Here is something totally weird.

I went to a local music shop that just opened up. Exlusively used intsruments and new strings and such. Tiny place. So Im checking out some of the guitars, all lower quality instruments. I approach the counter and I see a Gibson acoustic with some writing and cartoons on it in black marker. I look closer... It was singned by Lennon twice; he drew a little cartoon figure of his face and Yoko's (I would guess, as I could care less about Beatles history or his dating chronology) both sigs dated 69. One was in signed in Amsterdam, and I couldnt read the local where the other was signed. (Obviously added by the owner after it was signed) (And who knows if theyre real anyway.) But heres the odd thing...

The headstock is inlayed in pearl saying Gibson. Its a nice guitar, I believe its a solid spruce top with mahogany sides, back, neck. I look inside the sound hole and what do I see...? A manufactures label that

?

Its a set neck, so the headstock wasnt added later. So what going on? Rogue made some guitars for Gibson in the late 60's? Is it worth anything? It sounds sweet, plays sweet. I could care less about the sig, as I doubt its real. I cant imagine someone wanting to part with it if it was. A Gibson D100, by Rogue? It may have said DA100 or something like that, but I wasnt too interested in that. Did Rogue make some Gibson guitars? I cant imagine someone adding a label like that. Thoughts?

My first thought: a forgery.

Rogue is Musician's Friend's private label. China is fairly recent

Thats what I thought as well, but its clearly a very old guitar. And the Gibson on the headstock is inlaid pearloid or something. So theres something very weird about this. The Rogue label is old as sin, Im assuming original. So any theories? Was there an old Rogue company that made guitars that sank, and then returned to business decades later, in its present form? Or maybe this guitar was treated like crap for years and its really not all that old? Weird. Im going to go back tomorrow just to ask whats up with that. If it is a Rogue, it really does sound just as good as any Gibson acoustic Ive heard. So they must make great knock-offs. I have a dental mirror, maybe Ill peek around under the soundboard a bit. I know the fake sig is fake, otherwise it'd be worth 50 grand or something.

Youre probably right about it being a fake Gibson, but boy, it sure is a good one.

Check out page 114 in the April 2005 Acoustic Guitar issue. It has a picture of the original guitar.

I dont have it. What do you mean that it has a picture of the original guitar? Is this an intentional knock-off? With the fake signature? Or an intentional fake of a Gibson by Rogue that looks dirt old, or...?

How much does it say its worth? It plays sweet, so Rogue must make some fine fakes.

The article states that Yoko Ono is still in possesion of the guitar. It's a Gibson J-160E with single coil pickup mounted next to the fingerboard with passive volume/ tone controls.It is currently on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
http://montana.gibson.com/lennon/bedin.html

I haven't seen a Rogue version of it but I wouldn't think it would be hard to copy the signature/ caricature with a magic marker. The question is if the store is trying to pass it off as original.

HEY! Great help. Thanks alot.

No, Im sure theyre not trying to pass it off as original. Itd be worth bukoo bucks. But yup, thats the guitar, thats the sig. But a Rogue copy of a Gibson copy of an original guitar owned by Lennon? LOL.

Sounds as sweet as a Gibson. Im surpised Rogue didnt get their short hairs yanked for making such a blatent copy. It has Gibson right on the headstock, with a Rogue label in the soundhole. Thanks, very interesting. Whoever did this copy did a mighty fine job.

He IS a starving heroin junkie. Well, maybe he's not starving.

Boise??? I love that town...had a real good time playing a club called Dino's about 9-10 years ago. Nice girls you have there!

One took me up where there's this big cross...found a little bit of a cave...mmmmmm.

~Rich See my gear at the link!

Yeah! Tablerock! I didn't remember the name...I can't remember the chick's name either! Do you happen to know that, too? LOL Maybe there this one gal that has a reputation for taking band guys up there?

Another thing I did was fall down Bogus Basin 10 feet at a time. I would ski for 10 feet, crash, roll 10 feet, gather up my stuff, put the skis back on, repeat. My defense was that I was from Nebraska...no mountains here! I wore a bright red Huskers sweatshirt so everyone would know to ski around me!

Once I got to the bottom, I spent the remainder of my time in the lodge.

I sprained my thumb when I lost my ski pole and it was hard to hold my pick at the gig that night.

~Rich See my gear at the link!

Probably a Yoko authorized licensed product.

It has Gibson right on the

Now THAT is odd. They'd have to get Gibson to agree. Not very likely. Possibly a one off?

Thanks, very interesting.