Bunky Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 What seems to be the top Elitist models? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Elitist Casino, of course. It's the only one still in production...unfortunately! I'd LOVE to see the Elitist Riviera and Sheraton's return! In fact, I'd love to see the whole line, return...but, especially, the arch-tops, and thin line ES style models. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunky Posted September 24, 2011 Author Share Posted September 24, 2011 I meant in terms of quality. I know the Byrdland was amazing i foolishly parted with mine during this ongoing G.A.S battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 24, 2011 Share Posted September 24, 2011 Yeah, the Elite/Elitist models are All top quality! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I would have loved to get my hands on a Chet Atkins Country Gentleman Elitist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 I would certainly be interested in getting a new LP Elitist if they started making them again. Now here is a useful question. I presume that the Elitist LPs and the like were made somewhere like the Fujigen factory. So, since Epi pulled the plug on the MIJ Les Pauls, are LP style guitars still being made in Japan for other manufacturers or for their home market? Or, is the only way to get a MIJ Les Paul style guitar to buy used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 So, since Epi pulled the plug on the MIJ Les Pauls, are LP style guitars still being made in Japan for other manufacturers or for their home market? Or, is the only way to get a MIJ Les Paul style guitar to buy used? Tokai. They have to be imported to North America, but... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I would certainly be interested in getting a new LP Elitist if they started making them again. Just a question on something but not your interest. Why wouldn't you just get a new Gibson LP vs a MIJ Epiphone LP? Is there some reason in performance that I'm missing as I'm not a LP guy? I really don't like my Epi SG Custom near as well as a Gibson Standard SG. Of course my SG is MIC not MIJ and that would explain the fit & finish differences. Thanks for filling me in. I will say I love my Casino Elitist (but then that was a "real Epi" model if you know what I mean. Not a lower priced copy of a Gibson line item. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Actually, the Casino, was/is Epi's version, of the Gibson ES-330. All their slim-line ES style guitars, were their version of Gibson guitars, back then. Riviera (ES-335), Sheraton (ES-355), etc. They did have their own distinctive features, and/or appointments. So, it wasn't just a "headstock" difference, entirely. They did have their more unique solid body models, that looked quite different, than the Les Paul's, or SG's of the time. The "Real" Epi's, were the larger box (New York made) "Jazz" guitars, prior to Gibson's acquisition. Epiphone, under Gibson, has always been "lower priced," although a lot more equal in quality, and built along side Gibson's, in the Kalamazoo days. The pricing back then, was only slightly less, than comparable Gibson models. Nothing like, nowadays. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Gibson-made Epiphones were in every way equal in build quality to their Gibson counterparts, and in most cases sold for only a few dollars less than the equivalent Gibson model. The Excellente acoustic was actually more expensive than Gibson's top model, the J200. Pre-Gibson Epi's were considered professional level instruments, and this continued after Gibson's purchase until 1970, when Kalamazoo production ended. The first Japanese made Epis then rolled off the assembly line in response to the Asian-made challenge from Yamaha, Ibanez, and others. As for buying an Elitist over a Gibson, purchasing the Elitist Casino has always made a lot of sense as Gibson's ES-330L either was not yet in production, or was much more expensive. That price gap narrowed recently when the Elitist's street price took a steep jump. Unfortunately, at the same time I've read that the 330L is going out of production. If that happens, the Elitist Casino will again be Gibson's top dog hollowbody with P90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Tokai. They have to be imported to North America, but... Yeah and if you get a Japanese model they cost a fortune. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diverden Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 I would certainly be interested in getting a new LP Elitist if they started making them again. Now here is a useful question. I presume that the Elitist LPs and the like were made somewhere like the Fujigen factory. So, since Epi pulled the plug on the MIJ Les Pauls, are LP style guitars still being made in Japan for other manufacturers or for their home market? Or, is the only way to get a MIJ Les Paul style guitar to buy used? Sent you a PM. I have one you might be interested in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 FGN = FujiGen http://www.fgnguitars.com/ Yup, and much cheaper than the Elite/Elitist guitars were in those days. My Elite Les Paul Standard Plus for example was €1680,- in 2002. The most expensive guitar of the entire Epiphone Elite lineup at that time I guess (however still cheap compared to Gibson at that time). Nowadays the FGN Neo Classic LS Flametop (which looks pretty similar to the Elite Les Paul Standard Plus) is €1099,-. Even Gibson now starts at that old Epiphone Elite price tag for a Les Paul Standard Traditional (pretty similar for the ES-335, which became cheaper too over the years). So from my point of view there's no need to bring back the Gibson copies in the Elitist series. You get a real Gibson at nearly the same price tag today. What I would be really interested in are the original Epiphone Elitist models like Riviera/12, Sheraton, Broadway and Casino (which fortunately is still available). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 As for buying an Elitist over a Gibson, purchasing the Elitist Casino has always made a lot of sense as Gibson's ES-330L either was not yet in production, or was much more expensive. That price gap narrowed recently when the Elitist's street price took a steep jump. Unfortunately, at the same time I've read that the 330L is going out of production. By now the ES-330 is still available. MF asks $2499,- for the ES-330, and $1799,- for the Elitist Casino, both in stock. I know a lot of people that would pay the $700 bucks on top just for the Gibson brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkolo Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 By now the ES-330 is still available. MF asks $2499,- for the ES-330, and $1799,- for the Elitist Casino, both in stock. I know a lot of people that would pay the $700 bucks on top just for the Gibson brand. Someone who plans to keep the guitar for life can easily save the $700 and be happy but for someone who sells their guitars every few years the hit that you would get with the Epiphone in comparison to the Gibson would be huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Someone who plans to keep the guitar for life can easily save the $700 and be happy but for someone who sells their guitars every few years the hit that you would get with the Epiphone in comparison to the Gibson would be huge. Well, I think that's more true, with CS models, and limited, or special editions. There are just too many Gibson USA guitars, being made these days, for them to retain anything but "inflationary" value. That's Not to say, any Gibson is a "bad" investment. They're not! They will retain their value, and even appreciate, to some extent, along with inflation. But, so will "Elitist" Epiphones, since all but the Casino, are not made, anymore. Couple that, with their overall Great quality, and they will continue to do well, in the "used" market. I think their relative values, will be equal to their original percentage differences, price wise. And, rise (or fall) accordingly. Unless there's a sudden major interest in some specific model(s), do to artist usage or endorsements. That always seems to help sell more guitars, no matter the brand. The more "drastic" differences, would be (most likely) in the regular Epi line, compared to regular Gibson USA, not to mention the CS models. Time will tell... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 By now the ES-330 is still available. MF asks $2499,- for the ES-330, and $1799,- for the Elitist Casino, both in stock. I know a lot of people that would pay the $700 bucks on top just for the Gibson brand. FWIW - I have both the 330L and the Elitist Casino, and they are very different animals. The Elitist has a narrow neck which is 1-10/16" at the nut. The 330L has the 30/60 neck profile. The Elitist has 16 frets clear of the body, the 330L has 19. My Elitist is brighter sounding than my 330L, but of course others may vary. Workmanship is very good on both. I like each of them for their differences, but based on the two I own, I would take the 330L hands down over the Elitist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Yeah and if you get a Japanese model they cost a fortune. Not anymore than a brand-new Elitist would cost you today if they were all still being made. And from what I understand, current MIJ Tokais are BETTER than they were in the 70's. That's scary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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