Orville by Gibson

[TheIronBeast]

I'm thinking of purchasing a MIJ les paul if I can find a decent one within the UK and have been most interested in Orville by Gibson Les Pauls after reading a bit about them. I've also looked at Tokai and Edwards les pauls too, but not sure what the better quality models are.

Does anybody know if there are Orville dealers in the UK? The ones that I have seen online would either have to be imported from US or Japan and I'd prefer not to do that if possible.

[dave_mc]

i haven't tried them, but i doubt there are any dealers- as far as I'm aware, they're japanese-only models for the japanese market. I'm not even sure they're made any more (could be way off), i think they changed to epiphone japan a couple of years ago?

i made a post in that other thread about edwardses versus tokais (gordiji's thread).

better quality tokais are the ls85 and up (for the LP standard copies), they're MIJ. I think the lacquer taste series edwards are meant to be slightly better, but i've only tried the LTS ones, so...

:?

[TheIronBeast]

Thanks. I don't know an awful lot about Japanese made guitars, they have only just recently caught my attention as I have read so many good things about them.

[Philly Q]

i haven't tried them, but i doubt there are any dealers- as far as I'm aware, they're japanese-only models for the japanese market. I'm not even sure they're made any more (could be way off), i think they changed to epiphone japan a couple of years ago?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the ObG brand no longer exists as such.  The Japanese-market Epiphones (with the correct Gibson-shape headstock) replaced them. 

I have three MIJ Epiphones, and once owned an ObG Les Paul - they seem to me like they were probably built in the same factory.  I know the Japanese factories made guitars under multiple brand names, but there are subtle differences between ObGs and Tokais, for example, and I'm pretty sure the MIJ Epis are the same as ObG.

So you're probably looking at importing or maybe a UK eBay sale.

[Twinfan]

Yep, ObG aren't made any more.  You can buy used from the usual places as they crop up now and then.

If you want new, Tokai or Edwards are the daddies at the moment.

[fr33man1]

japanguitars.co.uk , aka generalunrest or Mark.  hes an english dude that moved to France. He's owning a great collection as you can see on his site. its not the cheapest but good range of choice there. Since guitars are in France no taxes or customs to get it delivered in England. (highly recommand getting a case from him if you inteng to get one shipped to you).

Oh and maybe just wait till june or this summer, he sometimes does sales periods. It shows up on the front page and mostly says any proposal will be studied. Could be nice since its around 1000 euros to get a burny les paul shipped within a case and 1300/1400 for an Orville by Gibson. Almost the price of a secondhand gibson.

[Twinfan]

I've heard mixed reviews of that seller, and someone here on  the forum had a bad experience.  Unless you know exactly what you'll be buying, 100% certain, then you may want to do lots of research first.

[HTH AMPS]

The Orville LPs are starting at EUR1000 on that Japan Guitars website - thats £860.00 at today's exchange rate.  I'd save a bit longer and get a Gibson at that price - you'd probably even get a used Gibson on ebay for that price.

I used to own a MIJ Epi LP jr and it was a great guitar - can't complain about the way it played.  Then again, I paid about £350.00 for it, so thats about all I would ever play for such a guitar.

I always think the Edwards LPs look very tasty, but ebay prices on those at the minute are upwards of £850.00 - I'd put the extra towards getting a Gibson, no question.

btw, Dave (twinfan)... heres some GAS for you... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1959-1960-Gibson-ES355-355-double-white-PAF-335_W0QQitemZ110524130037QQcategoryZ33040QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8965326353609072084#ht_25923wt_1165

[Twinfan]

Nice!  Not convinced that neck binding is original though.......

[HTH AMPS]

Nice!  Not convinced that neck binding is original though.......

I see what you mean now you've pointed that out.  However, I've seen that before where the neck binding hasn't aged like the body and headstock (must have used different binding).  Also seen new VOS Gibson LP Customs with the same thing - aged binding on all the guitar except the neck (maybe thats a desirable vintage feature? - not by me, it looks weird).

[fr33man1]

to bump on your thoughts twinfan, i heard mixed things aswell but if I really wanted a burny or greco so bad, i'd still try to get it shipped from France rather than from USA or Japan.

as for the price of those mij guitars it seems a bit overestimated here in europe. A friend that used to work and live in NY managed to buy some mijs for 300 to 500$.

HTH has the point, for those price we can get those MIJ Les paul' here in europe, rather save a bit much and get a gibson one. I dunno coda music shop as living in France but they seem to get very often some gibsons in seconhand category. Im still mad at myself for letting this cherry custom they had pass. It was about 1299£ secondhand..

[Twinfan]

Coda do get some good deals in, so they're worth watching....

[fr33man1]

indeed but each time the deal smells good I got no money in my pocket or Im waiting too much and its sold. I wanted the mesa mark III and the custom les paul so bad, but it was gone already. Btw nice lad on the 62' sg they had twinfan ! I wanted it too !  :x   :lol:

[mikeluke]

I've had and sold a few Orvilles and Orville by Gibson Les Pauls - very quick overview

No longer made - production ended 1998. Basic models - only real difference is that ObG have Gibson USA pickups. There are some higher end ObG models which have edge binding and even flame/quilted tops. Orville flamed tops are photoflame not 'real flame'.

Quality is pretty good but I would agree that if you blind-tested one v an Tokai or Edwards then I would expect one of the latter two to come out on tops. Nothing bad to note though with the exception that the pickups rings tend to break and the inlays tend to fall out....

Price - you'd expect to pay £450-500 for an Orville LP on eBay and maybe £550-650 for an OBG (assumes LP Standard, not Custom) - prices are higher for a flame top and edge bound model. Prices are buoyant at present due to £ v Yen exchange rate. (As is case for most MIJ guitars)

If you imported one yourself you might be lucky to land one for £350-375 landed cost but there is a lot of competition at that price point.

If you want any more info please feel free to PM me

Mike

[TheIronBeast]

I had a look at that japanguitars website and their prices for an ObG seem to be a bit much. After I purchase a case and pay for shipping here I might as well of bought a used Gibson.

I'll do a bit of research first before making up my mind, I'll keep an eye out on Coda too. I used to own a Gibson LP standard years ago and thats one of the guitars that I regret selling, so I still might pay a bit more for a Gibson if I can get one at a good price.