Elite were entry level solid body guitars that featured similar accordion-style finishes. Many Italian instrument producers were building accordions before the worldwide explosion of guitar popularity in the 1960s, and pearloid finishes are the direct result. Elite's semi-hollowbody guitars were more normal in appearance. Source: Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Guru's Guitar Guide.
Instruments previously built in Italy during the mid-1960s. Also see Crucianelli and Ardsleys.