Epi Casino

rlw

I'm tempted by a used bargain - opinions please.  I think it's a very recent model but can't confirm.

I have a much modded Sheraton which is brilliant but I quickly sold an Epi Dot as it wasn't that great.  Keen not to make the same mistake again, hence the question.

Teyeplayer

Can’t comment on the recent ones though I had a mid/late 90s one back in the day. If I knew then what I know now I’d never have sold it and would have just upgraded the electrics and pickups. I intend in due course to do exactly this with a s/h modern one; I trust the modern Chinese build is it’s usual consistent standard -as good as Indonesia was, just cheaper labour.

Musicwolf

Mine’s from c2009, Chinese build.  It came with a Bigsby and I've since fitted a roller bridge in an attempt to improve tunning stability (although it's probably the nut which needs a bit of TLC).

The set up, when I got it, was pretty poor but it's turned into a fun instrument although it doesn't see as much action these days.  That said, I've just been using it on a track that I'm working on and it had just the right sound.

rlw

Teyeplayer said:

Can’t comment on the recent ones though I had a mid/late 90s one back in the day. If I knew then what I know now I’d never have sold it and would have just upgraded the electrics and pickups. I intend in due course to do exactly this with a s/h modern one; I trust the modern Chinese build is it’s usual consistent standard -as good as Indonesia was, just cheaper labour.

Mint condition, respected dealer, about £200 off new price.  As you say, a couple of changes and its possibly a very good, inexpensive guitar.

Teyeplayer

rlw said:

Teyeplayer said:

Can’t comment on the recent ones though I had a mid/late 90s one back in the day. If I knew then what I know now I’d never have sold it and would have just upgraded the electrics and pickups. I intend in due course to do exactly this with a s/h modern one; I trust the modern Chinese build is it’s usual consistent standard -as good as Indonesia was, just cheaper labour.

Mint condition, respected dealer, about £200 off new price.  As you say, a couple of changes and its possibly a very good, inexpensive guitar.

Then do it buddy, can’t be that great a risk.

Creed_Clicks

Surprised there aren’t more companies making an epi casino style at the same level of the basic Epi MIC.
ibanez has an interesting model a few years back but now discontinued.

Cranky

I have a Casino "inspired by" John Lennon version ca. 2005.  I like the way it plays a lot -- fast like a Gibson-style 24.75" scale.  I love how light-weight it is.  And I love the authentic Gibson p90s, they chime and growl like none other.  I play it loud near enough to the amp and haven't had any feedback problems.  The only thing I don't love about it is that the cutaway doesn't give as much upper fret access as I think it should.

Personally, though, I would not get a Casino unless it was an Elitist or "Inspired by" model, as these come with authentic made-in-USA Gibson p90s instead of the cheap Epiphone versions.  Given how difficult it can be to upgrade pickups in a hollow-body guitar, that would be my advice about the Casino.

Emiel

A friend of mine used to own a 'regular' Chinese Casino. It had the stock pickups with crazy high output. Really big and thick sounding. For the money, it's an absolute beast and just lovely to have in your arsenal because it is so different than a solid body guitar.

I bought the.. 'Inspired By' Casino soon after. It's a little better in pretty much every aspect, looks, playability, sound... but honestly, for me it wasn't worth paying twice as much as the Chinese. Which says more about the Chinese one than the Inspired By, really. It's simply a bargain.

I loved the 'Inspired By' Casino but in the end I had to let it go because of its big chunky neck. The Korean ones are supposed to be slinkier.

NelsonP

IBJL, 1961 50th anniversary and Gary clark Blak n blu are Chinese made but came with factory fitted gibson pickups, cts pots, switchcraft switch and jack and grover tuners.

All useful upgrades and worth looking for.  Used prices have crept up a bit on these but bargains can still be found. 

I bought a used Gary Clark Jr from a shop. It needed to have a high fret sorted out, but after that and a good setup it's a very nice guitar. The neck profile is a wide, flat D shape, so some might not like it. 

rlw

Bought it last night from Coda.  Looking forward to this as a bit of an experiment.  I think the combination of the hollow body and some aggressive P90s should be quite fun.

I upgraded my Sheraton by changing everything except the wood and it has been a great success in my view.  I might, or might not, go the same way with this.  We'll see but that won't happen for a few months, if at all.