Epiphone casino.... Thoughts?

GoldenEraGuitars

Hey guys, I was hoping for some words of wisdom on this...

Having owned a plethora of epi's in the past I have no doubt they were all mainly Korean in origin. I have been feeling a strong urge to return to the brand that started my love of guitars in general (massive oasis, weller, Brit rock fan). But the "made in China" stickers on the new Casinos leaves me... Well, hollow (pardon the pun).

So, after a little research I was chuffed to see that Epiphone make the Casino Elitist which would be perfect for me it would appear. But do any of you guys have first hand experience with these £1500 beasts?

koss59

I had one and it was extremely well made. The pickups squealed though and the neck was very skinny.

Richardj

I thought that Epiphone had their own factory in China. @erky32 has a 'regular' one although I'm not sure where it was made. I've played it and couldn't find anything to fault on it.  Sounds and feels really good.

If you are looking at fifteen hundred quid odd a second hand Gibson cannot be massively (relative term) more than that.

Also, sadly when people see Epiphone they see budget Chinese Gibson sub brand before quality Japanese made instrument.

57Deluxe

...is a gamble to be honest...

GoldenEraGuitars

I never saw Epiphone as a Gibson budget brand and this was simply because I first saw Noel Gallagher with one in 95 and thought "what a beautiful guitar!". I never had an issue with them until I saw "made in China" which brings me to that headstock snobbery place. That's quite a severe price difference though... £300-350 buys a used Korean model which goes up to £1600 for a new jap model. Not really sure what to do..

stickyfiddle

Go and play some of the new MIC ones. They're not bad at all, and really rather good with a new set of pickups (or rewind of the existing ones). 

The Elitists are absolutely brilliant, but a little expensive considering you can get a used Gibson ES-330 for similar money with a nitro finish (which for some, including me, is a good thing)

Adam_MD

You can find an elitist casino for approx £950. I also wouldn't be too concerned with Korea vs China both countries are capable of turning out really good and really bad guitars. Just go and try some there are tons of second hand casinos about.

jimbobsugg

Also check out the Gary Clark Jr Casino - American pickups and wiring, and if I remember quickly Andertons had them sub £500 at the moment. It's identical to what he uses on stage, and seeing as he played it at the Crossroads Festival, if it's good enough for him in front of 50,000 people....

GoldenEraGuitars

My location (Northern Ireland) means that only Dawson's in Belfast stock the Chinese ones. I had a 339 p90 which was epic for the £220 I paid for it but there seems to be something holding me back on the Chinese ones. I'm not totally sure what but I know that playing one may change my thoughts on it. It's a pity that I can't get an elitist in my hands around these parts.

Adam_MD

@lonestar you could check out this one listed as Co Antrim

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/epiphone-elitist-1965-casino/1154924359

xSkarloey

Fully understand where you're coming from but the MiC Casino I tried was a very capable and good sounding instrument.

The RRP new on them is on the pricey side IMO but used in VGC or as new we're talking true vfm.

Why not try one and see what you think.

Phil_aka_Pip

@lonestar I suggest you stop worrying about where the instrument is made and concentrate on the does it handle well/ deliver the right sounds questions. I keep going on about my chinese Tokai ES-335-alike but it's excellent at 10% of the price of a Gibbo. And yes I do have a Gibbo as well.

thermionic

I owned a couple of Korean Epi semis and they were very different in terms of build quality, fretwork, electronics, weight,  and acoustic sound. Both were from the Samick factory, but a few years apart. So I don't buy into the "Korean is better" myth. My Chinese Epi Les Paul is much better than the poorer of the two Korean ones I had.

Iamnobody

They made some 61 reissue things in 2011. Made in China but USA pickups and decent quality switches/wiring.

You might be able to find one of those as some middle ground.

I had one a while back it was ok...

I wasn't a fan of the neck joint it restricted upper fret access.

Phil_aka_Pip

Iamnobody said:

I wasn't a fan of the neck joint it restricted upper fret access.

Forgive me if I'm being ignorant, but isn't that a characteristic of the ES-330 design?

Chalky

Phil_aka_Pip;971154" said:

Iamnobody said:
ý
I wasn't a fan of the neck joint it restricted upper fret access.





Forgive me if I'm being ignorant, but isn't that a characteristic of the ES-330 design?

There are two different 330s - one joins at the 19th fret and one joins at the 16th fret? Something like that.

Phil_aka_Pip

Chalky said:

Phil_aka_Pip;971154" said:

Iamnobody said:
ý
I wasn't a fan of the neck joint it restricted upper fret access.





Forgive me if I'm being ignorant, but isn't that a characteristic of the ES-330 design?

There are two different 330s - one joins at the 19th fret and one joins at the 16th fret? Something like that.

I didn't know there were two designs, does anyone have the url of further information?

GuitarMonkey

ES-330

ES-330L

Of course the scale lengths are the same, the neck is just set further forward on the 330L

Iamnobody

EDIT: It seems all current Casinos have a 16th fret neck joint.

Phil the website spec usually gives this information.

As far as 330's go the 330L has the same neck joint position as a 335 at the 19th.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_ES-330

ICBM

So is the ES-330L fully hollow like a 330, or semi-solid like a 335 but with P90s?

Just curious - I don't get on with the long-neck models anyway, they feel awkward to me although I think they look nicer.

I think James Bay may have been using a 330L on Graham Norton's show a few weeks back - I assumed it was a special 335 with P90s. It sounded great whichever it was.

Iamnobody

ICBM;971207" said:

So is the ES-330L fully hollow like a 330, or semi-solid like a 335 but with P90s?

Just curious - I don't get on with the long-neck models anyway, they feel awkward to me although I think they look nicer.

I think James Bay may have been using a 330L on Graham Norton's show a few weeks back - I assumed it was a special 335 with P90s. It sounded great whichever it was.

Hollow - which makes sense as it wouldn't really be a 330 derivative if it wasn't a hollow body.

Any colour you like as long as it's black...

http://www.peachguitars.com/guitars/electric-guitars/gibson-memphis-es-330l-humbucker.htm?gclid=Cj0KEQiA6IC2BRDcjPrjm_istoUBEiQASrLz1qKlq7ZzRS7zkhntI_-kXdGVtgrx9XX7qjEBPaENaJEaAraH8P8HAQ