000 if it were real. Other fake autographs were of Les Paul and Angus Young. The shipment was intended for addresses in 31 states. Agents worked with trademark holders to determine that they were fake.

This is the second shipment seized this year, which raises the question of how many shipments have made it through undetected and are now in the hands of players.

[rmp]

Originally Posted by madison

A shipment from China of 85 fake Gibsons, Martins, Fenders, Kramers, and Taylors was recently seized at Dulles International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Some also had fake autographs, such as a Les Paul with a Slash autograph that would be valued at $8,000 if it were real. Other fake autographs were of Les Paul and Angus Young. The shipment was intended for addresses in 31 states. Agents worked with trademark holders to determine that they were fake.

This is the second shipment seized this year, which raises the question of how many shipments have made it through undetected and are now in the hands of players.

Wow..

I guess I feel bad a bit for the owners who bought them and now won't see them, but in way, maybe I'm not feeling all that bad.

If people would stop buying them,... that would solve some of the problems.

[Tannin]

Really? A Les Paul signed by Angus? Wow!

Did they also have a Taylor signed by Tommy Emmanuel? An SG signed by BB King? A Leo Kottke Stratocaster?

Laughs aside, I'm glad they caught them.

[takamineGD93]

I think the rules are that you can import one for personal use (at least in europe) but 85 guitars is definitely for comercial use so I dont feel sorry for the importer.
Ok, some guy here on AGf has probably 85 guitars and could justify this order.

[madison]

Here's the article if you want to read it.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/trans...tion-officers/

[Robin, Wales]

The usual complaint on here is about the 100,000s of "fake" Martin, Taylor and Fender guitars coming out of Mexico every year!

[Blueser100]

Being from California I’d be really curious to know who those 10 addresses belong to who were waiting for the Chinese shipment of American guitars.

[Cecil6243]

Oh no this might explain all the issues I've had with my new Martin Sc-13e!

[Bax Burgess]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

The usual complaint on here is about the 100,000s of "fake" Martin, Taylor and Fender guitars coming out of Mexico every year!

That's naughty *and* funny.

[roylor4]

Originally Posted by Tannin

Really? A Les Paul signed by Angus? Wow!

Did they also have a Taylor signed by Tommy Emmanuel? An SG signed by BB King? A Leo Kottke Stratocaster?

Laughs aside, I'm glad they caught them.

Umm, no, he said other fake signatures were those of Les Paul and Angus Young. Even Chinese counter fitters probably know better than Angus playing an LP.

[RP]

I'm really glad that this shipment was intercepted by authorities....

[personatech]

Kramer??!!! Why?

[RustyMcdangles]

Been researching fakes for the last few hours, wow what a market. Makes me really nervous about my guitar purchases lol wild the replication that can be done.

[davenumber2]

Originally Posted by RustyMcdangles

Been researching fakes for the last few hours, wow what a market. Makes me really nervous about my guitar purchases lol wild the replication that can be done.

Buy from a reputable source and you won't have a problem. Most of them are pretty bad and if you know what you are looking for it's not hard to tell a real from fake.

[phcorrigan]

I know my 2012 Martin HD-28V is genuine because I just had to have the loose binding repaired!