They sold me a FAKE ESP Guitar.....and they had no idea.

[@silviospizzeria]

that headstock logo being THAT off center is an immediate giveaway lol

[@Walkerbjj]

first thing I noticed as well

[@southernpanda33]

Agreed. That was the first thing I noticed. 😂😂

[@FortressofShred]

Much like Chinese entertainment centers' screws and holes not lining up. The logos are off-centered too.

[@wizardsouthJP]

The headstock also looks MASSIVE!

[@TheGalilee416]

Saw comment, rewind, WOAH 😳

[@jasonbates2687]

GCs online used guitar section is like dark web shit from 10 years ago. 2 pictures for a $1000 guitar? get bent.

[@Chuck-Bob]

Yeah its awful.

[@ChrisEck13]

It is, but you can still find great deals on there. And like he said in the video, there really is no risk. So yeah I'd buy a $1000 guitar with one crappy photo that would normally go for $1500.

[@brandonanderson2066]

True but if you call the store it's listed at you can get them to send photos

[@Alex-tm4th]

I bought a 5150 peavey 1995 from GC. Tested in store and it was fine. Got home and it sounded terrible. GC refunded me the money and let me keep the amp… 60 bucks at an amp tech and the things flawless.

[@JayOchs]

a GC near me has a 2005 warwick pro corvette standard or something, made in germany, bubinga. $1200. wonder if that's worth it.....i like shopping their used stuff, because in 2006 I got an '87 USA G&L L2000 for only $500 which was a steal lol

[@mikeskis7887]

Ali baba- search ESP guitar and the very first listing is this very guitar lol

[@JDStone20]

hahaha, that sucks

[@Christian.Means.]

I found it too.. 😬

[@joecole-632]

Come with a Gibson USA case lol

[@PNWGuitar]

Hahaha 😂

[@timothycormier3494]

Yup I found it. $263.81 from aliexpress

[@Yohahn]

Holy crap.. the E2 logo isn't even in the right position.. probably the worst fake i've seen in my life. Wrong finish Wrong font in the logotype Wrong placement of the logotype Wrong headstock size Wrong pickup selector Wrong knobs Wrong hardware and color Wrong binding Like how is this even passable by the dumbest of employee at GC.

[@retohorler9921]

hahahahaha..... exactly

[@Roodski]

Good on you for recognizing the understaffing/overworking and terrible employee vetting they have these days. When I walk into a GC that’s my first impression too. There’s an awesome shop just down the street from my local GC and the owner there is absolutely enthusiastic about everything in his shop.

[@leonvalentine3748]

Guitar center has a 45 day return policy in used items. This is justified to use

[@internetselling]

Not true for vintage gear, Guitar Center has only 3 day return for vintage with no definition of how old vintage is. But, it’s at least 30 years so means everything from 1996 or older…

[@leonvalentine3748]

@@internetselling fair enough. It's good that thing isn't vintage then 😂

[@aas55]

@@leonvalentine3748 Yeah this guitar has only been produced for a few years, I don't see how the "vintage" info is relevant at all...

[@14fluffies]

​@@internetsellingI was born in 1996. I guess my mom forgot to return me 🙃

[@donniejean]

@@14fluffies “forgot”? Haha!

[@FearTheDarkWolf]

Guitar Center no longer has any kind of actual knowledgeable musicians or salemens for that matter. It's become the walmart of music stores they don't know shit anymore.

[@claesvanoldenphatt9972]

Been that way for as long as I can remember. Just total dweebs.

[@adamkoehler6714]

@FearTheDarkWolf agreed read my comment above

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

There was a manager at my local GC, a very good bass player, that knew almost everything about everything in the store. And when he didn't know he'd say so (gasp} and find out. Of course they forced him out.

[@Bubs0271]

Been that way from the start

[@robcobi]

@@Bubs0271 Same, that's all I've ever experienced.

[@illuminatiCorgi]

They sold my friend a fake Fender Telecaster. The guitar dude at the pawn shop had to break the news to him.

[@Ottophil]

Lol. If he couldnt tell and was pawning it anyway, hes an idiot. Your friend is an idiot

[@rickw5024]

why would your friend buy a guitar then take it to a pawn shop?

[@nopenopenope3330]

Prob because is sucked and GC didn’t want it back.

[@randymiles-j1w]

I use guitar center to window shop and see if there is something that I didn’t know I like. Then I go elsewhere to buy one. 😂

[@dougleydorite]

The guitar centers I’ve gone to within the last few years have been dreadful. All employees, even the managers seemed suicidal and defeated.

[@putontheseglasses8809]

Their eyes screams broken soul

[@emobutpoofy]

Oh they all are. They’re all willing to watch the company burn

[@ralphieravioli7258]

Can absolutely confirm, my life has done a 180 since I left GC after 7 years. I was in the most rotten period of my life there. The amount of self loathing and disgust I had within myself freaks me out now thinking back to it. Anyone who gets out of GC before they sink their teeth in, I applaud.

