Fab or Dead Grotty? | 2023 Epiphone Casino Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 7 бер 2024
- A review of the newest version of the Casino, a guitar I've always liked but it's been difficult to get a good one.
The previous MIK and MIC Casinos have been pretty meh.
The Inspired by Lennons have a great neck profile and better pickups but have gone way up in price.
The Elitists tend to have crazy narrow nut widths.
The John Lennon '65 and Revolution models are fantastic but cost more than Gibson ES-330s.
So how does the newest version stack up?
Note that I am in a unique position as any work most guitars need I can do myself, so what's cost effective for me may not be for you. And I tend to buy electric guitars for the wood, knowing I can change other things if and as needed.
I lost my rose-tinted glasses a long time ago. Along with those expensive Ray Bans...
The metric Nashville to ABR-1 conversion posts:
www.philadelphialuthiertools....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
These are things I get asked about a lot :
Amp Tech Gear Used :
Hakko FX-951 soldering station
Weller SPG 80L soldering iron (chassis work)
Rigol DS1054Z digital oscilloscope
Thsinde 18B+ digital multimeters
Kester 60/40 solder
Techspray #4 No-Clean Desoldering Braid
Below are things that make this channel possible that people don’t usually think about. If any of these companies want to send me new and wonderful toys, I’m open to that. I can’t take free stuff when it comes to the amps I review, etc, but for the stuff below, bribe away!
Microphones/Audio Equipment :
Guitar Amps : Royer R-10 Hot Rod and/or Shure SM57 (noted in videos)
Voiceover Bench : sE Audio sE8 (small diaphragm condenser)
Voiceover Streaming : Shure SM57 with shockmount and windscreen
Voiceover Mic Arms : Elgato Wave Mic arms
Guitar Mic Stand : Gator Frameworks short weighted base stand with boom
Mic Cables and Guitar Cables : Mogami/Neutrik
Mic pre : MOTU M2
DAW : Logic Pro X on MacBook Pro 16 running Sonoma 14
Plugins : No effects other than level matching/normalization unless a recording
specifically has reverb etc added in post (rare, various Waves plugins)
Monitors : Yamaha HS7s
Monitor Stands : Gator Frameworks Desktop Clamp-On Stands
Monitor Isolation Mounts : IsoAcoustics Iso-Puck Minis
Headphones : Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (main)
Headphones : Sony MDR-7506 (alternate)
Video Equipment :
Camera : Sony ZVE-10 with SmallRig Cage (main)
Lens : Sigma f2.8 18-50mm (main)
Lens : Sony ZVE10 kit lens (rarely used)
B Camera : Apple iPhone 13 Pro (rarely used)
Tripod : SmallRig 71” with SmallRig Fluid Video Head
Streaming Mount : Elgato Master Mount S with SmallRig Ballhead
Bench Light : SmallRig RC 120D
Bench Light Diffusor : SmallRig Lantern Softbox
Bench C-Stands (light and overhead camera) : Neewer Pro SS Heavy Duty
Streaming Light : SmallRig RC 120B
Streaming Diffusor : SmallRig Parabolic Softbox
Streaming Light Mount : SmallRig 148CM Wall Mount Boom with Triangle Base
Various Other Lights : Neewer LED Panels with Neewer Softboxes
Video Software :
Davinci Resolve 18
Paul Leeming LUTs
Adobe Illustrator 28
Adobe Photoshop 25
Ecamm Live (streaming software)
Something that might not clear to viewers - I had to set the amp very bright with much less low end to make the Casino sound ok. So then the 335 and Tele sound really bright with the same settings.
I could have set the amp normally and the 335 and Tele would sound great (as they do) and the Casino would sound like mud.
I appreciate the Monty Python nod in the opening, btw.
If a 335 sounds bright compared to a p90 guitar, I'd agree - swap those pickups. I've had 3 guitars with Fralin p90s and if you gain your amp up and roll the guitar volume back halfway you can get some Tele-esque spank and sparkle out of them, not to mention they're a calibrated set with a slightly hotter bridge so they balance better.
This has also been my experience with playing my casino next to my Tele and other guitars. And I’m playing through a Super Reverb Tonemaster.
With 50’s wiring in mine, I find running the amp louder, bass down to 2, mids pushed and treating 7 on the guitar volume like it’s 10 helps to reduce the muddy low end and sound passably good.
