NGD input required

[schenr]

Hi all,
After the Edwards LP Custom topic started, I decided to check ebay for tokai, burny, orville, edwards etc les paul copies.
I ended up coming across a few really nice MIJ guitars, and there happens to be a mint tokai lc85 wine red (with gold hardware) which ends in about 3 hours.

The other competitors are a Tokai Les Paul LS95F lemon drop finish (brand new), an Edwards elp 98 LTC cream white finish with gold hardware (bit of wear), and an edwards elp custom (2007 with minor wear) black beauty (3 pickups and gold hardware).
All around the same price range, all MIJ and funnily enough all gold hardware, which I don't mind at all.

So the point of this topic is that I'm hoping someone will convince me to buy the wine red tokai instead of going with one of the other LP replicas within the next three hours.

Here's the links
wine red tokai: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290538550330&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
lemon drop: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360178665684&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
white edwards: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220746347469&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
black beauty: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180634882562&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Any input is appreciated!

[Philly Q]

I see someone's already bought the wine red LC85.  Was it you?

[schenr]

No it wasn't. I went to buy it but someone had bought it 5 minutes prior! Devastating.... But now I'm on the prowl for something similar. I feel like the other guitars I mentioned are a bit boring, apart from the lemon drop one, but I'm still undecided.

[Twinfan]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of those to be honest...

[Telerocker]

Lot's of the MIJ are better then the Gibson Studio's.

[Philly Q]

They'll all be good guitars, I'm sure. 

Personally I'd be more tempted by the Edwards models, just for the LP Custom styling and ebony fretboards.

[dave_mc]

just to point out, the edwardses aren't 100% MIJ.

[Jonny]

just to point out, the edwardses aren't 100% MIJ.

So the fallacy of thinking they are MIJ have boosted the reputation of Edwards or are Edwards generally good quality? To the drawing board! And anyone who has an Edwards guitar to clarify.

[dave_mc]

oh my edwards is a nice guitar, but I bought it thinking it was MIJ.

It's probably a bit of both.

My own opinion is that mine's a nice guitar, and for the price i paid I'm not going to complain too much, but i'd have preferred to have been told the truth, and it's maybe a little sterile/doesn't have quite the mojo of some of the other 100% MIJ stuff.

[Philly Q]

just to point out, the edwardses aren't 100% MIJ.

So the fallacy of thinking they are MIJ have boosted the reputation of Edwards or are Edwards generally good quality? To the drawing board! And anyone who has an Edwards guitar to clarify.

My impression has always been that their reputation is based on quality (and bang-for-buck), not the "perception" that they're made in Japan.  They don't say "Made In Japan" so I was never 100% sure of their origin anyway.

If the stories are right, only the basic woodworking is done in China, then they're assembled and set up in Japan so that's good enough for me.  Modern Chinese guitars seem very good anyway, frankly.

I don't claim to be a Japanese guitar expert, but I've owned 6 Edwards guitars, 6 Tokais, 2 Orvilles and 3 (Fujigen) Epiphones.  The Edwards guitars are every bit as good as the "true" MIJ guitars.  In fact, apart from my very expensive Tokai SG, only the Edwards guitars have had one-piece bodies.  They generally have better pickups and hardware too.

I take Dave's point about "sterile" - they do feel a little more "sharp" and "clean" than the Orvilles/Epis, but then none of my Orvilles/Epis were brand new when I got them. 

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Edwards!  :D

[Denim n Leather]

Lot's of the MIJ are better then the Gibson Studio's.

I played a Studio the other day. Sucked! Got the SG instead.

[MisterMuncher]

"If the stories are right, only the basic woodworking is done in China, then they're assembled and set up in Japan so that's good enough for me."

Surely this is the most sensible way to provide bang-for-the-buck? Without wanting to make undue pronouncements of fact or anything, if the materials are right going in, and the finishing and fettling jobs are done properly afterwards, then who does the "donkey work" is probably immaterial.

(Realise I've probably insulted every luthier on the boards. This isn't my intent. Rephrase it in a manner that doesn't offend you if needs be)

[schenr]

Is there really much difference between one piece vs two/three piece bodies? I've never done a comparison (I've never even thought about doing a comparison), but from what I've read (which isn't much), the difference is pretty small.