Attention Les Paul Standard Gurus

[El Gringo]

Epi used to be made in South Korea. Subcontracted out to various factories like Samick and Unsung. There was no Epi factory.

10~15 years ago Gibson built a huge factory in Quingdao China. Since then most Epi's have been built there.

For the Japanese market, Gibson has also contracted Japanese factories and had them put the Epiphone name on guitars. Those get the actual Gibson headstocks. (For a few years Gibson had some of those exported to the US as Epiphone Elite/Elitist -- those got modified headstocks so as not to compete too directly with Gibson USA models.)

Yes , I remember the similar headstocks like the Gibson guitars . Pretty wild that for Japan they use the Gibson shaped headstock . That would explain some of the higher prices on Reverb for EPI's . Thanks for the info !

 

[jimmyjames]

The MIJs then became Orville and Orville By Gibson, OBGs fitted with Gibson pups.

 

[El Gringo]

The MIJs then became Orville and Orville By Gibson, OBGs fitted with Gibson pups.

I always wondered how this came about , now I know and it makes perfect sense .