Made in China?

[Alfa]

Epiphone SG Made in Japan, very good Epiphone.

 

[Larsongs]

I see a lot of Epiphones on EBay that are advertised as made in Japan.. But nothing about them on Epiphone website.. How do you know they are factory authorized Epiphones? I’ve been tempted a few times…

[DirtyOldCat]

FWIW I just bought a new Epiphone Limited Edition ‘59 Les Paul and it’s excellent. I have yet to find anything wrong with it. The fit and finish are impeccable and the electronics are excellent. It uses Gibson USA pickups. I love my Gibson LP Special but the new Epi LP is every bit as well made, possibly even a bit better. With the Epi I had to change strings and adjust the string height a hair along with intonation (which wasn’t quite perfect even before i changed strings/height). A half hour of work and a $7 pack of strings was definitely worth the money I saved. 

I mean, I’d love to drop $6k on a perfect Gibson but I have 4 kids 😂 … and the Epiphone is a spectacular instrument in its own right.

[Larsongs]

Does it have the USA Gibson/Epiphone Lifetime Warranty? 

I’ve been thinking of an MIJ Epiphone Rivoli Bass. Their Ltd Production Reissue Series ended a few years ago.. I missed them but would love to get a new one…..

[DirtyOldCat]

50 minutes ago, Larsongs said:

Does it have the USA Gibson/Epiphone Lifetime Warranty? 

I’ve been thinking of an MIJ Epiphone Rivoli Bass. Their Ltd Production Reissue Series ended a few years ago.. I missed them but would love to get a new one…..

I got it straight from Epiphone, so I would assume this applies:

https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Support/Warranty/Epiphone

[Larsongs]

Did you order directly from Japan? If so from who? I want to contact them about a Rivoli Bass…

Thanks,

Larsongs

[Matt4356]

1 hour ago, Larsongs said:

Did you order directly from Japan? If so from who? I want to contact them about a Rivoli Bass…

Thanks,

Larsongs

Sounds like he got it straight from the Epiphone.com web site. The model he has AFAIK will be MIC. There are no MIJ currently. 

It also looks like the rivoli hasn't been in standard production since 2002?

I would guess they have been MIK, just based on a lot from epiphone being MIK around then. There may have been special runs for the Japanese domestic market since, I don't know.

 

[DirtyOldCat]

12 minutes ago, Matt4356 said:

Sounds like he got it straight from the Epiphone.com web site. The model he has AFAIK will be MIC. There are no MIJ currently. 

It also looks like the rivoli hasn't been in standard production since 2002?

I would guess they have been MIK, just based on a lot from epiphone being MIK around then. There may have been special runs for the Japanese domestic market since, I don't know.

 

You are correct. It is a MIC model I purchased directly from Epiphone via epiphone.com. I didn’t go down to the warehouse and pound on the door or anything. 

[pohatu771]

18 hours ago, Larsongs said:

I see a lot of Epiphones on EBay that are advertised as made in Japan.. But nothing about them on Epiphone website.. How do you know they are factory authorized Epiphones? I’ve been tempted a few times…

High-end Japanese Epiphones have existed in a few forms, and most of them have only been sold in the Japanese market. The Gibson copies have traditional Gibson-style headstocks, as seen on that SG.

Between 1975 and 1985, Casinos, Sheratons, and Rivieras were made by Matsumoku (via Epiphone's partnership with Aria). These were for the Japanese market, but  were offered worldwide beginning in 1980. The Casino was mostly accurate to Kalamazoo specs, but the Riviera and Sheraton both had full-sized humbuckers. Later models also had stop-bar tailpieces, like the Samick-made Sheraton II and Riviera would eventually have.

Under Gibson's new ownership, standard-tier production moved to Korea in 1986, and high-end Casinos were produced by Terada for the Japanese market. These lasted until 1994, with the Korean version coming in 1996.

In 1988, the Orville by Gibson line was launched, all copies of Gibson models. Most were electric, but there are a few uncommon acoustic models. These were only sold in Japan.

In 1998, the Epiphone Japan line replaced Orville, and produced both Epiphone models and Gibson copies. These were also only sold in Japan.

The John Lennon Casino (1999-2008) and John Lee Hooker Sheraton (2000-2005) models were built in Japan and then finished in Nashville.

In 2003, the Elitist (first Elite) line replaced the Epiphone Japan line, still producing a mix of historic Epiphone and Gibson models. These were discontinued in 2008, except for the Casino (in 2018) and a few  unusual signature models that were Casino variants. There is some difference in models available in Japan (with Gibson headstocks) and the rest of the world (with a New York-era Epiphone headstock).

[mihcmac]

A lot of changes have been made since the introduction of the 2020 models particularly the new SG Standard with the large pickguard and SG Classic.

