NGD - USA Epiphone Casino

TiffanyGuitar · #1 08-29-2022, 11:35 AM

A few months ago, I placed an order through Sweetwater to buy a USA Epiphone Casino. About a week ago, I happened to find on Reverb a 2021 model at a decent discount from the new price. After a few questions with the seller, I bought it. It arrived at my house on Saturday.

All I can say is "WOW!" Acoustically it sounds open and wonderful. It is light weight. The neck is comfortable - not too small, not too big. Plugged in, it is, quite simply, magical. It immediately made me want to play all of the "Get Back!" leads, which I did (over and over again). Next up...Revolution.

I have noticed no quality nits. It is a beautiful, really nice, guitar.

Compared to my 335, you definitely notice the different neck join on the Casino. It feels smaller than the 335 (which actually the body is very slightly slimmer - maybe 1/16") and the neck join makes the neck feel shorter. The strings feel a little slinkier on the Casino compared to the 335. The Casino is more difficult to play on the dusty end of the neck - but it is possible - it would just not be a first choice for anyone playing above the 18th fret regularly. I recently had the pickups swapped to low wind Imperials in the 335. Clean I notice how the P90s sound very similar to the low wind Imperials and I am reminded that Seth Lover was trying to make a silent P90 when he invented the humbucker.

The case is quite nice and fits it snuggly. Love the blue interior.

I really love it. If anyone has questions, please let me know. I have never played a MIC model of the Casino so I can't compare.

jricc · #2 08-29-2022, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiffanyGuitar

A few months ago, I placed an order through Sweetwater to buy a USA Epiphone Casino. About a week ago, I happened to find on Reverb a 2021 model at a decent discount from the new price. After a few questions with the seller, I bought it. It arrived at my house on Saturday.

All I can say is "WOW!" Acoustically it sounds open and wonderful. It is light weight. The neck is comfortable - not too small, not too big. Plugged in, it is, quite simply, magical. It immediately made me want to play all of the "Get Back!" leads, which I did (over and over again). Next up...Revolution.

I have noticed no quality nits. It is a beautiful, really nice, guitar.

Compared to my 335, you definitely notice the different neck join on the Casino. It feels smaller than the 335 (which actually the body is very slightly slimmer - maybe 1/16") and the neck join makes the neck feel shorter. The strings feel a little slinkier on the Casino compared to the 335. The Casino is more difficult to play on the dusty end of the neck - but it is possible - it would just not be a first choice for anyone playing above the 18th fret regularly. I recently had the pickups swapped to low wind Imperials in the 335. Clean I notice how the P90s sound very similar to the low wind Imperials and I am reminded that Seth Lover was trying to make a silent P90 when he invented the humbucker.

The case is quite nice and fits it snuggly. Love the blue interior.

I really love it. If anyone has questions, please let me know. I have never played a MIC model of the Casino so I can't compare.

I love Epi Casinos TiffanyGuitar. The sunbursts on the Casino look so cool. I have a MIC Casino in Natural that I've upgraded pickups tuners, bridge. I'm sure this American one is amazing. Congrats!

Chickee · #3 08-29-2022, 12:38 PM

One of my dream guitars! An American made Casino❤️ How wonderful for you, TG! Enjoy it every day.
frank d.

Rogerblair · #4 08-29-2022, 07:22 PM

Beautiful guitar. Congratulations!!

Roger

marty bradbury · #5 08-30-2022, 08:22 AM

Sweet looking guitar! Enjoy!

Bluside · #6 08-30-2022, 09:16 AM

I have one of the '65 Elite Casinos. Still one of my favorite guitars.

Congrats and enjoy your new Casino.

rockabilly69 · #7 08-30-2022, 01:28 PM

Congrats on your new guitar! It looks like a beauty!!!

A few years ago, I owned a Gibson Custom Shop ES-330 which was frankly a great guitar! I sold it though to buy a stellar Gretsch 6120 '55VS which was better suited to what I was doing in my shows.

But, I think Gibson really nailed the feel of the vintage ES330s when they came out with that reissue, and I'm sure what they learned about that vintage construction was applied to the USA Casinos because to me the new USA Casino has a very similar feel to the ES330 reissue in the weight and balance, and also in the tone of the P90s.

I hope they are successful with this run because I may want one down the road a bit.

Here's the ES330 I was talking about...

BoneDigger · #8 08-30-2022, 01:42 PM

That's a real beauty! I only have the standard model (but with Lollar P90s). I can only imagine that the USA model is spectacular! I hope you enjoy it!

Chickee · #9 08-30-2022, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockabilly69

Congrats on your new guitar! It looks like a beauty!!!

Here's the ES330 I was talking about...

That’s some good lookin’ 330 you had there Rocky! Do you miss it now? And that white linen Vox, what’s that, a 30 watt top boost? Just perfect! Talk about Revolver and Rubber Soul!!!! Yeah baby!
fd

TiffanyGuitar · #10 08-30-2022, 08:42 PM

Kept switching back between the casino and 335 this evening. Love them both. The weight and balance of the casino is spectacular. The pickups are awesome. Clean they are sweet. With some crunch, instant bluesy Beatle land. My seventeen year old son commented “wow, it really does sound like the Beatles. Cool.”

It is an expensive guitar but it is really nice.

I was also playing on my old acoustic J30 and my L-00. It was a Gibson evening.

rockabilly69 · #11 08-30-2022, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chickee

That’s some good lookin’ 330 you had there Rocky! Do you miss it now? And that white linen Vox, what’s that, a 30 watt top boost? Just perfect! Talk about Revolver and Rubber Soul!!!! Yeah baby!
fd

I miss it, but I will eventually find a model like that (Epi Casino, Gibson ES330, Heritage H530). The amp I still have, and it's a handwired Vox AC15 with a Celestion Blue.

Glennwillow · #12 08-31-2022, 09:58 AM

Wow! What a great looking finish on your Casino! That is gorgeous!!!

I have thought long and hard about getting a Casino because of the P90 pickups. I don't have any guitars with P90s. And the Casino has become such a classic and it sure is a bargain in terms of cost!

Good for you!

- Glenn