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Elitists........


Svet

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Hey guys and girls, I almost made a mistake this year! I had my Elitist Les Pauls for sale on Craiglist and had I gotten a reasonable offer I might have sold them!! I came to my senses though and am happy to say they are still in my stable. I am thrilled to see the value of the instruments increasing but I do wish they were still available in the new marketplace. I honestly believe these instruments are as good or better than their Gibson cousins. Gibson's only advantage is the nitro finish but outside of that the Elitists are in that league. I've got my collection of Elitists out tonight and am celebrating their wonderful craftsmanship, tone, playability, looks and feel! I'm not sure it gets any better than this and before you jump down my throat and call me crazy remember it is all subjective. I do own seven Gibson's for comparison and several of those are Custom Shop instruments. So let’s see them, post those Elitists and let’s keep the soul alive! Perhaps Epiphone will put a few more out!!

 

elitistsgroup.jpg

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I only own one Elitist, but it's a honey! I've played several Gibson L-5's in my time, plus a few of the high-end copies by Aria and Ibanez (which have been selling for even more than the Elitists on eBay), and not one of them played or sounded any better than my Elitist Broadway.

 

ElitistBroadway.jpg

 

ElitistBroadwaybackcloseup.jpg

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Hi Svet,

 

As I stated in a previous thread, you've done the right thing. [thumbup] I only have one Elitist, a new Casino, and after seeing plenty of Gibsons at my local guitar shops, they definitely (IMHO) match the quality of the Gibson product line. An Elitist Sheraton will always be on my hit list.

 

My Blondy (Abbey)

 

1112_untitled_023-vi.jpg

 

1112_untitled_062-vi.jpg

 

1112_untitled_063-vi.jpg

 

12302011_12_untitled_0013Edit2-vi.jpg

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I only own one Elitist, but it's a honey! I've played several Gibson L-5's in my time, plus a few of the high-end copies by Aria and Ibanez (which have been selling for even more than the Elitists on eBay), and not one of them played or sounded any better than my Elitist Broadway.

 

 

 

Beautiful Pictures Parabar!! I am happy to hear that you're still enjoying the Broadway!! I brought the Broadway because I didn't want to spend L5 money on a guitar though it is my favorite dream guitar. I don't feel the need for it because of the Broadway and if I were to spend that kind of money on one guitar it would probably be the Monteleone or like.

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Hi Svet,

 

As I stated in a previous thread, you've done the right thing. [thumbup] I only have one Elitist, a new Casino, and after seeing plenty of Gibsons at my local guitar shops, they definitely (IMHO) match the quality of the Gibson product line. An Elitist Sheraton will always be on my hit list.

 

 

Hi Clanky!! The Sheraton was my first Elitist and it is actually an Elite. It is also my favorite too! You really ought to try one! Oh and beautiful pictures!! Really nice work!

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Hi Clanky!! The Sheraton was my first Elitist and it is actually an Elite. It is also my favorite too! You really ought to try one! Oh and beautiful pictures!! Really nice work!

 

I'd love to try one, it's the small matter of trying to find one for sale. [biggrin]

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I'd love to try one, it's the small matter of trying to find one for sale. [biggrin]

 

LOL, I bet, I wish we had some numbers to get an idea of how many of these guitars were made. I don't look on ebay or Craiglist much but I never see Sheraton's when I do. If I see an Elitist it is usually a Les Paul or a Casino. The Casinos are still in production (as you know) so that's why there's still many of them available.

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Here are a few more images I exposed with hopes of capturing the quality of the Elitist guitars.

 

Notice the Maple cap on the Mahogany base and the long tenon neck joint on the Tak Matsumoto Les Paul:

 

Picture069.jpg

 

broadway.jpg

 

053.jpg

 

057.jpg

 

back.jpg

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did any of you fellows, especially you archtop owners, make any mods to your elitists? i wonder what kind of pickup would sound best in a byrdland or broadway.

 

I've never felt the need to change out the pickups on my Elitists.

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Svet...Do you (actually) PLAY any of these? They all look "brand new!" LOL [biggrin]

No wear, or discoloration on the gold parts, which notoriously wears

and tarnishes, very quickly.

 

CB

 

Hey CB, that is the problem with having a guitar collection as you're well aware! It is tough to play them all enough! I play all of them though and none are off limits kept in case collecter guitars. That is why I bought one of those CS Reliced fenders. I want that look but fear I will never get there on my own. I have a 25 year old Strat Plus that is in great shape still and I had it during my teanage years! The gold plating on the Elitists is 24 carot and a lot more durable than the standard Epiphone guitars. I had a Sheraton II that had most of the PU plating fade in a year of use.

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Hey guys and girls, I almost made a mistake this year! I had my Elitist Les Pauls for sale on Craiglist and had I gotten a reasonable offer I might have sold them!! I came to my senses though and am happy to say they are still in my stable. I am thrilled to see the value of the instruments increasing but I do wish they were still available in the new marketplace. I honestly believe these instruments are as good or better than their Gibson cousins. Gibson's only advantage is the nitro finish but outside of that the Elitists are in that league. I've got my collection of Elitists out tonight and am celebrating their wonderful craftsmanship, tone, playability, looks and feel! I'm not sure it gets any better than this and before you jump down my throat and call me crazy remember it is all subjective. I do own seven Gibson's for comparison and several of those are Custom Shop instruments. So let’s see them, post those Elitists and let’s keep the soul alive! Perhaps Epiphone will put a few more out!!

 

elitistsgroup.jpg

I have a sheraton 2 and prob plays better than a 335! Great gutar! Do u know where I can find a Vegas High Roller:)

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Hey CB, I knew you were teasing and we all have our favorite guitars that get used the most. I feel guilty sometimes and toy with the idea of selling some off but when it comes to picking what to sell it gets tough. I sold my Emperor Regent, Eastman810, Gibson Zuit suit and Masterbilt DR 500ra last year. I also sold mr Carr Mercury Amp and Fdnder Blues deluxe. Now its tough because I really love my 25 guitars and 4 other amps. I think hmm, if I sell that I may regret it and my wife will never let me buy it again!

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I think my elite lpc is my only guitar that's off limits. I just installed (as in 10 minutes ago) a “masters series“ wiring harness from jonesy blues, and wow a real difference. I never had any complaints with the stock, and i don't usually buy into all the hype on upgrades, but this seemed to work nicely. The kit also added series/parallel/in and out of phase on 2 push-pull pots.

 

I'll take some new pics soon and post.

Cal

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  • 2 months later...

Hello, beautiful pictures.

 

This is my Epiphone Elite Les Paul Standard Plus. Beautiful guitar, excellent workmanship.

 

I made some improvements: seymour duncan pickups, locking grover tuners, Faber ABR-1 bridge, aluminum tailpiece and PIO capacitors. [thumbup]

 

SNB19765.JPG

 

SNB19766.JPG

 

SNB19767.JPG

post-22609-042731900 1338669728_thumb.jpg

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Nice stable Svet. I took a hiatus from guitar for a few years and when I got back into electric, Epi was only making a few of the Elitists and I couldn't afford one. I wished I had a few in my stable, but at this point in my life I don't see it happening. Hold on to 'em, those are really sharp!

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Everything said about the quality and value of Elitist in this thread is true as far as I'm concerned. They were/are crazy good--the acoustics, too (which seem somewhat more rare than the electrics).

 

Red 333

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