gvdv Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi, Are the Elitist Casino's still made in Japan (as opposed to the Made in Korea cheaper Casinos)? And how would one verify the place and date of manufacture? Are there serial numbers on the headstock (back) as there are for Les Pauls? Thanks GVDV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Yes. By reading the serial number. Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvdv Posted July 13, 2008 Author Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thanks rotcanx, What's the format of the serial number - I don't remember how Gibson does it, so if it's the same for the Elitists then I'd appreciate you reminding me. Thanks, GVDV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thanks rotcanx' date='What's the format of the serial number - I don't remember how Gibson does it, so if it's the same for the Elitists then I'd appreciate you reminding me. Thanks, GVDV[/quote'] First letter of the serial # should be T for Terada, the factory in Japan that makes the Casino Elitists. The next digit is the year. The next two digits are the month. Last 4 digits are the production run. So T703xxxx would indicate Terada, March 2007 Hope that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi' date='Are the Elitist Casino's still made in Japan (as opposed to the Made in Korea cheaper Casinos)? And how would one verify the place and date of manufacture? Are there serial numbers on the headstock (back) as there are for Les Pauls? Thanks GVDV[/quote'] I have noticed on ebay that some sellers are saying words to the effect that "this Elitist was made in Japan before the operations were moved to Korea" (or China). I have not seen anything anywhere else to indicate that the Elitists are made anywhere other than Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Strum Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi' date='Are the Elitist Casino's still made in Japan (as opposed to the Made in Korea cheaper Casinos)? And how would one verify the place and date of manufacture? Are there serial numbers on the headstock (back) as there are for Les Pauls? Thanks GVDV[/quote'] I'm not sure if this will help. http://www.guitardaterproject.org/default.aspx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 I have noticed on ebay that some sellers are saying words to the effect that "this Elitist was made in Japan before the operations were moved to Korea" (or China). I have not seen anything anywhere else to indicate that the Elitists are made anywhere other than Japan. Here's a rough history from memory: In the 70s' date=' Gibson halted USA production of Epiphones and contracted Matsumoku in Japan to put out a line of cheap guitars under the Epiphone name. By the mid 70s, Matsumoku started to make a high quality line of Epiphones (Casinos, Sheratons, Emperors, Rivieras...) mostly for the Japanese market. In the mid 80s, operations were moved to Korea, with Samick as the main supplier of Epiphones. However, Matsumoku continued to manufacture the line of high quality Epis, but in the '90s production of these models was move to the Terada factory in Japan. These models [i']evolved[/i] into the Elite series around 2002 (if I remember correctly), about a year later the name was changed to Elitist because another manufacturer was using the name Elite for one of their guitar models. So the Elitist series came well after the move to Korea, it was the Matsumokus that preceded the move. The Elitists are made in Japan, semi & hollow bodies by Terada and the solid bodies (LPs & SGs) by Fuji Gen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thanks for the overview. I have an Elite Byrdland and an Elitist Byrdland, and I was wondering if they were made in the same place. The cases are a bit different but the guitars are very similar. Do you know if Terada and Fuji Gen have their own name brand of high end electrics? I'm thinking that the Tokais might be made by Fuji Gen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted July 13, 2008 Share Posted July 13, 2008 Thanks for the overview. I have an Elite Byrdland and an Elitist Byrdland' date=' and I was wondering if they were made in the same place. The cases are a bit different but the guitars are very similar. Do you know if Terada and Fuji Gen have their own name brand of high end electrics? I'm thinking that the Tokais might be made by Fuji Gen.[/quote'] Yeah, both Byrds should be Teradas. The Elite / Elitist was just a name change, no difference in the guitars AFAIK. I'm not sure about Terada & Fuji Gen having their own brands, but I wouldn't doubt it. Along with Matsumoku, they have manufactured some of the finest guitars known to man. Terada & Fuji Gen made those great Ibanez guitars in the 70s & 80s, and I think Fuji Gen still makes the better Ibanez models to this day. I had a '99 George Benson that was a Fuji Gen. The current Pro series of Gretsch guitars are made by Terada. I think you're correct about Fuji Gen & Tokai, the better Japanese models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvdv Posted July 14, 2008 Author Share Posted July 14, 2008 Hi Jerrymac, Jeffery Smith and Just Strum, Many thanks for the wonderful information. I appreciate the replies. GVDV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 FujiGen have their own line of guitars. Unfortunately their web site is in Japanese only. Click here to view the FujiGen site... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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