Elitist Archtops
http://www2.epiphone.com/elitist
The Elitist Series was made at the Terada and Fuji-gen factories in Japan. Originally called the Elite Series, Epiphone was forced to change the name because of a conflict with an Ovation line of guitars already bearing the Elite moniker. The same Terada and Fuji-Gen guitar factories that made all of the Orville by Gibson and Orville guitars were used to make the Gibson/Yamano Gakki Epiphone Elite and Epiphone Elitist series with the Terada guitar factory mostly making the semi acoustic models and the Fuji-Gen guitar factory mostly making the solid body models The Elitist guitars were made to very high specifications. Most of the parts were made in Japan but some parts were made in other countries, including the USA and Germany. These guitars cost more than twice as much as a standard Epiphone guitar. The Elitist series was discontinued in 2008, with the exception of the Casino model. The Epiphone Elitist Series includes features such as real Abalone and Pearl inlays, bone nuts and saddles, hand-rubbed finishes, USA strings and meticulous adjustment and set-up. Japanese Domestic Market Elitists use the Gibson-style open-book headstock instead of the Tombstone-shaped headstock. The Epiphone Elitist guitars are not related to the Epiphone Les Paul Elite, which is a Korean-made semi-hollow guitar similar to the Les Paul-ES. |
See Also:
- Elitist Archtops (Japan)
- Elitist Electrics
- Elitist Series Electrics (Japan)
- Elitist Acoustics
- Elitist Acoustics (Japan)
- Elitist Basses
Models
Elitist '63 ES-335 Dot
- 2002-2008
Body:
- Semi-hollowbody construction
- 5-ply maple top, back & sides
Neck:
- Set mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays
- Bone nut
- Tombstone headstock with holly inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 2-ply truss rod cover with Elitist engraving
- 24.75" scale
- 1.625" nut width
Binding:
- Single-ply neck & body
- Unbound f-holes
Electronics:
- USA 50SR & 50TR humbucker pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
- 3-ply raised black pickguard
- Die-cast 14:1 ratio Grover tuners
- Gold reflector knobs
Colors:
- Natural (NA)
- Cherry (CH)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Includes:
- Hardcase
See Also:
Elitist Casino
Body:
- 5-ply maple top, back & sides
- Spruce bracing
- 16" body width
- 1.75" body depth
Neck:
- 1-piece set mahogany neck with SlimTaper "D" profile
- Neck joins at 16th fret
- 12" fingerboard radius
- 22 medium-jumbo frets
- Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
- Traditional headstock with no inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 2-ply truss rod cover with "Elite" or "Elitist" engraving
- Elongated headstock with no inlay
- Bone nut
- 24.75" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- Single-ply body & neck
- Unbound f-holes
Electronics:
- Two Gibson USA P-90 Single-coil pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way Switchcraft selector switch
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge with trapeze tailpiece
- 3-ply elevated white pickguard with foil "E" emblem
- Die-cast Grover tuners
- Gold reflector knobs
Colors:
- Natural (NA)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Elitist 1965 Casino Vintage Outfit
- 2014 Limited Edition
Body:
- 3-ply maple top, back & sides
- Spruce bracing
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
- 16" body width
- 1.75" body depth
Neck:
- 1-piece set mahogany neck with 1960's SlimTaper "D" profile
- Neck joins at 16th fret
- 12" fingerboard radius
- 22 medium-jumbo frets
- Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
- Derlin nut
- Traditional headstock with no inlay
- 3-ply white truss rod cover with "E" logo
- 24.75" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- Single-ply body & neck
- Unbound f-holes
Electronics:
