I'd never heard of Peerless, don't think they are available in the US yet.
#PEERLESS GUITARS SERIAL NUMBERS#
The "Masterbilt" acoustics are manufactured in Qingdao.Īccording to several forum entries, current Epiphone serial numbers give the following information: Epiphone also produces a range of higher quality instruments under the "Elitist Series" moniker, which are built in Japan.
Unique Epiphone models, including the Emperor, Zephyr, Riviera and Sheraton, are built to higher quality standards than the company's "Gibson copy" line. In 2002, Gibson opened a factory in Qingdao, China, which manufactures Epiphone guitars and no others. Samick has stopped manufacturing guitars in Korea. For example, bodies of the G-400 SG copy were made with either mahogany or alder body, depending on the availability of the wood. These Epiphones were sometimes built with different tonewoods from the original Gibson versions, which often resulted in the instruments bearing a visual and ergonomic similarity to the Gibson originals but having a slightly different tone. The brand was primarily used to issue less expensive versions of classic Gibson models, in a manner similar to that of the Squier brand by Fender. Thus, a Korean-era solidbody Epiphone would have been built under license.
#PEERLESS GUITARS LICENSE#
One of these contractors was Samick, which also built instruments under license for other brands and in its own name. From the 1980s, Epiphones were manufactured mainly in Korea by contractors licensed by Gibson. In the early 1970s, Epiphones began to be manufactured in Japan. P or R serial numbers are made by Peerless. PS: It also has the Abalone binding on the body and headstock. Here's a shot: (it had 'Peer' tags on it when I picked it up at Sam Ash) I don't own it anymore, had to sell it for the Strat. There is a man named Scott Detweiler who is supposed to be their US rep. They make a great D'Aquisto clone as well (Carlo Robelli:The Manhattan). Peerless is a great quality guitar builder and there is no reason Fender/Gretsch wouldn't utilize them again I wouldn't think. The latest possibility of Peerless doing Gretsch would be the Korean built 5120. (The Gretsch G-3131 Anniversary model being the last, leftovers and B-stocks were eventually sold off as Robelli RB-55 models) Peerless is also where some Gretches were built as well, primarily before Fender bought it up in 2003. Before that it was the big hollowbody's of the Carlo Robelli line/note the headstock similarities. They did a ton of stuff for Sam Ash, the Latest being the Eddie Durham Signature guitar under the 'Guitar Research' name.
Peerless is pretty well known in the off-brand market.