@@jonbeatlesfan That's not far off from my settings although a totally different amp. Agree completely.
I bought a Revstar RSS20 last week, partly based on your review of the RSS02T. The fretwork is fantastic and the fit/finish is flawless. It was also on special at a crazy price which I couldn't pass up.
I have the Pots, Caps and Resistors on order and will be doing the full wiring changes as you did (from your PDF).
Thank you for taking the time to post it.
I use a Casino, a 335 and a tele and what I recommend to everyone is to get a simple GE7 ep box and adjust it to taste...you can get a lot of range out of a Casino that way. The Casino is almost an acoustic electric at times and great unplugged...it's not great for bending notes but great for fingerstyle or bossa stuff. The 335 and tele would be my gigging choices but in the studio, there's a place for the Casino in my view. You can shim the stock pickups to brighten them up as well. EQ sort of acts like a shim. I put a bone nut on mine and it's a guitar I'll always keep around. If my studio was on fire, I'd walk out with my tele and 335 though in the end.
Great video. I was looking at that Casino and decided on keeping my Gretsch. Thanks for saving me some money! Definitely pretty though. Have a good weekend Lyle
I have a 2015 Epiphone casino, i put lollar 50's p90s in it. Back when i bought it in 2015 it came with rosewood neck, now it has indian laurel which is nice but not historically accurate, still a great value guitar.. It has the more classic black neck and I love it. I use it on my channel in unconventional ways and some beatles covers. Thanks for sharing.
Great info and demo, Lyle!
I saw that PL now stocks metric sized CTS pots. Saves from having to ream the pot holes, original knobs will still fit as well. Still gotta ream the switch and jack holes I’m sure. Gonna grab some for my old Ibanez at some point. Thank you for your work!
For a second i tought i was in the wrong channel, Wonderful review that gives you a good grasp on what you're getting. Thanks !
I like the burl on the fingerboard, I always like when an instrument has natural character like that.
Philadelphia Luthier Supply is great, I've always been really happy with the parts I've gotten from them.
same here
Agree 👍
Thank you for an honest review, hard to find.
Thank you for the break down of what to expect out of the box.
A friend and I both have the same issue with the pickup selector cutting out. Good to see its not just us. Going to get it re-soldered asap.
Aloha Lyle! Thanks for the info
I appreciate the talking! If I want to listen to music there’s a lot better than UA-cam guitar review videos!
That said, I don’t know if I can watch any more of your videos on something that I want because you always change my mind! 😂
Great video. Thanks, I appreciate the honesty. And I agree in your comments that the Inspired By JL is a good guitar. I lucked into a Revolution IBJL with the case a while back for the price of a used MIC without a case. And fortunately I was able to compare it with a new MIC and an Elitist. For my personal preference the IBJL won hands down and at the price I got it for it was a nobrainer.
Thanks again for all your generosity over the years. Still rockin' my modded Marshall C5 head with a 2061 cab.
This review courtesy of A. Llama presented by DüLlama editing briefly reviewed by Al Paca
Thank you very enlightening review, might get a revstar.
Great video! I had the same issues with the nut and bridge on my 21 Epiphone Joe Bonamassa Lazarus Les Paul. I replaced my bridge and stop bar with Gotoh pieces. I never have liked the bridges on the Epiphone.
Very helpful thank you
Me too, (loved 'em). One of the best guitars ever conceived. What I want, is three-ply top and back. Five-ply limits the couch-acoustic sounds.
Good review!
Thanks for the great tour of your Casino. I love mine. And at 6lbs this 76 year old is not looking for another.
What a good review, Lyle. I've always had a soft spot for true hollow guitars. For me its my Gretsch G5422 (with TV Jones Filtertrons) and my Epiphone Sorrento (with USA minis). I am sure Lindy's pickups will make you fall in love with your Casino.
