• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass cab has a typo - is it fake?

My bud bought a used Ampeg cab and on the back it says "imputs" instead of "inputs" I just watched a documentary about fake products in the US marketplace and they said this is the #1 tell something is a forgery. What do y'all think?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20200112_144111_MP.jpg
    IMG_20200112_144111_MP.jpg
    543.1 KB · Views: 1,254
It happens

Does it though? I have heard of people swapping badges and what not but I have never seen a mass-produced cabinet counterfeiting operation. Those stickers seem far too legit to be fakes and far too good to be homemade.

I would say it is much more likely that Ampeg made a boo-boo on the printing.
 
That sure is a lot of effort for not a lot of $$$

I'm with the consensus thus far. Just a bad day at QC is my guess.

Likely an overseas contract manufactured plate + wiring job. English maybe not even the first language, so could have been a whole run with a mistake like that. Could be dozens if not hundreds of them.
 
Mistakes do happen and sometimes they get by QC. That said, it is a common indicator of counterfeits.

You can always look at the drivers and back of the input plate/crossover.

Does it though? I have heard of people swapping badges and what not but I have never seen a mass-produced cabinet counterfeiting operation. Those stickers seem far too legit to be fakes and far too good to be homemade.

I would say it is much more likely that Ampeg made a boo-boo on the printing.

Actually, there are some MASSIVE cabinet counterfeiting operations in China, any brand with high perceived value is a candidate. China is in fact the largest and now most sophisticated counterfeit operation in the world, stealing IP is big business and they don't copy Chinese brands either... they copy US and European brands.

The link posted below SHOULD be eye opening, every product listed is a counterfeit, a fake and a misrepresentation. Harman tries to shut them down but they pop up as fast or faster than they shut down, and the cost of enforcement is staggering (especially when "bribes" are factored in). These products don't sound nor do they perform in any way like the real products. You think this is bad? Yo ought to be really worried about things like medications and food.

China Jbl Speaker, Jbl Speaker Wholesale, Manufacturers, Price | Made-in-China.com
 
Mistakes do happen and sometimes they get by QC. That said, it is a common indicator of counterfeits.

You can always look at the drivers and back of the input plate/crossover.



Actually, there are some MASSIVE cabinet counterfeiting operations in China, any brand with high perceived value is a candidate. China is in fact the largest and now most sophisticated counterfeit operation in the world, stealing IP is big business and they don't copy Chinese brands either... they copy US and European brands.

The link posted below SHOULD be eye opening, every product listed is a counterfeit, a fake and a misrepresentation. Harman tries to shut them down but they pop up as fast or faster than they shut down, and the cost of enforcement is staggering (especially when "bribes" are factored in). These products don't sound nor do they perform in any way like the real products. You think this is bad? Yo ought to be really worried about things like medications and food.

China Jbl Speaker, Jbl Speaker Wholesale, Manufacturers, Price | Made-in-China.com

Maybe I should have been more clear - I have never seen any guitar cabinets being counterfeited. Your link doesn't include any either. I ran an electronics warehouse for years. I am quite familiar with home stereo equipment counterfeits. And, yes, unfortunately, those are commonly seen.

I would be pretty shocked if the cabinet in question was not an authentic Ampeg product.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pilgrim
Maybe I should have been more clear - I have never seen any guitar cabinets being counterfeited. Your link doesn't include any either. I ran an electronics warehouse for years. I am quite familiar with home stereo equipment counterfeits. And, yes, unfortunately, those are commonly seen.

I would be pretty shocked if the cabinet in question was not an authentic Ampeg product.

No, I was just showing one example. If you think Fender products are not counterfeited, you are naive because there are multiple companies that counterfeit these products as well. Often they will show a picture without the proper badge, but dishonest importers can order them built with counterfeit Fender badges, silkscreen and in counterfeit Fender cartons and with counterfeit Fender manuals too.

While my examples show only a few products, these companies will copy ANYTHING and as closely as their customer is willing to pay for. Of course, it's not legal but it's out there.

Fender guitar amp, China fender guitar amp, fender guitar amp Manufacturers, China fender guitar amp catalog

Marshall guitar amp, China marshall guitar amp, marshall guitar amp Manufacturers, China marshall guitar amp catalog
 
  • Like
Reactions: hintz and DJ Bebop
I've seen a lot of serial numbers with the prefix (21) but never yet with the words 'serial number' actually written in after it as well. Until now.
And I'm not buying into a typo....it would have been caught on the first or second cab tested on the line.
Don't dismiss agedhorse's comments. If you or the manufacturer don't think a product is feasible to counterfeit then the Chinese are already at it.
You won't know if this cab is real or not without looking inside but I wouldn't bother. There's lots of those out there with the correct spelling.