Epiphone Elitist

[just strum]

Although this forum is not heavily a Epiphone/Gibson forum, there are a few of you out there. Just letting you know that it's official, Epiphone (Gibson) has done away with the Elitist line of guitars. For the Epiphone lovers, this line was the prime or pinnacle of Epiphone ownership. For now the only Elitist that remains is the Casino, but not sure when or if this one will be discontinued.

I contacted Gibson and they confirmed the end of production on the Elitist line, but would not give any indication why. They also would not say if the Casino Elitist will eventually be cut as well. According to Gibson, there are no plans of replacing the series. Of course Gibson isn't going to share a whole lot with me, so it is anyones guess what will be next.

There are a number of rumors (conspiracy theories) floating around. The one that seems prominent is that the Elitist line was cutting into Gibson sales (doesn't make sense to me).

[Katastrophe]

There are a number of rumors (conspiracy theories) floating around. The one that seems prominent is that the Elitist line was cutting into Gibson sales (doesn't make sense to me).

It makes plenty of sense to me, as the Japanese Elitist models were said to rival, and in some cases exceed, Gibson quality.

So, a musician has a choice between an Epi at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a Gibby with comparable or better quality, or a Gibby. I know which one I would choose!

[just strum]

It makes plenty of sense to me, as the Japanese Elitist models were said to rival, and in some cases exceed, Gibson quality.

So, a musician has a choice between an Epi at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a Gibby with comparable or better quality, or a Gibby. I know which one I would choose!

I looked at it that way initially, but then thought - If I or anyone else can no longer get that Epi at 1/2 to 1/3 of a Gibby, do I buy a Gibby or another manufactures model. There are a lot of people posting alternatives.

So, while it may have cut into Gibson sales, isn't it better to get the Epi sales instead of losing to a competitor? I don't think the people looking at Elitist are going to make the price jump, especially with the Gibson pricing being what it is.

[ZMAN]

I have an ablsolutely flawless Epi elitist Les Paul custom. This is one of the nicest guitars I have ever played. I got it on a closeout sale at MF for 799, with an Epi elitist case. It is a very nice guitar and I will never sell it. They had the american pickups and hardware and all of the binding. They are amazing. It is now officially a collectors item!
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...wz/winered.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...z/winered2.jpg

[just strum]

They are amazing. It is now officially a collectors item!

Yep, you got yourself a "keeper" there.

[wingsdad]

It's just like they stopped using Korean factories since Samick went to Indonesia around the same time they opened their Gibson China factory, switching to a few Chinese jobbers for a few runs of LP's and such, and hanging on in Korea for semi-hollows and hollows with Peerless, UnSung and maybe one other Korean mfr a couple of years until around 2005, when they finally got the hang of making them 'good enough' at Gibson China & Koreans got to be as expensive as Japan used to be.

Now that Japanese mfrs just continue to get more costly and close to par if not better in quality than Gibson USA, it's just another step in the evolution.

I'd think Japanese-built Elitists with Gibson USA pups & hardware were probably killing Gibson USA sales of similar units because they were/are just as good or better and much less expensive.

[duhvoodooman***]

I would certainly support the "siphoning off Gibson USA sales" theory based upon my exerience with my Elitist LP Standard. Especially since I upgraded the pickups to Seymour Duncan's shortly after I got it (the stocks weren't bad, just a bit bland), I would put my Elitist up against any USA-built Standard for tone, playability, fit & finish. And instead of dropping $2300 or so, I got mine when MF was closing out this model, for a mere $700. Fabulous deal. Pics:



Too bad the ELitist line is being phased out. Wonder if some "premium" line will spring up at the new Chinese factory to replace them at some point? Prolly not....

[just strum]

However, I don't think prospective buyers will turn to Gibson, but are more apt to turn to things like

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G5120OR/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G5122DCWS/

and Tokia guitar, but I have not been able to locate an American dealer. Here is the UK site and I believe they are available in Canada.

http://www.tokai-guitars.co.uk/

[duhvoodooman***]

However, I don't think prospective buyers will turn to Gibson, but are more apt to turn to things like

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G5120OR/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G5122DCWS/

and Tokia guitar, but I have not been able to locate an American dealer. Here is the UK site and I believe they are available in Canada.

http://www.tokai-guitars.co.uk/

Not to mention THESE....

[wingsdad]

However, I don't think prospective buyers will turn to Gibson, but are more apt to turn to things like

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G5120OR/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/G5122DCWS/

Yep...my Local GAS Station is now a Gretsch Dealer and has one of those orange G5120's in stock...made in.... Korea! The K starting the s/n is a hint, but it's got the MIK sticker on the back of the headstock, too...By....guess who...? I dunno yet for sure, but I have a hunch...

Almost a Gretsch G5120

Peerless made my '05 Epi Casino. Most recent (regular) Casino's I've seen are Gibson China.

So is it a Gretsch or an Epi like they don't make anymore?

[just strum]

Yep...my Local GAS Station is now a Gretsch Dealer and has one of those orange G5120's in stock...made in.... Korea! The K starting the s/n is a hint, but it's got the MIK sticker on the back of the headstock, too...By....guess who...? I dunno yet for sure, but I have a hunch...

Almost a Gretsch G5120

Peerless made my '05 Epi Casino. Most recent (regular) Casino's I've seen are Gibson China.

So is it a Gretsch or an Epi like they don't make anymore?

Where do you find Tokia or Peerless in the States?

The Peerless look nice, but I've never seen them except on e-bay.

