Orville by Gibson (Japanese) オービルbyギブソン (also known simply as Orville (Japanese) オービル) 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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History
During the 1970s and the 1980s, some Japanese Guitar companies using brand names such as Ibanez, Tōkai, Burny, and Greco were making high-quality copies of Fender and Gibson guitars. Some brands were manufactured solely for the local Japanese market, but others like Ibanez were exported. Both Fender and Gibson opened Japanese branch divisions to try to win back Japanese market share that was being lost to other Japanese Guitar companies and to also export some guitars from Japan. Fender opened Fender Japan with the intention of selling mid priced Japanese Fenders to the local Japanese market only, but eventually also exported guitars from Japan. Fender contracted Yamano Gakki (Japanese) 山野楽器 and Kanda Shokai (Japanese) 神田商会 to oversee production and distribution of Fender Japan guitars in 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 across Japan 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 across Japan and also various other retail outlets across Japan as well. Gibson set up Epiphone Japan in the early 1970s with the dealership being mostly handled by Aria in cooperation with Gibson. Aria used the Matsumoku guitar factory in Japan to make the Aria Epiphone Japan models. This first stage of Epiphone Japan ended around 1986 and in 1987 Yamano Gakki obtained the Gibson and Epiphone dealership in Japan [1]. Yamano Gakki distributed USA made Gibsons and Korean made Epiphones around Japan and Yamano Gakki also handled Epiphone Japan for both the local Japanese market and the overseas export market in cooperation with Gibson and a limited range of Epiphone Japan models (no Les Paul or SG models) were produced with Yamano Gakki using the Terada guitar factory in Japan to make the Epiphone Japan models. After Yamano Gakki obtained the Gibson and Epiphone dealership in Japan they decided to launch their own line of guitars solely for the Japanese market in cooperation with Gibson. It was decided by Gibson/Yamano Gakki not to use the Epiphone brand name for this new line of guitars as Epiphone is a Gibson brand name and at the time Gibson was also producing Epiphone Japan guitars and so the Orville name was decided upon instead. Orville is the first name of the Gibson corporation's founder Orville Gibson. When the Orville by Gibson series was launched in 1988 Gibson were selling USA made Gibsons, Japanese made Epiphones and Korean made Epiphones (Samick) on the local Japanese market. The Orville by Gibson and Orville series were priced in the middle of the USA made Gibsons and the Korean Epiphones in a similar way to the Greco, Tokai and Burny guitars. Gibson then had 2 brands (Gibson and Epiphone) and also the Yamano Gakki Gibson licensed Orville by Gibson brand available on the Japanese local market. The Orville by Gibson and Orville guitars were produced from 1988 to 1998 and the Orville by Gibson models had more features and were sold at higher prices 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 Orville series were discontinued in 1998 due to Gibson and Yamano Gakki deciding to export an expanded Epiphone model range that included Les Paul and SG models under the Gibson Epiphone brand name and also to sell the expanded Epiphone model range on the local Japanese market. Gibson and Yamano Gakki ended their relationship in late 2006.
Characteristics
The Orville by Gibson models are at least on par with most of the standard Gibson models and the Orville by Gibson 1957 and 1959 Les Paul reissue series (LPS-57C, LPC-57B, LPS-59R) and the 1961 SG reissue model (SG-61R) are on par with the Gibson Historic series. African Mahogany was used for most of the Orville by Gibson and Orville models, with a Maple top or sometimes a African Mahogany top being used on the Les Paul models. All of the Orville by Gibson and Orville guitars featured either long tenon neck joints or medium long tenon neck joints (set necks) and no Orville by Gibson or Orville guitar ever featured short tenon neck joints like most of the modern Gibson models do. The Orville by Gibson models had thin nitrocellulose lacquer finishes while the Orville models had medium 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 used Gibson USA pickups (Gibson Classic 57's on high end models, Gibson The Original Bill Lawrence HB-R/HB-L or Gibson 490's on others) while the Orville models used 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) = 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 LPS-57C = 1957, LPS-59R = 1959, SG-61R = 1961.
Electric guitars
- Les Paul Standard
- Les Paul Custom
- 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
- SG '61 Reissue
- Les Paul Junior single cutaway
- Les Paul Junior double cutaway
- Melody Maker
- Firebird
- Explorer
- Flying V '58 and '74
- ES-175
- ES-335 Dot
- Byrdland
Electric Basses
- EB-3
- Thunderbird
Acoustic guitars
- J-200
- Dove
- J-45
- J-160E
- Hummingbird
- Chet Atkins (CEC Nylon Strings Model, ...)
