Any Casino players out there?

[markophonic]

I've got a korean Casino, cherry red that I just love...what a great inexpensive guitar!

I used to have a 67 Gibson ES 330, sunburst w/bigsby...it was a great sounding playing guitar but i just couldn't get over the neck/body joint thing....i like the fretboard range on this casino better.

What a great guitar to play that boogie-woogie shufflin' stuff!!!

[banjowillie]

Hey, Mark. I just recently got myself a casino. Mine's cherry red, too. They are really nice guitars, aren't they? My only complaint is that my pickup switch crapped out on me very soon after I got it. I'm in the process of replacing the electronics with usa parts, but the switchcraft switch's threads aren't long enough to stick up out of the body. Anybody know where I can get a longer thread version?

Other than that I really like this guitar. I can't wait to get it reassembled so I can play it some more.

[Joe Bonner]

Got mine last fall. I am really enjoying it. The only thing I want to do is replace the pickups with a set of Kent Armstrongs. I can even live with the pots and switch (so far no problems).

Joe

[Dave Yeats]

I played a friend's '65 Casino the other day, and I loved it. Tell me more about the Korean models. Anything I should watch out for? I saw a used one recently in the shop for $535. What's the going rate on these? Are the pickups terrible, or will they work ok? Do any p-90s retrofit, or do they require a special chrome covered set (in other words, are the covers separate from the pickups)?

[Joe Bonner]

Hey Dave,

Check out EM Shorts at http://www.wichitaband.com/. I got mine new with a case, set up with my choice of strings, for about what that used one is going for.

As far as pickups go, from what I have read, the P-90 covers won't fit any old P-90 because of differences in the spacing of the openings for the pole pieces. Kent Armstrong's are made for the Korean Casinos. I have heard that Lindy Fralin can get the correct covers.

Hope this helps.

[Deaf Eddie]

To confirm the above post, I ordered a set of Casino chrome covers from WD Music, the sole Kent Armstrong distributors, and when the got here NEITHER one fit a real Gibson P90 - the bridge pole-piece spacing was too wide; the neck, too narrow. I filed out the holes and made 'em fit the Seymour Duncan Antiquities I had bought for the project - which DO match Gibson's pole piece spacing - and it's not really noticable on the guitar... :?

... and then, there's this:

An e-pal o' mine sez he eBay-ed in some K.A. premium pups and was dissapointed to find that they were MIK...:(

Is it too big a leap of logic to assume that the K.A. pups MIGHT be what Epi uses, stock?

I'd love to get an answer on that one! :roll:

[banjowillie]

I just bought a set of fralin p-90s for my casino, and unfortunately, they are not the same as the factory ones. The fralin neck and bridge are both the same size, but the factory pups have a much shorter neck pup, due to the base plate that the bobbin is mounted on being set much farther down in the body.

I called lindy and asked him about this, and he said that his pickups were sized to fit gibsons, and that the korean epis changed the size of their p-90s and also changed the pole piece spacing. Basically he told me that I should just go ahead and return them for refund, because they would be too much trouble to try and retrofit. He actually told me that he had an epi sorrento, and that he had the same problem with swapping pups. He said he just ended up rewinding the stock pups. Maybe I'll just have to have him rewind mine. :-(

Anybody else have success replacing their stock p-90s with an aftermarket brand?

[Dave Yeats]

Check out EM Shorts. I got mine new with a case, set up with my choice of strings, for about what that used one is going for.

Thanks for the tip, Joe.

And here's some eye candy for you Casino guys.

1966:

http://www.12fret.com/used/epiCasino1966.jpg

[tjalla]

I almost sold mine (twice!), a cherry red MIK with light flame visible through the finish... nice!

Its neck heavy when strapped on, but a good leather strap takes care of that, and the tones go from warm and jazzy, to jangly and to full out twangy on the bridge PU. Almost out-twangs my tele! A different twang tho, more girth and mids, but still cuts like a bucker can't... very nice. Totally surprised me, cause I'm more a Fender guy, never liked Gibbos. The full hollow body makes a big difference, IMHO to the response and makes it less compressed (the main reason I don't take to Gibsons w/buckers)

Thought I'd sell it off for financial reasons a couple times, but just jammed with it last Sunday, and am again reminded it really is a keeper. The PUs need rewinding, gonna send them to Jason Lollar sometime, as they are pretty microphonic and can lean towards the muddy side, but they are doing the job OK at the moment.

