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Epiphone Japan SG


Fescat

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I just bought one of the Epiphone Japan 61 Reissue SG's from a seller in Japan and am very satisfied with the guitar. Believe it was a limited production run but could be wrong. In my opinion it sounds better than the USA Gibson SG that I sold which had the 490T and 490R pickups. I really did not care for that pickup combo and I rarely played it. I could have put in a 57 Classic Plus pickup but already have a cheap Alsin Dane SG that I installed that pickup in and it sounds great. Was not intending to get another SG but bought an Epiphone Elitist Les Paul and absolutely fell in love with it. Kind of a similar situation as my previous Les Paul which was a USA made Les Paul with the Burstbucker Pro pickups. Did not care for the pickups and just never bonded with it so I sold it.

 

Anyway, I started the search for one of the Epiphone Elitist SG's. Stumbled across the Epiphone SG 61 reissue made in Japan and bought that on a whim because it has the Gibson headstock style. Also had the more traditional looking tuners, not the kidney shaped tuner knobs. Guitar is lacquer finished and looks nice but I did notice a small cluster of pitting near the volume knob. Was in the wood and they really should have caught that before the finishing process. Minor issue with the guitar that I can overlook as overall, it is a superb looking guitar with great tone. Sounds goofy but I really prefer my Epiphone Elitist Les Paul and this SG that is made in Japan.

Would love to hear feedback if others own a similar guitar or the Elitist SG. On a side note, I just saw Govt Mule and have a feeling that I will not be able to rest until I have one of the Warren Haynes 58 reissue Les Pauls. Outstanding live band. Go see them if they are playing in your neck of the woods. Going to see Angus and the boys this Sunday. Hell with the recession.....Rock on!!

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Hi Fescat, welcome to the "Nut House!" Several of us, here, have that same MIJ '61 SG! I LOVE mine! It's the "Cherry" color version. Can't say enough good things about it. And, at 1/3 (or less) the cost of a Gibson...you can't beat it, with a baseball bat! Elitist LP's, and everything else, were great, as well. We're pretty much sickened by the fact, that all (but the Elitist Casino), have been discontinued. So, be glad you got your Elitist LP, before that happened. Govt Mule is a great band, and Warren a great player, but I've never been one for "signature" guitars, though I do own a Gibson "Lucille." Even though I love BB, I bought it at the time, because it was 300-400 less than a standard (not Custom Shop) ES 335, and the only other ES-355 you could get WAS a "Custom Shop" verision at about 5K. "Lucille," brand new, was 1600...at the time. I really love it, too...no "F" holes and all! Otherwise, I stay clear of "endorsed" or "signature" guitars. They're too expensive, first off (IMHO), and you won't be the endorsed player, anyway. LOL! But, that's just me!

 

CB

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Thanks for the feedback guys! Cannot say enough about the Epiphone Elitist and MIJ Epiphone series guitars. Would encourage anyone to check their Gibson ego at the door and buy one of these. The Gibson USA models are 3 times the price but in my opinion, they are no better or no worse than the comparable Japan series Epiphones. Have had Gibson Les Pauls and SG's and prefer the Epiphone Japan guitars. You are right about the signature series guitars but I love Angus so I had to break down and get an Angus Signature SG. It is a bad *** looking SG for sure but a bit of a one trick pony and the bridge pickup has a ton of treble and does not stay in tune well with the vibrato. Had an ES335 Washburn type knock off and it was nice but I am a bit of a three chord thrasher and not technically proficient enough to do that model of guitar justice.

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There is a guy selling a white Epiphone 61 reissue Japan SG on Ebay but he has it listed as an Elitist SG. The one I bought was black but the white one looks nice also. Can tell by the headstock and tuning pegs. Also has the Gibson truss rod cover.

 

457d_1.JPG

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Here are some pics of the new Epiphone 61 Reissue SG Japan that I just got and a few of my other Epiphones. Also have my Angus Young SG in here. Lef to right is Epiphone Custom with a Gibson 57 Classic Plus pickup in the bridge that I installed. Epiphone 61 Reissue SG Japan, Epiphone Les Paul Elitist and Gibson Angus Young Signature SG. The Les Paul Elitist is a Honeyburst.