- L-1 Historic Series Robert Johnson (musician)
- L-00
Serial Numbers
The Orville by Gibson and Orville serial number format used 4 variations in the 10 years that they were produced. The Orville by Gibson models used ink stamped serial numbers and the Orville models used both ink stamped serial numbers and Yamano Gakki (K) serial number stickers. 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 and was made by Terada. Starting 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 June 1992 and was made by Terada, J603523 is from March 1996 and was made by Terada, 411264 is from November 1994 and was made by FujiGen. This format is also used for the ink stamped serial number Orville models from 1993 to 1998. The Orville by Gibson 1957 and 1959 Les Paul reissue models (LPS-57C, LPC-57B, LPS-59R) and the Orville by Gibson 1961 SG reissue model (SG-61R) had two different serial number formats. The first serial number format was a YMMPPP format.
- Y is the production year 3=1993, 4=1994 etc.
- MM is the production month.
- PPP is the production number.
The second serial number format was a YPPPP format.
- Y is the production year 3=1993, 4=1994 etc.
- PPPP is the production number.
For example G3 6942 is from 1993 and was made by Terada, 4 7345 is from 1994 and was made by FujiGen, G306385 is from June 1993 and was made by Terada, 412562 is from December 1994 and was made by FujiGen. The YPPPP Orville by Gibson reissue serial number format is the same format as the Gibson USA reissue serial number format. The reissue year is in the model number (LPS-57C = 1957) and the 1957 and 1959 Les Paul and 1961 SG reissue models were made from late 1992/1993-1995 with some series having limited production runs. There were two Japanese guitar factories involved in all the Orville by Gibson and Orville production and they were Terada [2] and FujiGen [3]. Terada concentrates mainly on making semi acoustic and acoustic guitars but also makes electric solid body guitars. FujiGen concentrates mainly on making electric solid body guitars but also can make semi acoustic guitars and FujiGen does not normally make acoustic guitars. Each factory used its own serial number codes. The G serial number letter prefix letter that was used from 1988 to 1995 on Orville by Gibson models and Orville bass models was a factory code used by Terada. Terada factory code G = Gibson pickups (1988-1995). The J serial number letter prefix letter that was used on Orville models from 1995 to 1998 was also a factory code used by Terada. Terada factory code J = Japanese pickups (1995-1998). Terada tended to use descriptive serial number prefix letters rather than use their factory letter T. Terada used a H serial number prefix letter standing for Hoshino Gakki on the Ibanez guitars they made for Hoshino Gakki (Ibanez Serial Numbers). The Orville by Gibson and Orville models that were made by FujiGen had a serial number with no prefix letter. Terada and FujiGen also used this system (J=Terada, no prefix letter=FujiGen) for some of the Epiphone Japan models after the Orville series finished in 1998. Sometime later the Epiphone Japan models changed to a F=FujiGen and a T=Terada system. Terada used the G and J serial number letter prefixes as a factory code so that if Yamano Gakki did contract another guitar factory such as FujiGen to make some of the Orville by Gibson or Orville guitars then Yamano Gakki would still know what factory (Terada or FujiGen) made what guitar by referring to the serial number letter prefix. The guitar factory codes were used as a ID for warranties and for returning guitars to the original guitar manufacturer. When production of the Orville by Gibson models started in 1988 Terada had the manufacturing contract for all of the Orville by Gibson and Orville models including the electric solid bodies, the semi acoustics and the acoustics. Terada were also making the Epiphone Japan semi acoustic models for Yamano Gakki/Gibson and so were a natural choice to begin making the Orville by Gibson models. FujiGen took over most of the manufacturing of the Orville by Gibson solid body models in mid/late 1992 and also most of the Orville solid body model manufacturing in 1993 (after the last of the Terada K Orvilles were released) and after FujiGen entered into Orville by Gibson and Orville production, Terada assumed their more usual role of mostly manufacturing Orville by Gibson and Orville semi acoustic models and also manufacturing the occasional solid body guitar. The reason why FujiGen did not have a part of the Orville by Gibson and Orville solid body model contract from the beginning is because FujiGen were mostly making bolt on (Fender like) neck models for Fender Japan and Ibanez in the late 1980s/early 1990s and were avoiding set neck (Gibson like necks) contracts at the time. In 1987 Hoshino Gakki had to use Terada and Iida to make some Ibanez set neck models instead of their usual maker (FujiGen) as FujiGen did not want to make most of the Ibanez set neck models at the time (Ibanez Serial Numbers). FujiGen decided to expand their factory operations and in November 1991 established FujiGen Hirooka Inc ((Japanese) フジゲン広丘（株）設立) [4] and from sometime in 1992 FujiGen were taking on new set neck (Gibson like necks) contracts. In mid 1992 FujiGen did obtain most of the Orville by Gibson and Orville solid body model contract. Some Terada G letter serial number Orville by Gibson guitars had medium long tenon neck joints but most had long tenon neck joints. All of the FujiGen no letter serial number Orville by Gibson and Orville guitars from mid/late 1992 to 1998 had long tenon neck joints. The Orville by Gibson acoustic models used a AG or just a G serial number letter prefix (A=Acoustic G=Terada) and were made from 1991 to 1993. 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. Aside from the Orville EB-3 SG bass models there are no ink stamped Orville solid body models until well into 1993. The Orville solid body models from 1989/1990 to 1993 are the (K) serial Orville models.
