Raging GAS horn - ES-330

Jalapeno · June 2018

Feel the need for some (semi) hollow P90 goodness. Any views on Epi Casino versus ES-330 - seems to be some cork-sniffing opinions - anyone tried both ?

thegummy · June 2018

I don't doubt for a second that Gibson add extra for their brand name but if these 2 guitars are comparable then the percentage of the addition would be insane!

guitars4you · June 2018

If you are looking at an original then they are the same guitar built by the same team - The only guitar in the Epihone range that was a direct 'copy' of each other - Riviera etc had a similar idea but different features but a 330 and Casino are the same - For a few years the Epi had an elongated headstock

However because the Fab 4, Paul Weller and Keith Richards have a strong influence and all played a Casino, then a Casino will always be more sought after with a higher price tag then a Gibson 330 - Just about all other guitars and the Gibson is worth more

Once Gibson acquired the Epi company they decided to offer the Epi dealership to dealers who could not gain access to the Gibson line - As such, say 2 dealers in Dallas and one had Gibson the other could have Epi - As such the Gibson company made money from both ends

NelsonP · June 2018

I've got an Epi Blak n Blu Casino. It has Gibson pickups switchcraft hardware etc.
The P90s sound great and are not too noisy. Feedback is there, but generally quite controllable unless you are standing right in front of the amp with the volume / gain up high. I had to get the frets levelled but its now a surprisingly good instrument for not that much money. Neck is wide and flat, but that's how I like them.

This won't help your GAS much, but worth a read.....
https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/epiphone-gary-clark-jr-blak-blu-casino-630173

There are a few others that come with the Gibson pickups -IBJL, 61 reissue etc.
They there is the elitists - Jap built rather than China, but possibly a good compromise?
I've not played a 330 but cant imagine it is 4-5 times better.

Fishboy7 · June 2018

330 is fully hollow right?

I had the short neck, humbucker, bigsby one for a bit. Lovely guitar but I think the long neck p90 is the one you want

guitars4you · June 2018

Fishboy7 said:

330 is fully hollow right?

I had the short neck, humbucker, bigsby one for a bit. Lovely guitar but I think the long neck p90 is the one you want

yes full hollow on a 330/Casino - no centre block like a 335

SteveRobinson · June 2018

I've owned both the Epiphone (Peerless built) Casino and reissue Gibson ES-330.

The Epiphone is more heavily built and has a "tighter" sound whereas the ES-330 is lighter and more airy. The Epiphone is less prone to feed back but the Gibson (arguably I suppose) sounds better.

stickyfiddle · June 2018

Absolutely brilliant guitars. I almost bought a vintage one last month - if it had already had the re-fret that it needed I probably would have.

I may yet buy a new one, the VOS ones in particular look brilliant, and thee are some good prices about at the minute

Hattigol · June 2018

I was fancying one but my 345 feeds back enough as it is. With a 330 or a Casino, I imagine you can't even take your hands off the strings for a second at audible volumes. Unless you do what Billy Duffy does with his Gretsch and stuff the guitar with a towel?

You're right though - some very tempting deals at the moment on them...

Strangefan · June 2018

I had a Cs 330 and it was one of the best guitars I ever owned big regerts selling that one..... But for some reason at the time I was told family had to come first before guitars......

Jalapeno · June 2018

No, sadly not an original on the horizon.

Thanks all for the comments.

Just need to see if "rounded C" is thin enough for my weak girly hands !

NelsonP · June 2018

Interesting comparison of 330 vs Casino here...

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/132941/sorted-gibson-es-330-or-epiphone-casino-usa#latest

Gerz6558 · June 2018

I started with a peerless MIK casino and I liked it so much I got a 67 Gibson es330. Goes without saying the es330 was nicer but how much is subjective, the epiphone held its own and had it's own thing going on.

Moved the es330 on in the end, feedback was annoying me.

SteveRobinson · June 2018

Ironically you'd have got less feedback with the Casino.

peteri · June 2018

I bought a 67 330 last month - just amazing, very versatile, easy to play and the bridge P90 does a very nice AC/DC which I didn’t expect

it will feedback, but it’s controllable - quickly moved into my don’t sell pile

Schnozz · June 2018

I reckon these would be awesome, if only they were a bit cheaper and had a roller bridge...

http://images.peachguitars.com/1/1523619161_04.jpg

Basher · June 2018

SteveRobinson said:

Ironically you'd have got less feedback with the Casino.

I've read that Casinos can have a slightly heavier build than their premium quality American cousins (as in your post above). This might be one explanation for the Casino being less prone to feed back.

However, my Peerless Casino has a bridge-support/sound-post (looks like a 1.5cm, roughly square section, piece of wood joining the top and back of the guitar in the centre of the bridge area).

I'm not sure if these are installed in all Casinos but could this simple addition explain the (a) better feedback resistance and (b) slightly less "resonant" overall tone, compared to the ES-330?

Further to this, could someone add a similar support post to a 330 if they're having trouble with feedback?
I've no idea if it's possible but it seems to me that one could be gently put in via the bridge pickup hole and that, if it was precisely made, it would not need to be glued, making it a non-permanent mod.

Just interested in your, or anyone's, thoughts or experiences.

Chalky · June 2018

Got a Gibson ES330 reissue, superb guitar and plays beautifully acoustically as well as plugged in. The Casinos/Casino lookalikes I've tried and owned don't get close, even with new pickups and wiring.

As someone said above, the 330 is airy and the Casino aint, its tighter and a bit dead. The 330L aint anywhere near as good as the 330 reissue, which is why the 330Ls could be bought new for less than £1500 when the 330 reissues were about a £1000 more.

KKJale · June 2018

Basher said:

Further to this, could someone add a similar support post to a 330 if they're having trouble with feedback?

I did this, many years ago, to my 330. It helped (a little) with feedback and didn't seem to change anything for the worse so it's stayed in ever since.

I used a 1/2" dowel cut at a very slight angle at each end to match top and back, inserted it through bridge pickup hole and wedged it lightly in place... I think that meant pulling it back towards the neck.

It's a worthwhile 330/Casino mod to try, second only IMO to shimming up the bridge pickup to help with volume balance, and as you say it's easily reversible.

Basher · June 2018

KKJale said:

Basher said:

Further to this, could someone add a similar support post to a 330 if they're having trouble with feedback?

I did this, many years ago, to my 330. It helped (a little) with feedback and didn't seem to change anything for the worse so it's stayed in ever since.

I used a 1/2" dowel cut at a very slight angle at each end to match top and back, inserted it through bridge pickup hole and wedged it lightly in place... I think that meant pulling it back towards the neck.

It's a worthwhile 330/Casino mod to try, second only IMO to shimming up the bridge pickup to help with volume balance, and as you say it's easily reversible.

Interesting. I guess the "It helped (a little) with feedback" comment explains why more people don't try it - presumably it's not all that effective.

I've always been surprised that the 330/Casino is strong enough to support a fixed bridge when most fully hollow guitars use a floating wooden base. That was one of the things I didn't like about my Gretsch Jet. I guess if hollow guitar tops are strong enough to support bridge posts (presumably with some bracing/struts where the posts are) then the floating bridge is for tradition and flexibility, allowing the maximum range of string gauges.

Winny_Pooh · June 2018

FWIW the Peerless Casino I used to own had a thin top and a "soundpost"
The long neck 330 I now have has a thicker top, no soundpost and the spruce "braces thingy" support at the tail end.

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Raging GAS horn - ES-330

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