So my EBs are joined by their Japanese cousin...

[ajkula66]

Picked up a '96 Orville EB-3 a couple of days ago. Fujigen-built, obviously not a Gibby but definitely a cousin. Interesting little beast.

What's the general take on these around here ?

Of course, if I posted this in the wrong forum, by all means move it...

[Basvarken]

As far as I'm concerned it belongs to the Gibson family.  Higher quality than the Epiphone EB-3.

[ajkula66]

As far as I'm concerned it belongs to the Gibson family.  Higher quality than the Epiphone EB-3.

Well, I did originally post it in the Gibson basses thread but it got moved. No biggie, I was on the fence about that myself.

I wasn't too impressed by Epiphone basses of recent vintage, but I've never played an Elitist which this Orville is supposed to be in line with from what I've gathered. Not that I couldn't be wrong...again...

[Dave W]

My mistake. Should have left it in the Gibson forum, since Orville was a Gibson-authorized product.

[ajkula66]

Well, the original neck pickup wasn't doing it for me, so I ordered a Sentell Unmudbucker - with a black surround - and tuned this kid BEAD. Very impressed so far.

[Dave W]

The black cover looks better to me than the clear cover on his website.

[ajkula66]

The black cover looks better to me than the clear cover on his website.

It sure does. He offers both "smoke gray" and black as options at no additional charge, so this was a no-brainer for silly old me.