Chinese knock off ESPs

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

Has anyone had any real experience with these hetfield replica guitars? Part of me says I can probably fix whatever is jacked up on it, another part of me says its polishing a turd. They're called "Rare and peerless" they do look really cool. Any thoughts?

Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:57 pm

You get what you pay for Wink

Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 421 Location: Northern Arizona

It will probably sound horrible and fall apart

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6629 Location: Minnesota

Comes with free Avian Flu.

Joined: 28 Apr 2011 Posts: 1737 Location: in the past

youre probably better off getting an edwards model. more expensive but its all esp quality

Joined: 07 May 2012 Posts: 357 Location: Hellhole

Screw the knock-offs.. Wait for an authentic to pop-up on eBay (they do periodically) or go with the Edwards.. You'll be kicking yourself if you get the knock-off and a real deal pops up!

Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1370 Location: Lutz, Fl.

Padreblue11 wrote:

Screw the knock-offs.. Wait for an authentic to pop-up on eBay (they do periodically) or go with the Edwards.. You'll be kicking yourself if you get the knock-off and a real deal pops up!

I can't comment on the ESP copies, but I can the Gibson (Fibson) copies. The one I held was just awful. It wouldn't pass quality control in an Epiphone factory by a long shot. The neck was almost like a 2X4, and the action was terrible. Not to mention all the parts were very questionable as far as their quality.

I read where some guys say their Fibsons are on par with Epiphones, but they also say that while trying to sell them. Don't buy into it, and just don't buy it. You are better off buying any LTD model, and adding pickups to it.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12252 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

i find it difficult to believe they are turds. Everyone who says they are usually have not played one. I find it difficult to think that all of them suck. there would be alot of terrible guitars out there and alot more complaints on the internet. most people that have the bad reviews are just saying they are bad for the sake of saying they are bad or to fake people into not buying them. I have heard good experiences from the knock off guitars but yet to play one. but who knows. they all look good in the pics and in the youtube videos.

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

I think it's odd that they're not showing up used. You would think if they sucked out loud someone would try to unload theirs after they get it.

The one i'm looking at is the "EET %$#@!". This guitar has the middle finger inlays and cool headstock shape. As far as I know you cant get these legit without an expensive custom order, and ESP wont do the inlays.

I wouldnt be able to even think about getting one until after tax time, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any real experience. I can assume it's crap too, and it probably is. I'm sure the ones that have ESP inlaid at the end of the fretboard are total junk. (someone must've thought ESP's fretboard protector was an inlay) lol.

If I could have a reasonable facsimile of that iconic guitar with an electronics swap and some fretwork....well then I might be in for a couple hundred.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12252 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

Powerglide350 wrote:

I think it's odd that they're not showing up used. You would think if they sucked out loud someone would try to unload theirs after they get it.

The one i'm looking at is the "EET %$#@!". This guitar has the middle finger inlays and cool headstock shape. As far as I know you cant get these legit without an expensive custom order, and ESP wont do the inlays.

I wouldnt be able to even think about getting one until after tax time, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any real experience. I can assume it's crap too, and it probably is. I'm sure the ones that have ESP inlaid at the end of the fretboard are total junk. (someone must've thought ESP's fretboard protector was an inlay) lol.

If I could have a reasonable facsimile of that iconic guitar with an electronics swap and some fretwork....well then I might be in for a couple hundred.

you cant sell them. its against the law. that is why no one is unloading them.

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

BLOODROOT wrote:

Powerglide350 wrote:

I think it's odd that they're not showing up used. You would think if they sucked out loud someone would try to unload theirs after they get it.

The one i'm looking at is the "EET %$#@!". This guitar has the middle finger inlays and cool headstock shape. As far as I know you cant get these legit without an expensive custom order, and ESP wont do the inlays.

I wouldnt be able to even think about getting one until after tax time, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any real experience. I can assume it's crap too, and it probably is. I'm sure the ones that have ESP inlaid at the end of the fretboard are total junk. (someone must've thought ESP's fretboard protector was an inlay) lol.

If I could have a reasonable facsimile of that iconic guitar with an electronics swap and some fretwork....well then I might be in for a couple hundred.

you cant sell them. its against the law. that is why no one is unloading them.

Oh that would explain it then lol. So if it's firewood.....it's really worthless.

Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 349 Location: South-West Ohio

wait... are you talking about LTD's or illegal knock off'a that say "ESP" on them but aren't made by ESP?

FWIW - LTD's are AWESOME!

Joined: 25 Dec 2004 Posts: 1949 Location: NY

I'm talking about the bogus ones. Copies,fakes,bootlegs,knock offs etc lol

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10593 Location: Canada

People somehow get the idea counterfeiters reverse engineer and make something "exactly" like the original, or even get the official foreign factory to make some "extra" to be sold off on the side...

Silly people. Counterfeiters make something as cheap as possible to sell, usually to the uninformed. They make things to look good, not BE good.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12252 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

id be happy if the fake gibbys were just epiphones with a gibson headstock. Alot of the $500 epiphones sound and play nicer than the $2k plus Gibsons. Its the ugly frippin epiphone headstock that keeps them from selling guitars these days.

If I had a bar, I'd prolly buy one and find out. If it sucked Id hang it on the wall in the bar as a decoration or something. If it was ok, id rock it out. I have no bar and no reason to chance $300 or so bux to chance it though.

Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 4140 Location: southern ohio

A buddy of mine has gotten 3 of the Les Pauls from trade tang, and a fake Charvel. I put pick ups and did a set up on one of the les pauls, The electronics sucked ass in it, but it did have epi branded pick ups in it. After a good set up and a little fret dressing it played really well. Inside the cavities the wood looked good and the routing was good, not sloppy at all.

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10593 Location: Canada

Most likey fake branded pickups too...

Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 1370 Location: Lutz, Fl.

Armitage wrote:

Most likey fake branded pickups too...

I saw a fake Zakk Wylde Fibson that had fake branded EMG pickups. I'm not even kidding. The whole guitar was so fake, yet...... it faked out the guy who owned the guitar shop. I'd hate to think what he paid for it because he was trying to sell it for $1700. I told the guy who worked there that might be a touch illegal/unethical, and he agreed with me. But the feeling that I got was that everything I said to him, he had said to the owner.

But I want to make two points. My first is that yes, these fake guitars do hurt people. I know some people say that they don't hurt Gibson, but I've seen a couple of people buy fakes thinking they were real, and that hurts them.

Point #2. Yes, fake branded pickups. But at least they were very badly marked.

Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 4140 Location: southern ohio

Yes, It is bad when someone gets taken by these, I hate a thief....the buddy of mine that gets them he will never sell them, he never sells anything...lol

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5603 Location: phoenix az.

I made the mistake few years back of buying a gibby explorer from china.in the pic looked just like a gibson but when it arrived i was less than pleased.the playability wasnt that bad but the body wasnt shaped exactly right.the pick gaurd was off the headstock was overly wide.the pickups sucked and every screw on the guitar was crooked not to mention the wood grain was hideous looked like it was made out of a pallet.it was supposed to have 3 knobs and only had 2 and not in the right place.it was not the guitar in the picture.they wanted almost as much as i paid for the guitar to ship it back.ill never buy a gibson from china again!I had to do alato work on it to get it sell-able.and when i did i told the guy it was a replica.

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5603 Location: phoenix az.

I made the mistake few years back of buying a gibby explorer from china.in the pic looked just like a gibson but when it arrived i was less than pleased.the playability wasnt that bad but the body wasnt shaped exactly right.the pick gaurd was off the headstock was overly wide.the pickups sucked and every screw on the guitar was crooked not to mention the wood grain was hideous looked like it was made out of a pallet.it was supposed to have 3 knobs and only had 2 and not in the right place.it was not the guitar in the picture.they wanted almost as much as i paid for the guitar to ship it back.ill never buy a gibson from china again!I had to do alato work on it to get it sell-able.and when i did i told the guy it was a replica.You will definetly be rolling the dice look on youtube!some are nice some are hideous!

Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 36

It says Hetfield on it anyway which is enough reason for me to want to smash it into a million pieces Laughing

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10593 Location: Canada

My biggest problem with counterfeit guitars is there is always someone out there who will try and sell it as the real thing. I can see the appeal for a 14 year old kid to buy a counterfeit Les Paul, he wants a guitar just like his fav rock star plays and obviously cannot afford one, so a $300 look alike can seem really cool. And even if he doesn't ever plan on selling it... people always do. And even if he is honest enough to tell the next guy it's a counterfeit, it doesn't mean the next guy isn't going to try to cash in on the name on the headstock to somebody.

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4251 Location: Derry, N Ireland

Armitage wrote:

My biggest problem with counterfeit guitars is there is always someone out there who will try and sell it as the real thing. I can see the appeal for a 14 year old kid to buy a counterfeit Les Paul, he wants a guitar just like his fav rock star plays and obviously cannot afford one, so a $300 look alike can seem really cool. And even if he doesn't ever plan on selling it... people always do. And even if he is honest enough to tell the next guy it's a counterfeit, it doesn't mean the next guy isn't going to try to cash in on the name on the headstock to somebody.

Very well put!

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 5457 Location: White Haven,Pa

Armitage wrote:

My biggest problem with counterfeit guitars is there is always someone out there who will try and sell it as the real thing. I can see the appeal for a 14 year old kid to buy a counterfeit Les Paul, he wants a guitar just like his fav rock star plays and obviously cannot afford one, so a $300 look alike can seem really cool. And even if he doesn't ever plan on selling it... people always do. And even if he is honest enough to tell the next guy it's a counterfeit, it doesn't mean the next guy isn't going to try to cash in on the name on the headstock to somebody.

You see alot of this with Zakk Wylde guitars.I see tons of fakes that people are trying to get big $$ for.

Joined: 30 Nov 2003 Posts: 10593 Location: Canada

White JEMs too. They're all over.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12252 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

Armitage wrote:

White JEMs too. They're all over.

Oh man. these things have flooded the market really bad. I see them all over. Saw a couple fake gibbys on ebay too going for high dollars.

I would be content to pick up a fake gibby in the 400 - 500 dollar range and it not say gibson on it. Just one with the body and headstock made out of good wood would be cool to me. its all the other brands I cant stand that make a single cut. I hate all the dean single cuts, hate prs, I like Esp alo but hate emgs and the 3 nobs is Great. the volume nobs are backwards of the pickups. just a good replica without the gibby name would be cool. Some of the crapiphones are actually decent but the god aweful headstock ruins the entire guitar.