If it plays great and sounds like you want and makes you want to play, then who cares if it's not a real Gibson. Always a pleasure listening to your playing.
HEY Scott , I too am a Wilcox !! born an raised in MD. I was asking Chris, if he would consider making Teaching video,s I think his playing is Awesome !! I know I would watch,em if he made any, thats to be sure !! W/H/W
@@scottwilcox6313 I know, Right !! that would be super bad ass !! lol, Chris rips, I watched in amazement at how he was playing that stuff man !! it was like a video of AL Demeloia , im not sure of the spelling of his name hes that guy that plays all those wild chords an picks a gang of notes super clean as he goes from chord to chord, its AWESOME MAN !!
Unless one is buying and selling guitars, for a living, I don’t believe any guitars are worth these prices. I’d rather have a great Luthier build me a guitar. I can make a solidly built Les Paul Studio, sing as well as any $50,000+ vintage Gibson, or as Chris just demonstrated, one can make these “fakes,” sing as well as any Gibson. I want a guitar that feels right in my hands, stays in tune, and isn’t going to crack, just from using the tremolo(which should be called Vibrato) arm, too hard. One can change the pickups, and any other part of the insides, that aren’t of good quality. I just don’t care about the cosmetic things, that guitar manufacturers use to justify an extra thousand dollars or more.
@@The68lespaul Which Al Di Meola(you were close 😆) songs or performance, does Chris remind you of. I love Di Meola, but he isn’t a player I’d think of as Chris sounding like. Al is for one, plays very fast runs . At one point his Race With the Devil on Spanish Highway, was the fastest lead guitar ever recorded. He also has some more mellow lead work, but he usually adds in those quick runs, with nearly everything. I only really enjoy a few Return to Forever albums, and other projects he played on, but maybe I’ve missed something. If there’s something that you could recommend, that Chris reminded you of, from Di Melos’s work, I’d love to hear it. Thanks
Don’t forget my favorite and first guitar, a Memphis brand copy of a ES 335, made out of the Matsumoku factory in Japan from the 70’s-80’s. I’ve heard wildly varying reports about this brand, but from my own experience (and anyone who plays my guitar) they can be hidden gems. Bought on a whim in 1994 for 50$!
That,s a very cool thing !! when I 1st began trying to make sense out of a guitar, it all started with one that had the name "LYLE" at the top of the headstock, mind you, it did tune, but one bend, your re-tuning , i had to re-place the tuner,s and the pick-up,s way too much squeelin, once i had those few things done, it didnt sound half bad, I got for $20.00 buck,s an still have it to this day, to re-mind me of just how far ive come, I still strum on it from time to time, its great for coming up with new idea,s for constructing a song or new melody , just making stuff up as I go along, , it tunes, and sounds pretty good for a "LYLE" LOL, oh and it still has its made in "KOREA" sticker on the back plate at the neck screws , made in Korea, my GOD !! its been there over 30 yrs , I bought it from a music store, that mainly sold piano,s and acoustic guitar,s , they had a few electric guitar,s no gibson,s i couldnt afford one back then anyhow, but out of that little spot of guitar,s this Lyle caught my eye, plus it was the right price,LOL,
Chris, man, @10.53 was just unkind, I was simply enjoying a great guitar and then you put that image into my head, it sent shivers down my spine and my aural memory jumped in, I'm going to have that bastard duck thing in my head all day now.
Chance plays a part as well - back in about 1973 I went into my favourite music shop and they had this nice looking instrument on one side. I tried it out and rather liked the sound so asked if it was for sale. The owner said no, it had to have some minor repairs first. I was so taken with it so I offered to do a straight swap for an SG Professional I then had (P90's etc). Owner was happy to do so since he had soemthing to seel immediately. So I had it and enjoyed it for a few years before I found out it was a 1960 Gibson 335 with PAF's - still have it to this day - but at the time I did not know them from adam - it was just the sound that got me!!
Thank you so much Mr.B, you have filled in the missing pieces of my own personal jigsaw. I have a lawsuit Gibson, a Charles Summerfield Limited Gibson Les Paul copy from Fujigen factory in Japan, distributed by Ibanez and left labeless for other companies like CSL and Astoria to brand for themselves. It dates from 1976 and I acquired it from my brother in the early 80's who owed me about £40 at the time and we traded the debt. I have the original case and locally it was last serviced by Bletchley's own Andy Viccars, a superb luthier, now sadly retired. The guitar has always received high praise even if it is on the weighty side. I will be in Bristol Trinity @ 5th December for CB's rearranged gig (Yes, I travelled from Buckingham to Bristol for the original gig hahhaha), so if you want to handle some history, just say the word. Keep the flame and I love FF).
neil schon and mark knopler sure sounded good with thier norlin era maple necked gibson les pauls,i love alot of the norlin era stuff ive heard or played!