K series
The K serial Orville guitars were Orville solid body models that have serial numbers dating from 1989/1990 to 1993. The K serial Orville models were made by Terada. The K Orville serial number format originates from Yamano Gakki and the K is an internal Yamano code for their wholesale division at Kuramae ((Japanese) 蔵前) [5]. Yamano Gakki's use of a K sticker was a result of how Yamano Gakki were distributing the (K) Orville models. The K Orville serial number format is K 0YPPPP. The real K Orville serial number format is YPPPP with the K and first 0 having no year or date meaning.
- Y=year with 9=1989, 0=1990, 1=1991 etc.
- PPPP is the production number.
For example a K Orville serial number like K 015113 = 1 5113 = 1991 and 5113 = the production number. The K serial number Orville models used a (K prefix) serial number sticker at the back of the headstock (which can be removed). The K serial number Orville Les Paul and SG models were the first Orville Les Paul and SG models to be released for sale (Ishibashi's Shibuya store in Tokyo were selling K serial Orville Les Pauls and SG's in 1990). The K Orville models were limited to the most popular Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Junior, SG and Melody Maker solid body models. The (K) Orville series have often been misinterpreted as having been made by a Korean manufacturer because of the K prefixed serial number and the use of a serial number sticker but Terada had the Orville by Gibson contract at the time the K Orville models were made and as would be expected the K Orville Les Paul and SG models have the same characteristics as the Terada made G serial Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models and the K Orville Les Paul and SG models had the same retail prices as the ink stamped Orville Les Paul and SG models (Retail History). The Gibson Les Paul Book by Tony Bacon and Paul Day (1993) [1] mentions that both the Orville by Gibson and Orville models (K Orvilles 1989/1990-1993) were made in Japan. Due to the Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models being duplicated in the Orville series the first Orville Les Paul and SG models were made at the same time as the first Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models in 1988 by Terada but the Orville series were slated for a undecided future release by Yamano Gakki while the first Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models were released by Yamano Gakki with no delay in the same year they were made in 1988. Yamano Gakki ordered the first Orville Les Paul and SG models with no serial number as any year dated ink stamped serial number would conflict with Yamano Gakki's warranty system as the actual year they were to be released in would not match the ink stamped serials year date. For instance a Orville with a 1988 ink stamped serial number could have been released for sale in 1990 and so the ink stamped serial number would be two years out from the actual retail release year. When Yamano Gakki decided to launch the Orville series they used a K sticker for their warranty and year dating on the previously made no serial Orville Les Paul and SG models and Yamano Gakki also added a EB-3 bass model to the Orville launch lineup which was not previously made with the Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models and so the Orville EB-3 bass model has a G prefixed Terada ink stamped serial number and not a Yamano Gakki K sticker. The delayed release of the (K) Orville series is reflected in the early Orville by Gibson catalogues. The first (K) Orville models appeared in the 1989/1990 Orville by Gibson Collection Volume 3 catalogue and the 1988 Orville by Gibson Collection Volumes 1 and 2 catalogues contained no Orville models and were Orville by Gibson catalogues only. The first Orville by Gibson solid body models that were introduced in the 1988 Orville by Gibson Collection Volume 1 catalogue were the Les Paul Standard model, the Les Paul Custom model and the SG model. The Les Paul Standard model, the Les Paul Custom model and the SG model were also the first K Orville models to be introduced in the 1989/1990 Orville by Gibson Collection Volume 3 catalogue. The Yamano Gakki K sticker serial numbering system continued until FujiGen entered into the Orville by Gibson and Orville production around mid/late 1992. The last of the Terada K Orville models were released in 1993 and from then on FujiGen made most of the Orville solid body models until 1998. When FujiGen started to make most of the Orville by Gibson and Orville solid body models, FujiGen first started making Orville by Gibson solid body models in mid/late 1992 and FujiGen did not start to make Orville solid body models until well into 1993 after the last of the K Orvilles were released. When FujiGen first started making the Orville by