Emergency prs question!!

[jgcable]

I ran across a PRS CU22. Blue flametop, the back is a walnut color, birds, tremelo bridge, volume, tone, 3 way toggle.
Front of headstock has Paul Reed Smith signature in gold on it. Back of the headstock has written in gold sharpie...

2 15802

The guitar has gold grover tuners on it and the guy is telling me its a PRS CU22. Black humbuckers and cream trim rings.

I wouldn't be worried about it except for the price he is asking. Its stupid cheap.

Let me know. I am thinking its an SE or some other PRS import but I have never seen one that had the handwritten gold serial number and none of the typical SE import type stuff on it.

[walshula]

I hear PRS's are like Gibsons anymore, so many counterfeits it is hard to actually know if you are getting had till you get it home and tear into it. I recommend doing some research unless it is so cheap it doesn't matter. Good luck with the purchase!

Post some pics if possible, that would help alot.

[Flatpicker]

Does it look like this?



This one is not mine, but I have a 2002 with a 2 serial number written like this one.
It's legit because I bought from a reputable dealer back in 02.


Also:

[lhrocker]

John,

If you email the SN to PRS, they will tell you what it is and they're pretty fast.

[Cliff]

Try emailing PRS support/customer services. I can't remember the email address, but I know I found it on the prs site somewhere. I asked them about the specs of a CU24 that I picked up based on serial number, and they got back to me very quickly. FWIW the serial number on mine is also in something like gold sharpie.

[jgcable]

It has a 2 on back of the headstock with a space and then the 15802. Its not written in. Its block numbers. It looks just like this on the back. This one is a 1992 and its only a few numbers off in serial number. It has the Grover tuners too.

[jgcable]

I don't have time to contact PRS and wait for a response. I need to meet the guy in a few hours.

Let me know. JG

[markD]

I have not seen a PRS with grovers or with block letter SN, usually it is written free-hand in gold paint pen.

[Green Pro Am]

I have not seen a PRS with grovers or with block letter SN, usually it is written free-hand in gold paint pen.

Me either. That picture looks a bit suspicious.

[jgcable]

The picture that I posted is one I found online from somebody else. They called PRS and were told the guitar is a 1992 and totally legit. The one that I found is only 3 serial numbers away from that one. Do you think his was a fake? I have never seen a PRS that didn't have a hand written serial number and I have owned about 6 of them.

[markD]

PRS knows their guitars. if they said that was legit, then they would know. the earliest PRS I have owned was a 1988. the SN was hand-written and it had the Schaller made phase 1 locking tuners.

[jgcable]

Its a fake. I called the guy out on it. He now has it listed as a NON USA made guitar. He is still listing it as a PRS though. You really have to be careful out there!

[markD]

good job!!

[Johnnyryche]

Its a fake. I called the guy out on it. He now has it listed as a NON USA made guitar. He is still listing it as a PRS though. You really have to be careful out there!

I don't know my PRS specs very well and I've never owned a PRS. Just looking at those pics of the back of the headstocks, I can see the difference in the tuner layout and the serial # font. Curious, what else did you see when you checked it out in person that you were able to ID it as a fake? Was it that obvious based on the quality of the build? Curious, for my own knowledge, what to look for to help ID real from fake. Thanks.

[walshula]

Good job on catching the fake, you definitely have to be careful nowadays. One thing I have noticed is the lack of counterfeit Jacksons. I have seen a few that have a "made in USA" waterslide on an import but never any actual counterfeit Jacksons and I have been through roughly 30 or so over the years. Just curious why that is and does anyone have any stories on being had by a "Fake Jackson"???