ID on 2008 Love Rock - Possible Fake?

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rhilali

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Hi all

I'm looking to buy a Love Rock, found this one listed but wanted to check on its authenticity.

I've done some research, and from what it looks like if it is genuine I would assume that is is made in Japan. It's listed as a 2008 model

I'm basing this on the fact that it has two screws in the truss rod cover.

However there are a couple of things I would like a second opinion on.

Firstly the truss rod cover has the word 'Standard' on it, I haven't seen any examples of a stock Love Rock with this, although I guess this is something that could easily be replaced.

It also has a 6 digit serial number, from what I've seen would I be correct that a MIJ Love Rock should be 7 digit?

This is in the UK if that helps with iding.


Pics below - apparently a previous owner sanded it down giving it a matte finish.


https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg3Njg=/z/glwAAOSwajJboUwo/$_86.JPG

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg3Njg=/z/hP0AAOSwfLpboUwx/$_86.JPG

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg3Njg=/z/GxAAAOSwX6dboUwr/$_86.JPG

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg3Njg=/z/kM0AAOSw2sNboUwu/$_86.JPG

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg3Njg=/z/MLUAAOSwqEZboUw2/$_86.JPG

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTAyNFg3Njg=/z/U9cAAOSwwBhboUwz/$_86.JPG
 
Not sure why those picture didn't render. Pointers appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
 
It's 100% not a MIJ Tokai. From what i can see it's a Made in China model Tokai or at the worse a fake Korean model. If it has a neck scarf it's a fake. I'd stay away.

If you go back and edit your original post and remove the "" from the beginning and end of your pics they will show up.

Cheers
 
Definitely not MIJ.

The person has gone to some effort to make it look MIJ. Not a crime in itself, but trying to pass it off as a MIJ when you want to sell up is not on!

The truss rod cover is from a Gibson. If you look closely at the picture you can see a gap at the bottom - again, he's tried to hide this. Some MIK/MIC models do have a 2 screw TRC though.

The other point of confusion is that he's put some black control plate covers on - MIK/MIC are usually cream.

Nothing can disguise the serial # or the bridge layout however. This is not a MIJ model.

Pickups look new, the knobs have been changed, pickguard and R/T ring are missing, and there's that sanding job... a swapped out TRC and some new covers wouldn't be a big deal on top of that but such extensive mods will devalue the guitar on the used market. What's he asking? You didn't include a link to the sale in your original post.
 
It's listed at £350, so probably would have been too good to be true. Thought I might have found a steal though...

It's not listed as an MIJ to be fair, that was based on my own looking at it. It's listed as got as part exhange so I think he doesn't know the full history of it.

I'll probably give it a miss... do you think it's worth having a look anyway with a healthy dose of scepticism? If it plays well it plays well regardless of where its made.
 
Maybe check it out if it's local but with such extensive mods and a poorly understood history I personally wouldn't touch it for more that £150 if it played well.
 

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