- Gibson USA P-90T & P-90R Single-coil pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way Switchcraft selector switch
- CTS 250K audio poteniometers
- Orange Drop 473 capacitors
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge with Derlin saddles
- Trapeze tailpiece
- 3-ply elevated white pickguard with foil "E" emblem
- 14:1 ratio Gotoh deluxe tuners
- Gold reflector knobs with metal pointer
Colors:
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
- Natural (NA)
Includes:
- 1960's era hard case
Elitist Sheraton
- 2002-2008
Body:
- 5-ply maple top, back & sides
- 16" body width
- 1.75" body depth
Neck:
- 1-piece set mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with abalone & pearl V-block inlays
- Traditional headstock with pearl Tree of Life inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 2-ply truss rod cover with "Elite" or "Elitist" engraving
- Bone nut
- 24.75" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- 7-ply body
- 1-ply neck
- 5-ply pickguard
- 3-ply headstock
- Unbound f-holes
ELectronics:
- Two USA NY Mini-humbuckers
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- Gold reflector knobs
- Grover tuners with Imperial buttons
- Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
- Raised tortoise pickguard with foil "E" emblem
- 24K gold hardware
Colors:
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
- Natural (NA)
Elitist Riviera 6 & 12
- Model ELRI/ELR12
Body:
- 5-ply maple top, back & sides
- 16" body width
- 1.75" body depth
Neck:
- 1-piece set mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
- Traditional headstock with oval inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 2-ply white truss rod cover with "Elitist" inscription
- Bone nut
- 24.75" scale
- 1.625" nut width (6-String)
- 1.68" nut width (12-String)
Binding:
- Single-ply body & neck
- Unbound f-holes
Electronics:
- 60NYR & 60NYT USA Mini-humbuckers
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge
- 3-ply white pickguard with foil "E" emblem
- Grover tuners
- Gold reflector knobs
- Frequensator tailpiece (6-String)
- Trapeze tailpiece (12-String)
Colors:
- Cherry (CH)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Elitist 1966 Custom Riviera
- 2014
- Made in Japan
Body:
- 3-ply Laminated Maple top & body
- Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish
Neck:
- Set mahogany neck with 1960's SlimTaper profile
- Single-ply body & neck binding
- Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
- 12" fingerboard radius
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
- 1.69 nut width
Binding:
- Single-ply body & neck
Electronics:
- 2 Gibson USA mini humbuckers
- 2 Vol 2 Tone controls
- Orange Drop 473 capacitors
- Switchcraft 3-way selector switch
- CTS 500k potentiometers
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge with Derlin saddles & Gotoh stopbar
- 14:1 ratio Gotoh tuners
- Gold reflector knobs
- 3-ply elevated pickguard with metal "E" emblem
Colors:
- Honeyburst (HB)
Includes:
- 1960's era hardcase
Nick Valensi Elitist Riviera P-94
- 2006
Body:
- 5-ply maple top, back & sides
- 16" body width
- 1.75" body depth
Neck:
- 1-piece Set Mahogany neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with parallelogram inlays
- Black truss rod cover with "Nick Valensi P-94" engraving
- Traditional headstock with no inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- Bone nut
- 24.75" scale
- 1.625" nut width
Binding:
- 1-ply body & neck
- Unbound f-holes
Electronics:
- Gibson P94T & P94R pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- Nickel hardware
- Tune-o-matic bridge with frequensator tailpiece
- 2-ply pickguard with foil "E" emblem
- Black reflector knobs
Colors:
- Antique Natural (AN)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
See Also:
Elitist Byrdland
- 2002-2008
Body:
- Solid spruce top
- AAA Flame Maple back & sides
Neck:
- 5-Piece Maple/Rosewood set mahogany neck