[Katastrophe]

I don't think you'll see any Tokais in the US, unless it's a grey market purchase from Japan. I believe (and I could be wrong here) that Gibby sic'ed their lawyers on 'em.

There are other LP makers in Japan like Edwards and others, and until recently one could purchase an Epi with the traditional Gibby headstock.

Yep, wingsdad, the Electromatic Gretsch line is made entirely in Korea. The Professional line is made in Japan, and a few high end (VERY expensive) Gretsch models are made in the "Gretsch Custom Shop" located in Corona, California.

Maybe the Gibby folks would look at one of these:

I'm seriously drooling over one of these right now, along with the others that I've posted about. This GAS is getting bad.

[wingsdad]

...the Electromatic Gretsch line is made entirely in Korea. The Professional line is made in Japan, and a few high end (VERY expensive) Gretsch models are made in the "Gretsch Custom Shop" located in Corona, California....

Well, Gretsch is Fender's company, so they might as well use the Fender Custom Shop. I live about 40 miles north of there. (Nope...never visited it, but I have a friend who worked for BC Rich until Bernie Rico died & they sold out who works there)

Where do you find Tokia or Peerless in the States?

The Peerless look nice, but I've never seen them except on e-bay.

It's like Kat says...like Tokai, Peerless aren't directly marketed to the USA. But they make a lot of USA Companies' imports for them.

This Irony of Ironies occured to me while I was out doing some errands today:

Gibson sues Ibanez back in the 70's when Ibanez uses FujiDen Japan to make killer Les Paul Clones that start taking a big bite out of LP sales.

Twenty-something years later, Gibson hires FujiDen (who still make top-end Ibanez models) to make Elitists. The Elitists get too good, so this time, instead of suing, they just fire the bastiches. Hah! that'll stop them!

:

Until FujiDen figures it out, and starts marketing to the USA....like Cort Korea, another Ibanez OEM contractor, did/does.

Until then, I'm guessing they're making the high-end Gretschs Kat mentions, and maybe that's another reason why Gibson cut them off at the cajones.

[BluezOldy]

I've been a loyal buyer of Epis for awhile and bought my fourth one this year. However, these days there are better quality guitars around that cost less.

Not only have Gibson dropped the Elitists but have also raised their prices across the range. I doubt I will buy another Epi, at least not a new one.

And despite the ongoing argument about Gibson vs Epi, no one will ever convince me that Gibsons are worth as much as some of the models sell for. It is only headstock elitism (bit like people who pay extra for signature guitars and expect the signee's mojo to come with it) and, anyway, do you really think the drunks in the smoky bars really care what guitar brand you're playing?

I think we are getting to the point where once we rubbished Chinese guitars but with the increasing standard of living in that country, soon most won't be able to afford Chinese-made brandname guitars.

[Brian Krashpad]

Yep, wingsdad, the Electromatic Gretsch line is made entirely in Korea.

Nope. The semi/hollows are made in Korea. The solidbody 'Lectros (Pro Jets like you pictured, Special Jets like I own) are MIC.

[Brian Krashpad]

Well, Gretsch is Fender's company, so they might as well use the Fender Custom Shop. I live about 40 miles north of there. (Nope...never visited it, but I have a friend who worked for BC Rich until Bernie Rico died & they sold out who works there)



It's like Kat says...like Tokai, Peerless aren't directly marketed to the USA. But they make a lot of USA Companies' imports for them.

This Irony of Ironies occured to me while I was out doing some errands today:

Gibson sues Ibanez back in the 70's when Ibanez uses FujiDen Japan to make killer Les Paul Clones that start taking a big bite out of LP sales.

Twenty-something years later, Gibson hires FujiDen (who still make top-end Ibanez models) to make Elitists. The Elitists get too good, so this time, instead of suing, they just fire the bastiches. Hah! that'll stop them!

:

Until FujiDen figures it out, and starts marketing to the USA....like Cort Korea, another Ibanez OEM contractor, did/does.

Until then, I'm guessing they're making the high-end Gretschs Kat mentions, and maybe that's another reason why Gibson cut them off at the cajones.

Fuji Den? I thought it was Fuji Gen Gakki?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen

[Katastrophe]

Nope. The semi/hollows are made in Korea. The solidbody 'Lectros (Pro Jets like you pictured, Special Jets like I own) are MIC.

Ooops... My bad! Thanks for the clarification, Brian!

[wingsdad]

Fuji Den? I thought it was Fuji Gen Gakki?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FujiGen

Right you are, counselor. I stand corrected. I was going on memory. I should have pulled my copy of the Ibanez 'bible', Ibanez-The Untold Story (published by Hoshino, USA in '05) to be absolutley accurate.

I just did, and sure enough, according to Ibanez's own book, it's the Fugigen factory.

Whatever. It's pretty clear from that wikipedia story the company was making Ibanez's in the 70's.

The '77 'Lawsuit' LP copy they made was the Model 2350.

[just strum]

I will say that I've really become attached to my Epi Wildkat. It is comfortable, plays well, great tone, and performs well through the AD30VT and the Valve Jr. My reservations about the P90's have subsided and I've grown real attached to them.

The main guitar mix that I have (Strat, Dot, and Wildkat) make for a nice small collection of electric guitars that provide a nice range of variety. Although I see other guitars I like and would like to add, there isn't that strong desire that once would burn inside of me. I still have the inexpensive Squier and Peavey that I do play from time-to-time, but when not playing the main three, I am usually playing the acoustic (or trying to play it).

So although an Epi Casino Elitist would be nice - I'm content (for now)