Foreword: Read this guide if you want an idea of what to look out for. If you intend to buy fakes then go ahead, but read ahead to gain some knowledge of my own discoveries.

Hello

I used to be one of those teenage kids who would kill for a killer sexy guitar such as a Gibson Les Paul or anything with Gibson and Fender written on it. I showed me mom and dad but they didn't want to buy from a guy in China. I was quite shattered. I knew they were fakes but they look totally real. But after playing for a year I've matured a bit. I've learnt that if you want something because it says 'Gibson', or I don't know... 'PRS' then you're just a poser who probably isn't skilled at guitar and just wants some attention from people. Well anyways on with the guide.

Heres what to look out for:

• Truss Rod Cover : This is the plastic piece on the bottom of the headstock that covers the truss rod opening. All Gibson's usually have two screws, one on the top and bottom of the truss rod cover. If you spot a Gibson with three screws (like an Epiphone) then it's definitely a fake. Epiphone guitars made in Japan  usually have two screws on the truss rod cover and  a Gibson-style open-book headstock shape. If you spot a Japanese-style Epiphone  being sold on a Chinese website then avoid it. They'd most likely only be sold in Japanese guitar-shop websites and eBay.
• Serial Number (back of headstock): Most Chinese fakes have the back of the headstock stamped with a number and the fraudulent 'Made in U.S.A' letters. It's fairly hard to explain how they look but do some research yourself. Look for an authentic Gibson and a fake one and compare. The authentic Gibson would have a much more spaced arrangement of numbers while the counterfiet would have a more squashed group of numbers. Different fakes vary but you will probably be able to tell. The back of fakes are usually glazed which is not common on authentic Gibsons. Always check the serial on the Guitar Dater Project (http://www.guitardaterproject.org/). It's probably the easiest and quickest way to know if you're buying a fake or not. But you can always contact Gibson at their official website (www.gibson.com).
• Pickup selector: I once spotted this Ace Frehley signature Les Paul and noticed that the pickup selector was totally at the wrong spot. It was about directly on top of the bridge pickup. Always check for this as it can be an early-bird sign that its a fake Gibson. They are usually in line with the 21st fret.
• Fretboard Inlays: This is a real common factor in fake Gibsons. Particularly the Gibson Les Paul Supreme model which has these funky shaped frets. Go to the official Gibson website and get a picture of a real Gibson Les Paul and compare it to one you're thinking of buying. On the Chinese fakes around the 17th fret there is usually a flaw in the shape. Always check for any flaws int he fretboard inlays. I once saw a fake Gibson Les Paul Supreme on ebay and it was in the thousands... I couldn't do anything about it but it broke my heart to see an honest Australian throwing away money for a fake.
• Pearl Headstock: On fake Gibson's the headstock logo is usually plain white and very dull. On authentic Gibson's usually the Les Paul Custom the pearl is usually very shiny and at times dark. Check out the headstock of Zakk Wylde's custom Gibson Les Paul. You'll notice the headstock has a pretty dark and bright pearl logo.
  
  Websites selling fakes that you might want to look out for follow:
  
• http://www.musoland.com.cn
  
• http://www.bounry.com
  
• http://www.bazaarofchina.com
  
• http://www.mymusia.com
  
• http://www.paylessguitar.com

Here we have a fake Gibson Les Paul head stock. See how the white is boring, dull and flat? <source: http://www.musoland.com.cn>
Here we have a real Gibson Les Paul headstock. Nice and shiny (notice the darkness in the 'G' in Gibson). <source: http://www.ebay.com.au>

If you guys plan on buying a real Gibson that has Gibson quality over the internet, ask for pictures, serial numbers and any other form of proof. Because you know, if you end up with a fake Gibby in your hands, you'd wish you had spent more time into getting more information on the item rather than speeding up the process.

I'll post more stuff when i can. In the mean time enjoy.