Fender made a series of licensed instruments with Brazilian instruments maker Giannini called Southern Cross and these are very loved, often fetching higher prices than actual Fender products.
My Orville by Gibson Les Paul has been on loan at my dads house for the past 3 years ( it left me in lockdown ) bizarrely he finally let me have it back yesterday. Good timing on your video Chris. Absolutely gorgeous guitars well worth the money. The quality is amazing, but now you’ve had the Josh Scott effect and prices and demand will sky rocket !
Great stuff ! I think a large percentage of us don’t have your in depth knowledge of guitars like these so going after one I’d probably hijack someone from a guitar shop to have a look . Best 335 I’ve played was the Clapton reissue with the nylon saddles ! About £3.5k maybe ten years ago ?
These are really good guitars. I'm a big fan of the Fender "Master Series" Esprit guitars, also from the early MIJ-Fender era and really good, rare, if unknown.
I have one of these and like you I find the 57 classics a little dark in this guitar. Can you recommend replacements? You said Bareknuckle, what model?
Great guitar! I can confirm what you say about Tokai: I own a 1980 Tokai Reborn Old Les Paul copy - wonderful guitar. On the other hand I would like to state that Norlin era Gibsons are not all that bad. I have also got a 1978 Gibson SG Standard manufacured in Kalmazoo. It features many of those aspects that are considered of lower quality: 14 degree neck angle, volute to support the headstock-neck transition, three-piece neck and Schaller harmonica bridge. The only thing I cchanged were the pickups. This is flawlessly made guitar and it sounds just great. It's a "vintage guitar" in it's own right.
That’s simply a beautiful guitar. You did well acquiring it. I have to admit that I’ve never given much thought to getting a 335 (despite my love of B.B.) until fairly recently - I’ve been happy playing a few Les Pauls for many years. However, things changed a few weeks ago when I became aware that there are some halfway decent 335 cheapies out there. Like in the $300 range. The one made by Donner actually might satisfy that itch. It just might add another dimension to my amateur six-string stylings. Or maybe not, lol, but it’ll be fun trying.
You should try a Harley Benton 335 style guitar, mine is beautifully put together, and sounds fabulous without spending a fortune. Check them out on RUclips and decide for yourself, you've got nothing to lose by looking? 👍
I'm curious (not knocking it), what the intro playing sounds like without effects. I think it sounds great, and I realize effects have influence on how it's played. I think it would be interesting.
Chris, can you share with us the string vendor and sizes for your 335? Sounds great. I also went with Faber for tail, bridge, and saddles for my 1980 Gibson 335. John
In...1989, I was picking out my second guitar... I narrowed it down to a Yamaha RGX series and/or an early 80s Tokai Love Rock model.. they were BOTH 209$. To this day I regret not going with the Tokai. lol. But knowing me.. I would probably have traded and or sold it by now any way. Oh well. Great video as always.
Perfect timing as I’ve just acquired a 1980 Argus SA Semi Hollow from Japan in a very similar dark burst colour. I think Argus is pretty rare but pretty sought after as it’s a high end build. Superb guitar for the money 👍🎸
Well that was an education. Once again Japan seems to be the home of guitar craftsmanship. I have a 70s Ibanez Flying V and an early 80s Tokai Tele and if either are inferior to the originals I can’t tell. I also have a White Falcon players edition and no prizes for where Gretsch make them.
I look forward to watching Friday Fretworks more than any show on TV. Thanks for the show-and-tell on all these great guitars and reminding me that I can't play guitar, for shit.
Good wee start Dude, great video, Ive had 2 Gibsons, both were ok, sold them on, I have A Tokai Les Paul, Black Beauty, weighs a ton but sounds great. Im not a gear snob, if it does the job, its good enough, your 335 sounds beautiful, link to where your gigging and do you ever do Jams...
Wow you also offset your 57's coils!?! I did that with a les paul classic and changed the magnets out for an A5 in fhe bridge and an A3 in the neck. Good stuff!