Gibson solid body models in mid/late 1992 Terada stopped making the K Orville models and as explained above the Terada made K Orville models had a delayed retail release so at any given time Yamano Gakki had warehouse supplies of K Orville models waiting to be released and instead of FujiGen taking over most of the Orville solid body making at the same time as taking over most of the Orville by Gibson solid body making in mid/late 1992, FujiGen took over most of the Orville solid body making towards the middle of 1993 as FujiGen had to wait for the final warehouse supplies of K Orville models to be released by Yamano Gakki before they could start Orville production. There were also some Orville by Gibson guitars that had a Yamano Gakki (K) serial number sticker at the back of the headstock instead of an ink stamped serial number but the majority of the Orville by Gibson guitars had ink stamped serial numbers. Terada and FujiGen manufactured the occasional Orville by Gibson guitar with no ink stamped serial number. Yamano Gakki would then apply a (K) serial number dated sticker for warranty reasons to any Orville by Gibson guitar that had no ink stamped serial number.
K Orville Characteristics
There were two distinct periods during the Orville by Gibson and Orville Les Paul and SG models production. The first period production is by the Terada guitar factory from 1988-mid/late 1992 and the second period production is by the FujiGen guitar factory from mid/late 1992-1998. The K Orville models and most of the G serial Orville by Gibson solid body models were produced in the first period by the Terada guitar factory and the ink stamped no letter Orville and Orville by Gibson solid body models were produced in the second period by the FujiGen guitar factory. The Terada made K Orville guitars have the same general characteristics as the Terada G serial Orville by Gibson guitars. The K serial number Orville models were built using African Mahogany just like the Orville by Gibson and ink stamped Orville models and were fitted with Japanese tuners, bridges and pickups. A number of the K Orville potentiometers have Made in Japan clearly stamped on the large 24mm potentiometers indicating that the K Orvilles country of origin was Japan. Korean made guitars in the late 1980s/early 1990s usually (always) were fitted with locally sourced Korean made potentiometers, for example the Cor-Tek (Cort) made Greco guitars were fitted with Cor-Tek (Cort) Korean made potentiometers and none had "Made in Japan" potentiometers. Small 16mm potentiometers were sometimes used in the later stages of the Terada K Orvilles and also in the FujiGen no letter ink stamped serial Orvilles as by this time the Japanese guitar factories were starting to use imported potentiometers. The K serial number Orville models had the same medium thin polyurethane finishes as the ink stamped Orville models and the Epiphone Japan Elite Series models. The Terada made K Orville models have the same potentiometers and often have the same sort of code writing in the pickup cavities and have the same pickup and control cavity routing and have the same basic body (excluding Maple tops) and neck construction as the Terada made G serial Orville by Gibson models and both the K Orville models and most of the G serial Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models were made in the same years. Some Terada made K serial Orville guitars had long tenon neck joints but most had medium long tenon neck joints and the Terada made G serial Orville by Gibson models were the other way around with some having medium long tenon neck joints and most having long tenon neck joints. A separate neck heel was used on a small number of Terada made K Orvilles and also used on a even smaller number of Terada made G serial Orville by Gibson guitars. All this mixing of tenon joints and neck heels between the K Orville and the G serial Orville by Gibson guitars means that the K Orville and the G serial Orville by Gibson guitars came from the same Terada guitar factory and were made in the same years which can be verified by Orville by Gibson catalogues (such as the K Orville Melody Maker on the Orville by Gibson 1990 catalogue cover). Sometimes depending on the quality of the unfinished main body (excluding Maple tops) and matching neck pieces a Terada K Orville medium long tenon would be promoted to become a Terada G Orville by Gibson medium long tenon and vice versa, sometimes a Terada G Orville by Gibson long tenon would be demoted to become a Terada K Orville long tenon. The FujiGen no letter prefix Orville by Gibson and Orville guitars from mid/late 1992 to 1998 always had long tenon neck joints. There are some notable differences between the Terada made and FujiGen made Orville by Gibson and Orville Les Paul custom headstock designs and shapes. The Terada made G, J and K letter serial number Les Paul custom models have the same open book headstock designs and shapes. Compared to the Terada G, J and K letter serial number Les Paul custom models, the FujiGen no letter serial number Les Paul custom models have a different open book headstock design and a different headstock shape. The FujiGen no letter serial number Les Paul custom models generally have a headstock top end that is smaller in width, with less pointed corner edges, and a not as deep open book headstock centre crease and generally have a more closely spaced split diamond inlay.
