Anyone know about early 80s Japanese Les Pauls?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mooncobra
  • Start date Start date
mooncobra

mooncobra

Well-known member
Which is best? Tokai, Burny, Greco, etc. there are so many models, which are better? quality, tone, etc.
 
Add Orville to the list of guitars to look for, even though they weren't quite around until the late '80s. Ibanez was also very much present in the '70's and early '80's with LP copies.

As far as I'm aware, they're all of comparable quality. Most of them are poly finished guitars, may have very minor other differences from true Gibsons, but craftsmanship is on par or above any non Historic Gibsons. When you get to the super high end Tokais, I think you get the nitro finishes.

IIRC, the Burny pickups are highly regarded. (edit: I'm wrong. It's the Ibanez Super 80 pickups)

For the era you're talking about...

Tokai makes their own guitars
Ibanez and Greco copies were likely made in FujiGen
Burny was Terada.

You really can't go wrong with any of them. If you're not completely married to guitars of that era, I'd also consider some of the higher end MIJ Edwards guitars. I've been particularly happy with my Edwards, and it has served me incredibly well for the past 10 years.
 
Mike, dont overlook the Washburn Les Pauls, WP-50. I have one from the 80's and it's one of my favorite LP's ive owned. Put some pickups in and they easily hang or surpass many american made models IMO. Not all were Japanese made however, so you have to know what your getting.
 
I have 3 custom shop Gibsons and started getting into these guitars they all have plus and minus the 3 I tried were Bacchus,Edwards,FGN ..the FGN is very heavy and feels really solid but the neck is very thin, and a bit back heavy not balanced ..The Edwards is very light ,better neck and balanced , the Bacchus was the closest to a Gibson nice neck ,correct body shape etc but it was the most expensive the fit and finish were great on all of them the Edwards is the only body that is not correct ..Orville's and Tokais are awesome too
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    212.9 KB · Views: 1,148
mooncobra":mz0e5tej said:
Which is best? Tokai, Burny, Greco, etc. there are so many models, which are better? quality, tone, etc.
Click to expand...

All those you listed + Orville as mentioned are great.

I recently had a long talk about this topic at a local luthier and he pointed out that the "good ones" are all made from the Fujigen factory. I compared my Orville by Gibson LP custom made at the Terada factory to his Orville LP Custom made at the Fujigen factory and the difference was night and day. I like the way my ObG looks but that's about it, something about the neck that doesn't feel right (which is why I brought to the luthier).

If you are buying on ebay usually they will mention if they are made from the Fujigen factory which always seem to have long tenons as well. Want to buy an Orville by Gibson? :lol: :LOL:
 


Fujigen made Orvilles with long tenon are some of the best rivaling CS Gibsons.
 
dirtyfunkg":317uzvfr said:
Add Orville to the list of guitars to look for, even though they weren't quite around until the late '80s. Ibanez was also very much present in the '70's and early '80's with LP copies.

As far as I'm aware, they're all of comparable quality. Most of them are poly finished guitars, may have very minor other differences from true Gibsons, but craftsmanship is on par or above any non Historic Gibsons. When you get to the super high end Tokais, I think you get the nitro finishes.

IIRC, the Burny pickups are highly regarded.

For the era you're talking about...

Tokai makes their own guitars
Ibanez and Greco copies were likely made in FujiGen
Burny was Terada.

You really can't go wrong with any of them. If you're not completely married to guitars of that era, I'd also consider some of the higher end MIJ Edwards guitars. I've been particularly happy with my Edwards, and it has served me incredibly well for the past 10 years.
Click to expand...


thanks. are the Ibanez all bolt on necks?
 
Ibanez did make set neck models also. They're harder to find.
 
Tokai Reborn Olds from 1978 - 1981 are phenomenal guitars.
This was my old '78 with WCR's in it.
I fully rewired it 50's style. This guitar was fucking sublime.
Only sold it to buy a '68 Custom Authentic LP Custom...

 
errrrrl":y7pj4fqb said:
mooncobra":y7pj4fqb said:
Which is best? Tokai, Burny, Greco, etc. there are so many models, which are better? quality, tone, etc.
Click to expand...

All those you listed + Orville as mentioned are great.

I recently had a long talk about this topic at a local luthier and he pointed out that the "good ones" are all made from the Fujigen factory. I compared my Orville by Gibson LP custom made at the Terada factory to his Orville LP Custom made at the Fujigen factory and the difference was night and day. I like the way my ObG looks but that's about it, something about the neck that doesn't feel right (which is why I brought to the luthier).

If you are buying on ebay usually they will mention if they are made from the Fujigen factory which always seem to have long tenons as well. Want to buy an Orville by Gibson? :lol: :LOL:
Click to expand...

I had a Bacchus LP Goldtop from the 90's, It was killer. Also a Fenix made in korea which really sounded good. I tried to get a Greco off this dude locally but he decided not to sell it. It was Fujigen. He probably still has the Craigslist add up.
 
Happy owner of an Orville w/long tenon here. As was mentioned already these guitars are stellar. The only thing that could be improved imo is the fretboard - it's rosewood.
However, cheap it was not... still cheaper than a Gibson LPC though.

IMG_0430.jpg
 
Deanmachine":2jejviii said:
I have 3 custom shop Gibsons and started getting into these guitars they all have plus and minus the 3 I tried were Bacchus,Edwards,FGN ..the FGN is very heavy and feels really solid but the neck is very thin, and a bit back heavy not balanced ..The Edwards is very light ,better neck and balanced , the Bacchus was the closest to a Gibson nice neck ,correct body shape etc but it was the most expensive the fit and finish were great on all of them the Edwards is the only body that is not correct ..Orville's and Tokais are awesome too
Click to expand...

What's the deal with the Edwards body? Never heard this.
 
From left to right Fujigen (FGN) , Gibson custom shop, Edwards,Gibson custom shop
Hard to see but the Edwards has a slightly different cut in the horn and top bout
 

Attachments

  • image.jpeg
    image.jpeg
    139.4 KB · Views: 947
mooncobra":6mndi0ri said:
Which is best? Tokai, Burny, Greco, etc. there are so many models, which are better? quality, tone, etc.
Click to expand...
Lower-end Burny's were usually better than the lower-end Greco's.I've also seen a fair share of bolt-on neck Greco's, while all older Burny's were set neck.
Tokai was known earlier than the others, so those fetch higher prices nowadays.

For the real high-end and rare stuff (e.g. 'EG-1200' or 'EG-1500' series for Greco), be prepared to pay more for an early 80's Japanese axe from Tokai, Greco or Burny than for a 70's Gibson!

Each brand has respected pickups by the way;
-Burny has the VH-1. I still swapped those on my '83 Burny Randy Rhoads sig. though... used a pair of GFS (Crunchy PAF and Vintage '59 Alnico neck) for years, but grew tired of the lack of dynamics. Now there's a Duncan Custom/59 Hybrid bridge and a DIMarzio 36th Anniv. PAF neck (which I may replace with either an Air Classic or Pearly Gates neck for some additional jangle).

-Greco has the 'Dry' and Screamin' that are well regarded.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco_guitars
 
IMAG0842_BURST002_zpssiprzvri.jpg




They did make some Orvilles with Ebony. I have no problem with rosewood, its a bit sweeter tone to my ears.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top