Always grab my Casino when Beatles, early Stones...hell...ANY early British Invasion stuff is going through my head and needs to be played😁👍
Does it right and is fun to play😉👍
Congratulations Lyle😎👍👍
Once I had Epi CAsiono GAry Clark Model (p90 Gibson pickups). While connected to Vox Ac15 C1 it gave me one of the best sounds I heard on a guitar live. Now I have 2017 or 2018 model. Frets polished, tuners and bridge changed to Gotoh. Changed for Hathor pickups, Alpha pots and orange drop capacitors. Amazing guitar, not only for the mone. Sure, I would like to have vintage Casiono or Gibson es330 for the fell. But soundwise - these are wonderful guitars with their own, characteristic sound.
I've got a 2020 Casino. Did similar up-grades - premium wiring harness. Then this past summer I got a set of Lollars. Wow! I too prefer the shinny covers but Lollar does offers to build their pick-ups into the stock covers for, if memory servers, a $20 charge per p/u. It was less than two weeks from the day I sent them my pickups to receiving the new ones - CT to WA and back again. Enjoy that guitar!
Awesome Burst on that! I got the Casino worn that came with ABR1 style posts from the factory so I replaced the bridge with a tone pros. Also for some reason the casino worn pickups are lower output (8.5k). Either way I recommend a B7 it increased the Bass response and sustain on mine.
It's a clean old guitar, isn't it?
Why yes, very clean!
My recommendations to get a better sound out of the stock Epiphone p90s -- convert tone pots to no-load, swap the volume pots to 1meg, and add a simple treble bleed. Much cheaper than swapping them out for Lolar. Opens up the top end just enough, and the simple treble bleed can be used to take some of the low mud down.
Recently got the USA version in Royal Tan. Fitted it with 50's wind Lollars. Amazing guitar!
Really cool video. I do wonder what it would cost for a customer to have that done with your labor costs and parts
I like your Style Lyle !
Wow, for all the disclaimers, this was the finest guitar review I’ve ever seen! Thanks. 🎉🎉🎉
Try his one on the Rickenbacker 12 string vintage v modern sound based on changing the. 0047 capacitor. Brilliant! But this was also enlightening!
Stellar vid!!!
Great video! Did you mention which sort of Telecaster you're playing? I ask because I like how it sounds.
Thanks. More here: Tele Pickup Comparisons | Lollar | Murray | Fender | Mojotone
ua-cam.com/video/lSdBRkl9lvQ/v-deo.html
I was just looking at casinos last night! I’ve been looking for a P90 guitar and at the end of the day, it’s true, we like what we like.
I didn't use to like 330's until I played one. Do I already have enough guitars? More I can play?
I was GAS'ing for a while over the Revstars, particularly the P90 ones.
I already had a Pacifica PAC611VFM which played lovely but I didn't get on with the Bridge HB combined with the Neck P90, both Seymour Duncans.
The 611 was getting nearer and nearer the door until I decided to try a HB shaped P90 at the Bridge.
Total Transformation !!!
Changing from Neck to Bridge now sounds 'Balanced'.
I used an IronGear Alchemist P90, excellent value pickup here in Britain.
I immediately swapped the pickups in my 2023 Casino for 5% overwind Fralins with shims. It's one of my favorite guitars now.
So, my cobbled together Chinese partscasters have better quality than a cheap PRS?
When I Emperor of the universe it will be capital offense for semi-hollows to not have a screwed-in accecc panel in the back across from the pots, switch, and jack. I felt fine doing that to my Chi335.
I have a couple of Casino Coupes, one with a Bigsby and one with the stock trapeze tailpiece. One I purchased new and the other I purchased used. I love them both. Neither was perfect out of the box but both were very close. Though the pickups are the same in both, they do not sound the same. I like how they both sound and I can easily get tones I like out of them. They just don't sound the same as each other.
Almost bought a worn casino, decided to spend a little more and get a used Rivolta, which has a super solid build and a crisp, even chimey sound. Glad i did.
Hello !! Did you get a combinatta ? When played unplugged, is it louder than a slab guitar ? I’ve read that they’re very chambered and that’s a feature truly want 🙏
I hear that. Thank you.
I loved the opener, the written part..😊 I get so sick of those that complain about "you talk too much".. lol.. Yes, I've had this comments too. I don't even give them the time of day. But I may have to borrow your quote.. I loved it.
I recently got a ‘90’s Washburn HB35 (335 copy) and stripped it out… same issue with input jack minus toothed washer and short thread. There is a ledge at the end of the thread and I filed the inside of a toothed washer so it would sit outside the ledge, giving me just enough to engage the retaining nut which sits flush with the thread when tightened. All good.
