Official Luthiers Forum!

I was at jam party Friday night and got to play all the Martin's, great fun and each one was an individual. You'd think you could just buy a Martin and be happy. I never was but there were a couple there that would have done it

I then looked at the hosts wall with two chibsons, a 12 and a six. I had played the 12 before and loved it so this time I tried the 6. I was in total awe and completely over dreds. This is definitely a fingerpickers guitar, which is where I'm at my best.

He told me he paid 500 each for them. They were the most decorated guitars I've ever seen. Just stunning. This got me thinking about purchasing such adornments from China. I mean, they must cost pennies as opposed to the stuff I normally look at. I don't care about fake vs real pearl, if it looks good it is good.

I want get my hands on those materials and I think Ali Express is the place. I've never bought anything there though. Anyone here use them?

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I bought a couple of cheap manual camera lenses (Risespray) from Ali with no problems, but be sure you know what you are getting, sometimes the adds don't make that clear. Ali Express is like the Chinese version of "Dollar Store meets Amazon" - they act as an intermediary for sellers of cheap goods. And be careful you are not buying knockoff contraband stuff that won't get through customs (Chibsons, etc.).
Chinese luthier suppliers (among others) on eBay sell shell products, both solid and reconstituted, and if you are careful you can find some deals there. The Oriental products often use shell that is typically much thinner than is used by occidental lutherie, so be sure to know all the dimensions of the materials.

Thanks Clay.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Time for me to get ugly...

Counterfeits are illegal to buy, sell, and own in the US. Customs agents will seize and destroy them as a matter of course. I would know - I bought a Les Paul that was GLORIOUS at an auction house, only to find out it was a Chibson. I got my money back, and called a friend in law enforcement. They grabbed it up. The auction house made a nasty phone call to me, but I told them to stick it. My cop pal said they sell fake Rolexes and other counterfeit items on the regular.

The reason the Chinese can sell them so cheaply, is the labor force is mostly slaves who live in dormitories at the plant. The CCP enslaved the Uyghurs (Chinese Muslims) to use as slaves, and to serve as spare parts for CCP members

I know it's not fun, but I couldn't help myself.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

and strangely while *edited* run their mouths about "reparations" they totally ignore the slavery, in it's many nasty forms, embedded in the present day. "they" go so far as to give nasty reviews about Sound of Freedom and refuse to support legislation increasing penalties for human trafficking...hopefully they have long shoe laces

Mainly out of curiosity, I have bought a few recent all-solid chinese Sigmas. I was very surprised to find that a quality was very high and each and every one sounded very good, even when factoring out the rock-bottom price. Great bargains if you ask me. But they are not fakes in any way, just copying successful designs… as many do. I can't help but wonder just WHO are the people making these. Obviously they are very skilled, very much unlike those working on Chibsons and those other blatant forgeries.


Pierre
Guitares Torvisse

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Pierre Castonguay

There are probably at least 50 ethnicities that are "Chinese", some of whom are fair skinned redheaded people.
I guess it's easy to cast the first stone, but be careful - you might hit an Indian (er...Native American )
If we all shared the world's resources more fairly we might not live as high on the hog but there would be fewer hungry people. We have conquered Nature but not-human nature.

I just got a new client in the shop the other day. Everything I do is word of mouth. He brought in a 1970 Les Paul Black Beauty with a great story. His dad took him to the music shop in 1970 and told him he could get a Fender Strat or a Gibson Les Paul. He chose the Paul and has had it ever since. The guitar had been refretted some time in it's life and needed a dressing. 53 years of family value in one purchase that is worth quite more today when he bought it. Something that he will pass down to the next gen in his family. A guitar that was built with pride and intent.

Just thought I'd share.

I've been following this thread under the assumption that 'Chibson' was a typo of some sort. Shows you how little attention I've been paying to the lower end of the market...

Sorry for wasting your time Alan !

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!