(SOLD) Orville Les Paul Junior Double Cutaway Cherry 1996
Orville LP Junior DC, cherry red, made in Japan 1996. Orville was the first name of Mr Gibson himself. The Orville brand was Gibson's foray into licensed Japanese manufacturing, launching around 1987 and wrapping up around 1998. The guitars were generally made at the always-excellent Terada plant, who made the pricey and collectable 1970s Epiphone models and make the high end Gretsch guitars today. The fun thing about this is the quality of the woodwork: gosh, it's very tidy indeed. Firstly, the piece of mahogany used is awesome. It's a two piece centre join body, with that gorgeous ribbon grain pattern you see on the good stuff. That's paired with an equally juicy piece for the neck, carved to a moderate '60 style shape and topped with a lux dark streaky rosewood board. It's loud and lively unplugged, with heaps of natural resonance and a pronounced sprightly attack. That translates beautifully plugged in: this is full, balanced, dynamically responsive and has plenty of natural brightness. You can't fake the brightness thing: you can wind it out with a tone knob, but if it's not there, you can't really wind it in. Needless to say, being a Jr DC, it looks funk as puck also. Good job, big O!
Model: Orville Les Paul Junior Double Cutaway
Made: Japan, Terada factory, 1996
Serial: 605528
Finish: Cherry, gloss poly
Body: mahogany
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, '60 style profile
Weight: 3.465kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Gibson P-90 dog-ear single coil
Accessories: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a couple of chips on the end and bottom edge and some scuffs on the front around the posts. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear on the back only. The back has some surface scratches on the top horn and near the neck join and some dimples in the elbow area and around the cavity. The sides have some scuffs on the top horn, a small chip and some dimples in the elbow area, a few dents and dimples near the jack and some light scuffs on the bottom horn. The front has dimples near the knobs and along the back edge, scuffs around the knobs, bridge and elbow area and some normal play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 7/10, normal wear but they're fairly even with no major buzz issues