It also came with tv jones filtertrons which for me did not suit so its now got p90 neck and paf alnico ll in the bridge. The tv jones are going on my Chinese Gretsch. Win win. ;))
One of the things that I like least about playing a hollow body guitar (in my case a Gretsch) is that I can't easily replace an output jack or a switch. The switch is one of those marginal ones that you find on mid-level guitars (most frequently Fenders), and on a regular guitar I'd just take it out and replace it, but now I'd have to pay someone to do it. My soldering skills aren't that great, and it's one thing with in a solid body, where I can easily go back in if I mess up, and another in a hollow or semi, where it's frustrating and labor intensive to try to deal with the wiring.
i got one recently. a ~10yo Chinese made one in natural. Im having issues with the pickups having very drastically different volumes but havent taken the plunge to level the pickup heights. Im not blown away but i wasnt expecting to be. to me its a cheap, sleeper jazz box. and id rather have one of them around than the cymbals and pedals i traded for. I also got it a crossrock case which was a brand i hadnt come across and the case is sturdier than the guitar lol. you should do one of these videos on a newer Gretsch, ive had my eyes on a 5622T and have played a few with wildly erratic setups/fit and finishes.
Thanks Lyle. I was considering buying an Epiphone Casino but your review has decided me against it. Why? Because the changes I'd require (wiring, switches etc) would mean paying a good guitar tech a lot of dough because I'm not confident doing that kind of work on a hollow-body or semi-hollow electric myself. A problem you don’t have.
I already own two Gibson ES-335 guitars; a Memphis-built Studio model to which I had Seymour Duncan Phat Cat (P-90 type in a humbucker-size pickup) fitted at no small cost, plus a regular current production Gibson ES-335 '60s model.
You’ve persuaded me that the Epiphone Casino is not good value for money, for me.
Ironically, your review of the Yamaha Revstar RSS02T persuaded me that I should indeed buy one and I’m really happy with that decision.
Most UA-cam reviews of new guitars are little more than a ‘cut & paste’ of a manufacturer’s press release. Yamaha Music’s marketing bullshit about some imaginary connection to the British ‘60s Café-Racer scene is an example of the same; BS repeated by a number of YT reviewers, but at least the Revstar Standard itself lives up to its promise.
Good on you
I plan to build a ES-339 sized hollowbody like a casino. I plan to use solid wood vs the veneer on cheap plywood. I’m hoping it will be a better option than an Epiphone.
My Casino is a '64 I bought in Denmark St, London for a couple of upcoming session rhythm jobs back in (I think) 1978. It was in very good nick despite a few scuffs and scratches, but needed a fret dressing, a bit of truss rod tweaking and a bit of reheating on some of the solder joints, all of which I did myself. It wasn't at all muddy - nickel factory P90s, they really sang. I think back then either I got one of the last hand-wound sets, or they just made them better back then. 45 odd years later, they still sound sweet and can certainly growl if you want them too.
Sorry if this was covered before:
the cheap P90s often have ceramic magnets and end up being very hot, but without sparkle. I first changed the (super glued, yikes!) ceramics in my (non Epi) P90s out against Alnico 5 (lots of twang) and then Alnico 2, which gave them this wonderful high end shimmer and mid range gnarl.
It'd be a bit less Beatles-ish, but I kinda wish they'd do the later style Casinos again with better fret access. Heritage makes a model like that, but naturally it's way above modern imported Epiphone pricing.
With all the mods / repairs to bring this up to par what’s the point?
I had a mid-1960s Casino. I traded it to a guitar tech for a Strat.
The Casino needed work that I couldn't afford to do at the time, and I was really, really wanting a Strat.
I kinda miss that old casino.
It's funny how our brains work. I have just made my own version of the original Fender widerange pickups with FeCrCo poles (because CuNiFe is extinct, I can tell you what Fender calls CuNiFe on their reissues is actually FeCrCo!) and the correct bobbins, I had them 3D printed. People say the originals were awful and no one wants them anyway because they have a very low resonant peak. The thing is that is absolutely right, they are pretty awful, too much bass and too much output but that was the exact sound I was chasing, now "Take me out" by Franz Ferdinand sounds perfect but any attempt to sound like Zeppelin falls flat every time. The thing is, we want the flaws, it seems to connect us to our deep memories.
