That's the highest compliment a guitar builder can get, I hope one day my guitars have chinese counterfits 😂😂

It would be very interesting for you to get one and pull it apart on the channel and see what they did with your design.

100% agree and I am sorry to hear that this happened.

Congratulations... The problem isn't getting your stuff stolen. The real problem is if no one wants to steal your stuff.

Always enjoy your videos, you can always learn new things no matter how old you are or how long you have been building guitars. Im 81 and I built my first guitar when i was in my thirties. Im still repairing, building and restoring guitars and doing setups for guys. I just finished a Mexican Tele that was a total piece of junk and everything in it and on it was trash. I put all new complete EMG system in and it sounds really good. The neck and all the frets were really bad. They really put junky parts in the border guitars. The guy I built it for is a blues player and he was here about 3 and a half hours playing it. He took it home and said he was going to play it the rest of the evening . He was all smiles when he left. Im glad because I’m always worried that they may not be happy with my work, but he was and it makes you feel good that they appreciate all the hard work that goes into bringing their guitar back to life. Anyway, keep up the good work, your guitars are beautiful. Have a nice day. Durwood Jenks. China steals a lot of technology from this country, but they cant reproduce it just like the original.

My first scratch build was inspired by the Ibanez Artist style solid bodies, but it was nothing like an exact copy. I tried to buy an Artist from a mail order company but was told that they weren’t available, so I made a broadly similar design with a cherry wood body and neck and a shallow carved maple top. I like using cherry because it doesn’t need to be filled with a grain filler, and I left the wood its natural color and finished it simply with Minwax polyurethane. I still have this guitar, and it’s been through a refret, and it’s on its second set of tuners and third set of pickups. I’m glad in a way that the Artists were out of production at the time or I might never gotten into luthierie. What you’re describing here about your own design being cloned is a whole different universe than my own early take on the Ibanez Artist style. This is really dirty pool, and I can’t even begin to imagine how you felt when you saw what was going on. Richard Nixon has been in the ground for over thirty years now, and he’s still thumbing his nose at American workers, creators and craftsmen. Thanks a lot, Tricky Dick!

Congratulations! You've made it!

they are masters on everything, their ultra high productivity conducts to bad products. But it is pretty easy to copy anything if you have enought CAD design skills. I hope the 2 persons that bought the guitar were kids or new players, because next time they touch a guitar they will feel the difference on a well made guitar and bootleg one. I was just about to buy a phantom vox copy since I couldnt find a reasonable price one, but just by looking at the photo everything was offset, so I paid a luthier to make one with my own specs, anyway he made it different as I requested, so I had a bad experience, this doesnt mean all luthiers do this. at the end of the day is your choice to get a replica, copy guitar depending on where do you buy it is how good it will be.

I always click thumbs up Chris. 1 - I love your videos and admire your skills / knowledge sharing 2 - I had an old scrap guitar and my kids joined in with the oil based finish technique you demonstrated. I treasure those memories - I thought my kids thought dad was too uncool. But if the project allows them to express their creativity - seems not. I now have a fretless oil finished guitar! 3 - I reminds me I have watched it - my memory isn't what it used to be :-( You tube algorithm is a bit dumb. Unless you make shorts it stops reminding me. Darn shame. Great work. Contact The China Show - they are good at exposing Chinese scams.

Chis, I have been following you back to the social media days. You taught me so much just in Solar Rez applications let alone CNC design and everything in between. I would happily buy this guitar and have it sent to you for your review. I have been sitting on a guitar design myself in fear of who will steal the design, both foreign and domestic.

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

I appreciate the thought, but please don't. I don't want to contribute to the immoral economics of slave labor and human trafficking.

@ferrousmcgarrus3431

7 ай бұрын

@@HighlineGuitars According to a study by the organization Walk Free, China's instances of modern slavery are 4 in 1000. In the United States, the figure is 3.3 in 1000. Your argument is hogwash.

Thanks!

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

Hey thanks @matthewlapczynski5012 I really appreciate the tip.

Your title says you were being cloned in China. I clicked expecting to see one of you at the CNC while another Chris was winding pick-ups, while a 3rd Chris was buffing out a guitar finish. I was thinking of getting a couple of myself and sending them off to work! LOL! Wow! It's already been a year and a half? You know what they say..... Imitation is the highest form of flattery. (Edit) LOL! You just said this after I typed my comment! LOL!

Just in relation to your comment about them not having the CNC files; there is a way to convert a jpeg into an svg file and import it in to Easel to turn it in to a CNC file. So they might just have done photo editing with screenshots of the guitar and went that route to create a CNC file

Just ordered myself one of these, for the old Napster times!

Yeesh. Fortunately, the folks who want your guitars will understand the difference.

Chris, buy one of these and do a review, it would be interesting to see

@HighlineGuitars

5 ай бұрын

I don't want to support immoral behavior.