I have an ‘89 Orville by Gibson Les Paul. I’m not a Les Paul aficionado but I love it. Plays great and sounds great. It’s quite heavy but nothing compared to my bass guitars. Cost me less than £900 equivalent earlier this year. 👍🏽
Great Friday fretworks Chris (as always). I discovered Japanese guitars nearly 25 years back and have acquired several over the years - Burny, Greco, Orvile by Gibson and Orville, and Edwards. The oldest is an entry level 1977 Greco LP which is nice (and was cheap) but the later models were FAR superior. Black Burny LPC with VH1 pickups is a MONSTER, and OBG LPC comes with classic 57s and plays like a dream. Haven't bought any for many years now and am amazed how much some of them are now going for!
Same here, I discovered them in the 80's but started buying them in the early 2000's, I have a Greco RR65 LP custom, A Burny RR Custom, {RR is for Randy Roades model} , both from 1982, A Tokai ST70 strat from 1981 a Bacchus LP standard from the late 90's and 2 custom shop Tokai LP's, All marvellous guitars, and all keepers.... My first was a mid 70's Ibanez Rocket roll red flying Vee, should have kept that one, It was the set neck model and played very well...
I feel it depends on what you get i bought a Chibson it looked and weighed the part but was a piece of junk quality wise so i went another direction and just traded it and another indonesian jackson adrian smith model which was not good either for a Burny Les Paul with a Floyd Rose and Sustainer pickup. All i can say is wow i am absolutely blown away with everything about this guitar, looks, weight, quality its just killer, its better. Than any other gibson Les Paul i have ever helped or played before. I gelled with the guitar immediately next i will search for an Orville or early Epiphone with open book headstock or even another early Burny
I can certainly vouch for these Japanese “Gibsons” . I bought a 1986 Burny Super Grade (I think😮 based on a 1960 LP Standard) from No. Tom Guitars in London a few years ago for £750. Yes it is heavy, but it plays and sounds lovely to my ears. It’s had some very favourable comments from some “real” LP owners when they’ve had a play on it
A guy in a local band who my and plays a few shows with a year has both an Orville and a Greco lp copy. They are both amazing axes. Would not mind getting my hands on an orville
I play a Gibsun (written on with gold pen) beat up 335 made by some guy and I love it. The last expensive guitar I owned became money to fix my wife's motorhome which she loves. She was happy, so was i. I'm not a cork sniffer or a collector. If I like a guitar I dont care what it says on the headstock. Same with the sax except the mark 6 RIP off I have is scandalously realistic down to serial numbers etc. It was 500 quid and not 7000.
I was looking for a es335 and wasnt sure if I wanted to pay top dollar for a Gibson. I do already have a 68 les paul custom reissue. I came across an Eastman es335 style guitar (t486b) with some promising specs close to a gibson. Havent received it but it was a 1/3 of the price. Great playing btw!
I've got a Les Paul copy made in the Fuji factory back in 04(signature str1 - commissioned by tanglewood apparently). Gotoh hardware, vintage specs, long neck tenon and all. No wonder Gibson were sending out cease and desist's. Costs one tenth of a Gibson also🤣
I have a collection of Tokai guitars dating from 1981 to 2010, strats, LP's and a 335. I wouldn't trade them for the 'real' fender or Gibson ever, they are superb build quality certainly matching Fender and Gibson custom shop examples for half or ever less than half the cost.
This is very common, so no disrespect Chris. But Orville have never been made in Korea, maybe a slight ego trip wanting to separate yours from a “regular” Orville. I think this rumor started because there is a K in the serial, but if you open up every Orville they have Terada routing and the electronics say MIJ. Epiphone by Gibson were made in Korea and never in Japan. (The Elitist range being Epiphone’s equivalent to the Orvilles). Between the serial and the “Epiphone by Gibson” range, this rumor has been spread to the point where I’ve seen it posted on Gibson web pages. So to be clear, Orville and Orville by Gibson are both CIJ, neither range had any guitars made in Korea. The contrast in build quality strongly supports the information I’ve shared. Regards
Indeed the Orville's by Gibson were made by Terada and also the Epiphone Elitist, Gretsch and Guild were build there. The Orville's(without the add "by Gibson ") were made at Fuji Gen and were much lesser in build quality(not a long tenon neck/body joint,not massiv flamed maple tops at Les Paul Standard models(flattops or carved tops with fineer).
It’s not really fair to assume that wood is less desirable because it’s thinner, depends on the purpose really, the wood can be of equal quality to thicker boards, and laminating it creates a more stable piece, that it less prone to warp or twist. Maybe not a big issue with a maple cap but still …
I bloody love my Orville LP. Yes, it’s got a fotoflame but I really couldn’t give a monkeys about that. I’ve played hundreds of Les Pauls over the last 30 years but this Orville is the one that talks to me. My ‘04 LP Std Gibbo lives in its case in a cupboard. The Orville gets played daily. P.S. My Fernandes The Revival Thinline Tele is also really rather good and not going anywhere.
