Spotting a fake JEM

[sschultz242]

The company i work for has seen a few nice fake ibanez Jems in the past few years (I think three total). Now because i hate to get caught with my pants down, i would like to request some help. Does anyone have any idea's on exactly what to look for on these fakes?! The only reason i think my company found out was all three had the same serial number. Please throw me a bone guys!!

[D Carroll]

Check the quality of the trem.

[MV4824]

Where is the original model supposed to be from?

I found this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-RG-560-Made-In-Japan-1987-RG560_W0QQitemZ310082950520QQcmdZViewItem?hash=ite m310082950520&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14#ht_1453wt_0

It's from Japan.. also, look at the serial number:

http://i18.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/04/d0/b1c7_35.JPG

[D Carroll]

I have never seen an Ibanez use a sticker...

[FrThib]

My ibanez pro540r had a sticker for the serial. I bought her new in 1987-1988. I still got the guitar, but the sticker serial is long gone

[MV4824]

I have never seen an Ibanez use a sticker...

That's all for the better of picking out the reals from the fakes then!

[StratGuy22]

There are stickers on the RG550's, but I think the serial numbers are stamped on the neck plate on the Ibanez Jems.

[Jay @ Ibanez]

Hello HC Members!
My name is Jay. I am a Hoshino USA employee and I just wanted to point out a few common features that scream counterfeit. Here goes...

The size, shape and location of the MonkeyGrip is usually a dead giveaway.
Example: This cutout is much too close to the edge of the body, and is slightly higher than the real thing.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000172.jpg

The overall design and quality of the locking nut and tremolo.
Example #1: The string retainer bar is much too close to the locking nut.
Example #2: Wrong color retainer bar and there is too much gap between the lock nut and the bar.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban0800054.jpg
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000134.jpg

Hardware color is incorrect.
Example #1: The pole pieces in the middle single coil pick up should be silver, not gold. And the control knobs should be white plastic hat-style knobs, not gold metal dome knobs.
Example #2: Chrome hardware? Haha. All wrong. (Also, note the dot inlays and "Steve Vai" inlay at the 24th fret. The JEM7VWH does not feature either of these markings.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban0800053.jpg
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000602.jpg

JEM Jr headstock logo (JEM555) on knock-off JEM7VWH.
Example: Look close! It says Jem Jr.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000342.jpg

Hopefully these examples will help potential buyers differentiate real from fake. Generally, if the price seems too good to be true, it usually is. Just use common sense! Also, many times the gold color hardware is too yellow or not gold enough, which is an indication of inconsistent, low quality counterfeit guitars.

Also, real Ibanez JEM models will ALWAYS have a serial number that begins with an "F" from the Fuji factory. Many counterfeiters have realized this and now use an F in their serial numbers, but if its anything other than an F, it is most likely fake. (With the exception of REAL JEM555's which were made in Korea).

When in doubt, contact us! http://www.ibanez.com/contact/
If its online, the best thing to do is send us an email with a link to pictures. We can usually verify its authenticity just by a quick look.

Best,
Jay
Ibanez Guitars
Hoshino USA Inc.


PS: CheapGuitarCenter.com and CheapGuitarCenter.net are both counterfeit websites. Do not give them the business. Don't even bother clicking their websites! Their pictures were used only for illustrative purposes.

[mondaymonkey]

Hello HC Members!
My name is Jay. I am a Hoshino USA employee and I just wanted to point out a few common features that scream counterfeit. Here goes...

The size, shape and location of the MonkeyGrip is usually a dead giveaway.
Example: This cutout is much too close to the edge of the body, and is slightly higher than the real thing.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000172.jpg

The overall design and quality of the locking nut and tremolo.
Example #1: The string retainer bar is much too close to the locking nut.
Example #2: Wrong color retainer bar and there is too much gap between the lock nut and the bar.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban0800054.jpg
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000134.jpg

Hardware color is incorrect.
Example #1: The pole pieces in the middle single coil pick up should be silver, not gold. And the control knobs should be white plastic hat-style knobs, not gold metal dome knobs.
Example #2: Chrome hardware? Haha. All wrong. (Also, note the dot inlays and "Steve Vai" inlay at the 24th fret. The JEM7VWH does not feature either of these markings.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban0800053.jpg
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000602.jpg

JEM Jr headstock logo (JEM555) on knock-off JEM7VWH.
Example: Look close! It says Jem Jr.
http://www.cheapguitarcenter.net/images/iban08000342.jpg

Hopefully these examples will help potential buyers differentiate real from fake. Generally, if the price seems too good to be true, it usually is. Just use common sense! Also, many times the gold color hardware is too yellow or not gold enough, which is an indication of inconsistent, low quality counterfeit guitars.

Also, real Ibanez JEM models will ALWAYS have a serial number that begins with an "F" from the Fuji factory. Many counterfeiters have realized this and now use an F in their serial numbers, but if its anything other than an F, it is most likely fake. (With the exception of REAL JEM555's which were made in Korea).

When in doubt, contact us! http://www.ibanez.com/contact/
If its online, the best thing to do is send us an email with a link to pictures. We can usually verify its authenticity just by a quick look.

Best,
Jay
Ibanez Guitars
Hoshino USA Inc.


PS: CheapGuitarCenter.com and CheapGuitarCenter.net are both counterfeit websites. Do not give them the business. Don't even bother clicking their websites! Their pictures were used only for illustrative purposes.


:lol::wave:

I wish we could have someone like this always respond to our questions

[Jay @ Ibanez]

I would be more than happy to respond to any questions the forum members might have. Because I have our own Ibanez Forum to monitor daily, I don't get over here much, so if there is a question that you would like my input on, please hop on over to our home forum at http://forum.ibanez.com/ and simply send a PM with a link to the thread here on Harmony Central. My screen name is IBANEZ.

Regards,
Jay

[RiseToRuin]

I can spot em a mile away from just the trem. Any of them I've seen have a Floyd knock off, and not an Ibanez EDGE.

[Joe Neal]

Screw placement on the pickguard is almost always an easy way to tell.

[jmeager]

great tips here guys, thanks. I really avoided a nasty surprise on eBay thanks to these!!

[Lost_Cause]

I am trying to identify on on St Louis CL. It looks fake. It is a JEM 77FP but the hardware looks chrome and the other stuff looks right. Trying to get correspondence. I will post when I get them.

[Schwarzwind]

i Believe real JEM7VWH paint wont yellow overtime.

with that said, forget buying JEM7WVH's and buy either My JEM90HAM, JEM10TH or JEM20TH.

those wont be replicated anytime soon.

:cop:

[aliensporebomb]

It's not limited to JEMs, I've even seen an fake Ibanez Artist knockoff:
the body shape was all wrong, it had a Kahler surface mount bridge
(a far cry from the gibraltar/cloud tailpiece) and the hardware was total
bunk.

[HTSamurai]

I can spot em a mile away from just the trem. Any of them I've seen have a Floyd knock off, and not an Ibanez EDGE.


heh, i was gonna post this but decided to look and see if anyone had already done so.
yeah ive seen one with a licensed floyd knock off, not even an original one they went with licensed l:facepalm:

[308sc]

The color of the fine tuners is a good thing to look for, they should be black.

[bvr775]

as per my personal experience i have both with stickers and stamps.i thinck it just different form plant to plant .i think before 86 they just made up random numbers..

thanx for the info jay..as an ibanez collector it of much use to me

[Robotechnology]

The all access neck joint is also wrong as well. A GC by me actually got taken and have a counterfeit up as a real Jem (and they didn't know it).