Svet Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 For those of you who don't know me I am a huge fan of Epiphone's Elite/Elitist series of guitar. It is a shame that they stopped making said guitars as they were a relatively inexpensive way to get a taste of top tier instruments. I've got all of mine out after work today and have been strumming out on them since getting home. They are all drop dead gorgeous, wonderful to play and their tone is phenomenal. I own Gibson custom shop Les Pails and I would put the Elitist's right up there in terms of craftsmanship, tone and any guitar/instrument category you want to mention. If you have not had the opportunity to play an Elitist Epiphone it would behoove you to do so. Here are a couple of pictures of mine along with that brilliant purple plush lined cases that they all came with: Perhaps someday they'll bring them back to production/.......sigh Post pics of your Elitist/'s please!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 According to Epi1 Gibson stopped making them due to poor sales. Had these been called Gibson with 'Made in Japan' stamped on the headstock like Fender have done then I'm sure they would have gone like hot cakes, without reducing sales of USA-made Gibsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted August 20, 2010 Share Posted August 20, 2010 I am eagerly awaiting on the arrival of my Elitist Casino from Sweetwater. It's supposedly due to them mid September. :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyb Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 For those of you who don't know me I am a huge fan of Epiphone's Elite/Elitist series of guitar. It is a shame that they stopped making said guitars as they were a relatively inexpensive way to get a taste of top tier instruments. I've got all of mine out after work today and have been strumming out on them since getting home. They are all drop dead gorgeous, wonderful to play and their tone is phenomenal. I own Gibson custom shop Les Pails and I would put the Elitist's right up there in terms of craftsmanship, tone and any guitar/instrument category you want to mention. If you have not had the opportunity to play an Elitist Epiphone it would behoove you to do so. Here are a couple of pictures of mine along with that brilliant purple plush lined cases that they all came with: That, my friend, is a magnificent collection! Elegance personified! I've never owned a HB, but I've mentioned in other posts here that I have a hankering to have one. I'm just not well-versed on which are better and why, and some say you gotta watch the feedback, etc. I used to love to listen to Chet Atkins and his Gretsch with the Bigsby...he made everything he played sound like silk. Of course that was mostly Mr. Atkins, not the instrument...but he played HB's for a reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svet Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 That, my friend, is a magnificent collection! Elegance personified! I've never owned a HB, but I've mentioned in other posts here that I have a hankering to have one. I'm just not well-versed on which are better and why, and some say you gotta watch the feedback, etc. I used to love to listen to Chet Atkins and his Gretsch with the Bigsby...he made everything he played sound like silk. Of course that was mostly Mr. Atkins, not the instrument...but he played HB's for a reason. Hi Tommy, Thanks! That's a sample of the collection, here's a few more pictures if you like: ::) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyb Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Hi Tommy, Thanks! That's a sample of the collection, here's a few more pictures if you like: Uh...Uhh...Jeeez! I'm speechless. Did I count 24? And a cross section of the best, too. I see an SG '61 reissue? bunch of fenders, and the Gretsch is Awesome! Oh, and an ES-335 and some Martin acoustics....OMG!!!!!! :mellow: I NEVER get tired of looking at folks' guitar pics...thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svet Posted August 21, 2010 Author Share Posted August 21, 2010 Uh...Uhh...Jeeez! I'm speechless. Did I count 24? And a cross section of the best, too. I see an SG '61 reissue? bunch of fenders, and the Gretsch is Awesome! I NEVER get tired of looking at folks' guitar pics...thanks! lol, thanks, I'm missing a few pics as I have a few more...perhaps a new show off guitar thread and I'll sort it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoBoBlues Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Dayum! Now that is just decadent! With so many choices, I wouldn't know where to begin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 According to Epi1 Gibson stopped making them due to poor sales. Which is total bull$h*t. They we're cutting into the sales of the more expensive Gibsons. If they were selling so poorly, why not discontinue the Elitist Casino as well? Anyways, here's my two for your consideration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete c Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 that is one great collection, how do you ever pick one to