Tell me about japanese LP copies.

ledzepp29

ledzepp29

New member
I've got some cash and now that I've gotten so use to the true les paul feel from my classic I seriously never play my flat topped LP special. I have a lot of friends that would buy it off me. I've been looking at alot of japanese copies lately like tokai, burny,edwards, and orville and have noticed that some of them are really nice. Some of them even have long neck tenons(only historic gibsons) and one piece backs. I really favor the feel of pauls over anything else so I think I want to get a jap copy to sit with my Gibby. I got a squier that I'm repainting and renecking and rehardwaring if its not plywood so I will be set if I need somethin different. I wanna get a goldtop or black beauty.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38086&item=3750432403&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3750436260&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=3751592779&rd=1
Does anyone know if these guitars are worth it? They're pretty convincing and cheap
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

lead guitarist in my band plays a fernandes . if that burny is a fernandes (as it says and looks) they are a nice guitar... just throw some duncans in there (not that I really had to say that)
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

All three are great guitars. I wouldn't pay more than $550 for one though.
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

The Burny guitars are pretty good and some people have got them and consider them to be good. Tokai's are also good but you have to be sure that you get the ones that are made in Japan. The one that is in the last link is made in Korea - nothing wrong with that but just so that you are aware.
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

I'm a big fan of Tokai's their build quality is great, even the Korean ones (as my 335 is).

Throw in a pair of Duncans and you'll be well away.
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

I was asking the same question about six months ago. I took the plunge and went with a early 80's Burny Les Paul Custom clone.

The answer is a resounding "YES!!!!!"

Here's the story. In the early to mid 70's Gibson wasn't sending enough guitars to Japan to meet the need. One instrument maker took note of this and set out to do something about it. as the story goes they got ahold of a bunch of the very classic guitars and had their luthiers really get to study them; the specs, the materials and the craftsmanship. They then proceeded to make instruments as close to the originals as possible. They were essentially "clones" of the classic instruments down to a VERY exacting standard.

The shop that made these guitars took orders from other companies that would brand them with their name and sell them. The companies were Burny, Greco, Ibanez and Tokai. Of the four Ibanez went stateside with their offerings first and got sued back to the Stone Age by Gibson. This is where the "lawsuit era" buzz came about; Gibsons Norilin offerings were pretty abysmal and the guitars branded with Ibanez put them to shame pretty badly. Since Greco, Burny and Tokai didn't export to the US (except for Tokai later) the instruments remained in Japan.

Alot of the cloned guitars are available in excellent condition and for very cheap prices; players have either given up on playing and unloaded them or have gone with the Gibson name brand. They do tend to be very name-brand conscious and Gibsons marketing has done wonders now that they're shipping enough guitars to keep up with the demand.

I spent a decent amount of time semi-actively looking at Gibsons. All told it has been about ten years of playing every Gibson Les Paul I could get my hands on looking for one I felt was worth the price.

This past April I won an eBay auction for a Greco Les Paul Custom clone. I didn't expect much but was blown out of the water when I got it out of the box. The build quality is excellent. The fretboard has the nicest chunk of ebony I've ever seen. The pickups were faithful reproductions down to them not being potted. And, yes, when I did pull the pickups out to pot them I discovered a long tenon underneath.

The first time I brought my Greco to band rehearsal the other guitar player picked it up and kept on commenting how great the Historics were. He went on at length about how much they really do sound and play like the classics. After rambling for ten minutes and putting the guitar through its paces and musing about what a great deal they were he realized it wasn't a Gibson. And this was from a guy that owned a 68' Custom for a bunch of years.

The greco/Burny/Tokais are probably the best kept secret in the realm of guitars right now. For the high cost of shipping you'll have paid less than a quarter of what you would have stateside.

I own two Grecos, a Black beauty and one with a gorgeous maple top (it's real maple; not a photofinish). They're both incredible instruments. I can't say enough good things about them.
 
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Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

I am a huge fan of 'lawsuit' guitars, LP, Strat, Tele, etc., etc. :) The link below has some cool history as well. Skare is right; the Japanese guitars are a great value and generally rock. The Orvilles and Orville by Gibson are a great deal as well. I have a ObG 335 copy that is a great instrument and can stand with most of the Gibson 335s I have encountered.

http://www.guitargai.com/html_folder/gai_history.html
 
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Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

I have played the orville and the burny LPs. the are both great guitars. Actuallly I think they were every bit as good as usa made L.P.s I have tried 6 Orvilles and maybe 3 of the burny guitars, all of them had good action, great acoustic tone, sustain, everything you would expect from an american LP. i would have no qualms obout getting one. Hell the USA gibsons don't have a long tennon in them. you have to get a historic to have the long tenon these days.
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

My understanding of the Orvill eline was that Gibson saw that there was a market for lower end JApanese made guitars as evidenced by Burny, Greco, etc so they figured rather than try legal manuvers who not license and make some cake off of it. I believe the stipulation was that they couldn't export into the United States. I could be wrong on that one though; it would just seem to make sense and fall into line with not seeing them in shops locally and Gibsons typical business model.