A great value for the money!

Cheers,
Trevor

[tjalla]

Posted this on the Gibson section earlier but since its relevant I thot I'd add it here too.

Collected my Starfire III-90 this morning and just got home from a blues jam session with it. Initial impressions - yes, it IS all that an Epi Casino is and more (had my fingers crossed, I bought it sight unseen). Too cool - clear and fat, but responsive and not at all compressed. That bridge pup kills (stock Duncan Antiquities!), cuts through with those raunchy mids that P90s are known for. Richer and overall more "classy" tone, vibe and construction compared to the Casino. Bigsby trem - I don't use trem much, but that may change now :wink:

I'd probably want a cleaner amp that the Rivera R30 I was plugged into, just to retain attack and clarity. My BF clone will be ideal. Will try this combo at the next jam...

Looks like the Fenders are staying at home for lil bit next couple weeks. 8)

Cheers,
Trevor

[Smiley]

...at the Dallas Guitar Show. Cherry Red. Being a long time Fender player, I am still getting used to the neck, but I really like its looks and sound. The quality is good, and it is a much more versitile guitar than I imagined.

Jeff

[thunderbroom]

Hi, new to the board.

I am in the market for a Casino and have read remarkable reviews on the elitist version. I played some of the less expensive Korean models and never fell in love with them. Anyone have any info on the elitist casinos?

Thanks for your help.

[KingPussBlues]

Wife bought me a new VSB Casino for our anniversary. It's fantastic! I pulled the pickguard and trimmed the nut edges a bit... that's all. It's the bomb!

The only issue I have is that the top of the fretboard that makes contact with the bottom of the nut was unevenly sawed --- it has no impact on the tuning, playability or tone. It's a minor cosmetic tick that shouldn't be there (just a little sloppy there Epiphone). No, it wasn't stamped used or 2d --- it's a first.

Having said that, I love the tone and playability of this guitar. That, is first class!


John :D

[archiestone]

2005 Sunburst MIK Casino here.
I just removed the pickguard and think it looks better, more classic somehow.
I love the light weight and the P90s.

[SMPTE]

Got a Casino here, with a nice Bigsby and Seymour Ducan Alnico Staple Repros ;)

[mistermullens]

Looks like this thread could use some life! Proud Casino owner here, and wally pointed me over here from the TDPRI. Looks like a pretty cool place! I have a VS Casino I bought last November and I've almost sold it twice! Can't believe I almost did that. Its a great guitar and a perfect companion to my Telecaster. Here's a little Casino porn for ya!

http://lh4.google.com/jonathangailey/RUThcWP6ABI/AAAAAAAAABE/caoDbKXECS0/s400/DSC02327.jpg

http://lh3.google.com/jonathangailey/RUThdKCeABI/AAAAAAAAABM/J_i8XHrggPo/s400/DSC02330.jpg

http://lh5.google.com/jonathangailey/RUThfKPsABI/AAAAAAAAABU/6z4KxmVhv34/s400/DSC02340.jpg

http://lh4.google.com/jonathangailey/RUTi36RgABI/AAAAAAAAABk/7jx_gOQq-b8/s400/DSC02328edit.jpg

[Michael Jordan]

My first "Good" guitar was a late 60's Kalamazoo cherry Casino. I was too young and stupid to apprreciate what I had back then and traded it for a 3 bolt strat that was basically crap (these are now collectors items but so is the Casino). The new ones seem to play and sound real nice. Does anybody have any comparitive opinions on these or the Riviera and Neck Vaelnsi models. I may be looking into one of these until I can afford a late 60's 335.

MJ

[musicalmartin]

Ist post from New Member .
Who would ever believe I could end up on a Gibson forum
mrmullens .its seems our paths cross yet again .the FDP and Tele forums are not enough .I am seriously contemplating a Sheraton .I love my Tele but the Strat is getting more and more redundant as I dont really play any rock and the tele has spoilt me tonewise wise .It has a fantastic clarity that the strat lacks but I do need a more bluesy and jazzy guitar that is available from a Gibson tone ,although the tele will play soft jazz very well and some Delta type blues but not the typical Gibson blues sound , your buying one has converted me even quicker so whatderyerthink?go for it ?