My Ebony Casino Worn is a year old now and I love it! Its my favorite guitar to play on. The only thing I have changed (so far) is installed a GraphTech ResoMax NV2 Saddle Bridge to get closer to the Nylon saddles used in those vintage tones we all know and love. Every time I also think I should put in some Fralins, the stock P90 Pro's keep telling me to save the 💵's 😉
I agree. I find nothing wrong with the stock pickups in my Worn Olive. It compares very favorably with my other P-90 guitars including an original ‘55 Junior, a ‘77 Special and several loaded with Duncan Antiquities .It’s one of my best sounding guitars. So is my Epi Inspired By SG Special. Epiphone did a great job on these pickups.
The intro reminds me of Hearts of Space. 😄
What is with the giant notches in those saddles? Gibson & pre 1970 Epiphone just put the strings over the saddles and then whacked the strings with a hammer, making instant slots. I never cared much for mom's ES330 through most Fender amps. The Bassman is the exception. I have to be ready to palm mute every string or that 330 really howls. It's also good with most Marshall or Vox amps. If you think that Casino neck is too slim you'll really hate that 1961 ES330. Most Fender necks are about 0.840" at the first fret. The 330 is around 0.720". Really super extra thin!
Q: what was your price for the Casino as paid by you (US dollars please). THX.
This year I bought a Noel Gallagher Riviera which I really like a lot
and 335 Epiphone.
The Noel Gallagher needed repairs pretty quickly because the bridge pickup came unwired somehow.
I suspect it had something to do with you mentioned in the video.
I like the 335 less and would like to get better pickups in it.
Maybe some Dylan talks tone pickup!💥
That being said I do like the 3:35 which is why I bought it.
It's super fun to play and I really enjoyed it.
Anyhow I hear what you're saying about this Epiphone Casino. I don't think I would be buying one.
Keep on pickin' Cowkidz. Live 4 Ever Compadres
Thank you Sir for the video. I have no opinion about the casino. Not my style of guitar.
Never did like "Hot" pickups on any guitar. Though they must be popular. BTW, the use of a little B&W is a nice touch...
Glad you got a great deal but, why did you buy a guitar that you had to change out all of the electronics? Did you buy it for the body? Just wondering.
You might like it as it comes, though the nut tweaks and jack tightening should always be done. For me, I got a very low price and was buying the wood, knowing I could change the rest as/if needed.
Like I mentioned in the video, there are good bridge options for much lower prices - I’m not saying you have to get the Faber. I just had one sitting in a drawer.
I would not have bought this at list price.
@@PsionicAudio that's cool, because it does look great. I'm a sucker for hollow bodies. I did the same thing when I first became interested in guitars and playing, bought a cheap Epiphone and replaced all of the electronics. Neck was good and it stays in tune.
Would thee be any value in temping in a resistor to demonstrate 300k with stock p90s when the Fralins come in? Maybe if you get 300k w/p90 questions too often in live chats.
Not in a hollowbody - too much work. ;)
I could do it externally for demonstration. Might do it after the Fralins are in.
Totally get it.
I fell in love with the idea of a Casino last year, and after selling some gear, bought one. From the onset, it was a love-hate vibe.
Visually, it was gorgeous, even w some flame in the burst. The pickups sounded great- I’m a P90 fan for life now- and the neck played like butter, but the intonation was awful, only deteriorated, and five maddening trips to the repair shop did nothing to fix it. The D and G strings were functionally useless for chords.
The lack of upper-fret access is no joke, either. When I bought it, I told myself this would just make me wheedly-whee a lot less, but in practice, it was quite claustrophobic when approaching the 12th fret.
So, if you’ve got a couple hundred beyond the asking price to address the various issues that might come up, and you’re not looking to solo much, do it!
For me, despite its many charms, the issues were insurmountable. Sold it, bought a Tele. Lesson learned!
Great looking guitar!
Yeah, just gotta work on the sound…
Agree that the wood on the back of the neck is so much nicer than the black lacquer - - which is not attractive to my eyes or hands. Spoils the look of so many otherwise lovely guitars. Why do they do that? (cheap, easy is my guess).
