Orville by Gibson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Orville by Gibson (also known simply as Orville) was the Japanese brand of the Gibson_Guitar_Corporation catering for the Japanese local market only during the late 1980s and most of the 1990s.
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[edit] History
During the 1970s and the 1980s, some Japanese Guitar companies using brands such as Ibanez, Tokai (Tōkai_Guitars), Burny, and Greco (Greco guitars) were making high-quality copies of Fender and Gibson guitars. Some brands were manufactured just for the local Japanese market and some brands were exported as well like Ibanez for instance. Both Fender and Gibson opened Japanese branches. Fender opened Fender Japan with the intention of selling mid priced Japanese Fenders on the local Japanese market only but after a while also decided to export guitars from Japan as well. Fender contracted Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai to oversee production and distribution of Fender Japan guitars around 1982.
Yamano Gakki (Gakki means musical instrument company) own a chain of retail outlets in Japan. They order guitars from guitar factories such as FujiGen and then distribute them in their own retail outlets and also in various other retail outlets across Japan. Kanda Shokai don't have any retail outlets of their own. They order guitars from guitar factories such as FujiGen and then distribute them through the Ishibashi chain of retail outlets and also various other retail outlets as well. Gibson had set up Epiphone Japan in the early 1970's with the contract being handled by Kanda Shokai and then by Aria, with most of the guitars being made by Matsumoku. This Epiphone Japan setup lasted until around 1986 and around 1987 Gibson decided to make a nearly complete range of all their different models in Japan using the name Orville. Orville was the first name of the corporation's founder, Mr. Orville Gibson.
Yamano Gakki and Kanda Shokai were chosen to oversee production and distribution of the Orvilles. When Orville was established in 1988 Gibson were also selling USA made Gibsons and Korean made Epiphones (Samick) on the local Japanese market. The Orvilles were priced in the middle of the USA made Gibsons and the Korean Epiphones. Gibson then had 3 brands (Gibson, Orville and Epiphone) available on the Japanese local market. 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 Epiphone Japan wanting to export Japanese made guitars under the Epiphone brand name.
[edit] Characteristics
Contrary to popular belief, the Japanese made Orville guitars are on a par with the American made series, and not of a lower standard, such as the Korean or Chinese made Epiphone guitars. African Mahogany was used on the majority of the guitars, with maple being used as a cap on the Les Paul models. One special detail about this line of guitars is that some models featured long tenon neck joints which can result in increased sustain. This type of quality is currently only offered on Gibson's Historic series guitars, but at a much higher price than the Orville brand. The "Orville by Gibson" models had thin nitrocellulose lacquer finishes while the Orville models had thin polyurethane finishes. The higher end "Orville by Gibson" models had fret edge binding and ebony fingerboards and some of the higher end Orville models also had ebony fingerboards. The "Orville by Gibson" models had Gibson USA pickups while the Orville models had Japanese Gotoh pickups and both the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models used Gotoh hardware (tuners, bridges etc). All the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models were built strictly to Gibson USA specifications. The model number on some models included the original price in yen, for example, LPS-75 Les Paul Standard = 75,000 Yen, SG-65 SG '62 Re-issue = 65,000 Yen, SG-60 = 60,000 Yen. The model number on the "Orville by Gibson" reissue series had the original year the model was based on in the model number, for example LPC-57B = 1957, LPS-59R = 1959.
[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 2007) "Orville by Gibson" Les Paul Standard Reissue Series Guitars are selling for $1,400 to $2,000 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. 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!
Also there are known fake Orvilles being circulated, so buyer beware.
[edit] Electric guitars
- Les Paul Standard
- Les Paul Custom
- Les Paul '54 Reissue
- Les Paul '57 Reissue
- Les Paul '59 Reissue
- Les Paul Studio Joe Perry Joe Perry (musician)
- Les Paul John Sykes John Sykes
- SG Doubleneck
- SG Custom
- SG '62 Reissue
- Les Paul Junior single cutaway
- Les Paul Junior double cutaway
- Explorer
- Flying V '58 and '74
- Melody Maker
[edit] Electric Basses
- EB-3
- Thunderbird
[edit] Acoustic guitars
- J-200
- Dove
- J-45
- J-160E
- Hummingbird
- Chet Atkins
- L-1 Historic Series Robert Johnson (musician)
- L-00
[edit] Serial Numbers
The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville serial number format used 4 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" reissue models used ink stamped YMMPPP (Y=year, MM=month,PPP=production number) and YPPPP (Y=year, PPPP=production number) serial number formats and had the reissue year in the model number (LPC-57B=1957) and were made from 1992-1995 with some models having limited production runs.
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 serial number prefix that is sometimes used from 1988 to 1995 on "Orville by Gibson" models and Orville bass models is a feature code according to Yamano (Epiphone Japan). Usually a G prefix model will have some high end features. The J serial number prefix that was sometimes used on Orville models from 1995 onwards has a similar function. The J prefix is also sometimes used on Epiphone Japan models made from 1998 onwards. There is also an A prefix (usually AC or AG) used for "Orville by Gibson" Acoustic models. 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 (1991-1993). 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.
