HELP please: FAKE or not?

[Gregman]

It's my new message on this forum, so first of all, hi everybody.
I have seen a jem 7v supposed to be Korean made (?) and I want to know your opinion about this.
The seller says that the guitar has:
- Edge Pro bridge
- Evolution pickups in all positions
- Fast neck
- Made in Korea, bought in United States in June 2008
- Same weight and sound (comparing to the original 7v)

Here are the pics:
http://img244.imageshack.us/my.php?i...7772927cs6.jpg
http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?i...6296246cl9.jpg
http://img392.imageshack.us/my.php?i...4819565ju9.jpg
http://img372.imageshack.us/my.php?i...3342884bb5.jpg

So, what do you think?

[funkdubious]

The pics look alright,certainly looks like a Jem 7v and not a chinese copy.Jem 7's aren't made in Korea though,so maybe he just made a mistake about it's origin

[Eco]

Ask for a picture of the back of the headstock showing the serial number.

If its Fxxxxx then he's just made a mistake about the origin, if it begins with anything else its probably a bit dodgy

[For_The_Love_Of_Jems]

That is not an edge pro bridge, it is a Lo Pro(or a copy of a Lo Pro). The gold finish looks worn on the tuners and the nut. I had mine for years, and it didn't get worn like that. It makes me suspicious.

I would say you should get more pictures with better close ups, then you can judge it better. Make sure you get pictures of the back head stock, body and handle.

[elcid]

Fake
Look at the screw on the top of the truss rod cover, its not centered, also the pole pieces dont appear to be gold. Try to get some better pics, but I'd avoid it completely.

Aslo he can give you an FXXXXX serial number, but that doesnt mean it's a valid number. All 7 Jems are Japaneses.

[GilkyBear]

The screws on the truss rod cover on my '93 are in the exact same places (but mine are gold). Looks like the real deal to me or they are getting very dangerously good at faking them.

[elcid]

Originally Posted by GilkyBear

The screws on the truss rod cover on my '93 are in the exact same places (but mine are gold).

Really? That looks terrible.

[GilkyBear]

Yeah, I don't think I have ever seen one in a different location. The pole pieces don't look very gold but they could just be tarnished and at least they are hollow poles on the PAFs. The middle coil is staggered. I think looking at the tarnisihing on the gold hardware that it is just an older model.

My vote goes for real.

[Gregman]

First of all, thanks everybody for the answers

I asked him and he said that the guitar is a korean replica, so It's not the real thing.
On the other hand, the description says that it has edge pro bridge, evolution pickups and a fast neck, bougth in the United States and he says that it sounds just as the original.
I'm confused. I asked him for new pics and information. I'll post all my impressions there as soon as possible.

[elcid]

Korean replica = fake

He can tell you it sounds like the real thing all he wants, bottom line is it's not the real thing and aside from legal issues, the quality isnt there

[JM5150]

Hard to tell from the pics if the last four frets are scalloped either....looks kinda fake to me

[Lefty Robb]

Man, if thats fake, thats the best looking one to date!! Lo-Pro, handle is correct, headstock looks good, eccept the IBANEZ logo should be gold as well has the truss rod screws I think. And yeah, the gold shouldn't wear off everything that fast, even the tuners, yikes.

Just need pics of the back.

Makes you wonder if were actually helping them by pointing out all the flaws so they can keep correcting them to make 'em look better.

[funkdubious]

Yeah,I was looking at it again and the Ibanez logo should be in gold,but maybe that's down to the photo.
I reckon the whole deal seems to be too complicated to make it worthwhile. These guitars aren't hard to find so maybe go for another

[Batchimp RG]

That pickguard looks weird to me....looks like he's gone to a lot of effort to make it look real.

[funkdubious]

More pics? the bay number 330256155727. This has been there a long time (or the pics have been lifted from the site)