Lyle, did you check out this guitar in a store, perhaps picking the "best one" out of several, before buying, or was it a mail-order purchase? Is this a case of "a sample size of one", as you're known to point out about amps where youve only worked on a single unit that may or not be representative of the "group"? ( It doesn't sound like this guitar constitutes a great value except for somebody who can afford to do the work out of themselves, it sounds dumb but I am curious if a second or third example would have been better right out of the gate, or worse.....)
This was hanging on a wall and I knew what I was getting. I wouldn’t buy this at list.
But aside from the neck pickup solder joint all the issues are common to Epis. Especially the naff pickups.
@@PsionicAudio , ps, I tried to give the video a "like" but the like button wouldn't work. WTF, ewe-booby? Their systems are scrambled half the time, and whenever they make changes, things get worse instead of better. ( Not to mention that on political sites and chats I frequent, my comments get disappeared all the time without a trace, even though I'm very careful not to call anybody names or try to trigger anybody, it's not how I operate, at least not on a public forum...)
@@PsionicAudio, update: the Like button works now.....
Regarding the dark pickups, I suspect that the metalized pickup covers contribute to the loss of treble via eddy currents interference.
I’ve played a lot of original ‘60s 330s and Casinos. The nickel covers are a little darker than the plastic, but not like this. These are just way dark/loud/compressed.
Which model Revstar were you comparing to?
RSS02T. Indonesian.
Thanks for this video.The reason I was considering buying a Casino was just that they are light in weight. But, I don't want another project, and a new Casino sounds like a project.
I seldom play electrics anymore anyway.
For what it’s worth, the Casino in Worn Olive I got a month ago has almost none of these problems, even showed up with the action and intonation dead perfect. The only flaw on the neck was 2 frets with a bit of sprout and a little corrosion that easily polished put with a bit of Simichrome. Nut slots were deep, but cut to a very playable depth.
Tone can be subjective, but I find nothing wrong with the stock pickups and wiring. Controls are very usable, and the pickups are exactly what I would expect from P90’s, they compared very favorably with both my Seymour Duncan Antiquity and the original ‘55 from my vintage Les Paul Junior.
Echoes with John Diliberto!
You’ve unsold me on this guitar 😂
I've watched a bunch of your videos and I know you're not just a regular schmo-
I really respect your opinion. I cannot believe that whatever the price point is that these companies continue to think that it's okay to send stuff out like all the things you mentioned requiring repairs and fixes it's just not acceptable whatever the price point...
It's just really unfortunate that you can't get a reasonably priced guitar basically ready to play...
Furthermore it's unfortunate that if you want it closer to being ready to play that you have to pay for the higher end guitar and hope that none of those fixes are required on THOSE models, unfortunately just the State of affairs today🤔... Ugh.
I have owned a number of instruments inspired by The Beatles - who I idolized growing up - and the Casino was one such purchase, ten-or-so years ago. I really wanted to love the instrument, but never bonded with it. I'm not gentle with guitars and it always felt... flimsy. I also play loud, which is not its forte. I ultimately sold it. Still... iconic.
As a point of interest, there is also a current USA production version of the Casino available. For some odd reason Gibson decided to reverse the direction of the fretboard inlays in the current USA version to "distinguish it". Eh.
That’s weird.
Can a nice eq be used instead of changing pickups?
In a pinch. I’m not saying you have to make all these changes. Aside from a loose output jack (which is pretty much inevitable on these) you can live with the other issues, maybe do them piecemeal over time.
If you buy one I strongly recommend having the store make sure the output jack nut and the pot nuts are tight. Or have a tech do it.
How do you think those Casino pickups would sound with plastic covers?
Very slightly less dark. But still way too hot, compressed, and on the dark side.
Just thought they were flat, lifeless... The Lollars brought it alive!
Vid title gave me a giggle.
True words. "We like what we like". The only person that needs to like your guitar is you.
So true. We like what we like. And guitars are not strictly utilitarian. They can be a sort of fashion statement. You can just love the way they look. I love my blonde Epi 335 for the same Beatles vibe.
You have a very pleasing voice. I love your videos. Great respect for y'all who have that amazing expertise with guitars and amps, too.
