mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Hey everyone, I'm recently purchased a MIJ Epiphone LP with a bolt-on neck and have been trying to confirm some info on it. I 'believe' it was made at the Fujigen factory in Japan, but I have no idea what year? The serial# is 6064076 and says 'Made in Japan' right under it. I'll try to attach some pics for reference. I'm currently in the process of repairs/adjustments, so the truss rod cover and pickguard are both off and one of the knobs is different than the others. Any info is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Hi! I wish I could help you out, but I can't. But I KNOW someone will be along soon who can. I just wanted to tell you that that is one of the most beautiful flames I have ever seen on any guitar. I think that is just a GORGEOUS guitar!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I've never seen an Epi LP with that fancy a veneer on an arched top with a bolt-on neck, nor does the bolt look like anything I've seen before. My guess is it started out as a set-neck guitar and had some sort of mishap, so the bolt-on was added by a luthier as a repair. Fuji-Gen made some of the Elitist models, and the serial number would indicate a 2006 manufacture date (within the time Elitists were being made), so I 'll stick my neck out further and guess that at least the neck is from an Elitist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_edward Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 The headstock is not from an Elitist, plus there are no bolt neck elitists afaik, I've never seen that model, what's up... something, maybe not an epi at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 So let me get this staright...no one knows what the **** this guitar is? I know what it is, a guitar that i want! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 My guess is it started out as a set-neck guitar and had some sort of mishap, so the bolt-on was added by a luthier as a repair. I don't think it was a repair because there is no damage to anything and the finish on the body and neck match perfectly with no signs of any touch-ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I dont know what that rubber piece is, or if there is a bolt under it, but that is NOT a bolt-neck guitar. The minimum amount of bolts you will see on a guitar is three...and those are the 1950's Fenders and the reissues. The minimum amount of bolts on an Epiphone is four. This guitar just doesnt add up to me at all. Its not an Elitist. The neck is certainly not from an Elitist. Elitists had the Tombstone headstock and the Open-book headstock (JDM). AFAIK, no Japanese Les Pauls were ever made with the clipped-ear headstocks. They made Korean LPs with the clipped-ear for Japan, but not in Japan. All Japanese-made Domestic Market LPs, LQ series and Elitists guitars had an open-book head. And as Pete pointed out, those all had 2-screw truss covers. Also, the Epiphone logo on that guitar is all kinds of wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefty Bill Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Welcome to the forum Mateo, and thanks for the great pictures. As others have mentioned, that is one great looking guitar. I can't offer any specific ID info, but I'm fairly certain that other forum members can. The "bolt" in the pics appears to be a plug, likely there to cover a bolt, but with a nicer appearance. I think it's unusual to see a single neck fastener, although some set (glued) neck models do have a neck strap button at that location. It's apparent in the close-up pics that the guitar finish wasn't applied with the neck permanently installed, so I'm also interested to find out more about this model. Regards, Bill Hey everyone, I'm recently purchased a MIJ Epiphone LP with a bolt-on neck and have been trying to confirm some info on it. I 'believe' it was made at the Fujigen factory in Japan, but I have no idea what year? The serial# is 6064076 and says 'Made in Japan' right under it. I'll try to attach some pics for reference. I'm currently in the process of repairs/adjustments, so the truss rod cover and pickguard are both off and one of the knobs is different than the others. Any info is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Not sure if this helps to identify anything...but, the pickups say "PSLP®-NI" and "PSLP(F)-NI" on the bottoms. I'm assuming they are 'Powersound' pickups. They sound good at low volume, but feedback and squeal if I turn the volume knobs past 5. I also found a wiki that shows the same pickups in another LP, but I can't see any other identifying marks. That wiki also lists the date of 1993. Could my guitar be from 1996 because of the serial starting with '6'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 The headstock is not from an Elitist, plus there are no bolt neck elitists afaik, I've never seen that model, what's up... something, maybe not an epi at all... I'm inclined to believe this is the case. Weird bolt-plug on the back, body & neck finished seperately, "Made in Japan" on a clipped-ear, janky logo, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 The pickups say "PSLP®-NI" and "PSLP(F)-NI" on the bottoms. I'm assuming they are 'Powersound' pickups. They sound good at low volume, but feedback and squeal if I turn the volume knobs past 5. I also found a wiki that shows the same pickups in another LP, but I can't see any other identifying marks. That wiki also lists the date of 1993. Could my guitar be from 1996 because of the serial starting with '6'? 1996 would resolve one of the issues I have with the Epiphone logo, but not the rest of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 I dont know what that rubber piece is, or if there is a bolt under it, but that is NOT a bolt-neck guitar. The minimum amount of bolts you will see on a guitar is three...and those are the 1950's Fenders and the reissues. The minimum amount of bolts on an Epiphone is four. I haven't taken that cover off yet, but I can tell you that there are 2 bolts inside the neck pickup cavity that are holding the neck on. I just popped the rubber plug off the back and there is a 3rd bolt holding the neck on. I will post pics of the pickup cavity with the neck bolts in a few days when I replace the pickups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I dont know what that rubber piece is, or if there is a bolt under it, but that is NOT a bolt-neck guitar. The minimum amount of bolts you will see on a guitar is three...and those are the 1950's Fenders and the reissues. The minimum amount of bolts on an Epiphone is four. This guitar just doesnt add up to me at all. Its not an Elitist. The neck is certainly not from an Elitist. Elitists