It was just a matter of time before counterfeiters began bootlegging famous brand guitars. Super copies are generally knockoffs of designer products whose quality is high enough to regularly fool employees of the companies they’re ripping off. The largest producer of counterfeit goods is China, but South Korea is a close second, where so-called “super copies” are being made. The problem, however, has accelerated quickly since 1997. Counterfeit Nike sneakers, Gucci handbags, name brand perfume, Rolex watches, all manner of designer clothing, DVDs, CDs and so much more, have permeated the European and American markets since the 1970s. Counterfeit Gibson guitars confiscated from Bernard Musumeci.Īsian counterfeiting is a widespread and unquestionably illegal activity, and it’s not just guitars. Musumeci claimed he never knew the guitars were fakes. Due to his obesity, Musumeci was arraigned outside the Suffolk County courthouse. Police confiscated 33 guitars from Musumeci’s home and store. 1, 2007 issue of Music Trades, it was reported that Bernard Musumeci, owner of Oakdale Music in Oakdale, N.Y., was arrested and charged by Suffolk County Police with second-degree trademark counterfeiting after he allegedly purchased $20,000 worth of bogus Gibsons from a dealer on eBay. Marshall remarked, “In this case involving Gibson guitars, one young musician even had his dream of owning what was to him the perfect guitar ruined by finding what he had bought was a fake.” In the Dec. Federal News Service, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine F. Sexton plead guilty to two counts, was sentenced to 45 days in jail, 18 months of unsupervised probation, was fined $250 and ordered to pay his victims $2,700 in restitution. Sexton, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of criminal use of a counterfeit trademark, after selling fake Gibson guitars to unsuspecting victims, including a 15-yearold boy who had saved money to buy his first Les Paul. Where they come from In March 2007, a North Carolina man, Steve F. We have people scouring the Internet all the time looking for guys like him.” Several days later, S**** re-posted an ad for a fake Les Paul, and again, Gibson managed to have it removed. We shut S**** down right after you spoke with him. According to Ric Olsen, Gibson’s Manager of Brand Protection, “We know all about that guy. At least S**** honestly referred to the instruments as Asian replicas.
BURNY GUITAR REVIEW FULL
Touchy, wasn’t he? Perhaps it was because he knew full well that he was selling an illegally bootlegged instrument. With that, S**** of Garwood, New Jersey, slammed the phone down. “I take it you don’t want to be interviewed?”
“That you’re doing an article on these guitars.” I’m doing an article on counterfeit guitars and wondered if I could ask you a few questions.” “Hello, is this S****? I’m from Premier Guitar magazine and I called a few days ago and left a message. Here’s how it went down, word for word, when I finally got him on the phone. I learned that counterfeit guitars have regularly shown up on eBay, where people have been-and continue to be-scammed out of their hard-earned money, thinking they were buying a real Les Paul, Stratocaster, Paul Reed Smith, or other well-known instrument.Īs I investigated the counterfeit guitar racket, I began to notice ads on North Jersey Craigslist for “Gibson copies made overseas, $500.” I decided to call the seller. Then the conversation turned to Chinese counterfeit Gibson guitars, and how they were coming into this country and fooling astute guitarists, famous rock stars and guitar dealers who should know better. It also mentioned Rick’s president John Hall and his aggressive manner of going after those who steal or appropriate his designs and trademarks.
The thread dealt with knockoff Rickenbacker guitars going by the brand name of “Rockinbetter,” an obvious distortion of the Rickenbacker name.
It all started with a few threads posted on guitar forums, including one on, an outstanding forum and the place to go for all things Rickenbacker. you can’t get them here because they’re illegal.” McKagan contends that his Burnys achieve his sound better than any other guitar. In a recent interview with, McKagan praised the craftsmanship of two Burny guitars he acquired in Japan, saying, “It’s a Les Paul, but in Japan they can copy this stuff like exactly. Since they first appeared in the ‘70s, these replicas have been found in the hands of many high-profile players.
Duff McKagan plays a Burny Les Paul model while performing with Loaded at the third annual Rock on the Range music festival in Colombus, OH, on May 16, 2009.
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