I came into this neither liking nor disliking the notion of an Epiphone Casino, not having a dog in the Epiphone/Gibson Clout Wars (I'm mostly a Squier guy!) and honestly knew the Casino name but before this video would not have been able to describe one accurately. ("Gibsonish? 335-like?")
But it's a very handsome looking guitar. Chrome dog-ears are nice. I'm not particularly a fan of bursts, but if you put white binding on it, that really elevates it in my book.
We like what we like! But I'm finding more and more that I like ALL guitars, maybe because I've never figured out an "ideal" that I'm striving for. I meet each instrument where it stands, learn what its capable of on its own merit, and then sometimes do tweaks and mods that the guitar suggests it wants.
That's the joy of guitars, to me -- discovering the possibilities that they hold within.
Nickel, not Chrome.
@@johnbriggs3916 Haha, sure, "shiny but not too shiny" by any name!
@@Markleford Actually, there's a difference: depending on the light, Nickel looks more yellow, Chrome looks more blue.
@@johnbriggs3916 Okay, sure, not arguing! Just saying my level of specificity here is broad to begin with.
The only similar Gibson was the ES330, which stock had a floating wooden jazz bridge. Most prefered the Casino with its fully adjustable bridge. The Casino and ES330 are both fully hollow, requiring a trapeze (like Lyle's), Bigsby, or Vibrola tailpiece. ES335 is semihollow with full-length center block. Looks very similar, but is a totally different guitar.
Is it full hollow?
Yes
I hope we get to hear the fralin version of this casino. Question in my mind is "How much of a difference will they make?"
Well you can hear how much treble I had to have up and how much bass I had to turn down on the Super to get a usable sound, and how bright/thin the ES-335 and Tele sounded with those settings. And how the stock P90s are louder than the humbuckers.
The Fralins should end up sounding great with the same amp settings as the 335 and Tele and my other guitars, and should have the same or slightly less output than the 335.
Maybe I should have talked about that but the video was going long.
I don’t have to change amp settings between my other guitars.
Rhett Shull and Mick from TPS have videos showing before/after Lollar P90s in their previous generation MIC Casinos. I expect the same amount of change. Lollars and Fralins are equal though not the same. Both worlds better than these stock ones.
Being a tightarse, I replaced the P90s on my Wildkat with GFS P90s, huge improvment
Thanks for the clarification. I listened to rhett's casino with lollars. It's a big difference. I'd say it's a mandatory upgrade when budgeting the project.
@@PsionicAudioVideo could have gone on longer for my money! :) Was really enjoying the Lollars!
It's a Casino, and the House (That Epi Built) always wins! 😉😁
Me like !
Any sounds very nice on a 66 Fender Super Reverb 😂
Wi n0t trei a h0liday in Sweden thi yer?
lmao that intro
So Lyle , you got this at a good price.. does it have the p90 Pros that are on the entry “ worn “ model ? The “ classic” p90s are really hot as you have said but the p90 Pro are about half the dc and sound so much better… how ironic they are the spec on entry model and not the Classic Beatles sunburst spec.
Buy cheap, buy twice… most owners would be way out of pocket with the list of ‘fixes’ you performed if they were paying a third party to do the work.
Obviously if this model has PRO P90s and you just don’t like them, that’s fair enough.
Surprised about the linear taper pots and lack of lock washers, these are £775 in UK for the sunburst version ( £430 for worn version) so not cheap.
These are the “Pro” ones supposedly.
@@PsionicAudio would be interested to know the dc and inductance when you get then out … ? Alnico 5?
*surprise Monty Python…. 👏🏽
I gutted mine and added a new harness, lollars, grovers, bone nut, new knobs and added a new pickgaurd (moved across the decal). Loved it at first but feel it operates as a more sophisticated guitar now. Was much better made then I expected and remembered from those ‘90s epis. It is a solid member of the stable now.
Doing all that, you should have just bought a Gibson, no?
All that can easily be achieved at around 1/3 of the price of a Gibson.
You should see what I did to my R0 Les Paul. The only original thing is the wood. I even had it stripped, repainted and had a new fretboard put on by Historic Makeovers. So yeah I have issues. @@jonbeatlesfan
Thank you for the great video; it was extremely validating for me. I came into this already a big fan of my own secondhand 23 Casino. Although, even as a Beatles fan, I could never get behind the models from previous years. It took a long time for me to see the light.
