How to spot a fake guitar on eBay

Most fake guitars give themselves away before you ever hold them: the price, the seller and the photos tell you most of what you need. Here's what to check, and what Guitar Value checks for you.

Red flags in the listing

• The price is too good. A genuine guitar rarely sells 35% or more under the going rate. Fakes and scams are priced to look like the bargain of the year. We compare every listing with the same model in the same condition and warn on anything 35%+ under.
• Words like "style", "type", "copy", "replica" or "inspired by". These aren't the real thing. We remove them, along with kits, "partscasters" and guitars sold for spares or repair.
• A new seller, or very little feedback. A first listing that's a £2,000 Les Paul is a classic scam pattern. We flag sellers with under 10 feedback or under 97% positive.
• Stock photos, or only the front. Ask for photos of the back of the headstock with the serial number, the neck joint or heel, the control cavity, the truss rod cover and the case.
• Shipped from abroad at a UK price. A "new" Gibson or Martin posted from overseas well under UK prices is a common pattern for counterfeits.
• Pressure to pay outside eBay. A bank transfer or a "friends and family" payment loses eBay's Money Back Guarantee. Never do it.

Red flags on the guitar

• The headstock. Fake Gibsons often have a headstock that's too narrow, a logo in the wrong place or font, and a truss rod cover held by the wrong number of screws. Fake Fenders often have a decal that's too thick, crooked or in the wrong font for the year.
• The serial number. It should fit the maker's format for that model and year, and be stamped or printed the way the maker does it. Look it up in the maker's serial guide.
• The neck joint. A Les Paul or SG neck is glued in; a bolt-on neck on a "Gibson" is a fake. A Fender neck should have a neck plate with a serial on most models.
• The hardware and electronics. Cheap unbranded tuners, pickups and pots, a cavity with messy wiring or a light, thin feel all point to a copy.
• The case and paperwork. Cases and certificates are faked too, so a case alone doesn't prove anything, but a mismatched or generic case is a reason to ask more questions.

If in doubt

Buy from an established shop or a seller with a long feedback history, ask for the photos above, and have the guitar checked by a guitar tech or the maker before the return window closes. Pay through eBay so you're covered if it turns out not to be genuine.