[@dougleydorite]

“Hey, I’d like to plug into one of your used amps and check it for functionality” Guitar center employee: 😒

[@dougleydorite]

@@putontheseglasses8809 yes. This is their face regarding anything: 😒

[@MrDISTORT6]

It’s always a fine line between helping people pick out counterfeit guitars and helping the counterfeiters make a better fake by pointing out their mistakes.

[@rmaxtpmx]

Counterfeiters don't need help. It's a bad copy because they're lazy and can get away with it. If they wanted to spend more time and money to do a better job, they would.

[@MrDISTORT6]

@@rmaxtpmx They have been fine tuning their forgeries on Les Pauls for decades.

[@bvanhoosen]

Can’t wait to see this one get re-listed on the GC site 🤣🤣💩

[@tj1486]

I took an Amp back that was sold to me online as used like new condition. I received it and the tolex was bubbling off in multiple spots. I took it back and they reposted it the same way the next day

[@kevinwhite6172]

They will.

[@AuntAlnico4]

😂that sounds like peavey valve king. Mine bubbled and the Tolex peeled a bit. ​@tj1486

[@GorealexStudios]

They surely will. I bought a Randall 667 from them 5 years ago and when I was about to pickup the amp and take it home; I tried the amp on the store. Usually I never do, but for some reason I did it that day. The amp did turn on , but no sound came of thar amp. I tried different cables and cabinets but with no luck. I did return the amp on the spot. Thankfully, the gave me back all my money. Funny thing: the amp was listed a week later. It was sold again that week and then A week later , the amp was listed again . 😅

[@Somenite]

I love GC used because I've gotten some great stuff from them and the return policy is great. However, them re-listing stuff after they've been made aware of an issue is a problem. I bought a guitar from them listed in great condition where the listing had a single bad picture and nothing in the description. When I got it, I found the neck was sanded to the wood and both pickups had been replaced. I returned it and pointed out the mods and then a few days later, it was up on the GC website with one picture and nothing in the description although they had reduced the condition to good.

[@cliftongardner4367]

I have mixed experiences with GC, but my local GC has mostly been positive. Bought a used Traynor amp at a great price that ended up having a broken tube. Dude said if I could get it out, he’d give me a new set. Walked out with a dusty but otherwise excellent 40-watt tube amp with a matched pair of new Tung-Sols for $350.

[@2good2betrue3]

This review makes me feel good about my $300 Chibson 1959 Sunburst LesPaul.🤭 It has great pickups and the craftmanship is really shocking good.🔥 So Thanks and Cheers!👌

[@thisguy2973]

I don’t blame you for not calling. I don’t do business with them OR musicians friend (sister company). I had a nice guitar I bought brand new from musicians friend and when I got it, it had a chip in the headstock. Let me clarify: a new $3000 guitar with a chip in the headstock. Turns out they sourced it from a guitar center and it had been sitting on the rack forever. I called that guitar center personally to talk to the sales manager, and when I started telling them the issue, before I got to it, the manager goes “ohhhh, you got the one with the chip in it”. They knew it was busted and shipped it anyway. They then tell me I need to return it at all local store. I did this and for a month, they screwed up and never returned my money. So I got to a point that boiled over and the local manager FINALLY tells me this is a process they’re not supposed to do, they took care of me, and I vowed to never do business with those fuckers ever again. EDIT: the pickups on that guitar are also the wrong ones. That guitar came with 57/66, and those look like a knockoff 81/85 set.

[@HarakiriRock]

Damn, that's absolutely shitty of them. Zero fucks were given. I usually go to MF for accessories and whatnot just because of the rewards points, but have never bought an actual instrument from them or GC online. Gut feeling always tells me I'll probably regret it and there isn't a GC close to me to make a return if needed. Heard too many bad experiences like yours. They need to get their shit together.

[@RussRobert-fd1ou]

Really? Damn I was hoping they'd be better than GC. Sweetwater? Maybe they're better idk

[@protoolsfanatic7276]

giving the side eye to all my guitars in my music room while watching this.

[@sole__doubt]

I know right. I dont have any premium model guitars worth faking so I know Im in the clear. I just got a used Ibanez S521 recently and I really doubt anyone in faking a $400 guitar.

[@tyretro22]

@@sole__doubtThink again. Squire and Epiphone are the most faked guitars, because of the exact mentality you just displayed. Pennies to rip off, hundreds collected from you.

[@Nick-i9h]

​@@sole__doubt I just bought an S621QM which is basically the same thing you have with a different finish. Those guitars are amazing. The light weight and thin body is now my new favorite style as someone with back problems. 😂

[@sole__doubt]

@@Nick-i9h Nice choice. The S series are just incredible guitars. I cant believe they arent more popular.

[@theblockyrocker9060]

ex gc employee. It was a average job, that paid bad. I worked in the pro audio department and I had plenty of time to chat with a new church to build their whole entire live sound setup, demo their stuff when they came in, talk with other customers and still do the daily chores with plenty of time standing in the corral being bored. I spent plenty of time learning gear while I was there, which actually lead to me getting a touring tech job. GC employees not caring or being knowledgeable is them being lazy. period.

