gnappi Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 In around 2001 I bought a Joe Pass in natural finish. It plays like a Les Paul and has a three piece maple neck like Gibson used in the 70s. When I got it I called Gibson about it and they said it was nothing they knew about, here's why. It had no JP badging anywhere, the "E" on the pickguard is gone but the impression is still visible, the orange label has no serial number on it, but it has typed EMPEROR on the label (Not Emperor II) and the serial number is S70145xx. Sure all this "could" have been changed, except the serial number. By the dating methods I know it says it was made by Samick, in 1970? But Gibson didn't make the JP till around 1994. Here's a pic of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 ...and the serial number is S70145xx. ... By the dating methods I know it says it was made by Samick, in 1970? But Gibson didn't make the JP till around 1994. I'm no expert, but during the 90s, didn't they use a single digit for the year, making this a 1997? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 doubled up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 I'm no expert, but during the 90s, didn't they use a single digit for the year, making this a 1997? Yes. F = factory code (this can be 2 letters as well) YY = year of manufacture (this can also be just 1 digit for '90s models) MM = month of manufacture R = ranking number (may be more or less digits) Example: S02021234 was made in Feb. 2002 from the Samick Korea factory, unit 1234. http://www.epiphonewiki.com/index.php/Joe_Pass_Emperor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnappi Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 <br />It is a 'regular' Emperor<br /><br />Samick, Korea made Jan 87<br /><br />S=Samick<br />7=1987<br />01=Jan<br />xxxx= production/badge#<br /><br /><a href='http://epiphonewiki.com/index.php/Emperor_Electric_Archtop#Emperor' class='bbc_url' title='External link' rel='nofollow external'>http://epiphonewiki....Archtop#Emperor</a><br /><br /> <img src='http://forum.gibson.com/public/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' /><br /><br /><br /><br /> Hey, thanks. I knew of all ythe "other" Emperor guitars but not the "regular" Emperor. Makes sense ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 I have the same guitar....sort of. I removed the Joe Pass signature from the pick guard. I cannot remember when I bought it. The serial# is I06042334. Absolutely love this guitar. I know its probably made in China but who cares...it was priced right, sounds great and I get a lot of compliments on its sound and appearance. Its paid for itself over and over. It also says EMPEROR on the orange oval sticker inside, but my receipt says Emperor II. Where the serial # spot is on the oval tag, it says N/A. Yet on the back of the headstock there is a serial#. In this photo it has the custom pick guard I made for it out of Arabian burl. I have since gone back to the tortoise shell pick guard that it came with. I also have added Grover Imperial tuning key heads, and a Gibson "Tune-a-matic" bridge from Stew-Mac. Sure dresses it up. Also great for Western Swing, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluemans335 Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Absolutely love this guitar... sounds great and I get a lot of compliments on its sound and appearance. Its paid for itself over and over. There's a touring blues guitarist in Florida, J. P. Soars, that plays a Joe Pass. He put a couple Gibson P-94's in it. Sounds great. Said he controls feedback onstage (including outdoor festivals) by turning down the bass on the amp. I've seen him several times at festivals and never heard it feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Hombre.... thanks for all that info. That helps a lot. I like to know the history on each one of my instruments if possible. I have a lot of instruments and very few back stories. You say April of '06?? I can't believe I've had it seven years already. I walked in the store saw it hanging and knew I had to have it. I gave the guy at the store $20 and said I'd be right back with the rest. He held it...but didn't have the correct case. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? The idiots ordered the guitar and didn't order a case for it. They gave me a huge case probably for a jumbo acoustic. I use the case one of my Ovations came it...perfect fit. I only had a feedback problem once. I play pretty loud at times. If I stay off to one side of the amp its not a problem. I'll probably be putting in a couple '73 Humbuckers I was given. They are out of a ES-355. It may make a diff...don't know. I'm sure these aren't top quality pups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 made April 06 at the korean Saein factory Yes, that is most likely an 'I' at the front of the serial number, which was the code used for instruments from the Saein factory. Saein was a primary supplier for Epiphone in the last decade, and their build quality was generally quite high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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