Epiphone LP Fujigen Authentication

[ShefSvemira]

Hello,
I was wondering if you could help me. I am in a position of acquiring what it looks to be a Fujigen 1995 Les Paul Epiphone. The problem is that it has a standard epiphone headstock and all the photos i see of Fujigen Epihones have either a gibson bookmatch headstock or an Epiphone Elitist "bump" headstock.  Also serial number is F5020291 and image is below.

Thanx!

[Matt4356]

Japan has made them with the clipped ear epi headstock. But they had a bolt on neck, not in the fender sense but it has a black grommet on the back hiding one screw and two screws under the fret board. Sometimes mistaken for a strap pin, there was a thread a while ago where someone bought one not knowing it was bolt on.

That model is the only jap lp that was being made in 95 and the only one to ever have that headstock, it also had a flame top and a made in Japan silk screen on the back. This is no way that model.

Its a standard to me, nothing else.

I will say, the only real issue with that guitar is that the serial number is in too far off a location to have left most factoies, let alone Fujigen. Something doesn't seem right.

[iankinzel]

MIJ Epi's of that era use very different serial number formats...I've seen either a five-digit format with no letters, a six-digit format with no letters, or a stamped-in serial number with "MADE IN JAPAN" underneath.

Assuming this particular piece is genuine, it looks like a '95 MIK made at the Fine Guitars factory.

[mihcmac]

Guitar Insite SN Decoder       https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-epiphone_eng.php

Serial number: F5020291

Production year: February 1985, 1995 or 2005 (serial: 0291)

Made by Fuji-gen, Japan

With the Gibson on the nut plate where newer versions would say Standard, I think it would be a 95.. Most likely not an Elitist but made at  Fugi-gen is big Plus..

http://www.epiphonewiki.org/index/Les_Paul_Standard.php#Les_Paul_Standard

It is similar to Les Paul Standards made at the Fuji-Gen factory for Yamano-Gakki between 94 and 97, but they only have 7 digit serial numbers.

http://www.epiphonewiki.org/index/Les_Paul_Standard.php#Les_Paul_Standard_.28Yamano-Gakki.29

The similar Elitist Les Paul Standard Below does not have clipped ear headstock..

Edited August 6, 2020 by mihcmac

[Matt4356]

17 hours ago, mihcmac said:

Guitar Insite SN Decoder       https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-epiphone_eng.php

Serial number: F5020291

Production year: February 1985, 1995 or 2005 (serial: 0291)

Made by Fuji-gen, Japan

With the Gibson on the nut plate where newer versions would say Standard, I think it would be a 95.. Most likely not an Elitist but made at  Fugi-gen is big Plus..

http://www.epiphonewiki.org/index/Les_Paul_Standard.php#Les_Paul_Standard

It is similar to Les Paul Standards made at the Fuji-Gen factory for Yamano-Gakki between 94 and 97, but they only have 7 digit serial numbers.

http://www.epiphonewiki.org/index/Les_Paul_Standard.php#Les_Paul_Standard_.28Yamano-Gakki.29

The similar Elitist Les Paul Standard Below does not have clipped ear headstock..

 

Read my reply...

The Yamano-gakki are screw on neck, with a single black grommet on the heel commonly mistaken for a strap pin.

This clearly isn't one of those.

[mihcmac]

1 hour ago, Matt4356 said:

 

Read my reply...

The Yamano-gakki are screw on neck, with a single black grommet on the heel commonly mistaken for a strap pin.

This clearly isn't one of those.

I didn't say it was a Gakki, I said it was similar and in addition the OP's SN has 8 digits and not 7 like a Gakki.