[@TheOtherJohnBrowne]

This is one of the videos where I wish youtube would allow us to comment memes

[@JamesFlorio-ti8gc]

Yes 😂 please 😂

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

We should always be able to

[@CrossGuardMania]

GC employee 1 “hey dude does this guitar look odd to you?”, GC employee 2 “naahhhh bro this is fine, stick it in the box”

[@thePANTSLEG]

Guitar center near me had a fake Neumann mic I told them about it even pointed out the reasons it was fake because I own some real ones. They took it out of the display case when I was there. I was back in a couple months later and it was back in the display case. They don’t care. I remember the days guitar center was the place

[@christophergeldien9907]

Brooo. Funny enough I thought I saw an obvious fake Les Paul with them the other day. I was 90% sure it was a fake. But there was that 10% of me that was like “nahhh, no way would guitar center fall for fake guitars.. you’re wrong they’re right, they are the professionals” after seeing this I am now 100% confident I’ve found a chibson on there website.

[@ChrisEck13]

It's usually incredibly easy to spot a fake Gibson. But even without all the telltale signs, the truss rod is always a dead giveaway (with the Chibsons not high end boutique builder counterfeits). I know that the employees are taught how to spot a fake Gibson, it's one of the few things they are taught, because they're so common. I would bet that it's not fake, there's always a chance that some how one got through but it would be extremely rare, it's much more likely for them to get fooled by fakes of other brands, like this one.

[@SOUNDCONTROLFLA]

I’ve worked for 3 different guitar centers. That job SUCKS. You can’t make any money unless a buyer is in store, everything else is a major hassle. And if you get a phone buyer, esp if it’s something used you have to split your commissions with whomever bought the guitar into the store. Don’t recommend buying from guitar center unless you can do everything yourself online.

[@Traumglanz]

Giant store chains which are totally based the payment of their employees on commissions, while hiring on people who can't make enough with the job they actually want to do and settle for now with a shitty job they hate? I am surprised that they are still in business.

[@justinrowland5191]

I mean, retail is dead. The people making money from retail killed it. They're still gonna make they're checks with skeleton crews making peanuts. Why? Jeff bozos and Walmart. I take drugs to remember 80s and 90s malls. One of the few privileges of being older.

[@LevelUpAINewsLetter]

Classic: ""I take drugs to remember 80s and 90s malls"

[@Bluecollarleft]

I’m super willing to buy things from Guitar Center used. They have a great return policy on used items and I’ve even brought items I received back in and pointed out some flaws that weren’t in the pictures and they credited me back like 40% of the purchase price. The Guitar Center in Spartanburg SC is great at least.

[@jonlorbacher]

Cary NC is great too. I always order used items to ship to store so it can be inspected in person, and returned or discounted easily if needed

[@Elektrifekt]

I absolutely love ESP guitars but I wouldn’t buy another unless it was directly from an ESP dealer.

[@Bliggick]

Twice I have ordered sets of Fender Telecaster pickups from Amazon and received junk pickups. Instead of receiving factory sealed boxes I got previously returned product where it was obvious to me that the original buyer had installed the real Fender pickups and sent back their junk pickups for a refund. Specifications were all wrong, boxes were beat up, mounting screws, rubber and springs were missing, connector wire ends clipped or messy and one neck pickup even had a ceramic bar magnet stuck on the bottom! I'm experienced enough to spot fakes but some beginner might have been taken. Amazon is not doing their due diligence by inspecting returned product and just reselling without even stating it's returned product. And to make things worse, both times after waiting over three weeks since shipping them back I had to phone Amazon to finally get my money back.

[@slayabouts]

You’ve also described what it’s like working for a retail pharmacy

[@johncarter1852]

According to Glen "Golden Ears" Fricker all pickups sound the same.

[@AllofJudea]

Yeah but he literally only listens to one kind of music and can barely play guitar.

[@Carepackage65]

Lol, that's not what he says at all. When playing with gain, the differences in tone are masked. The ultimate factor that determines tone is your speakers. If you're playing clean, sure, there is gonna be a difference in tone. However, his whole channel is about metal music and the best way of getting different tones for every instrument and saving money. His channel isn't about pushing bs for you to spend thousands of dollars for little to nothing to change.

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

He was talking about tone. He said under high gain the actual tone difference is negligible to nonexistent between brands. Then he said that clarity and overall sound quality like note separation etc (not tone) are obviously crappy in crappily constructed pickups compared to a well made one. And that output varies, also obviously.

[@bison962]

That dude will tell you anything to make a quick buck. When confronted with his own past opinions he will tell you that he now learnt sth new)) after 20 yrs in sound engineering he only now started learning that is

[@Diego-pl1il]

As a former GC employee of 10 years, your corporate complaints are 100000% spot on. Everything is accurate. I quit in 2022 for the SAME reasons, and my customers loved me and I loved them!

[@ohgahbriel]

As a GC employee you're 100% right, we love to help people and talk about every detail of any questions anybody may have, but sorry I have to unclog a toilet(not ironically)

[@sho-nuffmadrigal6857]

Your knowledge on Chinese nuts is impressive. LOL

[@gtrman69777]

Apparently they are easy to spot. They are taller and shinier than other nuts. 😆

[@saltpeter7429]

Confucious says,: " Man with hands in his pants, is feeling cocky!". Ouch.