SGhead.jpg

SGandElitist.jpg

61SGJapan.jpg

Guitars.jpg

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Everybody around here seems to focus on the Japanese SG, but I did a little search on eBay:

 

Les Paul Custom- a few finish marks on the headstock, but nice-looking guitar

 

Sg

 

Les Paul Custom

Les Paul Standard

 

As long as we're in Japan, here are some more:

 

Orville Les Paul Standard

 

Orville ES-335

 

Orville Les Paul Custom

 

Orville Les Paul Standard

 

Orville Les Paul Custom

 

Orville by Gibson Les Paul Custom

 

Orville SG Standard

 

Orville by Gibson Les Paul Standard

 

Orville Firebird

 

 

Some prices are higher than others, but some of them are cheaper than buying a new Chinese Epiphone. I may pick one up after the first of the year.

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"Elite" was the designation, prior to calling them "Elitist!" They change the name reportedly to avoid confusion with Ovation "Elite" guitars.

Epiphone Japan (also known as "Orville" for a certain period of time) are the models that were made for

the Japanese market, alone. Not meant for export...which is how they could use the Gibson headstock, and

get away with it. Elite and Elitist exported versions have their headstock (which is based on an older vintage Epiphone shape),

to abide their contract agreements, with Gibson. Of course, it's all "Moot" now...since Elitist are gone, gone, gone! ;>(

According to Gibson, Epiphone Japan was dissolved in 2006. At least, that's what I've read. So, the MIJ Epi's will

be a bit more rare, than they already are, seemingly.

 

CB

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I bought my Epiphone SG in Japan back in 2000 while I was living there. It was a limited edition (SG-70 was the model number). I also owned when I was a young lad an original 1961 Les Paul name plated SG with the side to side 'whammy' (this is true... and I have been kicking myself senseless since the day I sold it!). My Epiphone sounds great... not quite the same hardware as a Gibson (PAF-90s etc) but the play and feel it awesome! I would like to see more of body to neck angle (the Gibson 61 has a steeper angle). The neck joint is a little too low (you can see on my pics) that is about half way between the 21st and 22nd frets, and over time the joint is getting a little weak... must stay still as much as possible while playing =P~

 

hs1.jpg

body.jpg

hstwo.jpg

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  • 9 months later...
  • 4 months later...
Hi Fescat' date=' welcome to the "Nut House!" Several of us, here, have that same MIJ '61 SG! I LOVE mine! It's the "Cherry" color version. Can't say enough good things about it. And, at 1/3 (or less) the cost of a Gibson...you can't beat it, with a baseball bat! Elitist LP's, and everything else, were great, as well. We're pretty much sickened by the fact, that all (but the Elitist Casino), have been discontinued. So, be glad you got your Elitist LP, before that happened. Govt Mule is a great band, and Warren a great player, but I've never been one for "signature" guitars, though I do own a Gibson "Lucille." Even though I love BB, I bought it at the time, because it was 300-400 less than a standard (not Custom Shop) ES 335, and the only other ES-355 you could get WAS a "Custom Shop" verision at about 5K. "Lucille," brand new, was 1600...at the time. I really love it, too...no "F" holes and all! Otherwise, I stay clear of "endorsed" or "signature" guitars. They're too expensive, first off (IMHO), and you won't be the endorsed player, anyway. LOL! But, that's just me!

 

CB

[/quote']

 

Hey CB this may be a dumb question but bear with me. What is an "F" hole I see being referred to on several threads?

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  • 5 months later...

You guys MAY have answered a question about what this Epiphone SG I have is:

 

http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=194963post194963

 

The headstock on my SG is just like the one on the black G-400 posted, except that I have no extra inlay or designs on the headstock.

 

Problem is, there is NO serial number on mine: The first year I ever saw it, was 1994? Maybe 96, it was given to me in 1998.

 

So I either have one of these Japanese ones, or mine is a fake of some sort, or maybe even a factory second. Think one of you guys can check out my link see what I've got?

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You guys MAY have answered a question about what this Epiphone SG I have is:

 

http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&m=194963post194963

 

The headstock on my SG is just like the one on the black G-400 posted' date=' except that I have no extra inlay or designs on the headstock.

 

Problem is, there is NO serial number on mine: The first year I ever saw it, was 1994? Maybe 96, it was given to me in 1998.

 

So I either have one of these Japanese ones, or mine is a fake of some sort, or maybe even a factory second. Think one of you guys can check out my link see what I've got?[/quote']

 

I gave a detailed answer in your other thread, but yours is probably not an Epiphone Japan. The truss rod cover's wrong (3 screw), the lack of a serial #, dot inlays, no crown all point to a very early Korean G-400 (1988 - 1991).

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