play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyb Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 that is one great collection, how do you ever pick one to play That white Gibson Firebird is awesome, too. I remember when they came out in the 60's and I didn't really care for them. But I never saw a white one...that's pretty sexy! I like the contrasting white trim of the headstock especially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amino Moore Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Here's a couple of pics of my Elitist LP Studio. I've posted them before but it's been a while. The newer members may not have even seen an Elitist Studio. I think there were fewer Elitist Studio's produced than Standards and Customs. Not sure if that means they are more collectible or valuable but mine's not for sale anyway. This how she looked stock And how she looks after cosmetic upgrades. I added the creme plastic parts, Gibson gold "bell" knobs and the "Studio" TRC. The factory TRC is blank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefman Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 I love me some Elite/Elitists!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Oh Svet.........not a "Zoot Suit" :lol: ........ at least it appears to be the grey/natural model though.........which is the least stomach churning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Here are some old group pictures, but they contain all my Elitists. Sorry about the poor quality of some of the solo shots. An Elitist Dot is on the bottom row, and an Elitist Casino and each of the Elitist John Lennon Casinos are on the top. Elitist JL 1965 Casino Elitist JL Revolution Casino Elitist Casino This shot features two Elitist McCartney Texans and an Elitist Texan on the bottom row. An Eltist J200 is in the top row. Elitist McCartney Texan Elitist Texan An Elitist Byrdland and Broadway are on the bottom row. This one featuresan Elitist SG and two Elitist Les Paul Standards. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 This thread makes me feel a lot less guilty about owning fourteen guitars! Only one happens to be an Elitist: a natural finish Casino. As for why the Elitist Casino is still being made, I would guess that it is precisely because it is the only one that sells well & is significantly profitable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted August 22, 2010 Share Posted August 22, 2010 Which is total bull$h*t. They we're cutting into the sales of the more expensive Gibsons. If they were selling so poorly, why not discontinue the Elitist Casino as well? Anyways, here's my two for your consideration. I believe Gibson. There aren't many available used - no matter how nice they are, people are still going to be selling them. At $1200, a lot of people would rather have a Les Paul Studio with a Gibson logo than a Les Paul Custom with an Epiphone logo. The Casino is still in production because it sells. The Casino is most likely one of Epiphone's top sellers. There are plenty of people who want a higher-end Casino, and would rather have an Epiphone than an ES-330 (which wasn't an option until recently). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyb Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 This thread makes me feel a lot less guilty about owning fourteen guitars! Only one happens to be an Elitist: a natural finish Casino. As for why the Elitist Casino is still being made, I would guess that it is precisely because it is the only one that sells well & is significantly profitable. Well, I guess it's time to raid the retirement account...I only own seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarpBoy Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Which is total bull$h*t. They we're cutting into the sales of the more expensive Gibsons. If they were selling so poorly, why not discontinue the Elitist Casino as well? Anyways, here's my two for your consideration. /quote] A couple things; first, I do believe the reason they ended the line was because they weren't selling well. The Elite Goldtop that I bought had been hanging on the wall for almost three years at my local Gibson dealership. I asked if they'd like to get it out of their inventory after all that time, and I ended up getting it for $500 off. It's a beautiful guitar, to be sure, but I think the majority of people shopping for guitars couldn't get their minds around spending over $1000 for an Epiphone, which has always been associated with budget guitars. I think it's perfectly believable. Secondly, I know it makes us feel better about our Elites/Elitists by telling ourselves that "they were cutting into sales of the Gibson lines", but nobody has ever, ever shown any numbers to substantiate this claim. I really doubt this is true because it makes no sense whatsoever. I love my Goldtop, and there's no doubt it's an exquisitely made, professional quality instrument that rivals the US Gibsons, but cutting into Gibson sales, and that's why they dropped them? I don't think so. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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