These were more historically accurate than the previous version and were definitely imported into Europe, so presumably the US too.Īs far as I knew all the later guitars were Tereda builds whilst Fugijen did the solid body guitars but I could be wrong. The Elites followed around 2000 or so then after couple of years changed name to Elitist - my memory is that someone complained about the name, although how something as generic as Elite could be a problem.

After Matsumoku went out of business in the late 80s they moved to Tereda where the body shape was corrected but the neck moved to be 17 rather than 16 frets to the body - these are pretty rare as well, having been sold mainly in Japan, but they're really good guitars. They aren't that common, Sheratons and Rivieras using been much more in vogue in that era. The first Japanese Casinos were made by Matsumoku and are easily identified by a slightly odd shape. It's an outstanding and fairly rare guitar that will become highly sought after some day (already is, actually). Some models were MIJ Epi only, and some models were Elite/Elitist only.Ĭonsider yourself blessed to have it. This is all, of course, in cases in which the same model was produced as a MIJ Epi and an Elite/Elitist. You can tell an Elite/Elitist by the ugly headstock and the Elite or Elitist logo behind the nut. MIJ Epi has the 'real' headstock shape, but Elite/Elitist have better pickups and pots. was building at the time.Īgain, the only difference between MIJ Epi and Elite/Elitist is the electronics and the headstock shape. If MIJ Epi, if you upgrade your electronics, you'll have a better made guitar than Gibson U.S.A. If Elite or Elitist, you have decent pickups and pots already. They are among the finest Gibson style instruments ever built. In terms of build quality, both beat the Gibsons of the era, IME. Identically top notch build – different headstock and electronics.

They were called the Elite line first, and soon changed to Elitist (or maybe I have that backwards). (Before these MIJ Epis, these lines were called Orville and Orville by Gibson.)Īround the early aughts, Epi briefly imported them to the U.S.A, with a deliberately uglified headstock shape and better pickups and electronics. MIJ Epis were made for the Japan market, with the proper Gibson headstock shape.

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