[@GlennJimenez]

That’s what she said

[@keithhampton9700]

Tastes like chicken!

[@liamsexton377]

Guitar Center ‘experts’ are actually just the most knowledgeable folks they can get to work there for a dime above minimum wage.

[@Angelo-fo8de]

They don’t know their ass from a whole in the ground ! 150 dollar items priced at 450 is not knowledgeable staff ! 💩💩

[@J-DOT_TK]

Also the body is a Les Paul body Shape, not an Eclipse one, both are pretty similar, but if you look at the side with the pickup selector, The body on Eclipses is not completely round on the upper part, it ends at sort of an upwards angle, oblique to the Neck, while Les Pauls end perpendicular to the Neck.

[@PhaseRabbit]

Last time I went to Guitar Center was to rent a bass for a small show at a convention center. They wanted $125 for a day for a Fender Jazz to RENT. I just bought an Ibanez for like $129 and returned it the day after lol. Screw guitar center.

[@aas55]

I’m really sorry that happened to you Kyle. I got that exact guitar a month ago, the real one, used on Reverb. I paid $1600. It’s a beast. Those pickups are not original either. It comes with the 57/66. It could have happened to anyone. I hope you find a real one soon, because it’s amazing!

[@johnfinlay4963]

I have a Guitar Center right around corner from me and I only buy picks and strings from them . They have the dumbest and most arrogant people that work there . Thank god for Sweetwater . Sorry Kyle

[@tj1486]

Sweetwater is arguably better but I hate their sales model. They constantly try to send me "offers" that are just rip offs. I won't use Sweetwater either if I can avoid it.

[@joelspaulding5964]

You dont have to buy the offers. Sweetwater has competitive market prices and far better Customer service and overall integrity than most places. ​@tj1486

[@TYLERtheMAGGOT1]

@@tj1486 Those offers are way better than what guitar center gives. Seen a lot of 10 percent off offers and other things. What guitar center brings is a joke. Sweetwater gives me proper customer service and sends me pictures of the specific model that I bought while guitar center has the crappiest pictures. Sweetwater is the best in the business, believe me

[@94SexyStang]

I LOVE the Guitar Center 5 minutes from me!!!!......I absolutely Refuse to shop anywhere else, unless it's on Marketplace maybe.....But I just got a $1000 Music Man for $400 on clearance last week, because it was missing a volume knob, Lol.....I've got So much equipment on clearance there, it's starting to pile up in my room, I just cannot pass up clearance stuff(which they don't put on their websites by the way, in store only).......I've also known the manager for 10 years now, and Never had a single issue with the employees, always the Coolest guys.

[@sammy-whirl8500]

Guitar center is great if you want to hold the instrument in your hands. Also I got a good chord chart there which was eye-opening.

[@jonathonpollack2325]

I too have been getting into the LTD/ESP guitars myself. Awesome video and wealth of knowledge!

[@baumansound]

Send this to Glen so he can prove how active pickups dont matter for the tone in metal :P

[@beefnacos6258]

No Glen sucks

[@tommilitello198]

He talks about when it’s recorded,he never said it doesn’t matter when you play it and he never said it doesn’t make a difference in the room.damn,nobody pays much attention to videos and hear what they want

[@Creature1009]

@@tommilitello198I was gonna say exactly that except I don’t watch glen at all haha. Impossible to pick out active or passive pickups when the guitars are recorded. It’s one of those things you “feel” when you’re the one playing and nobody else notices

[@TurboCult]

I love shopping used gear at Guitar Center too because of the return policy and you can return it in person to any store.

[@crave809]

6:20 dude is totally a Karen!!! I can’t believe he is complaining about how terrible guitar centers customer service?! And their terrible used listings pictures! And their bad attitude is a sign of how superior than you they are. Nevermind that Guitar center selling cheap knockoffs, I mean do you know how lucky we are for this?! There’s nothing wrong with any of this, which is why they’re so popular, because those are all signs of how GC is the highest premium vender. No one has ever had any issue with all those premium treatments.

[@thomasobanion923]

Furthermore, EMG pickups usually have flathead screws and not Phillips head screws. Not sure if you mentioned that in the video but the fakes had Phillips head screws mounting them to the pickup rings. Good information in the video. Keep up the great content Kyle.

[@TheRonZombie]

I ordered a LTD Truckster on Used Guitar Center. It was a really good price so I called the store had them go over it and the salesman said other than needing a new set of strings which he would change the guitar was in good shape. I got it in and there is literal green mold on the bridge The guitar appeared to have been dropped where the input jack is The wood was bulged out on each side and it was completely disgusting. I felt I needed a tetanus shot after playing it. Returned it to Guitar Center locally and they didn't want to give me my shipping back. I said I would never have paid to ship this guitar to me if they were honest about the condition. They caved in and gave me the shipping back.

[@achimdg6335]

One more thing different to an ESP: The rounding of the body, where the 3-way-switch is located, it's different to ESP. ESP has the ESP-shape, this guitar does not have this. It's a little different to the rounding of a Gibson. The cut-away-horn looks more like ESP to my eyes.

