Show your Epiphones

[Gridlock]

My first and only Epiphone guitar. A 1998 Japanese LPC.

 

[28 Flathead]

Welcome to the forum @Gridlock and a very nice Les Paul you have there.

 

[LG King]

1983 Epiphone Casino Matsumoku

 

[LG King]

Years ago I was told that the Matsumoku guitars were the closest build to a ‘made in USA’ guitar, and the way to identify them was by two screws on the truss rod cover, just like a Gibson. And that three screws were either Korean or Chinese.

However I see lot’s of ‘Matsumoku’s’ with three screws. Did Japan change production style in the 80’s…?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Davis Sharp]

However I see lot’s of ‘Matsumoku’s’ with three screws. Did Japan change production style in the 80’s…?

Are you sure that they are Matsumokos? Matsumoko went out of business in 1987. After that, MIJ Epis were produced by Terada and Fujigen, roughly into the early 2000s.

 

[LG King]

Are you sure that they are Matsumokos? Matsumoko went out of business in 1987. After that, MIJ Epis were produced by Terada and Fujigen, roughly into the early 2000s.

Hey thanks Amigo, thanks for the reply.

Japan was booming in the 80’s. I moved there in ‘92 and things were starting to head south.

But to get back on point, Gibson could not afford the increasing Japanese labor costs for its second lable. (just for the record,I owned a 1989 Korean-made Sheraton, and it was a ‘boat anchor’).

My confusion is people who have 3 screw truss-rod-covers claiming that these were manufactured between 1980-1987…Matsumoku.

Whatever the outcome, I truly love My ‘83. She is a simple, but very well built, fine lady, and an elegant gem and joy to play.

 

[LG King]

It is my understanding that Gibson ceased ALL Japanese production in 1987, and moved everything to Korea.

So at all his point in time , discussion of Terada and Fujigen do not apply, unless you have documented evidence to the contrary.

 

[Davis Sharp]

It is my understanding that Gibson ceased ALL Japanese production in 1987, and moved everything to Korea.

So at all his point in time , discussion of Terada and Fujigen do not apply, unless you have documented evidence to the contrary.

Documented? Yes. Referenced with reliable sources? Maybe. See the 1986 section on this page:

https://epiphone-wiki.org/EpiWiki2/index/Matsumoku_Industrial_Company.html

Though production continued for some Epiphone models in Japan, Matsumoku had went out of business by 1987 and the remaining Japanese production was moved to the Terada and FujiGen factories. Epiphone continued to produce Japanese-made archtop guitars for export until 1994, when, under new contract, all Japanese built Epiphones were once again produced for the Japanese Domestic Market only. At this point, production included archtops as well as acoustics, solid body guitars and basses. This lasted until 2006 to various degrees until the launch of the Elite/Elitist series which included exports and domestic versions of the same instruments with slight variations, most notably the headstock shape.

Also see the factory letter codes on this page and you'll find Terada and Fuji-gen.

Epiphone serial-number-information - identification

YYMMFFRRRRR In 2008 models begin to appear without a factory i.d. letter prefix. YY = Year of manufacture MM = Month of manufature FF = Factory I.D. RRRRR = Ranking number Example: 08121520333 = 2008 / December / factory 15 / unit 20333 NOTE: Pre 1994 productions also frequently omitted...

www.epiphonetalk.com

I respectfully reverse the question and ask if your "understanding" has documented evidence. We are in the process of rebuilding the Epiphone Wiki, so sourced information will be helpful.

 

[Noodling Guitars]

It is my understanding that Gibson ceased ALL Japanese production in 1987, and moved everything to Korea.

Not sure if we're talking about different things, but there were MIJ models and Elitists all the way up to the 2000s. (I mean.... Just scroll up.. Gridlock posted his 1998 MIJ LP just before your post )

Also, note that even for the larger Gibson brands umbrella 、Orville only fully ceased production and sales in 1997, 98, respectively. 87 seems a bit too early.

 

[LG King]

Well, thanks for contributing to my further understanding of Epiphones off-shore production history.

It’s nice to be in the company of those with detailed knowledge of the brand.

So what’s up with Epiphone Matsumoku’s with 2 and 3 screw truss rod covers…?

 

[Noodling Guitars]

Well, thanks for contributing to my further understanding of Epiphones off-shore production history.

It’s nice to be in the company of those with detailed knowledge of the brand.

So what’s up with Epiphone Matsumoku’s with 2 and 3 screw truss rod covers…?

I'm not sure about the reason, but it could have been a design choice by the factory to match whatever tooling they were using for the plastics. i.e. I'd imagine that it would coincide with the trussrods whatever other models of guitars they were making at the time, with the only difference being the logo being dffferent at the tampo/silkscreen stage.

If you look at the ones from these collectors, they have older 70s Epis from the Matsumoku factory with 3 screw truss rod covers. So it would seem that this isn't something that was introduced in the 80s, but rather sporadically changed depending on the batch.

『Epiphone Wilshire　憧れのギター [Repair Pt.4]』

下記内容は、以前2016年09月22日に一度ブログへ投稿した物の再投稿になります。 Epiphone Guitar Serial Number 1975~20…

ameblo.jp

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[LG King]

Thanks ‘Noodles’. I was thinking that perhaps it had to do with headstock angle. When I look at my 2013 Dot, it looks like it would be impossible to put a Gibson type setup regarding the truss rod cover. I’ll have to compare.

 

[Noodling Guitars]

Thanks ‘Noodles’. I was thinking that perhaps it had to do with headstock angle. When I look at my 2013 Dot, it looks like it would be impossible to put a Gibson type setup regarding the truss rod cover. I’ll have to compare.

That might have something to do with it too. I wouldn't be surprised if they had years where they were following a more traditional US design, incl. neck angle and other specs, and years where it was full on import specs. Unfortunately, these no real documentation on this sort of thing.

 

[rover74]

Could not resist. 400 € for a guitar that is still under waranty

 

[BGood]

I thought, what a better way to start a week than with Epiphone beauty shots.

 

[soulman969]

Might as well repost my three. A 2012 Casino, a 2008 '56 Gold Top, and 2022 ES339. There was also an ES339 P90 Pro I sold last summer and replaced with the ES339 Pro and long ago a Lucille which I traded for the Casino. I figure with a full hollow body, a semi hollow body and a solid body I've pretty much covered my bases.

 

[phonepi]

My only 3 Epiphones... Pictured together :

T

 

[Paruwi]

Might as well repost my three.

just two €pis left in my current stable

ES-175 Premium (Korean made 2014)

Dave Navarro Jane (Indonesian made 2012)

 

[28 Flathead]

I thought, what a better way to start a week than with Epiphone beauty shots.

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Cool shot with your friend in there!

 

[BGood]

Cool shot with your friend in there!

Thanks.
Yellow guitar, green grass, yellow cat.