1995 Orville Gold Top model #?

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MIJvintage

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was wondering if any of the Orville gurus here could supply a model # for this 1995 gold top?

specs: 2 pc. center seam matched mahogany back, 2 pc. center seam maple top, 1 pc. mahogany neck (no heel cap), 6 digit inked serial number starts with 5 (1995), head stock face veneer, long neck tenon, tall frets, guessing it's a poly finish, weighs 8 lb. - 7 oz.

thanks in advance for any help..................................

orvgd2.jpg


orvgd9.jpg


orvgd8.jpg


orvgd7.jpg


orvgd5.jpg


orvgd6.jpg
 
MIJvintage said:
marcusnieman said:
Cracked headstock?

LOL, no, it's not the cracked head stock model, lol

that is just a random grain with lots of mineral streaking; it's as stable as can be

Hmm...look at your last photo of the backside of the head stock. Is that a mineral streak? Also noticed a bit of a gap between the neck tenon and the body. Is it filled with epoxy or something?

Let's have a look at a full frontal of her. I love goldtops!
 
marcusnieman said:
Hmm...look at your last photo of the backside of the head stock. Is that a mineral streak? Also noticed a bit of a gap between the neck tenon and the body. Is it filled with epoxy or something?

Let's have a look at a full frontal of her. I love goldtops!


.............LOL, you almost sound like a buyer................I'm just looking for a model number, not a sell.............and no, it's not cracked.............

Of the few Orvilles that I have had through my hands, this one is over all the best example; it aint goin' no where 8)
Tuning stability on this one is extremely good :)

Not only is the mahogany body back 2 piece center joined, it is matched.
I have seen several of the more expensive OBG examples with 3 piece random joined body backs; what is up with that?

There does look to be a tiny space between the tenon sides & the mortise cut, for sure.

Check the below photo; see how I attempted to line up the grain line in question, to where it is more or less parrallel with the edge of the black case & the carpert edge?
Look just slightly below the grain line in question (1/4 inch) & a bit higher above (1/2 inch) and you can see that the grain is oriented in this same fashion, through out the intire head stock.
The most prominate example of another grain oriented in the same fashion can be seen above the last 9 in the serial number, above the D tuner in the photo.
It is much more obvious in person; not so much so in a photo.
orvgdgrain1.jpg


Here's another angle; notice how the tuner side reflects in the finish, and the suspect grain is running right through the tuner reflection.
No finish cracking anywhere.............
orvgdgrain2.jpg


Here is another similar type irregular grain feature, that is about 1/2 the width of the one from the head stock example.
This one is located on the neck back profile, about the 3rd/4th fret area.
orvgdgrain3.jpg


Just for you :lol:
orvgd1.jpg


Full frontal porn :eek: ..........................
orvgd3.jpg


OK, enough of the BS & the guitar porn; how about a real model number, gurus?............................
 
sorry bout getting snarky in my post... :oops:

And thanks for the great clarification and outstanding photos. She's a pretty girl.

Thanks Rich....happy new year!
 
marcusnieman said:
sorry bout getting snarky in my post... :oops:

And thanks for the great clarification and outstanding photos. She's a pretty girl.

Thanks Rich....happy new year!


not a problem; I'm used to this (from potential buyers) and I'm armed with a decent digital camera & explanations, for just about any scenario.......

Yes, Happy 2008; may it be as good as can be imagined :D
 
The FujiGen ink stamped Orville LP's were all 75,000 Yen models (same as the previous 75,000 Yen Terada K Orville LP's) unless they had a ebony fingerboard or were a signature model. The ebony fingerboard and signature models were 85,000 yen.

http://forums.univox.org/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1063
 
I have seen several of the more expensive OBG examples with 3 piece random joined body backs; what is up with that?

The OBG you saw was probably made by Terada.
Terada made the G serial OBG's and the K Orvilles in a different way to the FujiGen no letter serial Orvilles.
Terada used a lot more varying specs than FujiGen.
FujiGen seemed to have a more set specs thing going on.

