Conparison of Epi Sheraton, Gibson ES-335, and Epi Casino

[Glennwillow]

For those who haven't seen this video comparison between the Epiphone Sheraton and the Gibson ES335, this may be interesting:



He is using an ES-345 in the video but he has the vari-control set so that it sounds like an ES-335. What I hear in this video matches my own perceptions. The Sheraton is a little darker and does not have the same treble components as the 335. But each sound is very usable for a lot of different kinds of music. As a longtime ES-335 owner, I was impressed with how good the Sheraton sounded.

This same player has a good video on the Epiphone Casino, which uses P90 pickups, giving this guitar a unique sound. I found myself really attracted to the sound of the Casino.



- Glenn

[Chickee]

The guy put together a couple of nice videos about those epi and gibson semi hollows. I can’t get over the paint color on his 345 though! I swear it looks like Sonic Blue. Just perfect.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Beatle-esque Casino sound. I have much to much history connected with the sound, and the visual of that guitar. And 335’s are an historic rock machine as stand alone icons, especially in red. Sheratons’ were always the step sister to me, never carving out their own identity.

1995 Samack/ValleyArts Charlie Christian

My beater semi-hollow. I just love it!

[Glennwillow]

Hi Frank,

Jack Fossett, the guy who did the videos -- and he has a whole slew of good videos on electric tones, guitars, and amps -- notes at the end the comparison below between the Sheraton and the Casino that he prefers the Casino because of its unique tone. I have to agree with him.



Hope you're enjoying the holidays Frank!

- Glenn

[DukeX]

Thanks, Glenn, those were great videos!

[bsman]

I've been gassing for a Heritage H-530, which is essentially an up-market version of a Casino:

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by bsman

I've been gassing for a Heritage H-530, which is essentially an up-market version of a Casino:

Oh wow!

What a lovely guitar! Up market is right! Wouldn't that be a great guitar to own!!??

I don't have a guitar with P90s on it. But I have so many great guitars, I can't imagine that I will be able to explain to my wife why I should have another electric guitar just because it has P90 pickups!

It's almost laughable!

- Glenn

[Don W]

If you can find an Epiphone "elitist" 1965 reissue Casino...they are unsurpassed. Made in Japan...tremendous workmanship then sent to the U.S. for Gibson P90's and hardware.

[raysachs]

The Casino is fundamentally different in that it’s a full hollow body - hence the trapeze tailpiece. There’s no solid block running down the center like there is in the ES-335 or Sheraton. And no place solid to support a tailpiece, so they used a trapeze. And yeah, P90s. I’m more of an electric player than acoustic - I primarily play a strat, but I also have an SG with P90s. Every time I’ve been without a guitar with P90s, I end up buying another. I personally like them more in solid bodies than semi-hollow or hollow, but I love them regardless. Such a sweet growl...

-Ray

[Bluside]

Originally Posted by Don W

If you can find an Epiphone "elitist" 1965 reissue Casino...they are unsurpassed. Made in Japan...tremendous workmanship then sent to the U.S. for Gibson P90's and hardware.

I have one of these. Great guitar.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by Don W

If you can find an Epiphone "elitist" 1965 reissue Casino...they are unsurpassed. Made in Japan...tremendous workmanship then sent to the U.S. for Gibson P90's and hardware.

Yes, I have read about these guitars! Thanks for the suggestion!

- Glenn

[ataylor]

Speaking of Epiphone Sheratons, one of my dream guitars when I was starting out two decades ago was this one:



Epiphone did a limited run of these five or six years ago and I was (and still am) tempted to track one down, but I already have a couple electric guitars I don't use enough...

Staying with the theme, one of them is this one — photo from the day I brought it home 11 years ago:



It's what they called the "Inspired by John Lennon" 1965 reissue Casino. Gibson/Epiphone had done a high-end, limited run of USA-made Lennon Casinos, and then they did another limited run of those guitars built to similar specs but in their factory in China. I'd just graduated college mid-recession, so the latter was as much as I could spring for. I hope someday they do another Beatles-related edition now that I've got a little bit more flexibility in spending money!

Gibson has done some cool things with their Epiphone ES-style guitars though:

First of all, they've refreshed their 335-style "Dot" guitar — it now has the larger, old-style Epiphone headstock and a proper-looking 335-style pickguard. I believe they've updated the pickups as well. Reviews I've seen on this one are good.

They've also started making a USA version of the Casino, in the sunburst we all associate with the Beatles, but also in the earlier "Royal Tan" finish. They've used the earlier headstock on this one as well, which I believe is what's on Paul's Casino, which he bought before John and George got theirs.

Aaaaand, they've started making the Casino in a stripped-back "worn" matte finish, which is kinda cool in a John-Lennon-White-Album-era kind of way. I have to think these would be pretty nice guitars at the price point they're asking. The matte black is kinda cool, reminds me of the Waterloo or current 17-series Martins.

[Bob Womack]

Bob

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by ataylor

...Staying with the theme, one of them is this one — photo from the day I brought it home 11 years ago:



It's what they called the "Inspired by John Lennon" 1965 reissue Casino. ...

That's a lovely sunburst on your Casino, Bob! As I looked through Epi Casinos online, that's the finish I tended to gravitate to, also. Man, I just love that finish!

Good for you!
- Glenn

[jim1960]

The new crop of Epiphones has peaked my interest also. I've had a Riviera in my GC cart for about two months. Earlier tonight I finally pulled the trigger on it. This video is the one that sold me on it. It's on backorder so I probably won't be seeing it anytime soon.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by jim1960

The new crop of Epiphones has peaked my interest also. I've had a Riviera in my GC cart for about two months. Earlier tonight I finally pulled the trigger on it. This video is the one that sold me on it. It's on backorder so I probably won't be seeing it anytime soon.

Hi Jim,

Well, that will be fun to look forward to! I have really been impressed with how much we can get from a relatively inexpensive Epiphone these days! The Riviera is a very nice guitar!

Did you order the sunburst finish or the burgundy finish? Both look really good!

And those Anderton videos are really informative! I find them very entertaining, as well. I've learned a lot by watching those guys.

- Glenn