Orville By Gibson
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Orville by Gibson (also known simply as Orville) was the Japanese brand of Gibson guitars for the Japanese market only during the 1980's and the 1990's. Image:Orvillebygibson guitar headstock.jpg
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[edit] History
During the 1970s and the 1980s, some Japanese manufacturers, such as Tokai Guitars, Burny, and Greco were making high-quality copies of Fender and Gibson guitars. The Gibson Guitar Corporation then decided in 1988 to react and to produce its own authorized copies. Gibson chose Orville for the name, which is the first name of the corporation's founder, Mr. Orville Gibson. Gibson chose Yamano Gakki to oversee the Orville production and distribution and the manufacturing license was given to Fuji Gen Gakki (who were the manufacturers of brands like Ibanez) and also to Terada Gakki.
Orville guitars were produced from 1988 to 1998, with headstock logos reading both "Orville by Gibson" and simply Orville. The "Orville by Gibson" models had more features and were sold at a higher price than the Orville models. There were a number of changes to the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville model range between their beginning in 1988 and their end in 1998 that are explained in the Serial Numbers section. The Orvilles were discontinued in 1998 due to Gibson Japan (Epiphone Japan) wanting to export Japanese made guitars under the Epiphone brand name (Epiphone Elite Series).
[edit] Characteristics
Contrary to popular belief, Japanese made Orville guitars are on par with the American series, and not of a lower standard, such as Epiphone (excluding Epiphone Japan guitars). African Mahogany is used on the majority of the guitars, with maple being used as a cap on the Les Paul models as well as the EB-2 bass. One special detail about this line of guitars is that some models feature long tenon necks with dovetail joints which can give increased sustain. This type of quality is currently only offered on Gibson's Historic series guitars, but at a much higher cost than the Orville brand. The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models were built strictly to Gibson USA specifications and the "Orville by Gibson" models used Gibson USA pickups and the Orville models used Japanese pickups. The model number on some models included the original price in yen for example, LPS-75 Les Paul Standard 75000 yen, SG-65 SG '62 Re-issue 65000 yen.
[edit] Acquisition
In the past few years, acquisition of Orville guitars has become increasingly popular. The Orville brand had remained virtually unknown to the overseas market, as they were only marketed in Japan. Once it was realized that the Orvilles were really Gibson Japan guitars, there was a very large demand for them. Starting in 2002, Japanese salesmen started selling Orville guitars on eBay. At the time, any Orville bass or guitar with hard case would sell for around $400 USD, with an additional $100 for shipping. This was considered an incredible deal, as the American Les Paul sold for nearly three times this amount.
Since the introduction of Orvilles to eBay, prices have risen dramatically. Thunderbird basses have doubled in value, while most Les Pauls have only risen slightly. SG Doublenecks have fetched over $1,200 USD. The new selling prices are still considerably lower than what Gibson is currently selling.
Currently (in 2006) "Orville by Gibson" Les Paul Standard Reissue Series Guitars are selling for $1,200.00 to $1,800.00 USD on a regular basis on eBay. Remember these guitars have a build quality that equals or exceeds the current Gibson product and actually competes competitively in build quality against the current Gibson Custom Shop products. The "Orville by Gibson" guitars shipped with Gibson USA PAF '57 Humbuckers, Gibson USA hardware, a long neck tenon that extends well into the neck pickup cavity and in addition to this also have Nitrocellulose Laquer finishes. Therefore, even at these prices, the "Orville by Gibson" guitars remain an excellent investment as well as an excellent high quality guitar to be enjoyed by anyone who is lucky enough to own one!
[edit] Electric guitars
- Les Paul Standard
- Les Paul Custom
- Les Paul '54 Reissue
- Les Paul '58 Reissue
- Les Paul '59 Reissue
- Les Paul SG '61 Reissue
- Les Paul SG Doubleneck
- Les Paul Junior single cutaway
- Les Paul Junior double cutaway
- Les Paul Joe Perry
- Les Paul John Sykes
- Explorer
- Flying V
[edit] Electric Basses
[edit] Acoustic guitars
[edit] Serial Numbers
The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville serial number format used 3 variations in the 10 years that they were produced and sometimes the serial numbers can vary.
The "Orville by Gibson" models used ink stamped serial numbers and the Orvilles used both ink stamped serial numbers and serial number stickers (K prefix serial numbers).
The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville serial numbers don't follow the Gibson USA format of YDDDYPPP. YY is the production year DDD is the day of the year PPP is the plant designation and/or instrument rank.
From 1988 to 1989 a YYPPPP serial number format was used for the "Orville by Gibson" models and Orville SG bass EB-3 models. YY is the production year 88=1988, 89=1989. PPPP is the production number. For example G887013 is from 1988.
