I came across these new Epiphone guitars several times.
these guitar have "LUXXXXXX" serial numbers, which if i check via Guitar Dater Project...doesn't register.
I've seen 3 models of these LU guitars (LP Standard, LP Custom, and LP Black Beauty).
from what I can gather, these guitars are made in Indonesia and the serial LU is supposed to mean (Licensed by Unsung). A Korean Epi made in Indonesia?

here's some pics of a Black Beauty LP:











here's the pickups from a Black Beauty LP:





I've personally tried a few of these guitars and they do play and feel better than an MIC LP.
and the hardware, paint job, and finishing seems legit.
so I guess my question is...are these guitars real Epis? (maybe factory samples or mock up units...or maybe pre-final finishing guitars and was meant for the European and Korean markets) or just real good counterfeits?

This post has been edited by Ryo: Dec 22 2009, 09:41 PM

who's the seller ?

(normally that answers more question , than posting up pictures)

Looks like the pictures belong to the seller . whats the link to his website ?

fyi, samick indonesia also makes epiphones, and their serials start with SI.
tho why this is a "licensed by unsung" just doesnt make much sense, as i dont think unsung has the rights to license out the epiphone trademark...so makes one wonder which indonesian factory its licensed too.
doesnt look fake tho...the fonts etc all seem to line up...the pickups tho should have epiphone imprinted on the bottom...and if not mistaken should have grovers nowadays...

as to if its a korean market only product...well epiphones arent exactly expensive there...so wont make sense to do a cheaper licensed product...

right now, my guess is unsung has lost epiphone manufacturing rights...and are pirating the guitars
guess have to wait and see if these are actually authorised copies or not.

no website unfortunately. the pickup pics i picked up from a Indonesian forum post. the guitar pics are emailed to me by the seller, who is actually a friend's friend in Indonesia.
and he claims that he got his stock straight from the factory. i'll ask for more details.
I'm thinking maybe these could be prototype guitars which are leaked by the factory? kinda like an ES processor or something like that maybe?


The SI series do have Epiphone imprinted on the guitar's pickups...these guitars do not, but there are Indonesian Epiphones which pickups are plain like these LU guitars.
Also, on the LU...the bridge has an imprint that says "SUNG-IL KOREA". Similar to an MIK Epi.
maybe there's some truth on unsung maybe pirating these guitars....who knows

This post has been edited by Ryo: Dec 22 2009, 11:45 PM

Forgot where I read this.

But they say that you can tell if it's a real Epiphone by the Epiphone wordings.

I think the original Epiphones, it's not really at the center.

The 3rd picture, the screw job look messy.

As for the tuning knobs, (this might require Gapnap or Deadeye to help clarfiy), the older Epiphones are like that whereas the newer ones are rounder (same like the standard Les Pauls).

And I don't think the diamond on the headstock should makan into the rod cover.

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Added on December 23, 2009, 1:31 amThis is the newer versions
http://epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=51&CollectionID=6

Older version
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Les-P...290-i1149989.gc

Check the headstock picture, notice that Gibson.

And I noticed one more thing,
the picture with the headstock, the bottom part (the white thingy before the fret). Notice that the thing which says Les Paul Custom "overlaps" it.

This post has been edited by jasontantenghuat: Dec 23 2009, 01:31 AM

well i'm not sure bout the machine heads, coz the older Epi LP Custom uses those

and like wut jasontan said, i dont tink the diamond shud goes into the truss rod cover too

some of the older epi's the diamond does meet the TRC, which gives more weight that unsung korea are using their old blueprints and pirating them
even some guys in mylespaul and gibson forums are calling it a fake.

interestingly, there is someone in garage sales selling one.
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1242104

This post has been edited by Everdying: Dec 23 2009, 11:52 AM

All this open market products ..buy license can make already type ..
..go play with themselves lah ..

You should check out Ibanez Les Paul , 2010 ...this babies are gonna release on March 2010..reach Bentley? probably mid June .
And it is wayyy cheaper .








