I more than kinda want this...

[Denis]

A Japanese Epi Thunderbird. Looks nice...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320517547134&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1182

[godofthunder]

Very nice ! I can promise I won't bid on it 

[TBird1958]

Get it!

Reminds me of Uncle Orville   

[Basvarken]

Wow!
What pickups does this beauty have?
Could be the same as the ones that Greco Tbirds have (which sound killer)

[rockinrayduke]

Close relative for sure.

[chromium]

That's gorgeous.  I've never played one, but I'm pretty sure the overall structure, woods, etc... is very similar to the Elitist I had (set neck, all mahog, similar proportions).  The Elitist just had the smaller guitar-humbucker-sized TB+ pickups.  That was a killer bass, and I only sold it to help pay for a '76.

I've posted these before, but you can see how closely the Japanese Epis resemble the 70s birds:

[Denis]

I'm definitely going to keep a close eye on this one. Wasn't looking really to buy another base until I finish the Smurf Ripper, but this thing is just too cool (and probably uncommon as heck in the US) not to try for. Why doesn't the US get these? I bet they could sell the heck out of them here!

[Aussie Mark]

These ARE an Orville with a name change.  The Orville "brand" morphed into Epiphone Japan some time in the early 1990s. 

[Muzikman7]

Here is a Greco. http://www.guitargai.com/html_folder/gai_otherBA4.html#

[Daniel_J]

In Japan, Epiphone has released a number of custom models for the local market only. I don't know about this one, but there is a series called YEC (Yamano Epiphone Custom) that has some really cool models.

For guitars, they all have the open book headstock (although a bit different than the Gibson head) and a bunch of custom colors. I also remember a series called "YEC Lacquer" that was all nitro finish. And some models that were very period correct, like this Bird I guess.

Yamano Gakki company is one of Epiphone Japan owners, and were also owners of the Orville brand. I don't know for sure, but I think all the Orvilles, YECs and Elite were built by the Terada and the FujiGen factories.

The last time I was in Japan (mid 2005) I remember seeing some of this YEC guitars on the stores. At the time I wasn't too much excited about T-Birds as I AM NOW (thanks to you guys here, I guess...), but I distinctively remember a very cool Blue Metallic T-Bird (the modern type) that grabbed my attention for a few seconds, just until I saw a used Sunburst Rivoli at the same price 

[OldManC]

I've owned one of these Epi Japan birds. Set neck, beautiful finish, great bass. Slightly less output than my other birds, but nothing that a turn of the preamp volume didn't cure.

[Aussie Mark]

Here's my old 1993 Orville by Gibson for comparison.  As I said, the Orville by Gibson brand became Epiphone Japan, who made the Elite range.

[stiles72]

The last time I was in Japan (mid 2005) I remember seeing some of this YEC guitars on the stores. At the time I wasn't too much excited about T-Birds as I AM NOW (thanks to you guys here, I guess...), but I distinctively remember a very cool Blue Metallic T-Bird (the modern type) that grabbed my attention for a few seconds, just until I saw a used Sunburst Rivoli at the same price 

A few years back the Gibson USA Custom Shop made some metallic blue Thunderbirds with white pearloid pickguards that were for the Japanese market only. I saw one pop up on Ebay about six or seven years ago, but haven't seen any since.

[uwe]

A few more did show up. They certainly looked different.

Even with the black hardware, I know. 

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

That's a fine bird & she's already in the US!