1991 Orville Thunderbird - UK seller - £695 BIN

[Highlander]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Orville-Gibson-Thunderbird-Bass-/140415651101?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20b16ccd1d

[EvilLordJuju]

Gibson were unable to use their own Gibson name in Japan and so chose their founders first name as the brand name, and so produced "Orville" and "Orville by Gibson" guitars in Japan. The latter being the superior range using genuine Gibson USA pickups and hardware.

Does anybody here know about the Orville name? Were Gibson really unable to use Gibson? and if so why not?

[the mojo hobo]

I would assume they chose not to use the Gibson name to differentiate the Japanese from the American made Gibsons. Are there any Gibson branded guitars that are not made in America?

[Dave W]

I would assume they chose not to use the Gibson name to differentiate the Japanese from the American made Gibsons. Are there any Gibson branded guitars that are not made in America?

Bingo! They would not put the Gibson brand name on products made in Japan. There was nothing to legally prevent them from using it.

[Highlander]

Blurb from the seller...

"It would have been made about 19 years ago ( serial  G01xxxx = July 1991) by Fujigen-Gakki as a Japanese made Gibson for the Japanese home market. Gibson were unable to use their own Gibson name in Japan and so chose their founders first name as the brand name, and so produced "Orville" and "Orville by Gibson" guitars in Japan. The latter being the superior range using genuine Gibson USA pickups and hardware."

I think Dave summed it up suitably unless someone knows differently...

[TBird1958]

It's certainly one of the better Thunderbirds one could buy, regardless of price.

[OldManC]

In case anyone's interested, notwithstanding the TRC, that one's an Orville 'by' Gibson.

[EvilLordJuju]

I would have then thought they would just use Epiphone....

[Funkster]

That's a sweetie,, I have a 89 Orville T-Bird and it Rock's!! Stomps all over my buds bran new USA Gibby..

[Denis]

I would have then thought they would just use Epiphone....

That's what mine is.

[OldManC]

That's what mine is.

At some point in the 90's Gibson retired the Orville name in Japan and started using Epi. There's a difference though from the Epiphones the rest of the world gets (which were made in Korea and then Indonesia and elsewhere). The Epi Japan models were made just for the Japanese market. I had the same kind of bird Denis has and it was the same bass as the regular Orville bird. The Orville 'by' Gibson was the upgraded model, but they're both nice birds.

[Denis]

At some point in the 90's Gibson retired the Orville name in Japan and started using Epi. There's a difference though from the Epiphones the rest of the world gets (which were made in Korea and then Indonesia and elsewhere). The Epi Japan models were made just for the Japanese market. I had the same kind of bird Denis has and it was the same bass as the regular Orville bird. The Orville 'by' Gibson was the upgraded model, but they're both nice birds.

Any idea what the upgrades were for the upper tier Orville over the regular Orville or Epi? The history and evolution of T-birds is fascinating!

[TBird1958]

Mine's a bit different having chrome hardware instead of nickel. Also a custom 2 point and paint job.........  Courtesy of Curt (DC10Bass). I played this bass for 1 1/2 hours at rehearsal the other night - very nice! a bit tighter than a Gibson due to the set neck, and the pups had a nice, somewhat modern growl about them.

[OldManC]

Any idea what the upgrades were for the upper tier Orville over the regular Orville or Epi? The history and evolution of T-birds is fascinating!

U.S. pickups and (I think) hardware. They also came without pickup rings.

[TBird1958]

Chrome covers aside, the pups on mine look very contemporary Gibson, dual coil.