This post has been edited by gapnap: Dec 23 2009, 12:31 PM

ive seen some of these on sale in soft as well. price-wise cheaper than usual. doubtful looking

top looks flat?
body thinner?

i think we've established so far that these guitar are designed based on the old korean Epis.
possibly Unsung is pirating and dumping em into the open market.
but do you guys think that these Epis are fakes?
coz fakers in general would modify the serial numbers just to cover up their tracks...
i mean if an average joe is buying a guitar, first thing he/she will spot is the serial number and will cross check it with guitar dater project or similar sites.
clearly it won't match up, but they decided anyways to put these "LUXXXXXX" serials on em.
it's easier for the luthiers or factories or whatever to change em and register the guitars since it's not going to be that difficult (ie. serial number generators or something of the sort?).
but they didn't...
are they trying to make a point or something?
coz from the way i see it, these Epis are better quality and cheaper guitars than their MIC counterparts and maybe they want you to know that.
or possibly, these Epis are the real thing and we will see these LUXXXXXX serials used in the future, the moment these guitars will be official.

whether they're authorized or not, i would rather buy some indonesian brand like radix instead.
btw, one thing thats bugged me about the serial number and i just realised it.
that is also the old way of serial numbering, and epiphone do not use that kinda serial pattern anymore.
so its pretty obvious this guitar has never gotten any info update from epiphone.
and it cant possibly be cheaper than china if it was authorised, as it is a controlled item.
even indonesian made samick epiphones are the same price as the china ones.

so right now, lets modify my stance abit until proven wrong.
i say its a disgruntled ex-employee of unsung whos pirating it and wants to get unsung in trouble

This post has been edited by Everdying: Dec 23 2009, 08:56 PM

We should show the seller this thread

OMG DEADEYE! ITS EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE I ASKED YOU ABOUT. HAHAHAHAHA

i dont tink even bentley will have this, probably not available in Malaysia. alot of Ibanez guitars Malaysia dont have

Once those Ibanez LPs reach Malaysia, Bentley probably would jack their prices...no?

yes. lol

that ibanez is a pretty decent guitar.
it may look like a les paul, but it of cos wont sound like one.
compared to real lp...it has pretty light body, feels around 3kg...thin neck...thinner body...flatter top.
but of cos it does feel more comfortable.

if only it was more like the art100

So does anyone, still have any feedbacks on this Unsung/Korean/IDK made Epiphone?
Idk about it, but it looks very dodgy to me. especially the headstock. havent tried one out yet though

when in doubt, ask a dealer like menuetto music or sweelee or even gibson themselves

tho gibson cust service with epiphone stuff wont be able to tell much, unless of cos its an actual gibson.

wow that ibanez LP shape looks cool, better than the art model everdying posted. but i dont really like the headstock.

wait2, is it the same model?

This post has been edited by ghoster: Dec 31 2009, 03:20 PM

I think the genuine Korean made Epiphones are ok. My ex bandmate has the black custom and it sounds and feels great. Only prob is that fella never maintain so fungus appeared everywhere

@blacktrix.
pls do something bout this thread.
http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1242104

http://www.kaskus.us/showthread.php?p=150083763
its an indo forum, from what i understand they all say its fake...i mean if own country also say its fake...then what other proof u need?

also one of them emailed gibson.



This post has been edited by Everdying: Jan 8 2010, 02:43 AM

Selling at RM2500... that guy trying to pull a fast one.

well the seller now is taking pre-orders for more of the same, and then going to indo to collect them.

and the best thing is hes contradicting his story.


so meaning it should NOT come with the above mentioned as hes smuggling them out from the factory, but somehow its all included...
so how is that done? fake?

Done and done.
Seller also previously said that this was a gift from his parents that he didn't use.......Yet now he can bring in more......
FISHY.

This post has been edited by blacktrix: Jan 8 2010, 05:48 AM

I dare not look at the back of my Epiphone's headstock.... after it's LU... I cry

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Added on January 10, 2010, 10:41 pmEE is certified ar?

This post has been edited by jasontantenghuat: Jan 10 2010, 10:41 PM