I have almost the same spec'd one from '89, which I got at a relatively low price... I'm shocked to see the prices of these, albeit, their quality is probably worth it in the long-run. The neck on mine is super thin, somewhat of a 60's spec'd Gibson. Not sure if others agree here?
I own an 1978 EAGLE LES PAUL LH (so-called lawsuit guitar made in Japan). I am left-handed. Don't even get me started on trying to find ANY good-sounding left-handed guitars from 60s and 70s. So to have opportunity to own something that was played, is worn-in and has that vintage vibe - I was all in when one became available on ebay. And I picked it up for £300. I replaced pups for Gibson's 490r and 498t. That guitar sounds MUCH better than any modern Gibson Les Paul I played (and I played a few). It resonates, it intonates and it has mojo. So who cares if it has the Gibson logo on or not - nowadays I'm a bedroom player anyways. And my Eagle Les Paul is the only Les Paul I will ever need. Plays, feels and sounds amazing!
Kind of looks like the strings are resting on the back of the bridge. If so you could raise the tail piece a little. Apparently it may effect the sound. Just an opinion, not telling you what to do 🙂
Seems like it's time you got an ObG Les Paul from Mark then as well Chris. But, you have to pick a real R59 one, which unfortunately he hasn't got at the moment, unfortunately. Just wait a while until a nice one shows up.
Bloody hell. Great opening jam!!
Chris has the same opening in another video of Friday F. Is much much much epic than this.
Here:😊 ruclips.net/video/wr5qmxO7LM8/видео.html
How did Bowie put it about Ziggy “But, boy, could he play guitar!” Take a bow young sir!
Same opening on flying v video
If it plays great and sounds like you want and makes you want to play, then who cares if it's not a real Gibson. Always a pleasure listening to your playing.
HEY Scott , I too am a Wilcox !! born an raised in MD. I was asking Chris, if he would consider making Teaching video,s I think his playing is Awesome !! I know I would watch,em if he made any, thats to be sure !! W/H/W
@The68lespaul I would enjoy that as well.
@@scottwilcox6313 I know, Right !! that would be super bad ass !! lol, Chris rips, I watched in amazement at how he was playing that stuff man !! it was like a video of AL Demeloia , im not sure of the spelling of his name hes that guy that plays all those wild chords an picks a gang of notes super clean as he goes from chord to chord, its AWESOME MAN !!
Unless one is buying and selling guitars, for a living, I don’t believe any guitars are worth these prices.
I’d rather have a great Luthier build me a guitar.
I can make a solidly built Les Paul Studio, sing as well as any $50,000+ vintage Gibson, or as Chris just demonstrated, one can make these “fakes,” sing as well as any Gibson.
I want a guitar that feels right in my hands, stays in tune, and isn’t going to crack, just from using the tremolo(which should be called Vibrato) arm, too hard.
One can change the pickups, and any other part of the insides, that aren’t of good quality.
I just don’t care about the cosmetic things, that guitar manufacturers use to justify an extra thousand dollars or more.
@@The68lespaul
Which Al Di Meola(you were close 😆) songs or performance, does Chris remind you of. I love Di Meola, but he isn’t a player I’d think of as Chris sounding like.
Al is for one, plays very fast runs . At one point his Race With the Devil on Spanish Highway, was the fastest lead guitar ever recorded.
He also has some more mellow lead work, but he usually adds in those quick runs, with nearly everything. I only really enjoy a few Return to Forever albums, and other projects he played on, but maybe I’ve missed something.
If there’s something that you could recommend, that Chris reminded you of, from Di Melos’s work, I’d love to hear it.
Thanks
One of my personal favorite quotes from a guitar tech “ Meh……. If it works, it works… It’s not surgical equipment.
Don’t forget my favorite and first guitar, a Memphis brand copy of a ES 335, made out of the Matsumoku factory in Japan from the 70’s-80’s. I’ve heard wildly varying reports about this brand, but from my own experience (and anyone who plays my guitar) they can be hidden gems. Bought on a whim in 1994 for 50$!
