A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

I don't know guys, you know the old saying, "If it sounds too good to be true . . ." But then again, I've told you folks over and over, to the disbelief of some, that there are truly mind boggling and downright unbelievable deals to be had around here.

So here's a 1974 Les Paul Custom with a brazilian rosewood top on my local craigslist for $500. It was put up just yesterday. I've already messaged the seller and said, "I'll take it!" Messaged them several times actually. Hope they don't think I'm nuts. No matter, I'm a nut with CASH. I'm just waiting to hear from this person so I can speed down the road and thrust five one-hundred dollar bills into their hands. You ever felt that way before? It's an anxious and nerve wracking feeling.

There appears to be no major damage. But heck, but even with something like a repaired headstock, it would still be worth multiple times the asking price. Even if it needs a re-fret . . . just damn! I'm confident the guitar in the photos is a real Gibson, as I'm sure you'll all agree. It has all the Norlin hallmarks, the volute, the multi piece neck, the hardware. The gold tulip tuners have been replaced by chrome Grovers and the telltale screw marks are on the back of the headstock. Sure, somebody could fake that, but why? It just looks completely authentic early/mid 70s Gibson to me.

I’ve seen this same guitar posted on multiple forums and Facebook groups. It’s been showing up for sale in numerous cities. The consensus is the guitar pictured is real the ad probably not.


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I didn't realize you lived in Denver?

Here's the same ad in Omaha https://omaha.craigslist.org/msg/d/coun ... 19382.html

And chicago https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/msg/ ... 65632.html

And Cleveland https://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/d/ ... 23469.html

And a slight variation with other pics in Dayton OH https://dayton.craigslist.org/msg/d/day ... 38546.html

Here it's been relic-ed

https://houston.craigslist.org/msg/d/ho ... 37647.html

uwmcscott wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:28 am I didn't realize you lived in Denver?

Here's the same ad in Omaha https://omaha.craigslist.org/msg/d/coun ... 19382.html

And chicago https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/msg/ ... 65632.html

And Cleveland https://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/d/ ... 23469.html

And a slight variation with other pics in Dayton OH https://dayton.craigslist.org/msg/d/day ... 38546.html

Yeah, I live in Omaha and I'm a lefty, but would buy that righty at that price if it was real. Unfortunately, there are a ton of those phishing ads on CL, just trying to get your contact info at best, and at worst, trying to get you to send them money instead of meeting. They picked a good guitar to phish with though!

BatUtilityBelt wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 12:06 pm Unfortunately, there are a ton of those phishing ads on CL, just trying to get your contact info at best, and at worst, trying to get you to send them money instead of meeting.

I have noticed a large number of these types of ads in general lately - for everything from vehicles to vacant land to guitars - especially on FB marketplace. They are much more personalized than the obvious scams - if you look at this one in particular almost each ad has something a little different. But you also see the human error - for example the ad that TMC saw still had Denver in the subject heading even though the ad was posted in Charlotte CL.

But yea - just like every other scam, they only have to work once unfortunately.

uwmcscott wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:28 am I didn't realize you lived in Denver?

Here's the same ad in Omaha https://omaha.craigslist.org/msg/d/coun ... 19382.html

And chicago https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/msg/ ... 65632.html

And Cleveland https://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/d/ ... 23469.html

And a slight variation with other pics in Dayton OH https://dayton.craigslist.org/msg/d/day ... 38546.html

Denver, North Carolina that is. Yes, it's really a place, about fifteen minutes East of me. One of the fastest developing areas of the State, as it's close to Charlotte and many who can afford it prefer the lifestyle of living on Lake Norman. There are huge subdivisions going up overnight, as fast as they can build them.

toomanycats wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:25 pm Denver, North Carolina that is. Yes, it's really a place, about fifteen minutes East of me. One of the fastest developing areas of the State, as it's close to Charlotte and many who can afford it prefer the lifestyle of living on Lake Norman. There are huge subdivisions going up overnight, as fast as they can build them.

Whomever is posting these ads is certainly doing their research to make them seem legit then.

