Why did Gibson never make the Casino ?

impmann

TBH, the Epiphone Casino is a brilliant guitar - and it must be stressed that current connotations of cheapness are nothing to do with their pre-Gibson past as a high end maker of guitars. I don't understand the hatred for the headstock or the badge - in fact, the ES330 looks odd to me because it doesn't have either. 

And for the record... I've owned several Casinos (including a 1960s one) and they are highly variable - even between individual guitars from the same year. Example: I owned a *VILE* Gary Wossname Jnr Black n Blue one (wrong neck angle and a Bigsby that didn't keep tune) that sounded flat as a fart even though it had "Gibson USA" pickups. I also owned a battered Korean one that was *epic* even with the original pickups. An old chum has an original 1966 example and a modern Chinese one that he bought to retire the old guitar - it was too valuable for pub gigs and he says live it "sounds like a Casino"... he should know he's gigged that thing since the late 70s.

So don't believe all you read on forums about how certain years/places of manufacture etc have a huge difference - and the modern ones are very good (although they don't come pre-installed with bullshit mojo fairy dust, like a vintage one *always* does).

lustycourtier

impmann said:

And for the record... I've owned several Casinos (including a 1960s one) and they are highly variable - even between individual guitars from the same year. Example: I owned a *VILE* Gary Wossname Jnr Black n Blue one (wrong neck angle and a Bigsby that didn't keep tune) that sounded flat as a fart even though it had "Gibson USA" pickups.

Ah you've reminded me of the hands down, worst Casino I ever owned. The 'Inspired by John Lennon' natural one from about 10 years ago. It felt awful and unfinished, smelt like my old CDT classroom at school, and sounded nothing special, despite the Gibson P90s and CTS pots etc. If it had been the first casino Id ever owned, Id say I hated casinos.    

AlbertC

jonnyburgo said:

Barrie Cadogan plays a mean Es330

Watching Barrie Cadogan on Youtube is one of the main reasons I bought an ES330. 
It's the best the guitar I've ever owned...maybe even played