[@coreymatlak9256]

I took a used guitar back last week that had several completely dead frets under the 12th, and fuzzing gain knobs. They relisted it for sale again within the day. They're just gonna pass the problem onto the next guy. Amazing.

[@jaystechroom]

I remember I ordered a drum set (back when layaways were a thing there at GC) and I didn’t want the drum set because the photos were different than in person. It came from a different state. They made me pay shipping for it and then would not let me order any used gear after that. I’ll never forget what the Manager told me after I asked why. He said ,” because I don’t wanna”.

[@LostSoulNo301281]

One thing I noticed, and I don’t know any thing about ESP single cut/LP style guitars, is that the shape of the body by the toggle switch is obviously different compared to the real thing. It’s way more rounded like a LP rather than the misshapen look of the real Eclipse.

[@A7Tones]

Guitar center recently sold me a synyster gates custom s gold burst (used) in the listing it showed some damages but nothing major, I buy it and it arrives with a completely damaged sustaniac board, more scratches and dents, AND it turns out that it was dropped where it’s input jack is and that whole piece broke off, thanks guitar center.

[@MiserereMei]

As soon as I saw that guitar I thought "that headstock looks HUGE". I guess my ESP Spider sense went off too.

[@christopherhuff3123]

At my local Guitar Center, you can walk out of the store with anything that you can carry. No exaggeration. I've never done it but I can absolutely positively do it If I were inclined. If you need to ask a question, if you want to buy something, if you have to pay for a guitar you've had work done to, you will wait there until the store closes. You can be standing in front of a counter with merch in your hand and there can be four people behind that counter, you will be absolutely invisible to them unless you are a young blonde woman. I'm not exaggerating in any way whatsoever. EVERY TIME I 've been there in the last twenty years has been the exact scenario. I have to corner someone and .MAKE them take my money. I even make a little joke about walking out without paying, EVERY SINGLE TIME and they NEVER get what I'm talking about. I was there once and Mick Mars walked in. Not one employee recognized him in any way even after watching other customers approach him. Again, this is the absolute truth with ZERO exaggeration.

[@fullclipaudio]

Our local guitar center doesn't check anything that is sold to them. You could easily sell them a completely gutted amp - they have no idea. During Covid, it was unbelievably horrible with regard to what they'd buy. Maybe things are getting slightly better because the used market is a million times oversaturated.

[@Creature1009]

I scored a 50w 5153 el34 for $899 on clearance at GC. Thing was brand new. Cheaper than anything I could find on reverb and it was just on the floor at my local GC. Great deal. They also mislabeled the brand new matching 2x12 as used for $450 and honored the price. I was so stoked, got my first real tube amp and cab for $1400

[@TheActionJason]

I have always gotten the same feeling buying from guitar center as I do buying a used car from a dealership. I walk away feeling ripped off. I applied to work at guitar center years ago thinking I would be a great candidate, I had 15 years experience playing guitar. lots of styles. I could really help someone, especially newer players, pick out the right instrument for them with what they want to achieve. I was turned down from the position, because they only wanted someone to upsell Gibson. no regrets not getting that job.

[@jessemclainmusic1242]

Another difference with the EMGs is the corners. The fakes always have squared off corners whereas real EMGs have more rounded off corners. Also, the fakes aren't potted, that's why you are getting the horrible, tinny feedback. I've actually taken some apart and found the backing is just a cheap epoxy you pop off with a flat head screwdriver. Funny thing though is I actually took Epiphone Les Paul standard pickups, took out the coils and wired them into the fake EMG's preamp board. I then potted them and resealed the backs and after that they actually sounded pretty good lol.

[@jackshittle]

I only bought one used Modulus VJ bass guitar from GC used which was in FL and I live in NJ. I saw the one picture they had posted so I called the store, guy answers, I tell him I'm interested but can he please send me close up pics of (head stock, behind the head stock, pups, control knobs, neck front & back etc.). Within 15 mins he sent me all the pics so I pulled the trigger on a $1499 used Modulus. Easy peasey & no hassles. So either this guy here is right in saying GC used items system is trash along with their personnel or I just got super lucky when I bought my bass.

[@chrisstryker7077]

You absolutely nailed my experience with guitar center. And I do the same thing you do with the used section. Even tho I go in knowing it will be painful, you can find some pretty good deals if you can stomach the mess that guitar center is.

[@yelserpsivle4443]

Yep.. that one really smiles at ya! I have an E-II Eclipse in blue / natural fade. That guitar appears more of a tri-color than an actual fade finish. Just putting it out there.. I am looking to sell my E-II. I will be at Sweetwater Guitarfest this weekend and would be happy to bring it along if you wanna take a look at it 👍

[@michaeljoyce3286]

I do the same thing man I buy used gear all the time the new prices just ridiculous and sometimes the listings are really really great condition

[@nickalderman5943]

I'm not even mad, that's impressive! Congrats to whoever fleeced gc. I hope your hunt for an e2 is smooth from here on.

[@Personalinfo404]

I worked at GC store 553 for almost 3 years in the mid 2010's. We literally had videos on spotting knock off Steve Vai Gems because of how common they were at the time. Also low end warwick basses from rockbass and low end spector basses were also brought in by customers, trying to be passed off as their OG german counter parts.