[musicalmartin]

oops .......meant to say Casino ,not Sheraton .Any idea of the weight of the average Casino .My Strat is fairly light whereas my Tele is quite heavy .I would like one of my guitars to be comfortable and light ish for standing playing.

[mistermullens]

Ah, yes! We meet again! My love for Strats turned into no love for Strats about a year ago. The Casino got temporarily put in the case when I rediscovered the Tele, but has emerged as, dare I say it, #1. Can't stop playing it, and I can't see myself parting with it. I agree about the blues and Gibson/Casino. The Tele sounds great for that, but I popped in Muddy's "King Bee" album, and was loving the match up. Very, very cool.

I say YES! Go for it! I bought mine new, but you might be able to find a great deal on a used one. Part of the reason I decided to keep mine was because they're going for about $450 US w/case. I paid $680 w/case new.

Every Casino I've ever played has been light. My Tele is a good weight, just over 7lbs, but my Casino is lighter.

[musicalmartin]

hi mistermullens
I am deviating towards a Crafter SA .nothing like a Casino except for being a semi acoustic .With a Kent Armstrong lipstick and LR Baggs underbridge plus onboad mixers it seems to cover many of the styles I attempt to play .My love affair with strats is withering (like my back).i should have had one when I was 16 (1962) and it would have certainly been easier to play with my small short fingers than the abominations I ended up with ,not a truss rod in sight ,even though old Hofners are suddenly classics. I will track down a Casino to play before I decide though .I do have a very odd mixture of playing styles.
As an aside I tried out a "Whitestar "335 copy in a shop .These are available in the UK on ebay for about 60 UK quids and as I live near the supplier I may well go for one as laugh .The one I played was really quite good .I gather they are made at the same factory as Ibanez though its not publicized much .It had a good neck and no fret buzz I could find and the neck was well playable.It sounded a bit tinny but the strings were very poor and very thin so I am sure just restringing it might kick it into gear .The pups are probably not wound by Seymour Duncan either but I am sure some GFS would improve it ,but maybe not ,who knows .I also played a Jazzbox that sounded much better,, again 60 quid on ebay ,nice neck and a good finish .makes me wonder just how much all these Chinese guitars actually cost .I think about 20 UKP including factory profit .its probabaly what Squiers actually cost Fender ...landed.Forgive conversational rambling .

[musicalmartin]

hi
I bought a Dot in the end .Its one of those limited edition versions with flame maple top ,cherry ,and epi Gibson designed pickups plus blocks instead of dots .Just bought it with little thought .I knew it was a nice guitar and it seemed I better snap it up as there do not seem any of these around in the UK .I havnt actyually found another yet .
i knew the action was too high but figured I could get it good and low sIt took me afew weeks of truss rod adjustment but is spot on now .Just a tad higher than my Strat which is so low it looks like the strings are glued to the frets .I fitted D addario flat wound 10's on it .I'm pleased with it .I get some fine Jazz tones through my Gdec junior and some good bluesey overdrive which is something I am only just getting into .Not sure about changing pickups as it seems alot of work and fiddly .Anyone else used these upgraded epi pickups found on a Dot ?.They are wax potted and enamel; wire alincos .I couldnt actually find any fault with the guitar despite looking very hard.
i often find that guitars settle in after a few weeks of use and small faults often sort themselves out or are so small I overlook them .I played a new Gibson 335 as well in the shop,had to dust it down first as no-one had played it for months . .A fine guitar but many faults such as poor finish on neck binding and nut .It was better set up than the dot but is the same now except the Gibson has a higher action .not sure about the sound as I didnt have a chance to play through a Gdec .I didnt find much difference p[laying clean through a Vox SS amp in the shop .

[J45]

For me the Casino is the sound I love to hear. There is just something about the Casino.
I love the look and the feel. I've been a Tele player for over 30 years but the Casino is definitely the tone I love best. I'm seriously contiplating putting a Bigsby on my Sunburst
just like this:
http://www.pbase.com/image/89668732.jpg

I'm a Casinoholic!

[g6120]

i have a epiphone casino eletist sunburst - close action , plays and sounds great part of my permanent stable here .

seen the bigsby version which i believe mccartney had they look cooool !

g6120

[Terry Sleeper]

The "neck-body" joint thing? If you mean the 19th-fret joints, then you're right! Must be structurally dodgy! But the pre-67 330s are a different thing altogether - beautifully balanced and structurally sound.