Texsunburst59 Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 Any fans of these guitars. I stumbled upon one yesterday for an amazing price. I never had a chance to play one of these when the 1st run. came out in '02, but I was aware they existed. They'd been on my radar for years, and I'd always hoped I'd find one. Well I'm really impress by the construction, the amazing neck, and the sound of the stock pickups. Does anyone here own or has owned one of the Elite Epiphone guitars.? Here's some pics on the guitar.
currypowder Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 Great find. I have a couple of Elitist guitars, a Riviera and Coronet. Epiphone still has a few guitars under the Elitist line, I believe, for the Japanese domestic market. Both of mine are top-notch in every way. I would not hesitate to pick up an Elitist sight unseen.
Texsunburst59 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Posted March 25, 2017 15 minutes ago, currypowder said: Great find. I have a couple of Elitist guitars, a Riviera and Coronet. Epiphone still has a few guitars under the Elitist line, I believe, for the Japanese domestic market. Both of mine are top-notch in every way. I would not hesitate to pick up an Elitist sight unseen. I remember when they came out , I remember seeing an Elite Epi 335 I think in one of the local guitar shops. I think they were asking 1K for it at the time. I kinda thought they were crazy for asking that much for an Epi. I think those same guitars are fetching quite a bit more than the 1K they were asking at the time. Who knew.
duncans Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 Congrats on yours, looks nice! I've got a Standard Plaintop Elitist LP. I switched pots to CTS, added OD caps and Dimarzio 35th Anniversaries pickups. Nice guitar, much better now.
Texsunburst59 Posted March 25, 2017 Author Posted March 25, 2017 21 minutes ago, duncans said: Congrats on yours, looks nice! I've got a Standard Plaintop Elitist LP. I switched pots to CTS, added OD caps and Dimarzio 35th Anniversaries pickups. Nice guitar, much better now. Did you really feel the need to do all the upgrades? Weren't these guitars made with US parts and pickups? I'm just curious if the stock stuff was that inferior to a regular Gibson LP Standard.
duncans Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 2 hours ago, Texsunburst59 said: Did you really feel the need to do all the upgrades? Weren't these guitars made with US parts and pickups? I'm just curious if the stock stuff was that inferior to a regular Gibson LP Standard. These have all US hardware etc and are very good guitars in stock configuration. You don't have to change a thing to have a great guitar. Basically I like to tinker. I like to make my guitars, Mine. I don't think any of my electric guitars are stock, I'm just that way. I have always liked CTS pots better than Alpha altho I do use Alpha in my amp builds. Stock Epi pickups were a little hot for my taste, I like lower output PAFs, they have more of what I want to hear. IMO.
GASguy Posted March 25, 2017 Posted March 25, 2017 I have an Elitist Sheraton in a nice sunburst and an Elitist Dwight Yokam model Casino (red); cool guitars of good quality IMO. ETA: Congratulations on the black beauty, it looks really nice!
Jammintree Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 I have an Elitist Les Paul that has become my absolute favorite guitar! Stock the guitar is pretty sweet, though I feel a few minor hardware upgrades will go a long way. I've found that the electronics are all great quality and are expertly soldered together. Tuners are great and the pickups sound fantastic, though my pickups need to be remounted to stop them from vibrating in place when I play a six string chord. I need to replace my bridge however as mine has begun to sag. Do any Elitist owners have any suggestions for a good replacement?
RobB Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 On 3/25/2017 at 7:46 AM, Texsunburst59 said: I stumbled upon one yesterday for an amazing price. Pity the rosewood fingerboard. What was the, "amazing price" you tripped over?
RobB Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 8 minutes ago, Jammintree said: I need to replace my bridge however as mine has begun to sag. Do any Elitist owners have any suggestions for a good replacement? Try Faber Hardware. They should be able to outfit your import with the proper bridge.
Texsunburst59 Posted January 7, 2018 Author Posted January 7, 2018 45 minutes ago, RobB said: Pity the rosewood fingerboard. What was the, "amazing price" you tripped over? $300 out the door. That's about 1/3 of the used going rate. I think it qualifies. Don't you?
3of5 Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 Great find. My son has one exactly like yours that he bought brand new 11 years ago. Still completely stock. Was his gigging guitar. Great quality construction, Great sounding Les Paul. I was so impressed that I bought an Elitist Casino a year later. Still stock save for the black pickguard to replace the white one. I still cannot find a flaw in that Casino after 10 years.
crunchee Posted January 7, 2018 Posted January 7, 2018 I had a Terada-made Elitist Riviera XII about 10 years ago, nice wide neck, workmanship and sound was nice, but it was HEAVY. Maybe that's why I didn't notice any neck dive when I was playing it.
Len Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 I have 4 of them ... 2003 is the best year as they were "Elite" series before changing to "Elitist". Excellent guitars .... Dibs
Texsunburst59 Posted January 8, 2018 Author Posted January 8, 2018 4 hours ago, Len said: I have 4 of them ... 2003 is the best year as they were "Elite" series before changing to "Elitist". Excellent guitars .... Dibs You've got a KILLER collection of Epi Elites. VERY nice!!!!!
bruce919 Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 Hell Yes. Very fine guitars, excitant build quality. Had several LP's & a 335 style over the years. You can find them cheap if ya keep an eye out for 'em. One of the Mahogany Standard has had a set of the Elitist humbuckers for many years.
Texsunburst59 Posted January 8, 2018 Author Posted January 8, 2018 10 hours ago, BubbaVO said: How thick are the necks on those LPs? My custom has a 60's style neck. It's a very fast neck and you can fly up and down the fretboard on this guitar.
Sugartune Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 I had an Elitist SG. Was very nice. I’d give any other Elitist/Elite a go based on that one. I’d love one of the hollow bodies, but those are the ones I see for high, high asking prices.
Sugartune Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 On 2018-01-07 at 7:27 PM, Len said: I have 4 of them ... 2003 is the best year as they were "Elite" series before changing to "Elitist". Excellent guitars .... Dibs I thought the change was only in name, due to trademark issues with Ovation. Was there a difference in the builds as well? Those look nice, btw
crunchee Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 53 minutes ago, Sugartune said: I thought the change was only in name, due to trademark issues with Ovation. Was there a difference in the builds as well? Mine was Terada-made, the same place that Japanese Gretsches are made. But that was over ten years ago since I owned it...it may have been an 'Elite' model instead of an 'Elitist', but my memory isn't as good about that, though. To-MAY-to, to-MAH-to was pretty much what I thought at the time.
RobB Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 Epiphone also did a Japan-only version with the Gibson scroll headstock.
Len Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 3 hours ago, Sugartune said: I thought the change was only in name, due to trademark issues with Ovation. Was there a difference in the builds as well? Those look nice, btw It was name only change ... I have 2 "Elites" (2003 shown in pic, 1 Plaintop and 1 Flametop LPs) and 2 "Elitists" .. an 2004 SG and a 2005 JJ French Twisted Sister Pinkburst Les Paul. all 4 are fantastic, but the 2 Elites seem a little better, more mojo ... dunno ... might just be my imagination ...
Texsunburst59 Posted January 9, 2018 Author Posted January 9, 2018 52 minutes ago, Len said: It was name only change ... I have 2 "Elites" (2003 shown in pic, 1 Plaintop and 1 Flametop LPs) and 2 "Elitists" .. an 2004 SG and a 2005 JJ French Twisted Sister Pinkburst Les Paul. all 4 are fantastic, but the 2 Elites seem a little better, more mojo ... dunno ... might just be my imagination ... I'd like to get my hands on one of those J.J. French Elite Sigs. VERY nice Len.
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