I really believe it is this high quality laminate that gives Gibson's US made laminate models a signature character and responsiveness. I feel this makes the Gibson laminate more than just 'plywood'. It is huge and applies heat and more pressure than any other builder's laminating machines. I've visited the Memphis factory and have seen it in action. The current ES-330 uses the same heavy duty laminate press that was used at the old Kalamazoo factory. The other big difference is the laminates used for the top and back. The lacquer is more suseptable to imperfections, but many people (including me) believe lacquer will allow the instrument to resonate better and improve with age. The poly finish will look more perfect, but may dampen the resonance some.
So if you are concerned about resale value down the road, the Gibson would probably be the better investment.Īnother difference is the US Gibson has a traditional lacquer finish and the Elitist will have a poly based finish. Historically, US made guitars typically retain noticably more value than their Japanese counterparts. I've owned both models in the past and both guitars are quite nice.