[@Timewalker13]

I saw a fake BC Rich Stealth they were selling at my local GC for $1700. The dead giveaway was a non reversed headstock. My friend (who collects BC Rich guitars) pointed out they never made a normal headstock stealth. I couldn't believe it when I came back the next week and someone bought it.

[@2Plus2isChicken2013]

Besides fake guitars, if you buy an amplifier from Guitar Center’s used site it’s probably going to have something wrong with it. I bought two amps from the site in the last couple of years and both had issues although they looked fine in the photos. One arrived with a bent knob and the other lasted about a day before it cut out and needed new tubes and some other work done. I really wanted the amps so I just got them repaired since neither is manufactured any longer. The knob could have been shipping damage. They didn’t package that amp well.

[@MastaFrank01]

I'm convinced everyone at Guitar Center hates used gear. It's quite apparent from listening to their sales tactics, upper management memos, and general PR. To them it's a wart on their business that they can't fully get rid of so they are forced to deal with it even though it carries them much more than they let on. It's because they can't sell their bogus bread and butter warranties with it. If I even mention buying used gear in their stores the sales reps usually flee from me or push for the new thing with, drum roll please, a warranty. Some of the warranties last just past the manufacturers warranty and you will have to get the manufacturer to honor or deny the warranty before guitar center will step in. They will only buy gear from you at exceptionally low ball prices, but they refuse to cut any real deals on anything stating throw away lines like, "this is what it sells for". Then they will sit on that gear for months as the prices drop more and more. Trying to buy used gear on their site is frankly pathetic and bewildering. It's usually posted with a max of two pictures, sometimes it's just the same picture posted twice or some have no pictures. What's up with that? If they even have a description it's something like, "this is an amp" to put it simply. Sometimes it's just false or a lie. One store couldn't even guarantee an amp cover even though it stated it had one for a listing on the website. The greatest offender is the status they give the gear. The system makes no sense and clearly doesn't follow any guidelines. The only bit of advice I can offer is never buy anything labelled as "good" as it usually has some giant flaw with it. Sometimes they will even intentionally take bad or dark photos to hide serious cosmetic flaws with the gear. I saw this with a mosrite they had listed a while back. There is no way when they snapped that photo it wasn't intentional cause even in the dark you could tell they guitar was just beat to death. The atmosphere has completely changed in the 10+ years I've been going to the stores. Guess that's why I don't shop there much anymore.

[@RobsHouse]

Even without getting into detail about the pickup texture and logo, they were trying to fake the 81/85. But that E-II model doesn’t come with 81/85. It comes with black chrome humcap 57/66 lol. That was the second thing I noticed immediately (first thing was the headstock logo). Also if you’re going to compare the fake pickup to a real EMG, don’t use the old style EMG logo. EMG changed the logo design in 2009 (15 years ago) and that fake pickup logo is in the style of their new/current logo. It’s totally fake, but your comparison was apples to oranges.

[@jeremyroberthickey]

Crazy. I'm curious to know if they'll list it again after you return it.

[@austyrocker4231]

My guitar center has a Fender American strat with a lot and I mean a lot of bad body damage. Almost like somebody dropped it and then stepped on it. Only 100$ off 😂😂😂😂

[@allkillergaming5623]

Awesome video and informative for those who may not know what to look for! I’ve actually experienced both sides of the spectrum myself buying used from Guitar Center. I once bought a used EVH 212 cab from GC online only to discover once I opened it up that the previous owner had swapped out the Celestions for Crate Speakers from 1999. Probably didn’t even tell GC when they sold it to them. On the other hand, I recently picked up a used PRS CE 24 for a pretty decent price ($1,600) which is about right for a standard run-of-the-mill CE 24 - but this one was far from standard. I did some research before purchasing and found out it was a limited run, nitro finish full mahogany body with no maple cap, where only five of that particular color were made. The limited edition run was made for a dealer out of upstate NY and was exclusive to them. Is it super duper rare? Not really. But it was definitely worth more than GC knew it was…

[@karce1981]

Another thing missing, the volume/tone knobs are also recessed into the body a bit on a real eclipse. The knockoff looks flush

[@dennisdaniel1146]

Nice. I have been waiting for this since the live cast demo of it

[@Isaacsasmrchannel]

There’s a fake natural Gibson explorer posted on guitar center right now… I was surprised to see it cause it’s pretty obvious

[@DrMurdercock]

If I was shady and worked at Guitar Center and so did some other, young shady dudes. What would stop me/us from ordering those decent looking Ebay fakes and ugh.....You know.....Selling them to GC through one of said shady buddies? I can assure you this happens. A lot.