That,s a very cool thing !! when I 1st began trying to make sense out of a guitar, it all started with one that had the name "LYLE" at the top of the headstock, mind you, it did tune, but one bend, your re-tuning , i had to re-place the tuner,s and the pick-up,s way too much squeelin, once i had those few things done, it didnt sound half bad, I got for $20.00 buck,s an still have it to this day, to re-mind me of just how far ive come, I still strum on it from time to time, its great for coming up with new idea,s for constructing a song or new melody , just making stuff up as I go along, , it tunes, and sounds pretty good for a "LYLE" LOL, oh and it still has its made in "KOREA" sticker on the back plate at the neck screws , made in Korea, my GOD !! its been there over 30 yrs , I bought it from a music store, that mainly sold piano,s and acoustic guitar,s , they had a few electric guitar,s no gibson,s i couldnt afford one back then anyhow, but out of that little spot of guitar,s this Lyle caught my eye, plus it was the right price,LOL,
Thanks bro, will never forget 🙏
You should do a PhD in Gibson Guitar studies mate. Your bits of history are always really well written.
Saw you at Black Deer on Saturday. Absolutely outstanding. Thanks.
The Jam at the end is one of my favorites. Its always cool listening to a live context jam!
Chris, man, @10.53 was just unkind, I was simply enjoying a great guitar and then you put that image into my head, it sent shivers down my spine and my aural memory jumped in, I'm going to have that bastard duck thing in my head all day now.
Very informative and interesting. I didn't know very much about the Orville guitars. Your playing is fantastic, as usual. Thanks for doing this!
Great short history on early Gibson guitars. What a sweet sounding Orville 335 you have. 👍🏽
Chance plays a part as well - back in about 1973 I went into my favourite music shop and they had this nice looking instrument on one side. I tried it out and rather liked the sound so asked if it was for sale. The owner said no, it had to have some minor repairs first. I was so taken with it so I offered to do a straight swap for an SG Professional I then had (P90's etc). Owner was happy to do so since he had soemthing to seel immediately. So I had it and enjoyed it for a few years before I found out it was a 1960 Gibson 335 with PAF's - still have it to this day - but at the time I did not know them from adam - it was just the sound that got me!!
Love stories like this. 👍🏽
Wow Chris that intro and outro was something else your ability is mesmerizing thanks Chris
I really enjoy the space you leave in your playing. It helps build the atmosphere for those great tones. Great playing Chris.
That's the legacy of metal...long strings of blazingly fast notes that leave no real emotional impact...Chris Buck isn't a metal guitarist, thankfully
Thank you so much Mr.B, you have filled in the missing pieces of my own personal jigsaw. I have a lawsuit Gibson, a Charles Summerfield Limited Gibson Les Paul copy from Fujigen factory in Japan, distributed by Ibanez and left labeless for other companies like CSL and Astoria to brand for themselves. It dates from 1976 and I acquired it from my brother in the early 80's who owed me about £40 at the time and we traded the debt. I have the original case and locally it was last serviced by Bletchley's own Andy Viccars, a superb luthier, now sadly retired. The guitar has always received high praise even if it is on the weighty side. I will be in Bristol Trinity @ 5th December for CB's rearranged gig (Yes, I travelled from Buckingham to Bristol for the original gig hahhaha), so if you want to handle some history, just say the word. Keep the flame and I love FF).
Just one of the best! Thanks for the Orville tip too.
neil schon and mark knopler sure sounded good with thier norlin era maple necked gibson les pauls,i love alot of the norlin era stuff ive heard or played!
Fender made a series of licensed instruments with Brazilian instruments maker Giannini called Southern Cross and these are very loved, often fetching higher prices than actual Fender products.
My Orville by Gibson Les Paul has been on loan at my dads house for the past 3 years ( it left me in lockdown ) bizarrely he finally let me have it back yesterday. Good timing on your video Chris. Absolutely gorgeous guitars well worth the money. The quality is amazing, but now you’ve had the Josh Scott effect and prices and demand will sky rocket !
Bloody loved that video Chris but had to giggle when you showed Keith Harris and Orville at the end. Never the less … a cracking Guitar 💜💜💜
Great stuff ! I think a large percentage of us don’t have your in depth knowledge of guitars like these so going after one I’d probably hijack someone from a guitar shop to have a look . Best 335 I’ve played was the Clapton reissue with the nylon saddles ! About £3.5k maybe ten years ago ?
Chris, love listening to your opinions in these kids of videos. Also love listening to you play! I wish I could play like that.
Listening to that opening jam, I think we need you to compose the next bond theme 😁 awesome!
These are really good guitars. I'm a big fan of the Fender "Master Series" Esprit guitars, also from the early MIJ-Fender era and really good, rare, if unknown.
The intro and outro jams were incredibly good!
