Orion Guitar on ebay

[inthelows]

says 1995 first issue. Is this true?
Wish there were more pics.
sn9509051
NLP
Jeeezzzz I guess it would help if I spelled giutar right..duh! Geeetar..
Orion guitar link
 
(Message edited by inthelows on December 18, 2006)
 
[moderator edit: thread title]
 
(Message edited by davehouck on December 18, 2006)

[David Houck]

That's an unusual looking control layout.
 
The description of the controls doesn't seem to correlate entirely with the picture.
 
The serial number page suggests that 1997 was the first year for Orion guitars.  However, the serial number on this one does suggest that it's a '95 Orion.  Maybe this one was an early one before the model was added to the current models list.
 
Three of the switches don't look like stock Alembic switches; and I don't know what those other three things are.  Perhaps they are top mounted trim pots; or maybe they are LED's.  There's also an extra knob.  The description doesn't say anything about LED's; but sometimes an extra knob could be a dimmer for LED's.
 
The description doesn't really explain the extra jack either.  Perhaps the extra jack is a TRS effects loop.
 
LED's and/or effects loop could explain some of the extra switches.
 
It's a mystery.  A serial number search might be interesting.
 
Seller has zero feeback.  Seller's description suggests he's not overly familiar with the guitar (although he does get a lot of the details right).  And yes, there is a lack of pictures.

[bsee]

Well, a pre-production version might very well have some non-standard electronics.  My completely wild guess would be filter/Q and on/off/bright for each pickup, master volume, and bass/treble knobs.  As far as two jacks goes, no idea...  I would suspect that the little dots are LEDs that represent the status of some of the toggles.
 
Could be an interesting guitar, but I wouldn't go for it unless I could make local pickup.  The un-informed seller combined with the 0 feedback is otherwise too scary.  Paypal buyer protection won't help you on this one.
 
-Bob

[David Houck]

Bob, your assessment of the controls and the pedigree is how I'm leaning as well.  I would still want to see the serial number search results.  But could be a very interesting guitar indeed.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I e-mailed the seller and asked if he could explain the extra jack, 2 extra knobs, 3 extra switches, and 3 apparent LEDs. He replied:  
I purchased the guitar for my brother in 1997, and he called me from hudson bay where he works, and told me if I could sell the guitar for him, because he wants to get a series two guitar - not sure what that is... the way his shifts are up there, I can only get ahold of him occasionally. He does not have access to email there, but the note he left me has the following info on the back of the paper:  
- knobs:1/vol,2/balance,3/bass,4/treble,5/(effect gain to be completed)  
- switches:1/battery check,2/lights,3/pickup select,4/(to be assigned)  
I hope this helps.
 
Peter
 
(Message edited by Cozmik_cowboy on December 18, 2006)

[inthelows]

It's a work in progress!!
That helps.
NLP