by Nick Beres
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Police are looking for a man accused of importing fake Gibson guitars from China and selling them for a big profit here in Middle Tennessee.
Officials with the Murfreesboro Police Department said they have confiscated seven different Les Paul guitars that have been sold in area pawn shops. They do have one suspect identified as Wade Massey of Nashville.
Surveillance photos from a Murfreesboro pawn shop showed Massey peddling one of the guitars.
"This is a pretty good looking guitar," said Officer Kyle Evans, with the Murfreesboro Police. But Evans said an expert can tell that they are counterfeits.
"If played this would not sound like the quality of a real Gibson guitar," said Evans.
Genuine Les Paul guitars can sell for more than $1,000. The fakes often go for between $600 and $1,000.
Gibson Guitars' world headquarters is in Nashville and the company released a statement urging anyone buying a Gibson to first have it checked by a licensed dealer to be certain what they are getting is real.
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