Amazing video Chris! What scale did you use for the intro Jam? I will be glad if someone else can tell me
That opening jam was 🔥 tone was awesome 👏
I have one of these and like you I find the 57 classics a little dark in this guitar. Can you recommend replacements? You said Bareknuckle, what model?
Very interesting Buckmaster, very interesting
Chris, I've got a 1980 Greco SA-1200 complete with original dry Z pickups. I'm sure we could arrange to get it in your hands
Dont get any better than that !
Great guitar! I can confirm what you say about Tokai: I own a 1980 Tokai Reborn Old Les Paul copy - wonderful guitar. On the other hand I would like to state that Norlin era Gibsons are not all that bad. I have also got a 1978 Gibson SG Standard manufacured in Kalmazoo. It features many of those aspects that are considered of lower quality: 14 degree neck angle, volute to support the headstock-neck transition, three-piece neck and Schaller harmonica bridge. The only thing I cchanged were the pickups. This is flawlessly made guitar and it sounds just great. It's a "vintage guitar" in it's own right.
That’s simply a beautiful guitar. You did well acquiring it. I have to admit that I’ve never given much thought to getting a 335 (despite my love of B.B.) until fairly recently - I’ve been happy playing a few Les Pauls for many years. However, things changed a few weeks ago when I became aware that there are some halfway decent 335 cheapies out there. Like in the $300 range. The one made by Donner actually might satisfy that itch. It just might add another dimension to my amateur six-string stylings. Or maybe not, lol, but it’ll be fun trying.
You should try a Harley Benton 335 style guitar, mine is beautifully put together, and sounds fabulous without spending a fortune. Check them out on RUclips and decide for yourself, you've got nothing to lose by looking? 👍
Holy f dude! That music you played in the beginning is incredibly good! Damn bro!
You're such a ripper Chris! That 335 is sweet. Even 2+ G's is great for an example like that.
Thanks for that. My bucket list of guitars to own has just increased by 1 - an Orville 335 in Lime Green with PAFs to get that 'typical nasal quack'
I'm curious (not knocking it), what the intro playing sounds like without effects. I think it sounds great, and I realize effects have influence on how it's played. I think it would be interesting.
Second jam just gave me nostalgia to picking a car in Gran Turismo as a child. No higher praise possible than that
Chris, can you share with us the string vendor and sizes for your 335? Sounds great. I also went with Faber for tail, bridge, and saddles for my 1980 Gibson 335. John
May never come across one, but enjoyed the video, and as usual, the playing was inspirational. Thanks.
Tasty jams here, thanks CB!
Great stuff as always
In...1989, I was picking out my second guitar... I narrowed it down to a Yamaha RGX series and/or an early 80s Tokai Love Rock model.. they were BOTH 209$. To this day I regret not going with the Tokai. lol. But knowing me.. I would probably have traded and or sold it by now any way. Oh well. Great video as always.
Perfect timing as I’ve just acquired a 1980 Argus SA Semi Hollow from Japan in a very similar dark burst colour. I think Argus is pretty rare but pretty sought after as it’s a high end build. Superb guitar for the money 👍🎸
Well that was an education. Once again Japan seems to be the home of guitar craftsmanship. I have a 70s Ibanez Flying V and an early 80s Tokai Tele and if either are inferior to the originals I can’t tell. I also have a White Falcon players edition and no prizes for where Gretsch make them.
The Japanese once made swords for samurai, doing crazy things with steel, I think they can handle an electric guitar just fine.
I look forward to watching Friday Fretworks more than any show on TV. Thanks for the show-and-tell on all these great guitars and reminding me that I can't play guitar, for shit.
The jams were out of this world!
Good wee start Dude, great video, Ive had 2 Gibsons, both were ok, sold them on, I have A Tokai Les Paul, Black Beauty, weighs a ton but sounds great. Im not a gear snob, if it does the job, its good enough, your 335 sounds beautiful, link to where your gigging and do you ever do Jams...
Wow you also offset your 57's coils!?! I did that with a les paul classic and changed the magnets out for an A5 in fhe bridge and an A3 in the neck. Good stuff!
Ive got an ‘92 Orville LP from fujigen… its one of the best LP ive ever played.
I had it refretted and if you can still get hold a ‘good one’… do it!.
I could listen to you play all night.
Chris, have you been to Moto Music in Cardiff? I picked up a lovely ES135 there last week
I got a ‘77 Japanese Fender-style guitar/bass doubleneck from them - also a 70s Celestion G12H. Great service! 👍🏽
excellent video!
what drive do you use?