In 1989 a new serial number format of YMMPPP was used for the "Orville by Gibson" models and Orville SG bass EB-3 models. Y is the production year 0=1990, 1=1991 etc. MM is the production month. PPP is the production number. For example G206135 is from the 6th month 1992. This format is also used for ink stamped serial number Orvilles from 1993 to 1998.
The G and J serial number prefixes that are sometimes used probably represent model codes. The "Orville by Gibson" models mostly used a G prefix and the Orville Les Paul and SG models mostly used no prefix except for the Orville SG bass EB-3 models which sometimes used a G prefix. Up until 1995 the Orville model range was limited to Les Pauls and SG's and the "Orville by Gibson" model range included Les Pauls and SG's and other models as well such as Firebirds, Explorers, Flying V's, and ES-335's and Acoustics. When the "Orville by Gibson" model production finished in 1995 the Orville range of models were expanded to include most of the former "Orville by Gibson" models and some Orville models from 1995 onwards (mostly models that are not Les Pauls or SG's) include a J prefix in their serial numbers. For example some "Orville by Gibson" Firebirds from 1988 to 1995 use a G prefix and some Orville Firebirds from 1995 to 1998 use a J prefix. The J prefix is also used on some Epiphone Japan models made after the Orvilles had finished. The G and J prefix serial numbers models have the serial number inked on at the back of the headstock and on some guitars it is very hard to read. There is also an A prefix (usually AC or AG) used for "Orville by Gibson" Acoustic models.
The K prefix serial numbers do not follow the ink stamped serial number formats from above and the K prefix letter has nothing to do with the G or J prefix letters that are sometimes used on the ink stamped "Orville by Gibson" or Orville models.
The K serial number format is XYPPPP. X=0=first digit which is ignored. Y=year with 9=1989, 0=1990, 1=1991 etc. PPPP is a production number. The K serial number format is YPPPP. Y=year, PPPP=production number. For example K 015113 = 1 5113 = 1991.
The K prefix serial number Orville models used a serial number sticker at the back of the headstock (which can be removed). The K serial number Orvilles were the first Orville models to be produced (Ishibashi's Shibuya store in Tokyo were selling K serial Orvilles in the late 1980's/early 1990's) and were limited to the most popular Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Junior, and SG models. The K serial number Orvilles used Japanese hardware (tuners, bridges, pickups, potentiometers etc), and both the K serial number Orvilles and the ink stamped serial number Orvilles (Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Junior, and SG models) were sold at the same price. The K serial Orvilles seem to have been managed by Kanda Shokai and were distributed through Ishibashi stores. The ink stamped Orvilles were managed by Yamano and were distributed through Yamano stores. The different management and distribution of the K serial Orvilles is the reason why they don't use Yamano's ink stamped serial number format. The K serial Orvilles were most likely made by Tokai Gakki Japan rather than by FujiGen Gakki (which Yamano used for the Orville solid body models) as they have features identical with the lower priced Tokai Les Paul models such as the use of 3 piece and 2 piece tops and medium tenon neck joints.
A timeline of the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models.
1988: The "Orville by Gibson" models start and were fitted with Gibson USA pickups, and most models had a G serial number prefix serial number.
1989: The Orville models start and were fitted with Japanese pickups. The Orville K serial number models were limited to Les Paul models with basic features, and SG models and also had a different serial number format and a serial number sticker was used on the back of the headstock. Orville SG bass models used the "Orville by Gibson" ink stamped serial number format with a G prefix serial number instead of the K serial number format.
1989: The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville SG bass EB-3 serial number format is changed to a new format.
1991: The "Orville by Gibson" acoustic models start.
1993: More emphasis is given to the Orville models to keep the price down and the basic K serial Orville Les Paul models are expanded by some of the "Orville by Gibson" Les Paul models, also the "Orville by Gibson" models have higher feature models added to their model range such as the reissue models. The Orville K serial number models become ink stamped serial number models which inherit the "Orville by Gibson" serial number format (but mostly with no G prefix) and only the ink stamped serial number format is used from 1993 up until 1998.
1995: Last of the "Orville by Gibson" models and the Orville model range gets expanded from Les Pauls and SG's to include Firebirds, Explorers, Flying V's, and ES-335's and some models (mostly Firebirds, Explorers, Flying V's and ES-335's) can have a J serial prefix serial number.
1998: The last of the Orville models.
The "Orville by Gibson" reissue serial numbers follow the Gibson USA reissue format of YPPPP. Y=year, PPPP=production number.
The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models were most likely manufactured (as were the Epiphone Japan Elite models) at the FujiGen (solidbodies) and Terada (acoustics and archtops) Japanese factories.
According to Yamano/Epiphone Japan all the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models were manufactured in Japan for the Japanese market only.
[edit] External links
From Gibson Japan Website (in Japanese):