These are currently the only Epiphone SG's that have incorporated a new design upgrade that involves;

A longer neck joint, like many Gibsons use, that allows the strap button to be moved farther forward improving neck-dive

A two piece body with no veneer

Upgraded headstock, it does have a scarf joint which will probably disappear as stocks of older style necks are used up.

Below the longer neck-joint, D profile Slim Taper neck and two piece body.

Comparing the new SG Classic longer neck joint to the previous 61 style Epiphone SG and G400.

My 2020 Wilshire that also has the 2 piece body, no Scarf Joint and a very fast Medium C profile neck.

 

This Wilshire design is also consistent with the new Coronet and Crestwood.

Edited March 6, 2022 by mihcmac

[Larsongs]

I was getting excited that I might be able to buy a new MIJ Epiphone Rivoli Bass……. Now I’m 🙁 

[mihcmac]

20 hours ago, Larsongs said:

I was getting excited that I might be able to buy a new MIJ Epiphone Rivoli Bass……. Now I’m 🙁 

I think the last of the Rivoli's in production was the MIJ Rivoli II with 2 pickups in 2002. Which was almost identical to the late 90's Peerless version.

Edited March 7, 2022 by mihcmac

[Larsongs]

9 hours ago, mihcmac said:

I think the last of the Rivoli's in production was the MIJ Rivoli II with 2 pickups in 2002. Which was almost identical to the late 90's Peerless version.

Seems like 20 years is a long time is a long time between Reissues of quintessential Instruments…

[bgp6072]

It seems like everyone is a virtual encyclopedia of epiphone and Gibson guitars , however not too many of you are saying how good they play how they look how they sound. In my opinion if a guitar feels good, plays good , sounds great,  no matter where the hell it was made as long as it Rock and rolls ,that's all that counts, screw status, screw price, none of that matters if it doesn't play good.  And who wants to play a piece of crap ?  I certainly don't. I bought a piece of junk  guitar for a$120 bucks, I did a little bit of modifying , and this is  the results. when you take a little time, it changes everything.  This thing is a monster, it rocks and it's wild looking, and plays like smooth silk. And just a little while ago, I don't think everyone on this chat line would have wanted it. Maybe they still don't.  I've played a lot, and I mean a lot of guitars in my day,  and I would put this one up close to the top for All the categories mentioned above.  You never know, you might have one of these gems in your collection and just don't know it. 

Yet.

 

 

 

[Pinch]

Fretwork is hit and miss. I played a $900 Epi Slash, it was unplayable. 

[CROWB8]

I dont like epi electric. Never have. I'm a hard core gibby and fender guy. Every epi i've owned felt cheap. Not one alive that doesnt have bad switches or some sort of electrical issue, frets that cut. Mostly bolt on in the past. Now they have some set necks. Still, admittedly, if it doesnt have a gibby or fender logo, i'm out. I have a 17 epi faded SG. I hate it. Weak neck. Wont stay in tune. Goes out of tune just tilting it. Mistake buying it. Cant sell it. No one wants it.

Member here convinced me. I bought a new epi FB. Different than anything epi has put out to date IMHO. Fricken full on 9 ply  mahogany walnut. I have it. I dont want it in my heart. But 30 days to try. Missed out on the gibby FB for 1900. Is only reason why. I know switches are gonna go. Thats why they invented switchcraft. But, honestly, i cant find anything wrong with it. Its got everything construction wise that gibson has. Plays solidly. I feel it resonate against my chest unplugged when sitting down. Goes thru my fingers, arms. Its 1/3 the price of a gibby! Even bound board that gibby didnt have.

Its got everything I thought only gibby had. I still dont want it. But i'm stuck. No reason to return it. Finace was 21 bucks a month. How do you say no?

And its beautiful. Only two days in my hands. It eating on me. Neck thru. Mmmmmm. Hasnt changed my mind on all the other epi electrics. Doesnt matter how good they look. I really think, because of construction on neck thru, it alone wil go down as epis break out electric.

I hate it. Think I'm gonna keep it. Makes me melt. Only other that did that were LPCBBs. 20th & 70th aniv. I hate it.

[mihcmac]

I love my collection of Epiphone MIC's. I got rid of all my Gibsons because their nitro finishes were melting in my humid climate.

My, Made In Indonesia 97 LP Junior DC was assembled really bad, but the playability of the neck showed a lot of promise, so I have rebuilt it several times and currently it has an 04 Gibson P90 in it. This thing is a screamer with no fret access limitations.

I recently acquired a MIK 2001 E series Les Paul Nuclear Crackle, which is proving to be a very high quality build and in new condition, it looks like it stayed in its case for 22 years. I found this one in a local store and couldn't stop playing it, so I had to take it home.

Living in Hawaii I have bought most of my Epiphones online and had very good luck on 90% of them.

Edited April 7, 2023 by mihcmac