Retail History
- Terada K serial Orville Les Paul and SG models retail history from Yamano Gakki catalogues (1989/1990-1993).
- 1989/1990
- The K Orville Les Paul Standard and Custom Models retailed for 65,000 Yen (LPC-65). The K Orville Les Paul Standard and Custom guitars mostly had medium long tenon neck joints with some having long tenon neck joints. Most K Orville Burst finish guitars were made with 2 piece maple tops but some were made with 3 piece maple tops. The K Orville SG model retailed for 60,000 Yen (SG-60).
- 1990/1991
- The K Orville Les Paul Standard and Custom Models retailed for 75,000 Yen (LPC-75) which was 10,000 Yen more than the previous 65,000 Yen K Orville Les Paul Standard and Custom Models. The K Orville SG model retailed for 65,000 Yen (SG-65) which was 5,000 Yen more than the previous 60,000 Yen K Orville SG model. The K Orville Les Paul Junior Models retailed for 70,000 Yen (LPJ-70, LPJ-D70). The K Orville Melody Maker model retailed for 65,000 Yen (MM-65). The K Orville Melody Maker model is on the cover of the 1990 Orville by Gibson catalogue. There was never a Orville by Gibson or ink stamped Orville Melody Maker model produced. The only Orville Melody Maker model produced was a K Orville Melody Maker model.
- 1992
- The K Orville Melody Maker model retail release finished before 1992.
- 1993
- All of the K Orville models retail releases end and the ink stamped Orville models begin.
- FujiGen no letter ink stamped serial and Terada J letter ink stamped serial Orville Les Paul and SG models retail history from Yamano Gakki catalogues (1993-1998).
- 1993
- The ink stamped Orville Les Paul Standard and Custom Models retailed for 75,000 Yen (LPC-75) which was the same price as the previous 75,000 Yen K Orville Les Paul Standard and Custom Models (LPC-75). The ink stamped Orville SG model retailed for 65,000 Yen (SG-65) which was the same price as the previous 65,000 Yen K Orville SG model (SG-65). The ink stamped Orville Les Paul Junior Models retailed for 65,000 Yen (LPJ-65, LPJ-D65) which was 5,000 Yen lower than the previous 70,000 Yen K Orville Les Paul Junior models (LPJ-70, LPJ-D70).
- 1993-1998
- There were also 80,000 Yen Les Paul Photo Flametop models (LPS-80F, LPS-80QF) and a 85,000 Yen Les Paul Custom model with a Ebony fingerboard (LPC-85) and a 70,000 Yen Les Paul Special (LPSP-70) added to the Orville range. Artist models like the Orville Joe Perry Les Paul Studio (LPS-JP) and the Orville John Sykes Les Paul Custom (LPC-JS) were also added to the Orville range and both retailed for 85,000 Yen. Most of the ink stamped Orville Burst finish guitars had 2 piece maple tops. All of the ink stamped Orville guitars had long tenon neck joints. Most of the ink stamped Orville Les Paul and SG guitars were made by FujiGen with a no letter serial number but some ink stamped Orville guitars were also made by Terada with a J letter serial.
- Terada G letter serial (1988-1995) and FujiGen no letter serial (mid/late 1992-1995) Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG models retail history from Yamano Gakki catalogues (1988-1995).
