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I got my first guitar when I was 13, a used axe that my uncle didn't want anymore. It's a 1980s (I think) Washburn copy of the Black Beauty, one of Gibson's most famous (and expensive) models in the Les Paul line.

I don't know much about the history of Washburn, but I imagine that they couldn't get away with such a blatant copy like this one today. I do know, however, that other Japanese companies (like Ibanez) had done similar things (especially with Strat imitations) in the 1960s and '70s.

But as you can see, this is actually a fairly high-quality imitation. The fretboard and headstock inlays are real mother of pearl. And the headstock features the beautiful design so distinctive on the real Gibson model, even with the "Custom" plate underneath. Except for the word Washburn (and the black rhythm pick-up I had installed to replace the broken one it had when I got it), you would hardly know it wasn't original just by looking at it!

I mostly play a Telecaster now (check out my first post or my profile pic), but this guitar will always have a special place in my heart.