Ricochet Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I'm trying to get a grip on the Elite/Elitist line produced from 2002- 2008, and made a shortlist specificly dealing with LPs, since they have my interest. So far I have: • Epiphones MIJ, for the Japanese market, open book headstock. Japanese hardware. • Elitists, MIJ, for export, narrow Elitist headstock, Elitist stamp, US and German made hardware. • Elites/Elitists, MIJ, for the Japanese market, with open-book headstock and Elite/Elitist stamp. Japanese(?) hardware. • Epiphone Elites, open-book headstock, no Elite indication(rare early 2002 model). My questions are: Have there been any Elites with the narrow headstock shape? Is the hardware on Elites/Elitists (intended for the Japanese market), Japanese or US/German made like on the export models? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 The only 'Japanese' elitist for the Japanese market I've ever seen was the 'satin finished' elitist sgs. From what I understand, when the elitists were discontinued they shipped the remaining inventory of this particular model to Musician's Friend. The US models were all glossy-finished. I read where there were only a few of satin finished units and they were never released to the US market until the very end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 I have a Les Paul Standard with the "Elite" stamp. The serial number begins with F3. I expect that most of the Elite/Elitists made that year would be missing the "-ist," as this was the first year of their production, and the name change wasn't affected until later. For what it's worth, I have a 2004 catalog, and the "Elitist" logo is in full use by then. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 The only 'Japanese' elitist for the Japanese market I've ever seen was the 'satin finished' elitist sgs. From what I understand' date=' when the elitists were discontinued they shipped the remaining inventory of this particular model to Musician's Friend. The US models were all glossy-finished. I read where there were only a few of satin finished units and they were never released to the US market until the very end.[/quote'] My satin finsh SG has the Elitist headstock, not the open book, though I have seen pictures of those. Hi, Slim! Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted March 10, 2010 Share Posted March 10, 2010 My '07 Elitist 335 has Japanese hardware on it. "Gotoh Japan" on the bridge and tailpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 The US models were all glossy-finished. Interesting. How about the Laquer series? Elitist, Japanese market only, open book? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 The serial number begins with F3. I expect that most of the Elite/Elitists made that year would be missing the "-ist' date='" as this was the first year of their production, and the name change wasn't affected until later. For what it's worth, I have a 2004 catalog, and the "Elitist" logo is in full use by then. [/quote'] Sure it wasn't 2002 as first year of production? Yes I have 2004 too as the year they changed the name from Elite to Elitist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 11, 2010 Author Share Posted March 11, 2010 My '07 Elitist 335 has Japanese hardware on it. "Gotoh Japan" on the bridge and tailpiece. Tnx, What headstock style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 My satin finsh SG has the Elitist headstock' date=' not the open book, though I have seen pictures of those. Hi, Slim! Red 333[/quote'] Hey Red, ssame here. When MF was offering the satin-finished sgs (as you know, only near the end) I called Sweetwater to try to order one and the Sweetwater guy told me the story about how MF got the last of the Japanese-market sgs. So you can take from it what you will. I've got one of them, too, and so does my brother. When my other brother tried to order one they were gone. As you know, they didn't last long at MF. Only about a couple of weeks. So lord only knows how many of them are out there. Not many, I think. I bought a satin finish and a cherry gloss finish at the same time. Man, they are the best SGs I've ever played. Certainly better than any Gibson priced under their own '61 re-issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Sure it wasn't 2002 as first year of production? You may be right. Epiphone.com annonced the Elite series in September of 2002' date=' expecting it be in stores in November or December. [i']"Designed for the discriminating musician, the new Elite line from Epiphone combines over 125 years of instrument building experience and expertise with the finest materials and craftsmanship. The Elite line represents a significant "step-up" from the standard Epiphone line and at a price point that is still well below its sister company, Gibson. All of the Elite instruments are made in Japan and share features such as Epiphone USA pickups made by Gibson, premium book-matched tone woods, one-piece necks, Grover' machine heads, nickel-plated or 24k gold hardware, stamped serial numbers, bone nuts and saddles, solid tops and backs on acoustics, USA strings and meticulous attention to detail and set-up. Every instrument also includes a premium hard case. The Elite line represents a full line of instruments including solid bodies, archtops, basses and acoustics. The line-up includes 16 different models including the Les Paul Custom, Standard Plus, Standard and Standard Lefty, the '61 SG, the EB-3 and Thunderbird bass, the Sheraton, Riviera, Riviera-12, '63 Dot and '65 Casino, the J-200, '65 Texan, J-45 and L-00. (Other models are expected to be added later.) To view the complete line-up on-line and to download the new Epiphone Elite catalog, visithttp://www.epiphone.com/news/2002/sept3a.html. The Elite line is expected to be available beginning in November or December 2002."[/i] Most other press releases, etc. that I've found are dated early 2003. The Elites weren't in the 2003 Epiphone catalog, but were in a stand-alone catalog of their own. Here's a link, if you don't already have this: Epiphone Elite 2003 Catalog They were in the 2004 catalog with the other guitars, so the stand-alone catalog suggested to me Epiphone was not sure when in 2003 they would become available. Originally, that lead me to believe that production began in 2003. However, if the original projection was for them to appear in November or December of 2002 (as in the article above), they must have thought production would beging before that, at least on some models. So 2002 does appear right as the first year of production. Have you come across any 2002 serial #s? That would be the definitive word. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Tnx' date=' What headstock style? [/quote'] FWIW, my '03 Goldtop is marked "Elite", has the same headstock as my 335 (SEE^^^^ABOVE), and is marked as a prototype in the cavity. has a sticker on the cavity plate with the serial number on it (matching the headstock serial #) and "EPI Prototype"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarpBoy Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 FWIW' date=' my '03 Goldtop is marked "Elite", has the same headstock as my 335 (SEE^^^^ABOVE), and is marked as a prototype in the cavity. has a sticker on the cavity plate with the serial number on it (matching the headstock serial #) and "EPI Prototype"...[/quote'] I also have a F3, January (F301XXX) Elite Goldtop. It has Gibson on the TRC. I haven't taken off the pickups to check it out. What a beautiful guitar. I believe I saw someone on MyLesPaul saying that he had an '02 Elite Goldtop. I've also seen others with '03s labeled as Elitist. I've not heard of an MIJ Elite with an open-book headstock. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefman Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 All three of mine are '03 Elites, an LP Standard (F3) , Riviera VS (T3), and J-45 VS(T3). I have seen Elites from 02 and regret not jumping on them. I had another Elitist LP Standard in Honeyburst. an an Elitist LP Studio VS both of which I sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Flick Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 I'm trying to get a grip on the Elite/Elitist line produced from 2002- 2008' date=' and made a shortlist specificly dealing with LPs, since they have my interest. So far I have: • Epiphones MIJ, for the Japanese market, open book headstock. Japanese hardware. • Elitists, MIJ, for export, narrow Elitist headstock, Elitist stamp, US and German made hardware. • Elites/Elitists, MIJ, for the Japanese market, with open-book headstock and Elite/Elitist stamp. Japanese(?) hardware. • Epiphone Elites, open-book headstock, no Elite indication(rare early 2002 model). My questions are: Have there been any Elites with the narrow headstock shape? Is the hardware on Elites/Elitists (intended for the Japanese market), Japanese or US/German made like on the export models?[/quote'] Here's a PDF of the 2002 Elite catalog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Here's a PDF of the 2002 Elite catalog That's the PDF I posted, too. I think yours may be mislabeled though. While the url to the one I posted says 2002 catalog, the file name itself says 2003, and it appears to be the original format (yours looks like it was renamed). It may have been available in late 2002 as a download on the Epiphone site before the line was in stores (see the press release above, in my longer post), which is why the url in mine and file name of yours may have been labeled 2002. Do you know for sure, either way? I didn't see a copyright date or any other in the catalog. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Here's a PDF of the 2002 Elite catalog And you what's really wierd? In the 2004 printed catalog, the Gibson-model Elitist Acoustics are shown with Masterbilt-style, offset notch headstocks. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted March 11, 2010 Share Posted March 11, 2010 Sure it wasn't 2002 as first year of production? quote] Here's a nice picture from the Les Paul forum of a beautiful 2002 Elite. 2002 Elite Les Paul Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salmonlake Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Dawsons Music Manchester are giving away a free Epiphone Elitist J-45 on Saturday 24th July. Proceedings start at 11.00am and finish at 3.30pm plus Dr. Epiphone will be there to answer questions etc. http://www.dawsons.co.uk/news/2010/07/free-epiphone-elitist-j-45-just-what-the-dr-ordered/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Dr. Epiphone will be there to answer questions etc. Has Dr. Epiphone or any other member of the Epiphone family ever considered selling the company? Is Dr. Epiphone a 'hands on' owner? How much time does Dr. Epiphone spend at his plants in China? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Sure it wasn't 2002 as first year of production? Right' date=' the Elite production started in 2002, I have two of that 2002 models here (ES-335 and LP Standard Plus Top). Yes I have 2004 too as the year they changed the name from Elite to Elitist. Yep, because Ovation already used the Elite name for a guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverden Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 My '04 LP Elitist has Elitist headstock and Grover Tuners. My '03 Elite Sheraton has Open Book headstock and Grovers. Pups on both are Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lend27 Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 This is my 2002 Les Paul Plus Elite. Serial number F202539 What a beauty and plays so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lend27 Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 BTW......those are Seymour Duncan Antiquity humbuckers......with aged covers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wulfman Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 Hello everyone, I am new to the forum but not that new to Epiphones. I have an open-book 2002 Elite model I bought a few months ago. Brilliant guitar with nice finish. Unfortunately I haven't had much playing time as it is sitting at my in-laws in Tokyo for now until I pick it up next month. I started with Epi's by picking up a MIJ SG in 2008 and was very impressed, so when I found this I didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Here is the back of the headstock and a body shot: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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