NEED: Greco, Orville, Burny/Fernandes, Yamaha, Info & Da

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apmechling

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I love this site, but there's no information on Greco, Orville, Burny/Fernandes, Yamaha, among other high-profile, high-quality Japanese replica guitars.

Seeing that there is a huge interest in these other reissues and knowing that they are top-rate guitars, of which, many were also made at the Fuji Gengakki plant, I'd like to see a section dedicated to these individual brands.

I get up to 100 emails every week from people wanting to know about the guitars I sell in more detail and want to know particularly about what other models there were, and what the model numbers and letters mean, as well as pickup/electronics questions, etc.

I'd like to steer them somewhere to find this info, but there really isn't any good place on the net written in English to look. I know a little, but not enough to answer all their questions.

Just a thought - if you agree with what I propose or disagree, I'd like to hear what you think :)

APM
 
Doh :lol:

I knew someone was going to say that! :lol:

I think you're right - and I'm not saying I want to find information about these other brands so I could make more money in my auctions on eBay -

The real reason is that, since I've been in Japan for less than a year searching for these guitars, whether it be Tokai, Orville, Greco, Burny/Fernandes, ESP, Seymour Duncan, Moon, Guitars 'R Us, History, FgN, Navigator, Yamaha, Fender Japan, Bacchus, and hundreds of other unknowns, I've BECOME ADDICTED :oops: to these unbelievable-quality guitars. It's like collecting baseball cards, seriously - because there are so many brands here and the prices of these guitars are about half of what you could find in the US, IF you could find it in the US - so I just collect these.

Before, a Gibson custom flame ES-336 reissue would have been my life's-savings - but here, I got the same exact one for $400. USD
Most are too good a deal to let go by.

I would definitely start up a site if I knew what I was doing - I never made a site myself, but am interested.

The only reason I asked here was to see what, if any, interest you guys had/have. AND, Ned has made this into an incredible site :wink: , in his spare time. If I could do this in my spare time, I would!

I just would like to make it like his site in many ways, and thought, "Why Reinvent the Wheel?" It would fit well into Ned's "Date Other Guitars" section, or even as a link from it.
 
Here is the site i got most of my information from about Orville guitars. I too own many japanese guitars. It is so easy to get a load of these bad boys for dirt cheap when you live in Japan.

www.guitargai.com

I own a:
2001 Love Rock LS200 http://www.backyardbullet.com/guitar.html
Orville by Gibson LP Custom in ebony http://www.backyardbullet.com/obg.html
Orville LP Custom in ebony (forgot where i put these pics)
Tokai Custom Edition http://www.backyardbullet.com/tokaice.html

And just sold an old Tokai Breezysound in Blue Floral. http://www.backyardbullet.com/breezy.html

Picking up a 70's Silver Star this week for $80 (45 i think it said stamped on neck). Saw a red Custom Edition for $90. That might be my bro's christmas present.

About the Burny's and Greco's, the older 70's thru 80's guitars are top notch. My friend picked up a few Burny's and i have to admit the quality on those remind me of these Tokai's. The older Greco's are of high quality as well but i see to many of them with bolt on necks (LP type). And the Greco's i see always looked abused.

Friends Burny he just sold:
http://www.backyardbullet.com/burny.html

I love it here in Japan! :D

Man is it addicting!

Dana
 
LondonBarry is right - I think including all those other brands would dilute the purpose of the current site. If I had time I and could easily gather the information I would consider creating another site that would show case these other brands. However, I don't have time to keep up this Tokai Registry as it is and focusing on another site would be a disservice to the visitors here.

Ned
 
Been looking for any kind of bulletin board regarding this matter but no luck. I've become friends with some people in Japan and they try to answer as good as they can. So many helpful people on the net! Anyhow, to spread the word and learn a few things myself I hope someone will start a page regarding MIJ guitars, may it be Fenders, Bacchus', Moons, Seymour Duncans, Van Zandts, Joe Bardens, Fernandes, Orvilles, Grecos, Kids etc etc...there are loads of them...

Sometime today Mr Postman will show up with my new Tele. A slightly used Seymour Duncan DT-190. It's like a 52 reissue with laquer finish, fat maple neck and beautiful swamp ash body. Can't wait.
Some say Duncans (made by ESP) are ok, some say they are fantastic! We'll see...haven't seen a junk MIJ guitar yet..