- Ebony fingerboard with block inlays
- Tombstone headstock with pearl Flower Pot inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 2-ply truss rod cover with "Byrdland" engraving
- 23.5" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- 6-ply body
- 1-ply f-hole & neck
- 5-ply headstock
Electronics:
- USA 50SR & 50TR humbucker pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- 24K Gold hardware
- Grover tuners with Imperial Buttons
- Tune-o-matic bridge with ornate trapeze tailpiece
- Ebony bridge base with pearl inlays
- 5-ply raised tortoise pickguard
- Gold bell knobs
Colors:
- Natural finish (NA)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Elitist Broadway
- 2002-2008
Body:
- Solid spruce top
- AAA Flame Maple back & sides
- 17" body width
- 3.375" body depth
Neck:
- 5-Piece Maple/Rosewood set mahogany neck
- Ebony fingerboard with abalone & pearl V-block inlays
- Clipped-ear headstock with pearl Tree of Life inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 25.5" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- 7-ply body
- 5-ply pickguard
- 3-ply neck & headstock
- Single-ply f-holes
Electronics:
- USA 50SR & 50TR humbucker pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- 24K Gold hardware
- Grover tuners with Imperial Buttons
- Tune-o-matic bridge frequensator tailpiece
- Ebony bridge base with pearl inlays
- Raised tortoise pickguard with foil "E" emblem
- White carousel knobs
Colors:
- Antique Natural (AN)
- Vintage Sunburst (VS)
Elitist Country Deluxe
- 2004-2008
Body:
- 5-ply Flame Maple/Birch top
- 3-ply Flame Maple/Birch back
- 2-ply Maple/Birch sides
Neck:
- 3-Piece set Maple neck
- Ebony fingerboard with thumbprint inlays
- Tombstone headstock with holly inlay
- Elite or Elitist logo on back of headstock
- 2-ply truss rod cover with "Country Deluxe" engraving
- 25.5" scale
- 1.75" nut width
Binding:
- 7-ply body binding
- 1-ply f-hole binding
Electronics:
- USA 50SR & 50TR humbucker pickups
- 2 Vol. 1 Master Tone, 1 Master Vol. controls
- 3-way selector switch
Hardware:
- 24K Gold hardware
- Grover tuners with Imperial Buttons
- Tune-o-matic bridge with Bigsby vibrato
- Ebony bridge base with pearl inlays
- 3-ply raised tortoise pickguard
- Tortoise arm rest with 3-ply binding
- Gold reflector knobs
Colors:
- Sunrise Orange (OR)
- Wine Red (WR)
Dwight Yoakam "Dwight Trash" Elitist Casino
- Model ETDCJWGH1 & ETDCRRNH1
- 2011
- Made In Terada, Japan
Body:
- 5-ply laminated maple top, back & sides
- Fully hollow construction
Neck:
- Set mahogany neck with SlimTaper profile
- Rosewood fingerboard with parallelograms inlays
- Reverse Firebird headstock with body-colered bevels
- Reverse Firebird truss rod cover
- "Dwight Yoakam" signature on back of headstock
- Epiphone "Elitist" logo on back of headstock
- "Snake Eyes" dice inlay on 12th fret
- 2-ply Black & White Traditional Firebird shaped truss rod cover
- "Epiphone Dwight Trash" in silver silkscreen on truss rod cover
- Neck joins at 16th fret
- 12" fingerboard radius
- 24.75" scale
- 1.68" nut width
Binding:
- Body - 5 layer; Gold Sparkle/White/Black/White/Black
- Neck - 4 layer; Gold Sparkle/White/Black/White
Electronics:
- Gibson USA P-90T & P-90R pickups
- 2 Vol. 2 Tone controls
- 3-way Switchcraft selector switch
Hardware:
- Nickel Hardware (Roulette Red)
- Gold Hardware (Jackpot White)
- Mini-Grover 14:1 Ratio tuners
- Locktone Tune-o-matic bridge
- Trapeze tailpiece
- Vintage-style Gold reflector knobs with pointers
Pickguard:
- Single-ply elevated pickguard
- Jackpot White - Gold ABS with inlaid "Snake Eyes" Dice
- Roulette Red - 3-layer (White/Black/White) ABS with inlaid "Snake Eyes" Dice
Colors:
- Jackpot White (JW)
- Roulette Red (RR)
Includes:
- Hand-Signed certificate and binder
- Elitist hardshell case
See Also:
Electrics | Archtops | Acoustics | Basses | Bluegrass | Amplifiers | Promotional Guitars