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.
Doubts unfortunately still not leave me alone, what a rabbit hole! In short:I measured the values of the pick-ups with a multimeter and it seems that the emg-81 microphones in the ltd do not have an internal protection diode against the wrong polarity. This suggests that they are not genuine. I have emg 81 and 85 I acquired earlier in 1999 to my Ibanez, which give the relevant values.
Before I start sending wiring diagrams and other pictures here,maybe is it better choice create a new thread for this pick-up case,named like "The Fake EMG Thread"?
Values are measured directly from the battery connector:
Resistance (meter selector resistance range):
Ibanez:EMG81/85
+9V -> Gnd : about MegaOhm (value is correct because diode is series with 2x178 kOhms resistors)
Gnd -> +9V: open-circuit (because the diode).
ESP LTD EMG81/81
+9V -> Gnd : 178kOhm (meter "see" now the pure 178kOhm because there is no serial diode)
Gnd -> +9V: same as above.
Diode Test (meter selector "Diode" position)
Ibanez:
+9V -> Gnd: OL (OL means same as open circuit)
Gnd -> +9V: OL
ESP LTD
+9V - Gnd OL
Gnd -> +9V: 0.6 V , looks like the diode short-circuits in this direction!! So battery is short-circuited if it is tried to connect a wrong way.
I think the internal structure of the (fake?) preamplifier IC causes that short-circuit. In older 81/85 mics the preamplifier is probably the LM4250, which is SERIES with protection diode.
It would be very interesting to see what values others get measured. The measurement is very easy to do: the resistance and diode threshold are measured from the battery connector with a multimeter. The original or at least older models should not have that "short circuit" or crowbar diode.
Hey! I have been tested them separately too, the power consumption matches exact the specs (80 uA / pickup), they looks exactly the same as the originals (gold-plated connectors, dimensions and shapes including casting).
I tested them also on the guitar by connecting a 100 ohm current limiting resistor in series with the -9V batt (reversed voltage), the measured current was 74 mA (37 mA/pickup) and voltage over pickups was 1.5V.
unfortunately I remember after this procedure that that usually the preamplifier contains esd protection diodes which can cause the measurement result. Their maximum allowable current is in the range of 1-10 mA, and I began to suspect that the preamplifier may have been damaged due to excessive measurement current.I next made a series of measurements for both pickups separately, now at a lower current (0.4 - 1 mA), and the values of both pickups were exactly the same, which would indicate that everything is fine.But when I compared ibanez and ltd (both type 81), ltd sounds quieter and maybe less volume than before. Ibanez sounds louder and clearly more dynamic, even though it has dirty and worn strings.
I asked the emg service and they answered:
"...There have been slight changes to the PCB layout and components over the years,...but nothing that would affect the tone or output...".
I believe the pickups are genuine and the protection mechanism has been changed, which is now reflected in the measurements. it is hard to believe that the serial diode in older pickups would have been replaced now by a short circuit alone, which would makes the pickups very prone to fault against reverse polarity.
I will continue to investigate. I have still been able to resist the temptation to do an autopsy for the pickup.
Based on the above information, it can be concluded that:
1)Either the EMG has made changes to the internal protection as shown in the measurements, or 2)The pickups are fakes, and the counterfeiter has not understood the internal esd protection of the operational amplifier, which causes a short circuit when power is connected in the wrong direction. This would be confirmed by simply opening the device, but it destroys the pickup.
I found one video,where a youtuber broke up a chinese copy and it really doesn't seem to have a protection diode at all. But this copy also differs externally from the original EMG (location of the connector, no gold-plated connectors, and no dent in one corner of the epoxy casting (which caused by the hole in the corner of the circuit board) which can be seen in the originals. But, maybe chinese counterfeiters are evolved, and now it is impossible to distinguish genuine from counterfeiting other than by electronic measurements?
Hi!
I'm about to buy a Vintage Plus strat and I believe it looks like the real deal. However, I'm curious about the model since it's not exactly like the ones I can find in the 2008 catalog. It's not distressed and it has Sperzel locking tuners and not the Gotoh Magnum Lock. It should be a 2008 according to the serial number. Did ESP make Vintage Plus in non-distressed finish with Sperzel tuners in 2008?
Best,
Peter Ledin
Peter, it is a legit 2008 Vintage Plus. The 2008 catalog shows it as an aged model, but all of the specs will be the same. I wouldn't worry that the catalog only shows aged models for the year. 2008 Catalog
Bogdan, it's a legit 2011 Eclipse II in see through black. I have one that's similar from 06, I think.
Yes, I can play the guitar without any problems, the displacement of the strings is practically insignificant. Maybe at some point I'll buy to a higher quality tremolo because
the guitar strings easily pop out, unless the screws are tightened very hard. This is very annoying.
Thank you so much for your effort, Pushead, I greatly appreciate your knowledge!