// johan, sweden

Oh, by the way, check out my Fender Japan 54 Strat. Guitar porn! http://w1.422.telia.com/~u42237675/Index.htm
 
I owned an early model ESP Tele, (3 digit serial no.) and I'm STILL kicking myself in the *** for selling it to a buddy. It was a killer guitar, and I haven't seen another like it... It was just a plane-jane white guitar, but there was serious mojo inside.
 
Edwards has just offered a line of lacquer top guitars with Duncan pick ups. They look nice. But my Ornettes does the humbucker thing as well as the Gibson LP standard I had so the Gibson was sold.
 
I have a Greco 64' flavour SG Special in cherry and a Burny 57' flavour Les Paul Special in TV yellow. Both are terrific guitars and P90 equipped.

The main body of each guitar is 2 piece with a one piece mahogany neck.

The Greco has a serial number but not the Burny.

Both have fairly chunky necks but I would say the Burny's neck is a little fatter, in fact very 50's Les Paul.

Both are very exact replicas of the Gibson guitars from the same era they are copied from (especially the Burny).

Tonally they are excellent.

The SG came via Mr. Mechling. I was really worried about losing the headstock and neck off this guitar in transit but it arrived safe and sound via USPS and UK Parcel Force. Amazing!
 
Hi Guys -

It's been a while since I've posted anything - just a whole lot busy lately with school coming to and end this year.

I have recently purchased about 10 ESP Edwards Les Pauls, the lacquer tops you guys have been wondering about and others...

Seriously, as far as Les Pauls go, ESP Edwards is THE hottest thing right now. They have amazing wood, fit, and finish, jumbo frets on a killer rosewood neck, nicely-aged pearloid inlays which are set very well in sharp settings, and ALL have the most gorgeous-sounding Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups money can buy.

I know this is the Tokai Registry, but honestly, for new, affordable Japanese Les Pauls, ESP Edwards buries the new Tokais, Japanese or Korean.

I buy and sell these for a hobby, and I know my stuff on these guitars. I have seen the most gorgeous Tokai Love Rocks, but they play very poorly and the tone on their new pickups are just so-so.

The ESP Edwards with the SD SH-1 / SH-4 humbuckers really makes them a better buy, plus the wood is generally bookmatched solid tops on the Edwards or 1 piece solid tops, with bookmatched mahogany backs or 1 piece backs. Also, the necks are 1-piece, not like the new Tokais that have that extra heel piece of wood glued on :x

And to top it off, 90% of the Edwards models have nitro finishes. I bought about 10 and am keeping 4 of them - a '56 "black top" - P-90's model, a '56 "gold top," one of their EMG-equipped Black Les Paul Custom models, and a '57 Gold Top.

I decided to sell a few, which you can see here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2534152659&category=38086&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2534145510&category=33038&rd=1

They also make KILLER Flying Vs - Check this one out I am selling:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2534148829&category=33038&rd=1

The Vs have Seymour Duncan SH-1n / SH-4 humbuckers as well.

They tried to bridge the gap between ESPs expensive Navigators and the cheapo Grassroots, but ended up making REALLY high-end guitars that are still cheap.

Out of the myriad of new Japanese guitars out there, you can't go wrong with one of these ESP Edwards.

I don't know if they are Japanese-made or Korean, but certainly they have craftsmanship like the old Tokais, not the new ones.

Here's their website if you want to check 'em out:

http://www.espguitars.net/
 
yeah these sure look great. Haven`t played one yet but seen plenty in Sendai. Almost got the Les Paul jr. single P-90 pup in TV yellow....... still may.
 
Andrew has a very nice looking late 70's Greco LP 59' clone on ebay at the moment and a real tasty Greco "V" too.

If Greco (and to some extent Burny) had hit us big time back in the 70's and early 80's, I personally don't think Tokai would have deserved their existing kudos and unrivalled reputation here in the UK. :)
 
Greco is hitting me now! I bought one from friendly Santa Claus (Andrew Mechling) and I'm so happy there's only two guys (me and a bud)-for the moment- in FRANCE that know how great those guitars are!!!! :p

since I got it I know what really means happiness. :D
 
sorry couldn`t see the pic, and never saw that brand name.
Was reading my post from a couple of months ago in this thread... got the Edwards Les Paul JR in TV yellow... they were taunting me... it went from 80000, to 63000 to 50000 to 30000 with a Ritter case.... had to buy it. I`m so weak.
 

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