I have an ‘89 Orville by Gibson Les Paul. I’m not a Les Paul aficionado but I love it. Plays great and sounds great. It’s quite heavy but nothing compared to my bass guitars. Cost me less than £900 equivalent earlier this year. 👍🏽
Could i please get one lesson from you? Jeez you are the most proficient guitarist I’ve seen in decades!
Great Friday fretworks Chris (as always). I discovered Japanese guitars nearly 25 years back and have acquired several over the years - Burny, Greco, Orvile by Gibson and Orville, and Edwards. The oldest is an entry level 1977 Greco LP which is nice (and was cheap) but the later models were FAR superior. Black Burny LPC with VH1 pickups is a MONSTER, and OBG LPC comes with classic 57s and plays like a dream. Haven't bought any for many years now and am amazed how much some of them are now going for!
Same here, I discovered them in the 80's but started buying them in the early 2000's, I have a Greco RR65 LP custom, A Burny RR Custom, {RR is for Randy Roades model} , both from 1982, A Tokai ST70 strat from 1981 a Bacchus LP standard from the late 90's and 2 custom shop Tokai LP's, All marvellous guitars, and all keepers.... My first was a mid 70's Ibanez Rocket roll red flying Vee, should have kept that one, It was the set neck model and played very well...
@@MickH60got my eyes on a specific RR65 for a few weeks now, pretty versatile tonal spectrum, yeah?
Hi Chris, what's your action height at the 12th? Thank you!
After 35 years I’m still rocking a Ninja Warrior LP copy. Needs a refret but could never fault it (at least after I switched pups and tuners)
Amazing guitar, which amp did you use?
The name Orville & that quack from the pickups I knew where you were heading on this one 😂
Great guitar 👍
Terrific interesting video again Chris, and masterful playing as always. 👍❤️
Anything you touch will be awesome
I have a couple of ObG LP reissues. A 57 and 59, great guitars.
I have a ObG les paul custom from 89, I love it and it looks and sounds great
I feel it depends on what you get i bought a Chibson it looked and weighed the part but was a piece of junk quality wise so i went another direction and just traded it and another indonesian jackson adrian smith model which was not good either for a Burny Les Paul with a Floyd Rose and Sustainer pickup. All i can say is wow i am absolutely blown away with everything about this guitar, looks, weight, quality its just killer, its better. Than any other gibson Les Paul i have ever helped or played before. I gelled with the guitar immediately next i will search for an Orville or early Epiphone with open book headstock or even another early Burny
Amazing playing, mate.
Chris you’re cheeky letting the camera 🎥 showing some headstocks’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Tokai are solid guitars and still are. Got a 335 version and hell it can sing, and would love one of their black Customs too. 😍😍😍😍
Thanks for sharing 🎸🎶🎵
Was hoping for a little burst of ‘I wish I could fly’ at the end there 😂
That has to be your most epic intro ever, man.
I can certainly vouch for these Japanese “Gibsons” . I bought a 1986 Burny Super Grade (I think😮 based on a 1960 LP Standard) from No. Tom Guitars in London a few years ago for £750. Yes it is heavy, but it plays and sounds lovely to my ears. It’s had some very favourable comments from some “real” LP owners when they’ve had a play on it
A guy in a local band who my and plays a few shows with a year has both an Orville and a Greco lp copy. They are both amazing axes. Would not mind getting my hands on an orville
I got a RLC70 Burny LP for £600 and it was a very, very, rare lefty (since stolen) with VH1 pickups. Great guitar.
I absolutely love my Orville by Gibson Les Paul Standard in Wine Red. Definitely a hidden gem of a guitar.
Have a 1978 Terada made Campbell CSA-75 (335 clone).
Amazing tone!
I play a Gibsun (written on with gold pen) beat up 335 made by some guy and I love it. The last expensive guitar I owned became money to fix my wife's motorhome which she loves. She was happy, so was i. I'm not a cork sniffer or a collector. If I like a guitar I dont care what it says on the headstock. Same with the sax except the mark 6 RIP off I have is scandalously realistic down to serial numbers etc. It was 500 quid and not 7000.
I was looking for a es335 and wasnt sure if I wanted to pay top dollar for a Gibson. I do already have a 68 les paul custom reissue. I came across an Eastman es335 style guitar (t486b) with some promising specs close to a gibson. Havent received it but it was a 1/3 of the price. Great playing btw!
You my friend play some of the tastious licks I've heard!!! Excellent
I get the whole vintage/rare vibe but why not try an Epiphone ES-335 in Vintage Burst?
Please allow me to pick up my jaw up off the floor.