had the Tombstone headstock and the Open-book headstock (JDM). AFAIK, no Japanese Les Pauls were ever made with the clipped-ear headstocks. They made Korean LPs with the clipped-ear for Japan, but not in Japan. All Japanese-made Domestic Market LPs, LQ series and Elitists guitars had an open-book head. And as Pete pointed out, those all had 2-screw truss covers. Also, the Epiphone logo on that guitar is all kinds of wrong. I thought those we're only the 1970's fenders? :unsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I haven't taken that cover off yet, but I can tell you that there are 2 bolts inside the neck pickup cavity that are holding the neck on. Well, Epi doesnt put neck bolts in the pickup cavity. Either its some type of repair job or its not an Epiphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I thought those we're only the 1970's fenders? :unsure: Was it the 1970's? You know, that was my first thought, but then I second-guessed myself and typed 1950's. I'm not really well versed in Fenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Here are some pics of the bolts in the pickup cavity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 .....the Czech made Epis have one screw inside IIRC Never heard of that. Oh well, this guitar isnt Czech as far as we know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 It seems to be a 'home-made-job' putting an Epi neck on a strange guitar Ok, but why is there a "Made in Japan" stamp on a clipped-ear headstock? That neck was not made in Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hungrycat Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I have seen old MIJ Aria guitars built this way. Never an LP type, but others. It doesn't look homemade to me. I would guess that it's a prototype or something of the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Ok, but why is there a "Made in Japan" stamp on a clipped-ear headstock? That neck was not made in Japan. How do you know the neck wasn't made in Japan? The craftsmanship on the entire guitar is top-notch and there's no way that someone just grabbed a random neck and slapped it together. The finish on the neck and body is IDENTICAL. Also, the rubber plug that covers the 3rd neck bolt says "SG-12A KYOWA" on the inside of it. Kyowa is a Japanese chemical company and they do make rubber bushings that look identical as well. The pickups are Epiphone also. There's a thread on the MyLesPaul forum where people are talking about a "MIJ Epi Bolt on" but the links to the pics no longer work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtb2000 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 Hi Welcome, I've run the serial number thru Epi and Gibson with no luck, but they are still checking for me, but I was told thst this is a resent model because of the design on the front of the headstock, but the tuners look liked klutson tuners. My guy is kind of stumped as he has never seen a bolt cover like that either. But love the flame finish. Good luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 How do you know the neck wasn't made in Japan? The craftsmanship on the entire guitar is top-notch and there's no way that someone just grabbed a random neck and slapped it together. The finish on the neck and body is IDENTICAL. Also, the rubber plug that covers the 3rd neck bolt says "SG-12A KYOWA" on the inside of it. Kyowa is a Japanese chemical company and they do make rubber bushings that look identical as well. The pickups are Epiphone also. There's a thread on the MyLesPaul forum where people are talking about a "MIJ Epi Bolt on" but the links to the pics no longer work. Right, but most of those guys suspect it was a fake and no one actually came to any conclusion. A couple of them think that maybe it was a prototype...which, although would explain the inconsistencies to actual production models, still doesnt make much sense. Besides, how do you know that you didnt buy the exact guitar that was posted in the MLP thread from 2009? There are no pics to prove either way. As I said earlier, there are no modern-style clipped-ear headstocks on MIJ Les Pauls or any other Epiphone MIJ solid body guitars. Let me put it this way, if that neck is truly an Epiphone, it wasnt made in Japan. If it WAS made in Japan, its not an Epiphone. The neck and headstock look really good, but the logo is too low and it should be a pearl inlay, not gold screenprinting. The angle is correct for early to mid 90's, but not for the 2000's. The Wikizic entry claims to be a 1999-2000. You believe that yours could either be a 1994 or 2004. There isnt a snowball's chance in hell that they produced a model like this from 1994-1999 or 2000-2006 without legit info on it from at least a multitude of owners asking questions, modding, repairing, etc. There is no info in any catalogs, on the internet or anywhere else. I have my Google searches set for English and Japanese results and not once has anything like this ever come up. If they were out there and were production models, I would have found them already. Also, those pickups are not Epiphone. They are either Ibanez or Cort, which would make them Indonesian. The PSLP is commonly used on Cort LP models. Either way, the construction of this guitar does not seem to be Epiphone at all. Granted, the body itself looks good. The mahogany body and maple cap with a veneer seem right. But the control cavity plates look a little suspect to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mateo69 Posted November 30, 2011 Author Share Posted November 30, 2011 Thanks to everyone for their input! Personally, I don't really care when/where the guitar was made, but it's nice to know if/when it comes time to sell it...although I'll probably hang onto this guitar for a while. Like I said before, the craftsmanship is excellent and I've always wanted a LP-style guitar but couldn't justify paying alot for one in the past. I paid $350usd for the guitar and another $140usd for new DiMarzios. Seems like a good deal to me for a solid playing guitar. Plus, it's a bonus that it's also 'unique' in a sense that it can't be easily identified as a common model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I was told thst this is a resent model because of the design on the front of the headstock,. Recent as in what? The last ten years? No way. Not with that logo positioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgtb2000 Posted November 30, 2011 Share Posted November 30, 2011 I'm just telling you what I was told, by my friend at Guitar Center, he ran the serial for me and found nothing. If it works for the guy who bought it, then it was worth the cash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.