Japanese Elite Customs
Japanese Elite Customs
I had to pull these two Epiphones out of the closet to reach my Collings 290, so I took a couple of pics.
This is a hand-made, first run 'Elite' 335 Dot. I had an original Gibson Cherry 335 Dot in 1968 and I really think this is a better instrument.
This is not an 'Elitist' model but a first-run 'Elite' with a serial number in the six-hundred range.
It has gold hardware and a Lollar Charlie Christian humbucker pickup - what they now seem to call the 'Novel CC' pickup.
Mine must be an early model. I always talked to Jason on the phone or email, so I'm pretty sure he wound all my pups.
Gold Imperial Bridge pup - it screams.
This is a hand-made, first run 'Elite' 335 Dot. I had an original Gibson Cherry 335 Dot in 1968 and I really think this is a better instrument.
This is not an 'Elitist' model but a first-run 'Elite' with a serial number in the six-hundred range.
It has gold hardware and a Lollar Charlie Christian humbucker pickup - what they now seem to call the 'Novel CC' pickup.
Mine must be an early model. I always talked to Jason on the phone or email, so I'm pretty sure he wound all my pups.
Gold Imperial Bridge pup - it screams.
Last edited by ripsaw on Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Japanese Elite Customs
This one is an 'Elitist' model. A hand-made L5 with customization by Kerry Char of Portland, Oregon. Kerry is an expert at restoring unique and antique guitars and is a fine craftsman and luthier.
Mr. Char replaced the bridge and tailpiece with his own designs. I don't remember the wood type but it is heavy and dense - more so than ebony.
The bridge is massive but perfectly tuned - this bad boy sustains forever.
I guess that I should have asked for matching wood knobs - oh well.
The neck pup is the Lollar Imperial Humbucker from the Elite Dot 335. Sounds just like Wes.
The bridge pup is a Lollar 'El Rayo' - Bridge Humbucker. It has a really unique sound.
Mr. Char replaced the bridge and tailpiece with his own designs. I don't remember the wood type but it is heavy and dense - more so than ebony.
The bridge is massive but perfectly tuned - this bad boy sustains forever.
I guess that I should have asked for matching wood knobs - oh well.
The neck pup is the Lollar Imperial Humbucker from the Elite Dot 335. Sounds just like Wes.
The bridge pup is a Lollar 'El Rayo' - Bridge Humbucker. It has a really unique sound.
Re: Japanese Elite Customs
Char Lutheries http://www.charguitars.com/
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- Real Name: Tom N
Re: Japanese Elite Customs
Quite nice looking! Someday, I must try the Lollar CC pickup.
Cheers, Tom
Re: Japanese Elite Customs
Thank you, Tomuponamouse wrote: ↑Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:59 pm Quite nice looking! Someday, I must try the Lollar CC pickup.
These Japanese Epiphones were originally call 'Elite' but they changed the name to 'Elitist' after a trademark conflict with another company. They're not made any longer but I found the 335 Dot on Craigslist for around $1000 - quite the bargain, in my book.
The humbucker CC gets mixed reviews from users. I love the sound of it, myself. The Imperial sounds so good on the L5 that I kept it there & moved the CC to the Dot. The El Rayo is very chimey and really sounds nice on the maple L5.
For me, the Collings/Lollar combo is for folks who want to travel back in time to 1955 - it's the only way to get there from here...
Re: Japanese Elite Customs
As an additional note, although I did mention it, above - the 335 Dot is an extremely well-made instrument. I had a cherry-red 335 Dot Gibson that I bought new in 1968 - $400! - and it was a very heavy guitar but this Epi outweighs it by at least a pound - it's solid and sustains forever, which is my personal preference.
Re: Japanese Elite Customs
What a beautiful guitar.!! Thanks for posting!!ripsaw wrote: ↑Sat Apr 24, 2021 10:15 pm This one is an 'Elitist' model. A hand-made L5 with customization by Kerry Char of Portland, Oregon. Kerry is an expert at restoring unique and antique guitars and is a fine craftsman and luthier.
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Mr. Char replaced the bridge and tailpiece with his own designs. I don't remember the wood type but it is heavy and dense - more so than ebony.
The bridge is massive but perfectly tuned - this bad boy sustains forever.
I guess that I should have asked for matching wood knobs - oh well.
The neck pup is the Lollar Imperial Humbucker from the Elite Dot 335. Sounds just like Wes.
The bridge pup is a Lollar 'El Rayo' - Bridge Humbucker. It has a really unique sound.