[@9th_note]

I purchased a brand new Ibanez prestige from Guitar Center on back order and when it arrived, it was something else to say the least. The fit and finish was horrible and it was not even able to be set up at all. Upon closer inspection from my guitar technician. He started to point out some things to me so I did some research and come to find out the brand new $2000 guitar that I purchased from Guitar Center was fake right out of the box. fake guitar, fake case, even a fake multitool. since this has happened, I have had the opportunity of playing many authentic prestige models further reinforcing the fact that I know for certain that it was a fake guitar. I did end up getting my money back and I did end up getting an authentic version of what I was after but there are hundreds of people out there that would not bother to do the research that I did and maybe not even have a clue that they are holding if a guitar in their hands. They assume because they purchased it from a reputable guitar store such as Guitar Center that by default. It’s OK and it’s going to be authentic. That is far from the truth. I did not purchase this instrument from Slick Rick on Reverb or some Chinese guy on eBay. This came directly from Guitar Center. Right from their website, paid with my credit card all standard fair. I highly suggest if you’re thinking about purchasing an expensive instrument from the Internet, you do your research first and maybe go out and try to play a couple of them so at least when it comes to you you have an idea of what it is your receiving and that way you can tell the difference right away and take it back and get your money back. some of the details may not be noticeable to the average consumer and get overlooked and those guitars just go completely under the radar altogether and then they end up in someone’s hands on the used market after the fact. But those guitars are coming from somewhere and I guarantee you some of them are coming from Guitar Center and being sold as brand new right straight from their website. I would imagine it’s a little more difficult for this to happen with Sweetwater because they do inspect their instruments, but I specifically asked Guitar Center when this happened to me if they inspected the instrument before sending it out and the answer was absolutely not. It came straight from wherever they purchased it from and sent straight to me in a box and no one at the Guitar Center even opened that box and looked at what it was. I could have received a box full of pebbles, then they would have never known the difference. and as far as any used equipment on that website, I refuse at this point. I have got some pretty good deals and have received hundreds of dollars and damaged goods because they don’t bother to package it very well. I’m better off just going around town and Facebook marketplace.

[@Craig-xf7ox]

I ran a studio guitar rental company using Guitar Center Hollywoods vintage room. Id buy the guitar....rent it and return it. The return policy worked against them.

[@whatdoyoucare777]

Sounds like you've called Guitar Center in Pittsburgh and Monroeville a few times lol

[@travismiller7679]

I've been a gear nut since I was like 8 years old. Worked for gc for a little over 5 years in my 20's. I've got an eagle eye for fake gear. All of the kids that worked there would bring used buys to me first to make sure it wasn't fake. Point being out of the whole staff I was the only one with the expertise to spot a fake. That's why I don't buy high end used gear from gc.

[@Superjet113]

Wow, just wow! Guitard Center! If you even have a general knowledge of looking for fakes, most guitar nerds would spot that fake.

[@bristol1312]

I’ve always wondered what is in the back employee area of Guitar Center. I picture it as a time warp where the employees are on side quest fighting aliens If I go in to grab a pack of strings or a pedal, I know before hand, I have to set aside a hour before I will be rung out. Customer service seems to be terrible as a whole. I was looking at a used 60s Mustang it was around $2500.. it had one picture. The single picture was far away and at an angle and I swear to God, it had a G.I. Joe figure for a pickup cover.

[@rockerbob949]

Yeah, as an ex guitar center employee calling into the stores does no good… You have to go in for yourself!

[@lnknprkfn]

the head stock on the fake looks like a scaled-up version of the truss rod cover on the real one and a bit vice versa😅

[@donniejean]

The first comment opener ha! I know someone that makes knock off gibsons, and I swear you can’t tell the difference. And it even stays in tune longer. Wait… maybe that’s how you can tell if it’s real or not. Sweetwater rocks. I bought used from guitar center, it showed up in a box that you could hear the amp shaking around. I didn’t even open it. It’s still in my garage. We should bet on what condition it’s gonna be in 😂

[@escalonae]

Scary man... Anyway, how is your Epiphone Adam Jones doing? I was really excited about the unboxing video, but I'm wondering if the guitar is still feeling good?

[@JayBlackheartMusic]

I worked at Guitar Center as a Pro Studio Specialist in Saint Louis... I've seen everything from replicas, totally fakes, people trying to scam you of stolen goods within Guitars, Amps, 3rd World Mixers... The issue is most don't pay attention or even try to research of what they are taking in the store and it creates a bad practice space being the customer should always feel safe when making a transaction of buying.

[@bryanclegg7636]

Great video🙌🏻 heard about fakes out there but honestly didn't know what to look for so thanks man🤘🏻

[@mykeread]

Guitar Center changed so much. GC launched here in Reno in 2005/06 and I worked there in the beginning, the phones were culture there. You could one minute be chatting with a customer helping them find gear, and the other you could answer the phone to Sammy Hagar needing pro audio. It was a rad job, with lots of benefits for the employees. The company went and sold abruptly, bought out everyone’s stock shares, and announced our new wal mart style policies, and took away commissions, pretty much making it the fuck show it is today. They are cashiers who have to deal with a lot of SHIT. It killed my drive as a guitar player, and I left GC by 08. I’ll go into GC for picks or strings or something but I’m done ever purchasing shit from them. It’s basically wal mart for gear.

[@xamislimelight8965]

And that is why I don't go to guitar center anymore. And haven't in 15 years. Their "employees" keep glazing past the most glarring things, and getting their attention? Forget it, Walmart has more attentive workers.