Terada used medium, medium long and long tenons on their G serial OBG's and also on the K Orvilles and Fujigen always used a long tenon.
I've seen Terada G serial Wine Red OBG's with 3 piece tops and a G serial OBG with a neck cap which was identical to a K Orville neck which had the same neck cap. http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=61201#61201

Terada have always mostly made Acoustics and Semi Acoustics and when they do make Solid Bodies they tend to make them in a hands on Acoustic way.
FujiGen is much more consistant and tend to put all the guitars together in the same sort of way.

This is just my opinion, others will have different opinions but I think from the mid 80s onwards FujiGen were/are a bit of a boring guitar maker and all the guitars they make are about the same, in other words they are too consistant for me and there is not much variation from guitar to guitar although their early 80s Grecos and 70s Ibanez Artists were outstanding and interestingly come from a period when FujiGen was still making Acoustics or had just stopped (FujiGen stopped making Acoustics in 1981).
The FujiGen Orvilles remind me a lot of mid 80s FujiGen made Ibanez guitars which were consistantly boring IMO.
The FujiGen photo flame Orvilles remind me of Ibanez.
The Terada OBG's and K Orvilles are a bit of a hit and miss with more variation and a better buy IMO.

Because of the way Terada made the OBG's and the K Orvilles (due to being an Acoustic maker) you can get a gem or a pile of crap.
I don't really care if the OBG has a 3 piece back, a 3 piece top, a neck cap, a medium or long tenon or whatever as long as it's got some character in it's sound.
I'm not saying the FujiGen OBG's and Orvilles have no character and are bad guitars I'm just saying that given a choice I'd tend to take the Terada OBG's and Orvilles over the FujiGen OBG's and Orvilles.

All of the Orvilles are poly and the OBG's are nitro mainly because of the selling prices.
The higher the price the more chance you get nitro.
 
MIJvintage said:
dosmun said:
A little OT but here is a pic of similar grain pattern on the back of my Greco Goldtop
cid_002901c7fe45b04070006900a8c0YOU.jpg

I don't mind; welcome to the 'cracked head stock club' :lol:

You won't hear those words from my mouth again. You guys have educated me to something I was ignorant about. Now let's talk about volute necks :wink:
 
japanstrat, thanks for all of the Orville info; very nice.

From what you have contributed, I take it that the example I have with the 6 digit inked serial number, is most likely a FujiGen example.

I actually prefer this type example, with the matched 2 piece back, instead of something more random, such as a non matched 3 piece back example.

I checked the links for the 1997 & the 1992 OBG & O models that you provided, and I am wondering what color designation they used for a gold top?
Could it possibly be the AG color code?
 
MIJvintage said:
japanstrat, thanks for all of the Orville info; very nice.

From what you have contributed, I take it that the example I have with the 6 digit inked serial number, is most likely a FujiGen example.

I actually prefer this type example, with the matched 2 piece back, instead of something more random, such as a non matched 3 piece back example.

I checked the links for the 1997 & the 1992 OBG & O models that you provided, and I am wondering what color designation they used for a gold top?
Could it possibly be the AG color code?
If the same color codes are used for both Orville and OBG then it's 'AG' according to one of my OBG catalogs:

17a.jpg
 
Some people prefer the FujiGen OBG's and Orvilles and some prefer the Terada OBG's and Orvilles.
The Terada and FujiGen OBG's and Orvilles are built differently but they are all pretty good IMO.

The highest priced Terada made G serial OBG's like the LPS-QM
228,000 Yen (approx $2,280) Les Paul Standard Quilted Maple are probably the best of all the Orville by Gibsons but Terada sometimes did funny things for the lower priced OBG's and K Orvilles like 3 piece tops and medium tenons etc and FujiGen was more consistant for their lower priced OBG's and Orvilles such as all the FujiGen OBG's and Orvilles have a long tenon.
I'm not too sure about the Goldtop colour.
You are probably right about the colour.
 
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