Need Help - real Universe or fake

frank.friess · #1 10-30-2006, 04:00 AM

Hello,

I just "won" a universe on eb..., but DID NOT pay yet.
I somehow have doubts about the origin of the guitar.
In the text it was announced as Ibanez Custom Shop painting. Named "Green leaves", for shure the guy meant "Green Leafs", but still I could not find any hint on the web about this finish. I asked Rich, and he (thanxs a lot) wrote me that he thinks it is not a original. Maybe someone in the forum has an idea about the background this guitar, maybe really a rare customshop, or just a repainted or faked guitar - The neck at least has the Universe logo. here´s a reference to 3 pics

http://www.lenafriess.de/pic3.jpg
http://www.lenafriess.de/pic2.jpg
http://www.lenafriess.de/pic1.jpg

Thanxs in advance
Frank

Petrucci · #2 10-30-2006, 04:10 AM

To me, it's a green-dot UV7BK that has been painted over. It's definitely a REAL universe, but whether it's a custom shop paint or not, i don't know... but i seriously doubt it is

Anyway, who cares? it's a real universe and rather nice looking IMHO.

Rich · #3 10-30-2006, 04:19 AM

The word "think" was never used

crevis · #4 10-30-2006, 05:02 AM

definatley a UV but i wouldnt pay for that paint job, looks horrible.

frank.friess · #5 10-30-2006, 05:05 AM

...mhm this leads to two new questions for me :
if it´s "only" a painted over UV7BK - is it really worth the 1400 bugs I actually offered for a ibanez "custom" shop...
and why is it painted over ...maybe some major cracks......hard to deceide without having the guitar in hands.
I told him to send me the serial. Could this help to identify it for a origin UV7BK ?

crevis · #6 10-30-2006, 05:12 AM

I think its a good price for any UV as long as its not trashed, this model is the only UV model ive seen people mod and alot people do for some reason.

I'd just refinish it in the original black.

Lefty Robb · #7 10-30-2006, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank.friess

...mhm this leads to two new questions for me :
if it´s "only" a painted over UV7BK - is it really worth the 1400 bugs I actually offered for a ibanez "custom" shop...
and why is it painted over ...maybe some major cracks......hard to deceide without having the guitar in hands.
I told him to send me the serial. Could this help to identify it for a origin UV7BK ?

you didnt seriously pay $1400 for that did you? even a regular OK condition BK is only worth like $1200 at most, heck I've seen some sell for under a $1000...

frank.friess · #8 10-30-2006, 06:06 AM

...well I did actually not pay at all yet.
and I officialy was biding the 1400$ for a CUSTOM SHOP guitar, not for a faked BK !
And who knows how trashed the thing was before painting, maybe there are some major problems hidden....

Ibateur · #9 10-30-2006, 06:27 AM

It could be an ultra-rare Universe...... proven by the fact that no one knows about it. That could also prove that it isn't official

Better get **** on the case and cancel your commitment. In hindsight you should have asked Rich or this forum before bidding 1400 big ones. Seeing that you're new (3 or 4 posts all in this thread) maybe you didn't know it yet. Welcome aboard in any case.

Lefty Robb · #10 10-30-2006, 10:03 AM

Rich has a really nice origional one for only $1200, which I think would be a much better deal because you know its been gone thru and setup with a fine tooth comb, and that the guitars legit. If it was a custom Ibanez painted by Ibanez, I would think there would be some documentation on it, and/or that Rich would know about it. IMO I think the paint job is horrible, and that if Ibby did do it, it would look a lot more professional, and not something Martha Stewart painted with house paints to go along with the fall foliage.

**jim777** · #11 10-30-2006, 10:04 AM

I think that's been up on the 'Bay before. Anyway, a Universe is a Vai Signature model, so unless it came directly from Steve, there aren't any 'custom UVs' out there. As in NONE. Custom 7's sure, some folks here on Jemsite even have a few, but not Universes. This isn't a 'rare Custom shop' guitar, or it wouldn't say Universe on it. It's a UV with a custom paint job, that could have been done by anyone.

jim

Lefty Robb · #12 10-30-2006, 10:07 AM

The only way I could see there being a custom shop UV, would be if the boys from Korn back in the day has some made up, but that would be documented and well known.

dannymills · #13 10-30-2006, 10:08 AM

I personally think the paint-job's sweet!!! Lovin that...

Easy peasy to sort this out if you don't want it, it was fraudulent if he said Custom Shop with no evidence.

Jeroenn · #14 10-30-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty Robb

you didnt seriously pay $1400 for that did you? even a regular OK condition BK is only worth like $1200 at most, heck I've seen some sell for under a $1000...

For european standards, that isn't too crazy.

If we buy a cheap priced from the states, we have to add import duties & taxes...

J