The ink stamped serial "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models were managed by Yamano Gakki, with the solid body models being made by Terada and FujiGen (mostly made by FujiGen from 1993). The reason why FujiGen did not have the "Orville by Gibson" and K serial Orville contract from the beginning is because FujiGen was doing mostly bolt on (Fender like) neck models for Fender Japan and Ibanez in the late 1980's/early 1990's and was avoiding set neck (Gibson like model) contracts at that time. In 1993 FujiGen restructured it's factory to allow for increased production and did obtain the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville (and K serial Orville) contract. The FujiGen restructuring corresponds to the first CIJ (Crafted in Japan) Fender Japan models in 1993 which were marked CIJ instead of the usual MIJ (Made in Japan) because FugiGen outsourced some of the Fender Japan manufacturing while it was restructuring.
Aside from the Orville bass models there are no ink stamped Orville solid body models from 1989 to 1992. The Orville solid body models from 1989 to 1993 are the K serial Orvilles. The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville Semi-Acoustic models were made by Terada. The "Orville by Gibson" Acoustic models were made by Terada from 1991 to 1993. Some ink stamped "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models do not have long tenon neck joints.
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 YPPPP serial number format is the same as that used by Kanda Shokai's own Greco guitars.
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 was selling K serial Orvilles in 1990) and were limited to the most popular Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Junior, SG and Melody Maker models. The K serial number Orvilles were built using African Mahogany just like the "Orville by Gibsons" and other Orvilles and also used the same Japanese hardware (tuners, bridges, pickups, potentiometers etc) as the ink stamped Orvilles. The K serial number Orvilles have the same thin polyurethane finishes as the ink stamped Orvilles and the Epiphone Japan Elite Series. 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 except for the LPC-65 and SG-60 models which were discontinued in 1991. Some K serial number Orvilles had long tenon neck joints.
The K serial Orvilles were managed by Kanda Shokai (The K prefix comes from Kanda) and were distributed through various Japanese retail outlets including the Ishibashi chain of retail outlets. The ink stamped Orvilles were managed by Yamano and were distributed through Yamano retail outlets and various other retail outlets. 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 and use a sticker instead. The ink stamped serial number format was a Yamano serial number format connected to their warranty system and was not used by the Kanda Shokai K Orvilles. Basically the K sticker serial numbers were used by Kanda Shokai to avoid any conflict with the Yamano Gakki ink stamped serial numbers.
Kanda Shokai mainly used 2 ink stamped formats on their own brand of Greco guitars. One was MYYPPPP where M = production month prefix letter (L = December) YY = year (77=1977) and PPPP = production number which is very similar to one of the "Orville by Gibson's" serial number formats of YYPPPP and the second Greco serial number format was YPPPP where Y = year (5=1985) and PPPP = production number which is the same as the "Orville by Gibson" reissue format.
When it came time to give the Orvilles a serial number format Kanda Shokai could not use Yamano Gakki's serial number formats (YYPPPP and YMMPPP and the reissue YPPPP) for Yamano warranty reasons and also because the Yamano serial number formats (YYPPPP YPPPP) were about the same format as the Greco formats (MYYPPPP YPPPP). So Kanda Shokai used the Greco YPPPP ink stamped format in sticker form rather than in ink stamped form to avoid conflict with Yamano's ink stamped serial numbers. The K serial Orville models were produced from 1989 to 1993 and were made by Terada and FujiGen (mostly made by FujiGen in 1993). In 1993 Kanda Shokai left the Orville production to Yamano.
When Kanda Shokai agreed to handle the K serial Orvilles around 1989 the production of the Greco Mint Collection Series (Gibson Model Replica Series 1981/1982-1989/1990) was suspended. A very similar situation occured when Kanda Shokai agreed to handle Fender Japan (with Yamano Gakki) around 1981 and the Greco Fender Replica production was suspended in 1981/1982. This was done so that Kanda Shokai's Greco branded Gibson and Fender Replica models did not conflict with the Orville or Fender Japan models.
A timeline of the "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models.
1988: "Orville by Gibson" production started and they were fitted with Gibson USA pickups, and most models had a G serial number prefix serial number.
1989: Orville production started and they were fitted with Japanese pickups. The Orville K serial number models were limited to Les Paul and SG models and also had a different serial number format. 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 instead of the K serial number format.
1989: The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville SG bass serial number format is changed to a new format.
1991: "Orville by Gibson" acoustic production started.
1993: The "Orville by Gibson" reissue models start in 1992/1993 using a Gibson USA reissue YPPPP format, Y=year, PPPP=production number. The Orville K serial number models become ink stamped serial number models which inherit the "Orville by Gibson" serial number format and the ink stamped serial number format is used on the Orvilles from 1993 up until 1998. "Orville by Gibson" acoustic production ends.
1995: "Orville by Gibson" production ends and the Orville model range gets expanded from Les Pauls and SG's to include Firebirds, Explorers, Flying V's, and ES-335's.
1998: Orville production ends.
The "Orville by Gibson" and Orville models were manufactured (as were the Epiphone Japan Elite models) at the FujiGen (solidbodies) and Terada (solidbodies, 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 local market only.
[edit] Sources
Yamano Gakki Japan, Epiphone Japan, Orville by Gibson Catalogues.
