K Orville Quality

[japanstrat]

Seeing that the K Orville quality thing comes up all the time I thought I'd try to explain it the best I can.
You only really get what you pay for and the way some people talk about the K Orvilles you would think they were made of perf board and made in some backyard factory in Indonesia.

At the start of the K Orvilles around 1989/1990 there were the LPC-65 and SG-60 models.
They lasted until 1991.
There were also LPC-75 and SG-65 models as well.
The number is the price in yen 65 = 65,000 Yen.
The difference between the LPC-75 and LPC-65 is about $90 US depending on the exchange rate so the LPC-65 is about $90 cheaper than a LPC-75.
So if you examine a LPC-65 it might be a bit rough around the edges and same goes for the SG-60 but they are still not in the Korean price range and are all made from Mahogany.
The LPC-65 and SG-60 prices are about the same as the low end (non Korean) Tokais around 1990.
The LPC-65 explains why some of the K Orvilles have a 3 piece top (like the low end Tokais) , because of the cheaper price.
All the Orvilles are LPC-75 only from 1992.
From 1992 there are no LPC-65 models.
There are only LPC-75 models in the 1992 and 1997 catalogues and that means that both the 1992 K Orvilles and the 1997 ink stamped Orvilles are exactly the same price.
So no K Orville 3 piece tops in 1992 and 1993.

All the K Orvilles (and OBG's) from 1989 to 1993 appear to be made by Tokai and then in 1993 FujiGen gets the contract and some of the last K Orvilles appear to be made by FujiGen.

So the K Orville quality varies depending on the original selling price.
I don't know the year of my K Orville SG but I suspect I got a later year one around 1993 and that might be why it reminds me of previous FujiGen guitars I've had.

You could get a great K Orville or an average one depending on the things I've just described.

 

[The batlord]

Are you saying that they as good as ObG?

 

[japanstrat]

The OBG's generally have more features than any Orville and the OBG's were sold at a lot higher price.
It's not just that the OBG's use Gibson pickups, there are other differences as well.

 

[The batlord]

I know what the differences are (wood grades, electronics, etc). My take is that the idea behind ObG is Gibson quality without the price tag. Plain Orvilles do not offer this same quality comparison so for me the question of Orville 'Japan' or 'Korea' does not matter and neither does the factory. It is a moot point as neither are Gibson quality.

Seeing that hardly anyone has a K Orville to judge the quality including yourself it seems then I can't see how you can judge them.
I at least have a K Orville to judge.

This reason I own ObG and not Orvilles. I have played both and they are not nearly the same quality; which is my main reason for buying MIJ guitars.

 

[bluebird007]

Everyone knows, OBG's are better than regular orvilles. Its been proven.
Till this day, we all believed tat K-series orville are low quality and korean made.
And one morning u r saying they are not korean made,they are japanese, but made in a different factory. OK, lets say, i belived it. U have to prove the K series Orvilles are better than regular orvilles in quality, tone and playability. Then we will belive. Gud luck, bud :roll:

And untill tat, dont know who did this, try to keep the info as before in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orville_by_Gibson. It looks to me like some one someone want to sell their K-series as japanese model and obviously, high price.
________
OXYGEN VAPORIZER

 

[japanstrat]

Real World Orville comparisons.


Orville by Gibson 1990 made by Tokai and no Long Tenon (medium tenon like most K Orvilles from around that time 1990) nitro finish.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ORVILLE-by-Gibson-MIJ-Black-Les-Paul-Custom-Guitar-WHC_W0QQitemZ320090251409QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33040QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and images at
http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillebygibbllpcstmwhc1794


1995 Orville made by FujiGen with a long tenon and no nitro finish
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1995-Orville-LesPaulStandard-Gibson-Japan-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ230100611330QQihZ013QQcategoryZ33040QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Notice how the OBG is medium tenon and the Orville is long tenon.

A 1991 K Orville custom white made by Tokai that the seller thinks is Korean (Good price to buy it at and I would except I don't need it). If the seller thought it was Japanese the price would be nearly double what it is.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ORVILLE-White-Les-Paul-Custom-Guitar_W0QQitemZ320090075958QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33040QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and images at
http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillelpwhitemik1791

A 1989 Orville by Gibson white custom made by Tokai with a long tenon and nitro finish.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ORVILLE-by-Gibson-MIJ-White-Les-Paul-Custom-Guitar_W0QQitemZ320091146180QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33040QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

and images at
http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillebygibsonlpwhitecstm1836


Compare the headstocks and binding of the OBG custom white and the K Orville custom white.

Headstocks

OBG

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillebygibsonlpwhitecstm1836?p=3&n=1&m=-1&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

K Orville

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillelpwhitemik1791?p=3&n=1&m=-1&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

Notice how similar the split diamond inlay's are to each other.
The split diamond from FujiGen (1993 on) is more closer together like on this 1997 FujiGen Orville http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f51729836


Back Binding

OBG

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillebygibsonlpwhitecstm1836?p=17&n=1&m=-1&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2


K Orville

http://imageevent.com/chingo123/orvillelpwhitemik1791?p=15&n=1&m=-1&c=4&l=0&w=4&s=0&z=2

I've heard absolute BS about how the K Orvilles have BS binding but compare it yourself.

 

[The batlord]

You buy the Koreans and I'll but the ObG and we'll both be happy!