That’s a cool guitar! I can see why they’d want to copy it but it’s sad people are being scammed.

Buy it! And make an unboxing and make a video. Please! Would be funny and curious!

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

I don't think so. They could send one to me for a video evaluation if they are confident in their product.

Not cool. It is a compliment.

I've not purchased this exact model, but I have purchased a guitar and a bass from Aliexpress, and one from Ebay that likely originated from one of the factories that sells on Aliexpress. Overall the construction is pretty good, finish is quite nice, but they just kind of look like the "original" they are copying. I have a faux SG, a faux Les Paul, and a faux Les Paul-ish 4 string bass (the LPs have the overall shape, body contour, knob layout, but different headstock). As an example of what I mean by kind of look like, the faux SG is the proper overall shape, but has no actual carve to it, it's just the general shape. All of them actually play pretty good, and all appear to use pretty good hardware aside from the cheap pots and cheap pickups. The one thing that's been a problem on EVERY SINGLE ONE is that I'm left handed and all of the purchased instruments were left handed....yet all of them came with a right handed nut, but were strung up left handed (obviously, no less, the strings were clearly bottoming out in the overly large nut slot, or riding along the top of it). Once the nut issue was fixed on all 3 they have actually been good playing instruments. Of the 3, only one actually claims to be something it isn't on the headstock, the other two have no markings/logos at all. The one with the fake claims is the one that was purchased on Ebay and was shipped from within the US to me. The pictures on that one had been photoshopped to remove the marking on the headstock for the listing. Luckily it's very obvious that its not even a "good" copy (sounds and plays great, but looks nothing like what it seemed to want to pretend it is). It was also clear from the price that it wasn't what, after I got it, it appeared to want to pass itself off as. I don't know anyone who would go on AliExpress expecting the guitar in question to be one you made, however. I suspect if someone ordered it, they would get a passable instrument maybe even a great playing one (don't order any lefty instruments from China unless you want to cut a new nut), but I don't think anyone would be under any delusions that it was the real deal. The differences tend to be obvious, since most factories aren't actively trying to counterfeit. At best it would be a loose approximation.

@vonster22

7 ай бұрын

well with high end pocket knives... they can and do copy all the way to the knife steel...like m390 they clone extremely well...now they would have to have bought the original or had access to it....but since there is only one....the maker would have to be the one to determine that it is actually a clone or just a look a like

Thanks for the informative video! What are your thoughts on unbranded guitars and parts that resembles the original well known brands, but sold on Aliexpress for much lower prices? Coming from the developing country I can see that they're the only things we can afford. Thank you!

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

First of all, China is still considered a developing nation, which is why they can offer products and shipping so cheap. Their status is debatable and I know many countries, including the United States, would like to change that. Under China's socialist market economy, a Gibson guitar is simply classified as a guitar and priced accordingly. They tend to ignore the concept of brand name value. However, this approach is flawed since it's obvious they do value brand names, which is why they copy them. This model cannot last and will eventually end, especially if China invades Taiwan. The problem for China is they have made no effort to develop original, unique, and desirable product designs to fill the gap when they no longer are able to sell knockoffs around the world.

The better idea would be to not to discourage people from buying this product, but to order this guitar and make a video with disassembly and review of the overall quality and components... Of course if this is not a scam store. But Aliexpress usually has no problem with returning money after raising a dispute in such case. So in any case it would have been a win-win ) As for the lawsuits from Metallica - it generally doesn't work in China because thay have a very specific copyright legislation.

@rshizuya

7 ай бұрын

i could see how that could work. but all in all i think most people that buy cheap instruments like this knock-off do so for the novelty of the price

Dude $366…. You almost have to order one lol !!!

Just proves your building really cool guitars your pretty cool too

@tjforgey7854

7 ай бұрын

Have you heard their also making fake name brand guitar strings off amazon. It's happened to me. You have to really look close but the pack color is slightly off and the ball winding is different. So just beware. Can't even trust amazon these days

Chris, China has preferential (I mean really low shipping rates) based on a 'developing nation ' status they have thru some international agreement! I don't know the precise ins and outs, but that's how they can ship "free". It costs more for a US company to ship from San Francisco to LA, then it does from them to ship overseas!

I never know how to feel about these things. I don't like the implications, but at the same time I am REALLY curious how close they managed to get to the original for that price. I'd actually love to see one of those on your bench being analyzed to the smallest detail.

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

I don't want to contribute to slave labor and human trafficking for the sake of KZread views.

I always wondered what people receive when they buy these clearly 1 off guitar clones from China. This is the most interesting one I’ve heard of as well just due to the materials and complexity of the original guitar as is

best you can do is to order one and make a comparison video about it. could be fun.

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

I don't want to break the law and contribute to human trafficking and slave labor.

