NGD: Episode 25 Japan Edition

[scottosan]

A little back story. Edwards guitars are a great value, and are consistently well made. The reality is that anything after 1997 was made in China with and Japanese hardware and setup added in Japan.

Story number 2. Navigator is ESPs premier brand for traditional style guitars. After 50 years of production, Navigator has ceased production as of July 31st, 2025.

The earliest Edwards starting in 1989 were made in Japan by Navigator. While not the same quality as the Navigator LP line, they are much better than current Edwards. These are basically Navigators with cheaper pickups and electronics, wiring, and poly finish vs nitro.

 

[BenoA]

Nice guitar and thanks for sharing the informations

 

[Racerxrated]

Nice!

I had a late 90s Edwards Sykes; I think the way to date it was to look for the date in the neck pickup cavity? Either way, it was a nice guitar but the Greco I had at the time was a little more 'real LP' than the Edwards, so I sold it.

I remember reading that the China production started in 2011 or thereabouts. Interesting that the LP forum 'other LP' subforum guys are wrong.

 

[technomancer]

Killer!

The Edwards stuff has been all over the place, for a while only the woodworking was done in China with paint, frets, etc done on the Standard production line. No idea what the current build status is but the two 2023 E-LP-130s I got are great guitars.

 

[Nashville Riff Co]

The reality is that anything after 1997 was made in China with and Japanese hardware and setup added in Japan.

so are the post 97 guitars considered shit guitars in japan? i've got two and they're pretty spectacular. no idea how to tell if they're post 97 or pre 97

 

[scottosan]

so are the post 97 guitars considered shit guitars in japan? i've got two and they're pretty spectacular. no idea how to tell if they're post 97 or pre 97

The ED serial number should indicate the date. They are not shit guitars, I just rarely see one for over $500 on the used market

 

[VonBonfire]

I've got an '09 Edwards LP in honeyburst just like another guitar Scott bought in a previous thread. It's KILLER. I have a '16 E-SA168 special edition that is my main player except I finally got rid of those consarn Seth Lovers and put 57 classics in and it SMOKES. I would love to have a second E-SA and a second E-LP with the quilted top. Freakin' love my Edwards man!!!

I know @RevDrucifer is a big fan of Edwards so gotta tag him for an alert. Edwards army unite!!!

 

[VonBonfire]

YEAHA BOI!!!

 

[Nashville Riff Co]

The ED serial number should indicate the date. They are not shit guitars, I just rarely see one for over $500 on the used market

gotcha ok, looks like one is 04 and the other 11...they work great for me, all they needed was a setup

as for the price, the reason you don't see any for over $500 is because the japanese shops are busy selling them for $1k to retard americans on reverb lol

 

[VonBonfire]

as for the price, the reason you don't see any for over $500 is because the japanese shops are busy selling them for $1k to retard americans on reverb lol

I paid $600 for my LP from a guy in Houston and about $1600 shipped from Japan for the ES. Still a better deal than most of the Epi stuff I've tried. At least until the IBG stuff came out.

 

[Nashville Riff Co]

I paid $600 for my LP from a guy in Houston and about $1600 shipped from Japan for the ES. Still a better deal than most of the Epi stuff I've tried. At least until the IBG stuff came out.

oh i'm with you, my best edwards i paid $700 at a local GC...the others were closer to $900. With some tweaks and adjustments, they're absolutely perfect.

miles and miles better than anything gibson is putting out imo

 

[VonBonfire]

oh i'm with you, my best edwards i paid $700 at a local GC...the others were closer to $900. With some tweaks and adjustments, they're absolutely perfect.

miles and miles better than anything gibson is putting out imo

I have a couple friends down in San Antone that recommended and often brought Edwards guitars to gigs and jams and they by and large are Gibson-Fender type of guys. One of them has three or four different Edwards LP's, lol. Even has one that is bridge humbucker only. Never seen another like that. I've yet to see an Edwards that wasn't a kickass tone muh-cheen.

 

[Nashville Riff Co]

I have a couple friends down in San Antone that recommended and often brought Edwards guitars to gigs and jams and they by and large are Gibson-Fender type of guys. One of them has three or four different Edwards LP's, lol. Even has one that is bridge humbucker only. Never seen another like that. I've yet to see an Edwards that wasn't a kickass tone muh-cheen.

absolutely agreed, whatever edwards is doing, they should keep doing it, cause their guitars are great

i do wish they were more readily/easily available in the states but such is life

 

[scottosan]

This one is a 9.5lb beast. Neck profile is a 60s .84 to .94.