[@retohorler9921]

Hey, the GC system works perfectly. If someone had bought this guitar who didn't know as much as Kyle, they wouldn't have noticed anything.

[@brianlittle9358]

I bought a used Epiphone Thunderbird from Guitar Center that I believe is fake. After I received it I compared it to one that I already own and noticed several things that didn’t match. The headstock size was noticeably different, the bird wasn’t placed correctly on the pick guard, and the pots were different. I bought it to clean it up and resell it for a profit but after noticing these things I just ended up keeping it.

[@robridner6350]

I roll the dice on so many used GC items because of the killer return policy. One time I bought an amp and the one pictured was much more expensive than the description/price, so I went for it. Amp showed up and it was the cheaper description/price amp not the one in the pix. I took it back, told the dude why, he laughed etc. Went back on their site a few days later, hunting for the amp I was hoping to get and they put the exact same listing pix/price/description back up on their site. Got all of my $$ back - including shipping, so no harm no foul and makes for a good story!

[@MichaelKeeter]

I worked at guitar center. The only thing you said that's true is that if you don't sell enough you can be fired. It's the employees not the corporation for guitar center.

[@bobthebrickbuilder1876]

My Schecter Avenger has those same pickups in it...they look very much the same but don't sound bad. There's an "old logo" and a "new logo", when it comes to EMGs. The new logo has those weird little lines that stick out of the beginning of "E" and end of "G", and the old logo has straight letters. This particular guitar should have EMGs with chrome covers 57/66 set and it should have coil splitting on one of those knobs. There should also be a nice clean line, where the neck finish and the body finish, meet... Only a fool would fall for this and I'm talking about Guitar Center, not you. I'm a lefty, so, I stay browsing the used guitars at guitar center to try and find something special... There are 60k used guitar and only 3k lefty electrics. I've got 20+ years of playing, so, there's no "just play right-handed". Anyway, my point is that I understand and know, how shitty the pictures are on Guitar Center. I'll go over to my friends house and we'll sit there and look at the pictures and just marvel at how dog doodoo they are. I get it. You're already doing a job and someone tells you to take photos of guitars - you're not going to put in the extra 20% needed but shit! can't I get a photo viewer that can zoom in? or can ya'll turn the lights on in the backroom? For Christ's sake Guitar Center, show a little initiative before you go the way of Sam Ash....

[@HazardousSmoker]

Dude that guitar sounds a cat fighting a billygoat. Freaking horrible!

[@DosHemperor]

What waz themselves fightingTingting Yabout? huh pilgram ?

[@Jareddoesthings]

NGL when I interviewed at GC they wanted me to know about gibsons. They did make a point to name tiny details about gibsons and the occasional fender that was made 30 to 50 years before my birth date and what I would do if we had to replace a screw on one of those ancient relics that show up. Maybe they don't know foreign guitars.

[@Carepackage65]

8:18 This is when the actual finding out starts. Everything before hand is kinda long winded and isn't really important I.M.O.

[@CloverAnimations]

0:05 relatable

[@nismo8319]

I applied to a GC years ago. I went through three interviews before they finally decided they wanted to hire me. Once they told me what they were going to pay me, I turned the job down and continued searching for something better. I eventually found something. One more gripe about GC is how they value trade ins. They use reverb and ebay to so what things are selling for. I had some rare items I was looking to trade and because they couldn't find any for sale or that sold, they wouldn't even make me an offer.

[@benfowler2127]

The shape of the body above the neck is different than the esp eclipse too. It’s subtle, but if you know the look of the esp, then you’ll definitely see it.

[@bryanquick16]

So I was told to do this by my good buddy (he runs a GC here in CA) Go into the store with the SKU that you want. They order it to the store you go in and pick it up if there’s an issue (like in your case) they have to deal with it. No money changes hands and you’re not out anything except a little bit of time.

[@olegov7ch]

If you're on ESP kick, you should try Edwards and Grass Roots, they worth much less but interestingly provide a lot for what they are (JDM ESP)

[@erntracchloads]

Man i just had a horrible experience with Guitar center tried to buy a Gibson les paul 50's standard i used some gift cards a credit card and bank card guy on the phone said my cards weren't going through on the phone for about a hour couldn't get it to work asked the guy none of this is going to be put on my cards? oh no i haven't hit complete long story short they held my money for about 11 days i had no guitar and no money i did get my money back but i will never deal with Guitar Center again! they just plain suck!!!

[@AlexhPDX]

It is still worth it to roll the dice on the used GC website. There is plenty of gems to be found for well under what the going used rate is and you can get a refund if there is something wrong with it. Just snagged a Spector euro bass last week for $1400 when they typically go for around $2000.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

I washed my hands of GC about 5 years ago and I rarely go in to even look. The sales rep's at my store can barely answer an easy question. There is one guy there that actually knows something but they have him behind the counter running the register. The last straw for me was when I was looking for a very specific Ibanez guitar. I went through three sales rep's and a manager. I never got a straight answer. I was done with them after that. Sweetwater gets all my business now because I get an answer really quickly even if the answer isn't what I wanted.