Would be interesting to see what they end up sending out when someone orders one (if it's not a total take-the-money-and-run scam ofcourse).

These counterfeit factories are in business because there are buyers. There are buyers because the real deals are unobtainable for the majority of players. It stinks but it is a fact.

I wish I had the disposable income just to see what they actually sent. I don't condone selling fakes, but I think the comedic content would be worth it.

Just commenting on this, but yeah I saw this design long before this video was released.

Wow. That sucks.

You’re not the only one. I’m sure Karl Sandoval, Gibson and Jackson all feel the same way.

Unfortunately those Chinese companies don’t seem to need to operate by the same rules. What would be interesting if you did a patron style fund raising to actually by the guitar and did a video breakdown of what is actually in it, the quality of manufacture, the components etc.

If I'm not mistaken, Chinese law protects these pirates and guards them as free from outside prosecution. I may be wrong but I don't think so. Thank you so much. I used to deal with counterfeit AC Delco vehicle oil filters etc. back in the 1980s.

sometimes they upload things like that to scam people, but it doesn’t necessarily means they have the actual item in hand, they steal real pictures around the internet then they post it and when you “purchase” it they disappear

It’s listed as €433 now which would be about USD$470. They’re getting greedier.

There making fake name brand guitar strings too. I got a set from amazon they were only 3 bucks cheaper than the real ones

Welp, you've officially made it if China is ripping you off. Still irritating though. Some people's kids just can't think for themselves anymore...

@daveeastcott9323

7 ай бұрын

Definition of a passive aggressive.

@OverlandTrailer

7 ай бұрын

True but I think this may be more of an active aggressive situation. @@daveeastcott9323

I brought a bass off an AliExpress store that is not a counterfeit or even a copy, it's their own take on an 8 string Explorer style bass. It is ridiculous what you can get for £420 all the way from China. It has a few small snagging issues but its not a rip off, its playable, once set up correctly with decent strings BUT it weighs a tone and neck heavy. Overall I couldn't quibble for the price. Having visited China and toured some factories I can see why people may regard working practise as slave labour but in truth its just not what we are used to in the west and by cutting corners with safety & conditions they can make things far cheaper than we in the west. That said I did think I had been stung as Google translated communications were not great and the lead time of two months turned into 6!

you can ask some photos directly from seller))

@HighlineGuitars

6 ай бұрын

I have them. It's a ripoff.

Unfortunately, even metallica‘s attorneys may not be able to do much about that. If that website gets shut down it’ll just pop up again with a different name.

@red58impala

7 ай бұрын

AliExpress isn't going anywhere. If they do anything, they'll just delete the item and another seller will list the same item again until AliExpress is told to remove it again. Honestly, I don't think AE cares because they are based out of China, but I do remember about 10 years ago they were cracking down on counterfeit knives... I have heard the same about fake guitars. Lots of sellers will take pictures with the branding or logo/headstock missing. If they are not showing it's a counterfeit I'm not sure what recourse the original manufacturer has in that situation. I'm not an attorney so I'm just guessing. There are lots of fakes on AE. Some are not as bad, similar but no branding, while other items have branding, serial numbers, etc...

Just the usual from China!!!

The seller will ship a guitar that resembles your original. No doubt the quality will be questionable at best. I know people who used to buy the "Chibsons", mostly to posture because they couldn't afford the real deal. Surprisingly many were not bad guitars but the electronics and hardware were total junk. They made good platforms for modding, but they were still counterfeits. I'm not sure if you mentioned it or not, but does the original guitar have your logo on it anywhere?

As of 11 PM EST, I can't find it listed. Can't say for sure it was taken down, but I searched using a bunch of different criteria and nothing even close comes up. Maybe Metallica reallt does have that kind of reach. They did take down Napster, after all.

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

It's still there. www.aliexpress.com/store/1103278594?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.38.28194c55kNTF5A Scroll down the page and you'll find it.

I think you should buy one just to see how complicated it is to build. AI is amazing at figuring it out...

Wow! $366 would not pay for the pickups in that awesome guitar!!!!!

Thge fact that they don't have their own photographs of the guitar, suggests that their product is sub par, and you ae NOT getting what's in the photos.

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

Actually, as I was informed yesterday, they do have their own photos. Therefore this is a legitimate counterfeit.

This happened to Backlund guitar models

nah bro the chibson market is a real thing, you will pay 366$ for that guitar and its going to show up, but it will be unplayable for any length of time. they do build loook alikes for dirt cheap in china, they are for the people who want something to hang on the wall.

At 10 cents per hr the maybe made a profit

That's absolutely insane -- I think one thing people should remember is that the guitar Chris designed was for a CHARITY raffle. At the best, they are cashing in on someone else's intellectual property that was used for CHARITY so they can make a profit, which is disgusting and shameless. At worst, it's just conning people out of hundreds of dollars at a time without giving them anything back.

