Epi Gold Top? (help a noob)

[randelli]

A little help from my friends here at MLP please.

I walked into a downtown pawn shop today and saw an Epi gold top hanging on the wall. The 'dude' plugged it into a little 10w marshall and played it - sounded pretty decent. I don't remember ever seeing an Epi gold top before

So I am wondering if this is legit or not.

Here is the info I have. The headstock says epiphone and looks to be centered properly. The tuners are not too close to the edge. The truss cover says gibson. The neck was slender like a 60's neck. The knobs lined up correctly. The serial started with WE and there was a 'made in china' sticker on the back of the headstock. It appears to be a real epiphone (from my limited observation skills pick-up here) but I do not know if the gold top is real or not. It almost looks like it was painted and lacquered. This is why I am suspicious. It could be poor QC I guess.

So here is my question: did epi make a gold top, is this a real epi gold top, and if so; what is the value range of this guitar?

 

[djwilbanks]

Yes Epi made a goldtop, as an Elitist, a Standard '57 and a Standard '56. The former two had humbuckers, the latter with a p90.

I've had a '56, which alligatorbling has now.

If the price is good and it looks good and feels good, I'd go for it.

Otherwise post some pics here and us fakebusters will take a look at it.

 

[Jason]

Oh yeah. The first LP I ever saw in person was a goldtop Epi.

 

[randelli]

I asked if it was a '64.........

He actually said it was a '56 and it does have two humbuckers - sorry, I thought they all did LOL!

 

[djwilbanks]

I asked if it was a '64.........

He actually said it was a '56 and it does have two humbuckers - sorry, I thought they all did LOL!

K, if it has two buckers it's a '57 RI, regardless of what he or the truss rod cover says (of course, it could have always been routed out).

 

[Extremerocker827]

Yeah there is such thing....and wen u wrote help a noob I thought of one of those infomercials..."so call 1-800-5733-6849 and have a heart. help a noob now, give a donation, and you'll be helping to give these noobs a brand new life. Call now, and have a heart" lol

 

[randelli]

If the price is good and it looks good and feels good, I'd go for it.

So what would a good price be?

 

[djwilbanks]

If its in good shape... from a pawn shop, I would start haggling at 250 and probably wouldn't go over 300-350.. and thats if you reeaaally want it.

(new the '56 are 500)

 

[overdriver]

They never had a 57 RI they had a ltd. gold top with covered pickups and a classic gold top with coversless pickups like mine. WE never heard of WE not saying its a fake just never heard of WE MIC

 

[randelli]

I will go downtown and look at it again today. I will get the whole serial number so I can check it out.

 

[djwilbanks]

They never had a 57 RI they had a ltd. gold top with covered pickups and a classic gold top with coversless pickups like mine. WE never heard of WE not saying its a fake just never heard of WE MIC

Well that may be true, the '57 RI is an Elitist, but I know the one I played with 'buckers said '57 on the truss rod cover.

Either way, if it has buckers (and wasn't routed for them) it isn't a '56.

Take a camera with you!

 

[overdriver]

Well that may be true, the '57 RI is an Elitist, but I know the one I played with 'buckers said '57 on the truss rod cover.

Either way, if it has buckers (and wasn't routed for them) it isn't a '56.

Take a camera with you!

how can truss cover say anything !!!!!!!! Hey IMO stay outa the Moon Shine before ya try guitars out
Could be I never saw one all the LTD had Gibson written on the cover and tulip button tunners, came out before the classic models which came in GT. If it was a 56 it would have 56 cover on it.

 

[overdriver]

If it has covered HBs and made in around 04-05 could be a classic with pups changed out. Like mine. Pics we need pics or a drawing

 

[randelli]

The serial number is: DW03050380

Here is the info from serial number calculator:

Guitar Info
Your guitar was made at the
Deawon Plant, China
May 2003
Production Number: 0380



Daewon Musical Instrument Co.
Daewon Musical Instrument Co., ltd. Established in Kyunggi-do, Korea in 1991. Established Daewon China factory in Dalian, Northern China In 2001.

Is this an elite??

 

[Gigan]

Came up with this from an epiphone serial site
Your guitar was made at the
Deawon Plant, China
May 2003
Production Number: 0380
It would seem its legit just not sure what model it is. What is the asking price?

 

[randelli]

Thanks for that.

The guitar has a one peice back and banded fret board with a yellowed nut (possibly bone?). Could this be an elite??

 

[djwilbanks]

Elitists are MIJ only. No chance of it being a MIC Elite.

Anyway, if the price is good and you like it, I'd go for it.

 

[dave]

I have a '96 Korean made Epi goldtop with humbuckers & Gibson TRC, and have seen many others.

 

[Yogi]

I used to have this. It was a '94 Korean made in the Samick plant. It was a pretty sweet guitar. I kind of regret trading it in on my American Hardtail strat. It said Gibson on the TRC

 

[randelli]

OK so the big question is: Is it worth $400 and $100 for a Gibson USA case?