Hidden gem, for sure! But well known by your followers now. Thanks for letting us in on it!
Try the Japanese Argus AA.... if you can find one. They were the highest end Japanese Gibson 335 copies.
I've got a Les Paul copy made in the Fuji factory back in 04(signature str1 - commissioned by tanglewood apparently). Gotoh hardware, vintage specs, long neck tenon and all. No wonder Gibson were sending out cease and desist's. Costs one tenth of a Gibson also🤣
The range was Plain Top, Flame Top, Quilt Top and Custom. Never could find a quilt top but have the other three . Fantastic guitars.
As always Chris you play the guitar so Excelance !!
The Orville ES-335's are going upwards of $3,000 US on Reverb.
I’m from the antipodes. Does Orville have a UK meaning or association that I am unaware of
I was buying OBG's from Japan in the early 2000's for a few hundred Aussie dollars, that ship sailed long ago....
Any way to get the first jams backing track?
I have a collection of Tokai guitars dating from 1981 to 2010, strats, LP's and a 335. I wouldn't trade them for the 'real' fender or Gibson ever, they are superb build quality certainly matching Fender and Gibson custom shop examples for half or ever less than half the cost.
If possible, please review the Japanese made, open book headstock Epiphone LPs and ES models.
Damn…!
I would’ve been happy, just listening to the opening music …..! 🎶👍🏻🎸
I would also like to mention the Aria Pro II Les Paul copies. I think they are the best copies out there from that era.
This is very common, so no disrespect Chris. But Orville have never been made in Korea, maybe a slight ego trip wanting to separate yours from a “regular” Orville. I think this rumor started because there is a K in the serial, but if you open up every Orville they have Terada routing and the electronics say MIJ. Epiphone by Gibson were made in Korea and never in Japan. (The Elitist range being Epiphone’s equivalent to the Orvilles). Between the serial and the “Epiphone by Gibson” range, this rumor has been spread to the point where I’ve seen it posted on Gibson web pages. So to be clear, Orville and Orville by Gibson are both CIJ, neither range had any guitars made in Korea. The contrast in build quality strongly supports the information I’ve shared. Regards
Indeed the Orville's by Gibson were made by Terada and also the Epiphone Elitist, Gretsch and Guild were build there.
The Orville's(without the add "by Gibson ") were made at Fuji Gen and were much lesser in build quality(not a long tenon neck/body joint,not massiv flamed maple tops at Les Paul Standard models(flattops or carved tops with fineer).
It’s not really fair to assume that wood is less desirable because it’s thinner, depends on the purpose really, the wood can be of equal quality to thicker boards, and laminating it creates a more stable piece, that it less prone to warp or twist. Maybe not a big issue with a maple cap but still …
I bloody love my Orville LP. Yes, it’s got a fotoflame but I really couldn’t give a monkeys about that. I’ve played hundreds of Les Pauls over the last 30 years but this Orville is the one that talks to me. My ‘04 LP Std Gibbo lives in its case in a cupboard. The Orville gets played daily.
P.S. My Fernandes The Revival Thinline Tele is also really rather good and not going anywhere.
I have almost the same spec'd one from '89, which I got at a relatively low price... I'm shocked to see the prices of these, albeit, their quality is probably worth it in the long-run. The neck on mine is super thin, somewhat of a 60's spec'd Gibson. Not sure if others agree here?
I own an 1978 EAGLE LES PAUL LH (so-called lawsuit guitar made in Japan). I am left-handed. Don't even get me started on trying to find ANY good-sounding left-handed guitars from 60s and 70s. So to have opportunity to own something that was played, is worn-in and has that vintage vibe - I was all in when one became available on ebay. And I picked it up for £300. I replaced pups for Gibson's 490r and 498t. That guitar sounds MUCH better than any modern Gibson Les Paul I played (and I played a few). It resonates, it intonates and it has mojo. So who cares if it has the Gibson logo on or not - nowadays I'm a bedroom player anyways. And my Eagle Les Paul is the only Les Paul I will ever need. Plays, feels and sounds amazing!
I actually thought you were going to talk about CHIBSONS! LOL!
Kind of looks like the strings are resting on the back of the bridge. If so you could raise the tail piece a little. Apparently it may effect the sound. Just an opinion, not telling you what to do 🙂
Seems like it's time you got an ObG Les Paul from Mark then as well Chris. But, you have to pick a real R59 one, which unfortunately he hasn't got at the moment, unfortunately. Just wait a while until a nice one shows up.
I absolutely love mij guitars
I own epi mij it's amazing