The first thing I also did was install a solderless harness with 50s wiring, including a switchcraft toggle and jack. Looking forward to a pain free pickup swap in the future.
I “had a bunch of fun” fishing the wiring through, and am now enjoying the stock pickups much more. They aren’t great, but they’re certainly better than the previous pickups and more usable with 50s wiring. I am also leaning Fralins>Lollars despite living in WA and only having experience with Lollars so far.
50s wiring is a must to me, for 4 control 2 pickup guitars. But only on the neck pickup. It is imho essential on Casinos to control the 'woof'. This, and/ or RS between pickup hot to selector switch to shave off the lows at the outset.Oh, and Lollars are still my go to P90 brand.
I would lean Lollar the majority of the time except for when it comes to their dogear. I think it’s a little too scooped in the mids, almost bordering on a Fender-y single coil. It’s still a fantastic sounding P90, just less authentic/traditional to my ears.
Frightening to see how these are stitched together.
WHY? WHY? WHY do manufacturers use linear taper pots for an audio signal? Are the pots cheaper per thosand units, or are they just stupid ?
Okay maybe I’m just a dude that likes muddy overdriven Guitar, but I almost prefer the stock pickups.
My question is: why buy a guitar that needs all that stuff replaced? Pickups, pots, nuts, jack, bridge, etc...I don't understand why people buy a "cheap" guitar and then spend a ton of money upgrading the components. I know what you're going to say, even more expensive models have similar issues and you'll still need to replace or adjust components, they always need a proper set-up and fret work etc. So, how much did you spend on this guitar after all the parts were traded out and what might you have been able to buy instead for that money? You're lucky you have the ability to do the work yourself, as you said in the video, consider the cost of having a qualified tech do all that work for you too. Makes it seem not worth it.
That’s one of the things I wanted potential buyers to be aware of.
I’m in a unique position. And I got an industry price but not through Epiphone (not a sponsored video).
I tried to point out you don’t need a $100 bridge - maybe just new saddles (which is a shame in a new guitar but Epi gonna Epi somewhere).
Logically, this is a bad purchase for most. The PRS SE, the Revstar, Fender MIMs, and Sires are much better guitars in the same price range. And not only need less work but if a jack comes loose the owner can easily fix that.
The pickups in those guitars are much better than these too.
Not to mention upper fret access and feedback issues.
Casinos are kind of a cult instrument but I wanted people to know the downsides.
In fact, I originally ended the video saying pretty much all of the above.
Then realized most viewers would come to that conclusion on their own, and the others would ignore anything negative anyway.
So I ended it with just that idea.
1. You don't need to upgrade everything on an affordable guitar all at once. You can space out the upgrades to whenever you have the money and time to work on it.
2. You can customize the upgrades to your specific needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all expensive guitar that you won't customize because it will be instantly devalued.
3. A $200 guitar with $200 worth of upgrades can become a better guitar than a $500-800 guitar.
The whole Indian Laurel thing chaps my hide.
so, you found out why epis are cheap. you have to spend extra [time/money] to make it an instrument. really surprised you didn't have fret issues, i've repaired many new epis over the years and i'm finding that harley bentons require about the same amount of setup work whilst only being a third of the price.
this is often the way when you buy the budget version of many products. the trick is to avoid paying a premium for the brand name.
Well I knew all this going in, and knowing that I wouldn’t have bought it at the full price.
I just see so many videos on UA-cam that say it’s GREAT and INSTANT BEATLES etc.
And, well, no.
you'd probably get a better beatles sound if you simply removed about half of the wire from the pickups. and would also benefit from a complete removal of that thick polyurethne they use to 'protect' their 'commercial' grade [cheap] woods.@@PsionicAudio
Grotty? You channeling your inner George Harrison?
You won’t meet Susan!
Lyle: she’s grotty. We turn down the telly and say rude things. Lol
She’s a drag. A well-known drag.
@@PsionicAudio I always play that movie when I need a lift. It’s a classic and I appreciate your fandom of it.
I’m in the minority and slightly prefer Help!.
@@PsionicAudio my favorite scene in HDN is John snorting the bottle of Coke on the train. I didn’t catch it in 64 when I was 7, but I split a gut when I see it now.
I love that they left it in.