The Fake ESP Thread
The Fake ESP Thread
Pushead and I are here to help verify ESP and LTD guitars. If you have, or are looking to buy a guitar that you're unsure of, post pictures and questions in this thread. Please post clear pictures of the front and back of the headstock, the fretboard, and the front and back of the body. Preferably before you buy anything.
Anyone else is free to offer suggestions on authenticity. If you answer a post, please tell us why you think it's real or fake.
The Eclipse is legit from 2006. This is see-through black cherry. The darker part on the back of the head stock (and the corresponding light spot on the left side of the head stock) are the "wings" that are glued on to the main neck wood to make the head stock wide enough for the tuners. It saves wood. Otherwise you need to start with a neck blank that's as wide as the head stock. It's a very common practice in the industry.
Here's a Gibson from the late 50s doing the same thing.
2013 M-II
I was initially thrown off because I'm used to seeing these with black hardware, but it seems later models had the black nickle. In addition, the 'Made in Japan' sticker isn't the normal black with white background, however it does appear to match the old listing that Pro Music Tools has for the urban camo. Interestingly it also matches a 2013 E-II M-II Zebra's sticker that I found on Reverb.
Did they transition from SS to E-II mid year? It's strange I'm seeing a few other 2013 models without the new ESP font (which looked more like E-II), like the SV-II, but I've seen pictures of 2013 Eclipse II's with both the script and the new font, with the white sticker and this one. Very confusing!
The cases are different as well on both pictures, one with grey and the other black interior
two different Guitars as well
You're right
Actually the guy said he messed up picture. He said he sent me pictures of another ESP he wanted to buy. Now he sent this
Looks like legit guitar. He alos has the bill/invoice from the shop he bought it and sent me a scan of it.
Still why would he mess up the first pictures it's a bit fishy but I stalked his name afterward and he seems to be some random metallica fan.
So yeah idk I'm tempted because of the lower price but yeah ...
The guitar is legit. The serial number points to it being a 2002 model, but I can't remember whether the 602 existed at that point, or if they only offered the KH-502 at that point, which had dot inlays and skulls at the 12th. There were weird things happening with the serial numbers between 2000 and around 2003.
Here's one I'm not sure about. The only thing that throws me off is I'm not sure this color was available in 2006, as per the ESP catalog, unless this is what "see thru black cherry" or "amber cherry sunburst" looked like back then. Also, If I look at the pic of the back of the headstock, I think there's two pieces of wood (you can see on the right side), unless that's a shadow or something. I was told ESP standard series uses just a single piece to make up the headstock, is this correct? For all I know its all good. Just curious what you guys think.