Orville (guitar)

History

The production began in April 1988 with the mark “Orville by Gibson”. The idea was to fight the race with the counterparts engaged by the Japanese companies (Greco, Fernandes, Aria, Tokay, Ibanez, etc…) as could do it Fender from 85 had. The demand for the mythical American Guitares was very keen in Japan but the course of the Yen making them inaccessible for the Japanese consumer, Gibson was to propose models manufactured locally for an accessible budget. At the beginning, 3 models are manufactured: the ES-335, the SG and the Paul Custom. The microphones were of Gibson the USA.

In 1989/1990, the production is extended with more economic models equipped with micro “house” of a varnish Polyurethane, it is the beginning of the range “Orville”. It covers models costing between 70.000 ¥ and 80.000 ¥. The denomination “Orville by Gibson” is reserved for the models going of 100.000 ¥ with 200.000 ¥ which them are equipped with Gibson electronics and a varnish nitrocellulosic.

In 1991, models accoustic come to supplement the range “Orville by Gibson” with J-45, the J-160E, the hummingbird, the dove and J-200. The production of the “Orville” economic continuing to increase with the request, the models “by Gibson” are stopped in 1995. Then Orville themselves are stopped in 1997 with L `arrived of Epiphone japan into 1998 which is it even replaced by two series: the lacquer series, reserved for the local market, which have a varnish lacquer, near to nitrocellulose and microphones €piphone close to the old Orville microphones and the elitist, range which is extended to the worldwide market, whose models comprise a Gibson electronics but a varnish polyurethane. If Epiphone Japan and to enamel them series preserve the open book Gibson well, the elitist are decorated head with corners truncated for the models sold out of Japan

Production and classification

The production seems to be divided between 3 factories (Terada, IIDA and Fujigen gakki).

One finds 3 systems of classification different on Orville. Epiphone japan will use the same system thereafter.

; System 1 Example: #4 0311 (Classification in Gibson) Year of 1994/mois production of production Mars 11th guitar manufactured of then the beginning of the month. or #907031 year of production 1990 etc…

; System 2

Example: #J302345 (J+AANNNN)

Year of production February 1993/345ième guitar.

The letter J is reserved for the Orville models

Certains accoustic has a classification starting with A.
Certaines Orville do not have more serial numbers or this one is registered on a sticker and starts with one K. It acts of economic models manufactured between 89 and 93 by Kanda Shokai and which were sold in the stores apparetnant at the company.

; System 3

Example: G887138 (apparently, before 89 G+ AANNNN? )

Year of production 1988/7138ième guitar.

Classification starting with G is reserved for Orville by Gibson.

For the elitist and the lacquer series, classification indicates also the place of production Example: #F402345 Manufactured in Fujigen/year 2004/February 345ième guitar.

For Epiphone Japan, even principle that system 1 of Orville classification. Example: #803111, Year 1998/mois of Mars 111ième guitar of the month.

A second system exists with a code for the guitars manufactured Example: #85234

Year of 98/code production 5/234ième guitar.
1: NVJ series
2: EMPEROR series
3: RIVIERA series
4: SHERATON series
5: CASINO series
7: EB-2
8: ES-930J
9: EMPEROR-J

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