Members Willyguitar Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Of the Orville variety (1988). Great player, good neck and resonant (not sure whether this is because of the long neck tenon). It was a risky import job, but seems to be OK. The pickups aren't great (lack definition in bass), so I will be putting new ones in (courtesy of Ratae), and new pots and caps. Thanks also to people like Soundcreation who persuaded me to try this route. Haven't taken my own pics yet - here is link to seller's slideshow http://imageevent.com/chingo123/march2011/orvillelpsmaple5800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kherman Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Congrats! She looks sweet. And now you're hooked. You'll want to get Edwards, Burny, Greco, Yamaha, Bacchus, Aria, Epi Japan, etc...LPs now. Check out www.mylespaul.com . Great place to talk about the "other" les pauls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frets99 Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 She looks a beauty. I'd like an Orville Rickenbacker myself.... nevermind.... it's too early in the morning here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor49 Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Keith Harris is selling Orville?????? wait? what??? oh I see nice score Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bluesidae Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Mighty fine. I am sure you will love pickin' and strummin' that guit. BTW - good one Frets (very witty for this time of day!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mistersully Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 bloody stunning Will... congrats mate i'd have that pickguard off in a heartbeat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExiledCrow Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Looks like a sweet LP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ancient Mariner Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Looks great. I'd agree about swapping PUs, although you should try those first just to see if you like them. My Tokai came fitted with burstbuckers, and it was everything I'd wanted in a Les Paul, but seldom found. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrfan Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Woody_in_MN Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 Love the color. 4 paws up from Lamb Chop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 That looks like a killer piece of wood there. Hope it plays as great as it looks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted April 9, 2011 Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 wow...that is a great looking Orville! I'm glad it worked out well for you. I think your guitar is a 98 not an 88. from 88 to around 93??? or something...only Terada was building Orvilles...and all their guitars started with a letter. G, J or K. after 93 or so Fuji Gen took over manufacturing of them and their serial numbers are number only. and it was YMMPPP. So yours would be June if that is a 6 or august if it's an 8...I can't see it properly. Which would mean you got one from the last year of production before they got rebranded to "epiphone" under the elitist line. My logic on the neck joint thing is that wood to wood contact is important for resonance...therefore the tighter the joint and the more wood you have connecting the two points the better. People claim the tenon thing is hype...and maybe some of it is...but I'll ask this....Would anyone CHOOSE a short tenon over a long one if given the choice? I doubt it. And that in itself should tell you something. Those Orvilles always have such gorgeous plain tops on them. Look at how nice the matching is on the two sides. And that rosewood on the neck...so dark and smooth. Just beautiful. Fugigen really knew how to make fantastic instruments back then....(and still do) Congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted April 9, 2011 Author Members Share Posted April 9, 2011 wow...that is a great looking Orville! I'm glad it worked out well for you. I think your guitar is a 98 not an 88. from 88 to around 93??? or something...only Terada was building Orvilles...and all their guitars started with a letter. G, J or K. after 93 or so Fuji Gen took over manufacturing of them and their serial numbers are number only. and it was YMMPPP. So yours would be June if that is a 6 or august if it's an 8...I can't see it properly.Which would mean you got one from the last year of production before they got rebranded to "epiphone" under the elitist line. My logic on the neck joint thing is that wood to wood contact is important for resonance...therefore the tighter the joint and the more wood you have connecting the two points the better. People claim the tenon thing is hype...and maybe some of it is...but I'll ask this....Would anyone CHOOSE a short tenon over a long one if given the choice? I doubt it. And that in itself should tell you something. Those Orvilles always have such gorgeous plain tops on them. Look at how nice the matching is on the two sides. And that rosewood on the neck...so dark and smooth. Just beautiful. Fugigen really knew how to make fantastic instruments back then....(and still do) Congratulations! Right - 98 and not 88. It was sold as an 88 but I guess it doesn't matter really. It does look to be in pretty good condition. Thanks for your advice - you basically prodded me into giving the Japanese LPs a look. I hope this one works out... if not I at least have a lot more sense of the market now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GreatDane Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 congratulations on the new Orville LP~ it's a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HanSolo Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Really nice! Beautiful finish. I always wondered if the put Gibson pickups in them or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Nice looking plain top there. My favorite. HNGD! EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LesPaulFetish Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Oh man... God bless the Japanese Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Really nice! Beautiful finish. I always wondered if the put Gibson pickups in them or not. They didn't in that model. Those have japanese made pickups and electronics. They get mixed reviews by owners. Some people think their crap...others think that people just don't want to like them because their not suppose too and they are really not that bad. And others really like them...although that seems to be the minority. I've never heard them so I've got no opinion on them what so ever. The step up from the standard orvilles were the "orville by gibson" models (as written on the headstock). Those had USA pickups and electronics and generally nitro finishes. Aside from that they are the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BAXANDALL Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Really cool find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Very nice lookin LP there. Love the top! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted April 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 They didn't in that model. Those have japanese made pickups and electronics. They get mixed reviews by owners. Some people think their crap...others think that people just don't want to like them because their not suppose too and they are really not that bad. And others really like them...although that seems to be the minority. I've never heard them so I've got no opinion on them what so ever. The step up from the standard orvilles were the "orville by gibson" models (as written on the headstock). Those had USA pickups and electronics and generally nitro finishes. Aside from that they are the same. I fall into the second group. Not that bad... but i suspect the pots are not as good as they could be, judging by their taper and what they do. However, I think the guitar is basically a good'un so a pickup change could really bring out the best in it... will probably put some WCR Crossroads in it, as Ratae has some he'd like to flog to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members charveldan Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 I got one 2 months ago a 94' LPC with long tenon, it's every bit a Gibson, your gonna love it.:love::love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 LOL...^^^^those two look good together! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Willyguitar Posted April 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 So, I've been playing it more, and I like it more and more... in fact the pickups are growing on me a bit. I have owned a Les Paul Standard (a few years ago now), a Les Paul Studio, and now this. In terms of playability, neck, and in all respects apart from perhaps controls and pickups, this is definitely the best of those three. It's a bit on the heavy side, but then most Les Pauls are. But I am now beginning to understand that slightly silly phrase 'it plays like butter'... because it sort of does... or perhaps like Devonshire clotted cream. I think there is some kind of weakness or lack of definition in the bass strings when plugged in, but not completely sure whether that is because I am so used to hearing and playing my Les Paul Junior (which this guitar hasn't, as yet, usurped in my affections), or whether a pickup swap and pots/caps change would sort that... so I won't know unless I try. I have a (good) feeling that this thing could be stellar once it's done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soundcreation Posted April 10, 2011 Members Share Posted April 10, 2011 Are the pickups maybe a little low on the bass side? Just an idea. I have 2 fujigen greco's and I know what you mean about the playability. Seems like they really knew how to get some of the most amazing action possible. I'm also curious to know if a pickup swap gets you where you want to be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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