Tokais are great aces; the Love Rocks are amazing instruments.

One of the great appeals of the lawsuit-era Burnys and Grecos are the fact that the components and wood have now aged and are starting to get that mellow vintage tone. Both my Grecos have some years on them and the tone is really starting to come out on them.
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

That cool '62 reissue SG in my avatar to the left there is a 1991 Orville by Gibson, (made in Japan). It is an amazing guitar.

As a matter of fact, for a while it was my #1 guitar and my '91 Gibson SG Standard was the backup for gigs.

I can't even tell you how many times people didn't realize that the guitar wasn't a USA Gibson - and then couldn't believe the quality......

Some people asked why I would use the Orville as the main guitar and I'd hand it to them and say "here, play this".......

:D
 
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Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33040&item=3751514802&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


Keep in mind, this eBay auction is the "Orville" version which is slightly lower end than the "Orville by Gibson" version (the one I have).

But I bet you it is a great guitar. ESPECIALLY for the cash.

And it BLOWS AWAY all the Epiphones except for the Elite series which are made in the same factory in Japan as the Orvilles were.

And the Orvilles have the real Gibson headstock.....

:)
 
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Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

Grandor said:
You get what you pay for
Click to expand...


Not all the time. I paid $1250 for my Gibby and got a great guitar (after Duncans and CTS pots). I paid $400 for my '81 Hamer Studio FM and it's an AMAZING guitar, even with the EMG 60's (they're growing on me). :alcoholic

To be honest, I'm beggining to play the Hamer more than the Gibby, simply because of the lighter weight and the fact that it's just a fun guitar to play. :dance:

My advice, play as many as you can and get the best one you find. Always play them all without plugging them into an amp first. Remember that electronics can be changed, so get the one that feels the best and sounds the best acoustically.

Also, don't forget about used USA Hamer Studios, they're awesome guitars and you won't have to sell your body to get one.
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

Mac-P I HATE YOU!!! haha serious gas attack!!! and that little thing about it being 6lbs 10oz DOES NOT help! haha I love SGs especially with those early 60's pickguards. I might have to get this if you can guarntee me I will be satisfied. haha
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

holy ****!! it even has the same reissue specs as the historics! the same heel/body joint edge. I know this as I drooled over a tv yellow historic sg 61 with the vibrola....sweet!!!
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

Orville guitars are made in japan for Gibson...they are better that any Epiphone, and most Gibsons, look at it that way with the Orville guitars, the construction, and the wood is the same that Gibson USA uses, Orville uses real Gibson USA hardware, pickups and pots, and the price is often half of the US counterpart...How could that not be better?!? As far as Greco, Burny...etc, If it has a Gibson headstock and a set neck chances are it's a damn fine axe, this is not a hard and fast rule, but it's close. ON the subject of Tokai...I will put a Love Rock head to head with ANY Les Paul out there, I will put any Tokai Strat or Tele up aganist the real thing...and I will hold my own...These guitars are very well build, they use fantastic wood ad parts, and IMO the stock pups are better than new Fender or Gibson, This is true fir all the made in japan Tokai guitars I have ever had or played...As for the made inkorea Tokai, I have heard that ther are great for the money but could use some upgrades. I have to say that this does not go for all Jap made copy guitars...someone said "you get what you pay for"...this is true You just have to ask your self...is a Custom Shop 59 les paul worth $5000.00...if not is the Tokai copy of a 59 Les Paul worth $1200.00, IMO it's a better guitar, i promiced myself I would never buy another Gibson ever...I hate them, and they will never get anymore of my money! My next Paul, 335, SG, V...will ALL say Tokai!

The Guy Who Invented Fire
 
Re: Tell me about japanese LP copies.

the guy who invented said:
I have to say that this does not go for all Jap made copy guitars...someone said "you get what you pay for"...this is true You just have to ask your self...is a Custom Shop 59 les paul worth $5000.00.

The Guy Who Invented Fire
Click to expand...

Yes and no......

With Gibson you are, in a sense, getting what you're paying for. This entials more than the actual guitar alone. You're paying for the advertising and marketing. You're paying for the prestige and recognition of the Gibson name. And those aspects alone can do very well for someone who decides to sell the guitar at a later date. The retention of value and even potential for an increase exist with a Gibson.

I came to the Japanese LP copy table about six months after buying a vintage Gibson Les Paul. I loved the guitar and the sound from it but really wasn't all that thrilled about the prospects of gigging out a guitar that expensive. On top of that I'd just had the guitar re-fretted and it was starting to wear and play like in a way that can only be acheived by your own hands. I knew if it were stolen or damaged it would bother me greatly. As a result I started looking for something that would be more easily replacable and less costly.

I'd always dug the Les Paul Customs. The new and used market for them was pretty outrageous, and they tended to fall short quality-wise. The Historics were amazing instruments, but for the price I couldn't justify it.

I stumbled across the Grecos while perusing eBay and a week later it was in my hands and I was shocked at how good it is.

I didn't get what I paid for with that guitar; I got a whole lot more.
 
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