- 1988-1995
- In 1988 the Orville by Gibson Les Paul Standard and Custom models (LPC) retailed for 93,000 Yen and in 1990 they retailed for 95,000 Yen and in 1992 they retailed for 110,000 Yen. In 1988 the Orville by Gibson SG model (SG) retailed for 82,000 Yen and in 1992 retailed for 93,000 Yen. In 1988 the Orville by Gibson Les Paul Junior model (LPJ) retailed for 72,000 Yen. In 1992 the Orville by Gibson Quilted Maple model (LPS-QM) retailed for 228,000 Yen and the Orville by Gibson Flame Maple model (LPS-FM) retailed for 198,000 Yen and the Orville by Gibson Laminated Quilted Maple model (LPS-Q) and the Tiger Maple model (LPS-T) retailed for 125,000 Yen. In 1993 the Orville by Gibson 1957 and 1959 reissue models such as the LPS-59R Les Paul Standard retailed for 125,000 Yen and the LPS-57C Les Paul Standard retailed for 110,000 Yen and the LPC-57B Les Paul Custom retailed for 110,000 Yen. From 1988-mid/late 1992 all of the Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG guitars were made by Terada and had a G serial number and most had long tenon neck joints but some had medium long tenon neck joints. From mid/late 1992-1995 most Orville by Gibson Les Paul and SG guitars were made by FujiGen with no letter serials and long tenon neck joints but some were also made by Terada with a G serial number.
Timeline
- 1988
- The production of the Terada G letter Orville by Gibson models starts along with the Orville models which would become the K Orville models.
- 1989/1990
- The Terada K Orville models which were previously made in 1988 with the G letter Orville by Gibson models were released for sale. Production of the Terada G letter Orville EB-3 SG bass model starts. The Orville K serial number models were limited to Les Paul and SG solid body models and had a Yamano Gakki (K) serial number format on a sticker while the Orville EB-3 SG bass models (which were not delayed for release like the K Orvilles were) used the Orville by Gibson G letter ink stamped serial number format.
- 1989
- The ink stamped serial number format is changed to a new year and month format.
- 1991
- Orville by Gibson acoustic production starts.
- Mid/Late 1992
- FujiGen takes over most of the Orville by Gibson solid body manufacturing from Terada and the Terada K Orville production is ended but stored supplies of the K Orvilles (due to their delayed initial release) results in the K Orville supplies not running out until well into 1993.
- Late 1992
- Orville by Gibson 1957 and 1959 Les Paul and 1961 SG reissue production starts.
- 1993
- The last of the Orville K serial solid body models are released for sale and FujiGen starts to make most of the ink stamped Orville solid body models. FujiGen uses an ink stamped serial number format with no letter prefix. The Orville by Gibson acoustic production ends.
- 1995
- The 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. Terada changes its serial number prefix letter from G to J for the 1995-1998 Orville models and FujiGen continues to use no serial number prefix letter.
- 1998
- The Orville production ends.
Year Dates
- Terada K Orville models: Yamano Gakki (K) serial number sticker 1989/1990-1993.
- Terada ink stamped serial number Orville by Gibson models: G letter serial number 1988-1995. Terada ink stamped serial number Orville models: J letter serial number 1995-1998. Terada Orville by Gibson acoustic models: AG letter(s) or G letter serial number 1991-1993.
- FujiGen ink stamped serial number Orville by Gibson and Orville models: no letter serial number Orville by Gibson models mid/late1992-1995, no letter serial number Orville models 1993-1998.
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 Gakki/Epiphone Japan all the Orville by Gibson and Orville models were manufactured in Japan for the Japanese local market only.
