Author Topic: Any ideas on this Epi SG? (Read 3076 times)

AndyR · « **on:** February 17, 2008, 12:55:22 PM »

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on my Epiphone SG? I've been searching on the web but can't find any info.

I bought it second hand in 1999 or possibly 1998. I bought it as a backup to another Epi SG at the time, but this one blew it's socks off, so I part exchanged the original for an Epi LP about a year later.

I've been able to date the LP to 1998 using the serial number on the back of its headstock, but this SG has no serial number on it anywhere.

The pickups that came out of it when I put in Riff Raffs have no markings on them either (unlike the ones out of the LP, which had Epiphone stamped into the base). I'm fairly certain that it's mahogany - it has a nice looking grain in the right light, and the wood is fairly dark where it was slightly exposed in a pickup cavity.

The thing that interests me most is the shape of the headstock. I've not seen this shape on any others. I love the guitar - especially now it's loaded with Riff Raffs - and it's better built than the LP, but I am curious about its heritage.

(Sorry about the picture quality - I nearly posted a "how on earth do you guys photograph your guitars?!!" topic - it's not easy is it?)

Many thanks.

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:58:01 PM »

Looks like a Japanese Epiphone Elitist SG to me. Great find, they're supposed to be excellent!

Yours has a different headstock and truss rod cover though. Never seen one like that before, these are the usual looks:

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:06:46 PM »

They didn't make elitists until 2002/3 though. Just looks like a G400.

noodleplugerine · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:09:15 PM »

Quote from: Sifu Ben

They didn't make elitists until 2002/3 though. Just looks like a G400.

+1

I thought it was a no brainer?

gwEm · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:09:17 PM »

i've seen epi's on ebay where the headstocks been machined to gibson style. i doubt thats happened in your case though, as surely they would have changed the logo to gibson. i think its really cool to see the epi logo there with that shape :)

maybe its an early Elitist, before they were commonly available?

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:15:52 PM »

I think it's an Elitist before they became Elitists - sorry, should have made that clear.

Regular G400s have never had neck binding? Could be wrong though. I know the G400s with the faded finish had the for a while.

The three screw TRC screams Korean, but the headstock says Japanese to me. Interesting. No "Made in" stickers anywhere?

AndyR · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:49:49 PM »

Thanks for the replies guys.

There were no stickers on it at all when I got it second hand in a shop in Surrey nearly ten years ago. I believe they'd received it in a part-exchange.

I couldn't find any serial numbers on it when I took it apart a few weeks ago to put the Riff Raffs in. I even had the scratchplate and the piece of plastic between the neck and neck pup off. No writing or legend anywhere.

One thing that did surprise me was the truss-rod adjustment. I needed to tighten it a quarter turn to set it up nicely (it's been in the attic for 8 years, and I've changed to .011s since then), and I found a hexagonal nut rather than the allen key socket I was expecting... I'd not come across that before.

Anyway, whatever it is, it plays like a dream (except that it needs a bit of a fret dress - I obviously used it for slide when I was gigging it, and there are a few nasty grooves on frets 15 and above).

All in all, it was pretty good value for £120!!

LazyNinja · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2008, 03:27:27 PM »

My guess is that it's an early production Korean G400. They used to have the open book headstock shape. I saw one on ebay a while back and it looked identical to yours (and yes it did have binding). I think that one was from 1988. The serial number was probably on a sticker and the previous owner probably peeled it away.

Twinfan · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2008, 04:05:45 PM »

That would make sense. Good info Kaz :)

Skybone · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2008, 10:14:07 AM »

The G400 didn't come into production until circa 1998/1999, plus the headstock is wrong for a G400, it doesn't have the corners cut off as per the standard Epi headstock.

MIJ Epiphones were actually branded as "Orville" until the mid 90's due to a copyright/branding "clash" in Japan.

It's possibly a mid 90's MIJ Epiphone, built for the Japanese market (hence the "Gibson" style headstock) and privately imported to the UK.

Twinfan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:40:57 AM »

It's the three screw truss which is the anomoly I think - Japanese stuff usually has two screw.

It's an odd ball alright!