Is this Gibson's archilles' heel?

Yep, it gets my wow!

I watched a YouTube video yesterday of a guy that had seven of these fake Chinese Gibson Les Paul's and that got me wondering just how many of these Chibson's, Chender's. Chickenbaker's, and P.R.S.CN's are around and how they are affecting the real guitar market.

The Chinese have zero respect for copyright and are the copy kings of the world in every field from cheese graters to Deere tractors. Oops, nearly forgot Rolex

It would seem Fender, for one, aren't fussed by the Chinese made fake Strat's and Tele's as they have their own fakes in Squier guitars, if you can't beat 'em - join 'em. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for Fender (anyway) the Fender copies are no where near up to it or as impressive as the Gibson copies are. Price point on a Chinese Stratocaster is only around $180 US compared to a Les Paul at $250-$300 US or more and the build cost of a Chibson may be a little less than the Chender hence more profit. Either way the Gibson copies are far more plentiful than any other brand copies and there has to be a reason for that.

What got me was the fact this YouTuber already had bought and had shipped seven instruments, sight unseen and for the price he paid he could have bought himself a real-deal genuine Gibson Les Paul or perhaps two second handies.

I love watching the un-boxings where a guy will take ten minutes to crack the packaging only to reveal the guitar and pull it to pieces, i.e. this doesn't line up and there is a flaw here and a blemish there, I'll replace the electrics... And then tell you they already have ordered another.

I came across a company receiving some kudos for breaking out of the fake market by making what is still a fake Les Paul but putting their own design headstock and logo/brand to it. When is a fake Mona Lisa not a fake? When it's in a different frame? Don't think so.

It would seem the quality of these counterfeit instrument's is still questionable although at first look they appear to be absolutely beautiful and one could be easily wowed. Just think, in six months time the chrome plating will be pitted, the pots will have become scratchy, you have had the tuners upgraded and the pickups. Your 300 buck special will have been blown out by double if not more to make it playable and your wife has told you "you will never buy another guitar".

I wish I had saved for that Gibson. Oh! too late, it's all over for Gibson thanks to YouTube man.