If you do decide to buy it, you should do so in California - apparently he's including free strap locks if you buy it there https://visalia.craigslist.org/msg/d/po ... 12868.html

uwmcscott wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:47 pm

Whomever is posting these ads is certainly doing their research to make them seem legit then.

It also sounds like they have researched prosperous locations to have the ads appear to be from (from what TMC says, and where my local one is from).

Could it be this is actually some essentially legitimate market research effort, rather than a scam?

Houblues wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 2:01 pm

uwmcscott wrote: ↑Tue Dec 08, 2020 1:47 pm

Whomever is posting these ads is certainly doing their research to make them seem legit then.

It also sounds like they have researched prosperous locations to have the ads appear to be from (from what TMC says, and where my local one is from).

Could it be this is actually some essentially legitimate market research effort, rather than a scam?

That's a possibility, and I suppose I'll see if I start getting spammed in my email.

Either way, it's still a scam. They're offering something for sale they don't actually have or intend to sell. There is literally nobody in Denver North Carolina with this guitar for sale. That's a lie. They're getting something from me, which is information. The whole thing is duplicitous.

Sucks, that’s a nice guitar. Especially for $500

Shoot

That would be nice with your rw tele next to it.

Miami as well:

https://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/msg/d/ ... 42884.html

I've been there before. First thing I do is run a Google image search. If it's been posted everywhere it'll show up in a search engine.

Trogly already put a video up on the same listing today. He's in the midwest.

The scoundrels actually emailed me back! Here is the complete message they sent to me:

Hello and sorry for late answer!This is still available!
I posted the 1974 Gibson for my sister, do you have an email address so i can send to my sis?

This is weird, as they obviously already have my email, don't they? I mean, they're asking me for my email address in a message they just sent me via email. WTF?

My response is below. Thought I'd play with them a little, even though it could be a damn bot I'm messaging.

So which sis are you referring to? The one in Denver NC, or the one in New Jersey, or

Miami
https://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/msg/d/ ... 42884.html

Omaha
https://omaha.craigslist.org/msg/d/coun ... 19382.html

Cleveland
https://cleveland.craigslist.org/msg/d/ ... 23469.html

Dayton
https://dayton.craigslist.org/msg/d/day ... 38546.html

I'm sorry to hear about this disappointment.
Next time my jaw drops like that I'll try to remember to reach in and feel for a hook.
Thank Neptune your not flopping on sand and gasping for air, out 500$.

toomanycats wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:53 am
This is weird, as they obviously already have my email, don't they? I mean, they're asking me for my email address in a message they just sent me via email. WTF?

My response is below. Thought I'd play with them a little, even though it could be a damn bot I'm messaging.

If you sent your original message via CL relay, they don't have your real email - yet. That's why he's asking you to reply with it for his "sister" That's likely part of the scam, I would highly recommend against it. "Playing with them a little" is also exactly what they want you to do - then they have the chance to glean even more information about you and use it in ways you probably won't want.

You jokingly mentioned in your OP that this was either the greatest deal of the century or a trap. In all seriousness it's the latter, don't fall into it.

uwmcscott wrote: ↑Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:40 am
If you sent your original message via CL relay, they don't have your real email - yet. That's why he's asking you to reply with it for his "sister" That's likely part of the scam, I would highly recommend against it. "Playing with them a little" is also exactly what they want you to do - then they have the chance to glean even more information about you and use it in ways you probably won't want.

You jokingly mentioned in your OP that this was either the greatest deal of the century or a trap. In all seriousness it's the latter, don't fall into it.

Amen bro!
Let us hope he replied via the CL relay & NOT direct!!!

Any time people say to email outside the CL relay, it should be a red flag, not quite the level of paying with gift cards or western union, or sending you a check for more than the cost of an item, but still it should be pretty obvious they are trying to do something shady...

Like Trogley said, the fact that the price indicates that they don't know what they have, but yet the listing title indicates that they know exactly what they have is a red flag right there.

When I was searching for the type of post listed here I came across this https://houston.craigslist.org/msg/d/ho ... 64054.html. The story he is quoting sounds odd. Is this showing up in other locales?

This is becoming a regular thing on my local craigslist. Look at this Gibson Les Paul Standard listed for $500.

https://winstonsalem.craigslist.org/msg ... 78371.html