It's just a basic visual lookalike. They aren't actually recreating anything. 😅 That includes fake EMGs and fake Floyd Rose copies. And fake tuners. This should be obvious enough. A fake set of EMGs.. for them... Likely cost $5 A counterfeit Floyd Rose? Probably 10 bucks.

This is a huge issue with publicizing your designs. There are countless stories of inventors having their product designs stolen by Chinese companies because they were accurately described on Kickstarter. Many times, the counterfeiter's products reach the market before the inventor gets enough money on Kickstarter. Shameless, but typical, sad to say.

@HighlineGuitars

3 ай бұрын

Very good points. Thanks for sharing them.

next time better keep it top secret 😅

Those darn Red Chinese!

That must be the fastest knock off jobbie

No way they can make it. I bought a few Les pauls from various sellers that claimed to manufacture them for “big brands”. I did it for giggles just to see what it looked like. Both were fairly terrible and had to be extensively upgraded. Literally I only left the wood. Even measurements were strangely off. With all the plans. They even slammed Gibson logo on it. Which is super illegal

thanks china ... I'll order one

We should buy one and send it to you for critique 😂😂😂

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

DON'T!! Buying these counterfeit products supports slave labor and human trafficking.

@MET3

7 ай бұрын

Also, it’s probably a scam. Very likely that you never even get a guitar sent your way.

I tried to find this guitar on AE to report it as a scam, but the search had no results. Probably, it was deleted by the moderator. However, there are tonnes of fake high-end guitars there like ESP Custom shop Ouija Kirk Hammet signature for about $200. Of course they just look like a genuine ESP guitar, but the parts like EMG pickups and FR bridge are also fake, and the craftsmanship quality is awful.

I'd say $10000 is quite a red flag, in and of itself.

NOW 3 SOLD

Yep. It's still up there but I can get it for $365.42. How bout that!

I guess you've made it to the "big time" -- at least as far as this guitar goes. Congratulations! :) (I know it kind of sucks though.)

Friends don't let friends buy and Chibsons or Chetfield guitars.

If a client asked me to create a guitar I could never reproduce, representing of band brand and identity, I’d charge a lot more than $10k. They got off easy! It’s a beautiful guitar for sure. It is sad to see the lack of integrity and morality of certain someones overseas. Too lazy and devoid of creativity to make something like this leveraging their own means to do so. If they can’t even take a picture of their own, there’s no way they’ll ever make good on building something like this.

Ther is no guitar your money would vanish !

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

Yes, there is a guitar. I have seen the photos of the counterfeit product.

It's a compliment they stole your design, but shameful on their part. Knowing what baseline decent components and hardware cost (minimum $400-600 just for parts and pickups), that price guarantees it will be put together with cheap junk. It is also highly unlikely that those knock-offs are set up to be playable like your excellent custom guitars will be.

Not such a one off if China is coping it😮

I doubt they’re actually selling a copy of your guitar. I think they just took your pictures in an attempt to scam someone out of $366.20.

But we know the original creator who designed this masterpiece

LMFAO!

It’s disgusting I make I statement to not buy anything from china . When I can. I know most of everyday things I made there. But anything instruments related, I try my hardest not to buy from there. They are a culture of copying, and I not stupid anything built there a fraction goes to the PPC. So enough of KZreadrs doing unboxing of chibson guitars or else. Do not encourage them😢

The V shape of the guitar body is not your original design

@HighlineGuitars

7 ай бұрын

When did I say it was?

@daliborreskov4088

7 ай бұрын

You also copied other people's ideas. Copying and cloning is not necessarily bad, and most often increases the value and price of the originals. An experienced guitar player looks for quality (sound, reliability, durability...) and knows where to find it and how much it costs, but why shouldn't a 13-year-old boy, for example, have a good time for a few hundred dollars. You are not harmed in a material sense and at the end of the day it is a great advertisement for Highline Guitars and you personally.@@HighlineGuitars

here's an idea: raise 366 dollars and buy the counterfeit. * if you never receive a guitar, you will have revealed a scam. * if you receive a guitar, you could examine it and tell us what you think about it (compared to the original) either way, it sounds like watchable youtube material. i would understand though, if that's not your cuppa tea. EDIT: Do you have a paypal account for contributions/ donations?

@HighlineGuitars

6 ай бұрын

I think that would be ethically wrong. If they were to send me a guitar, I would be more inclined to consider reviewing it. I'm not going to hold my breath.

Flattering???? That was a badass build. China guitar? Garbage

Nobody should buy counterfeits either, it supports organized crime...although lots of people seem to buy them for "reviews" and obviously then those guitars are wholly destroyed wink wink and never sold onto the secondary market because wouldn't that be illegal and who would ever do such a thing?

All of a sudden Americans are outraged by illegality and immorality when copying guitars. What are copying?