Catalogues
Orville Catalogue 1997
| Model | Price | Orville Model Name |
Pickups | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPC-85 | 85000 | Les Paul Custom | Orville Original | EB (ebony fingerboard) |
| LPC-75 | 75000 | Les Paul Custom | Orville Original | EB,AW,WR |
| LPC-JS | 85000 | Les Paul Custom John Sykes | Orville Original | EB (ebony fingerboard) |
| LPC-90L | 90000 | Les Paul Custom Left-Hand | Orville Original | EB,AW |
| LPS-80F | 80000 | Les Paul Standard | Orville Original | CS,VS,LD |
| LPS-75 | 75000 | Les Paul Standard | Orville Original | CS,VS,LD,EB,AG,WR |
| LPS-90L | 90000 | Les Paul Standard Left-Hand | Orville Original | CS,VS,LD |
| LPS-JP | 85000 | Les Paul Studio Joe Perry | Orville Original | EB,BL,PU,AM |
| LPSP-70 | 70000 | Les Paul Special | Orville Original P-90 | TS,HC,LM |
| LPJ-65 | 65000 | Les Paul Junior | Orville Original P-90 | TS,HC,LM |
| LPJ-D65 | 65000 | Les Paul Junior Double Cut-a-way | Orville Original P-90 | TS,HC,LM |
| SG-65 | 65000 | SG | Orville Original | HC,AW,EB |
| ES-335 | 85000 | ES-335 | Orville Original | CH,VS |
| EX-65 | 65000 | Explorer | Orville Original | CH,AW,EB |
| FV-65 | 65000 | Flying V | Orville Original | CH,AW,EB |
| FV-75 | 75000 | Flying V | Orville Original | SBL |
| FV-80G | 80000 | Flying V | Orville Original | EB |
| EB-3 | 96000 | SG Bass | Orville Original | HC |
| TB-85 | 85000 | Thunderbird Bass | Orville Original | VS |
Orville by Gibson Catalogue 1992
| Model | Price | (G) Orville by Gibson Model Name |
Pickups | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPS-QM | 228000 | Les Paul Standard Quilted Maple | '57 Classic (USA) | CS,VS,LD (no pickguard) |
| LPS-FM | 198000 | Les Paul Standard Flame Maple Top | '57 Classic (USA) | CS,VS,LD (no pickguard) |
| LPS-Q | 125000 | Les Paul Standard w/Laminated Quilted Maple | TM490 (USA) | CS,VS,LD |
| LPS-T | 125000 | Les Paul Standard w/Laminated Tiger Maple | TM490 (USA) | CS,VS,LD |
| LPS | 110000 | Les Paul Standard | TM490 (USA) | CS,VS,LD,EB,AG,WR |
| LPS L/H | 132000 | Les Paul Standard Left Hand | TM490 (USA) | CS,VS |
| LPS w/P-90 | 120000 | Les Paul Standard w/P-90 | P-90 (USA) | AG,EB |
| LPC | 110000 | Les Paul Custom | TM490 (USA) | EB,AW,AI,WR,CS,TR |
| LPC w/3PU | 125000 | Les Paul Custom w/3PU | TM490 (USA) | EB |
| LPC L/H | 132000 | Les Paul Custom Left Hand | TM490 (USA) | EB,AW |
| SG | 93000 | SG '62 Re-issue | TM490 (USA) | HC,AW,EB |
| SGC | 116000 | SG Custom | TM490 (USA) | AI (white pickguard) |
| ES | 110000 | ES-335 Dot | TM490 (USA) | CH,VS,EB,AN |
| ES175 | 135000 | ES-175D | TM490 (USA) | VS,AN |
| EX-NA | 108000 | Explorer | TM490 (USA) | NA |
| EX-AW | 103000 | Explorer | TM490 (USA) | AW |
| FV-58 | 108000 | '58 Flying V | TM490 (USA) | NA |
| FV-74 | 103000 | '74 Flying V | TM490 (USA) | AW,CH,EB |
| FB | 113000 | Firebird | Gibson Original (USA) | VS,FR,EB,AW,MB,BMT |
| TB | 113000 | Thunder-Bird | Gibson Original (USA) | VS,EB,AW |
| C. Atkins | 110000 | Chet Atkins CE | Piezo Type | NA, EB,AW |
| J-45 | 80000 | J-45 | VS,AT |
|
| J-45 w/PU | 90000 | J-45 w/PU | Piezo Type | VS,AT |
| HB | 90000 | Humming Bird | VS,VCS,AC |
|
| HB w/PU | 100000 | Humming Bird w/PU | Piezo Type | VS,VCS,AC |
| DOVE | 95000 | DOVE | VS,AC |
|
| DOVE w/PU | 105000 | DOVE w/PU | Piezo Type | VS,AC |
| J-200 | 110000 | J-200 | AN,VS |
|
| J-200 w/PU | 120000 | J-200 w/PU | Piezo Type | AN,VS |
| J-160E | 110000 | J-160E | Custom P-90 | VS |
| Model | Price | (K) Orville Model Name |
Pickups | Colors |
| LPC-75 | 75000 | Les Paul Custom | Orville Original | EB,AW,WR |
| LPS-75 | 75000 | Les Paul Standard | Orville Original | CS,VS,LD,EB,WR |
| LPJ-70 | 70000 | Les Paul Junior | Orville Original P-90 Dog Ear | TS,HC |
