Epiphone Casino

Wolfetone

Anyone got one/had one?

My daughter is yearning to be John Lennon and I need to know the issues.

https://i.imgur.com/IRcArEQ.jpg

impmann

Issues... stock pickups tend to be either a bit crappy or very crappy. They tend to be massively too hot to suit the guitar.  The China/Korea thing can bother some - I've played guitars from both factories and realistically, if you are going to swap out the electronics and pickups there isn't *that* much in it. Oh and top frets access is poor.

Otherwise - they are fab.

freakboy1610

I have a 1986 Casino that has spent much of the last 25 years in it's case under the bed. I had issues with unwanted noises almost from the off. Started with the rattly tune o matic bridge which I eventually replaced with a wire free Gotoh job but then I was getting all sorts of squeals and rattles of indeterminate origin coming from inside. Then there was the feedback when trying to gig with it at high volume. Finally put it away when a crack appeared in the finish behind the neck where it meets the headstock. It looks nice but thats about it. Mine is probably just a dud and the John Lennon one looks nice I guess.

ICBM

They feed back terribly/brilliantly (depending on your point of view) at band volume due to the fully hollow body.

The stock pickups are crap, and not that easy to change if you want to because the polepiece spacings are non-standard for P90s, so you will either have to replace the covers as well or get the original bobbins rewound and fitted with new magnets.

Other than than, fab as impmann said.

duotone

Have wanted one for years (Big Beatles fan) but have never got around to trying one.

Is your daughter playing the Coupe? (smaller body & cheaper version)

SimpleSimon

Save yourself loads of heartache and get her a nice used PRS S2 Starla. It does the casino very well along with Gretsch and Tele type twang tones. Excellent for reproducing most 60's guitar tones - even dirty ones. It will stay in tune and intonate properly too. EDIT: this from someone who has owned an original '67 Casino, several JL RI Casinos, several Elitist and several MIK ones. If shes really stuck on the Casino then save up for the Elitist, should get one used for around a grand.

impmann

Oh... word to the wise.... Bigsby on one of these is a whole world of pain (the factory ones are licenced crap). I spent ages sorting mine out and realistically, its just better without one.

Feedback... yes, it will. But it depends on what you're playing with it - clean(ish) 60s or rootsy stuff and they are pretty good. I never had any real issues but then I'm not into da crushing gainz. Its not a great djent guitar.

steer

Good enough for Gary Clarke Jr. 

Wolfetone

duotone said:

Is your daughter playing the Coupe? (smaller body & cheaper version)

Not entirely sure. The price was approximately £550 at Dawsons. 

Winny_Pooh

If you have to buy one then get a Peerless Songbird and change the pickups. More consistent and nicer than the budget Epis and has a slim easy to play neck. I used one quite happily before I bought my ES-330.

duotone

Wolfetone said:

duotone said:

Is your daughter playing the Coupe? (smaller body & cheaper version)

Not entirely sure. The price was approximately £550 at Dawsons. 

Must be the full size one then as the coupe is listed at £419

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/epiphone-casino-natural

https://www.dawsons.co.uk/epiphone-casino-coupe-electric-guitar-natural

57Deluxe

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/261851278975?chn=ps&adgroupid=45132333541&rlsatarget=pla-380400261029&abcId=1129946&adtype=pla&merchantid=101758728&poi=&googleloc=1006501&device=c&campaignid=974966814&crdt=0

https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/hscAAOSwpDdVLRsU/s-l640.jpg

stickyfiddle

What @impmann and @ICBM said.

I've had a couple, and put B7 bigsbys on both. I had no issues with the bigs by install. One was much improved with it, one was not quite so good after, so bear that in mind if thinking about it.

stimpsonslostson

Could you not convince her to play a rickenbacker? 
http://www.myrareguitars.com/guitar-pictures/1958-rickenbacker-325-capri-guitar-john-lennon-beatles.jpg

Wolfetone

57Deluxe said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/261851278975?chn=ps&adgroupid=45132333541&rlsatarget=pla-380400261029&abcId=1129946&adtype=pla&merchantid=101758728&poi=&googleloc=1006501&device=c&campaignid=974966814&crdt=0

https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/hscAAOSwpDdVLRsU/s-l640.jpg

I wonder if I buy these first, she may be content and forget about the guitar altogether (Now)

Wolfetone

Wolfetone said:

57Deluxe said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/261851278975?chn=ps&adgroupid=45132333541&rlsatarget=pla-380400261029&abcId=1129946&adtype=pla&merchantid=101758728&poi=&googleloc=1006501&device=c&campaignid=974966814&crdt=0

https://ssli.ebayimg.com/images/g/hscAAOSwpDdVLRsU/s-l640.jpg

I wonder if I buy these first, she may be content and forget about the guitar altogether (Now)

Ordered....£1.69 and 99p P+P. Now let's put her off any hope of a Casino.

Kylef

I’ve had both a Chinese version and the Lennon Reissue. The Lennon was a step above with the Gibson electronics and matt finish. They seem to be going for a fair bit of money though. 

Depending what your daughter plans to do with it (house use/gigging), I think she’ll get on great with one of the new ones from Dawson’s. 

GuyR

My brother in law has one of these. from 1963 and in lovely condition. He doesn't play guitar and was given it. I have a mint new old stock Selmer strap from the 1960s, identical to John Lennon's, which came from a house clearance. I have not yet been able to persuade him that he ought to give me his Epiphone to go with my strap. One day....

Wolfetone

Kylef said:

Depending what your daughter plans to do with it (house use/gigging), I think she’ll get on great with one of the new ones from Dawson’s. 

The one I played at Dawsons was pretty good and after a proper set up would be excellent I'd say. She'll be playing in the house through a Pandora or somesuch personal amplification.

Phil_aka_Pip

Does she go for populist anti-capitalist politics and japanese wimmin?

Wolfetone

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Does she go for populist anti-capitalist politics and japanese wimmin?

She's bizarrely into Japanese culture such as Manga so she's nearly there.