| LPJD-70 | 70000 | Les Paul Junior Double Cut-a-way | Orville Original P-90 Dog Ear | TS,HC,LM |
| SG-65 | 65000 | SG '62 Re-issue | Orville Original | HC,AW,EB |
| Model | Price | (G) Orville Model Name |
Pickups | Colors |
| EB-3 | 96000 | SG Bass | Orville Original | HC,EB |
1994 Orville by Gibson Catalogue Reissue Series LPS-59R 125,000 Yen, LPS-57C 110,000 Yen, LPC-57B 110,000 Yen
Epiphone Japan
Epiphone Japan was started in the early 1970s with the dealership being mostly handled by Aria in cooperation with Gibson and the Matsumoku guitar factory in Japan was used to make the guitars. In 1987 Yamano Gakki obtained the Epiphone Japan dealership and continued to produce a limited range of Epiphone Japan models (no Les Paul or SG models) in cooperation with Gibson using the Terada guitar factory to make the guitars. After Gibson and Yamano Gakki ended Orville production in 1998 Gibson and Yamano Gakki produced an expanded Epiphone Japan model range including Les Paul and SG models with the Epiphone Elite and Epiphone Elitist series. Unlike the Yamano Gakki Gibson licensed Orville by Gibson and Orville models which were produced for the local Japanese market only and were never exported, some of the Gibson Epiphone Japan models were exported. The Epiphone Japan models that were intended for export do not have an open book headstock. The open book headstock Epiphone Japan models were produced for the local Japanese market only and were not exported. The same Terada and FujiGen guitar factories that made all the Orville by Gibson and Orville guitars were used to make the Yamano Gakki Epiphone Elite and Epiphone Elitist series with the Terada guitar factory mostly making the Semi Acoustic models and the FujiGen guitar factory mostly making the solid body models. Gibson and Yamano Gakki ended their relationship in late 2006 and since then Gibson is still actively involved in Japan. The Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan serial numbers from 1998 onwards (after the Orvilles ended) are in a YMMPPP format.
- Y=year.
- MM=month.
- PPP=production number.
The serial number prefixes used by the Terada and FujiGen guitar factories are J = Terada, T = Terada, no letter = FujiGen and F = FujiGen. For example 903584 is from March 1999 and was made by FujiGen, J903584 is from March 1999 and was made by Terada, F505693 is from May 2005 and was made by FujiGen, T505693 is from May 2005 and was made by Terada. For Yamano Gakki Epiphone Japan models from 1987 to approximately 1997 the serial numbers are in a YCPPP format and the various Epiphone Japan models were made by Terada. They usually have a Orange Epiphone label.
- Y=year.
- C=model code.
- PPP=production number.
Model Codes (C)
- 1 = NVJ
- 2 = EMPEROR
- 3 = RIVIERA
- 4 = SHERATON
- 5 = CASINO
- 6 = Limited Edition
- 7 = EB-2
- 8 = ES-930J
- 9 = EMPEROR-J
For Example 34784 = 1993 SHERATON made by Terada. The Aria Epiphone Japan models that were made by Matsumoku from the early 1970s to approximately 1987 do not have a reliable serial numbering system but can be approximately dated using their Epiphone label colours.
- Blue label: early 1970s-1980
- Light brown label: 1980-1985
- Brown label: 1985-1987
External links
- Terada Factory Tour
- FujiGen Factory Tour
- Made in Japan (MIJ) guitar forum
- Made in Japan (MIJ) guitar forum
- (French) Made in Japan (MIJ) guitar forum
Sources
Yamano Gakki Japan, Epiphone Japan, Orville by Gibson Catalogues.
- (Japanese) Yamano Gakki History
- (Japanese) Yamano Gakki Information
- (Japanese) FujiGen Gakki History
- (Japanese) Gibson Japan History
- (Japanese) Epiphone Japan History
Books
- ^ The Gibson Les Paul Book by Tony Bacon and Paul Day (1993). GPI Books Miller Freeman Inc. ISBN 0-87930-289-5
