Casino Owners

[3bolt79]

Hey, I was just wondering how many of you guys and gals have an Epiphone Casino. I got a deal on one for $449.00, and I have to say that I'm really liking it.

Because the upper fret access is limited, it's forcing me to approach my soloing from a different perspective.

The only gripe I have with Epiphones these days is the fret work. And it's been the same issue with other Epiphones I've bought under 1K. The frets are a little gritty when you bend strings, and there is always a proud fret or two.

On my Epiphone IBG LP 1959 Standard, and my Epiphone Greeny LP, there were no issues. However, there were issues on all of the Epi electrics I've bought in the last couple of years, usually frets that weren't properly seated.

I'm going to do a little fret dressing on the Casino when I change strings in a week or two and probably set it up with 11-49 strings.

It has a weird color, worn denim. This makes two blue guitars for me.


What are your experiences with these guitars? Mine sound like nothing else in my modest collection.

 

[3bolt79]

I did dress the frets and polished them really well. The frets are smooth as glass now.

I went up a guage on the strings to 11-49. I used NYXL strings. I only had to adjust the the intonation on one saddle and wound up dressing one nut slot.

Of note, this is the lightest guitar that I own. It weighs just a bit over 4 lbs.

I can't believe that the pickups sound so good. I mean this guitar cost Squier money. It sounds like the guitar on the Beatles Revolution when overdriven. I was seriously debating as to whether I would keep it. It just keeps growing on me though.

I know at least one or two of you have, or have had one. Or if you don't, was the upper fret access a deal breaker?

I'm almost to the point of regretting not getting a nicer finished one, but this one will be paid off in a month, so really no point in returning it. I can always get another one later. @soulman you have one of these don't you?

 

[soulman]

I did dress the frets and polished them really well. The frets are smooth as glass now.

I went up a guage on the strings to 11-49. I used NYXL strings. I only had to adjust the the intonation on one saddle and wound up dressing one nut slot.

Of note, this is the lightest guitar that I own. It weighs just a bit over 4 lbs.

I can't believe that the pickups sound so good. I mean this guitar cost Squier money. It sounds like the guitar on the Beatles Revolution when overdriven. I was seriously debating as to whether I would keep it. It just keeps growing on me though.

I know at least one or two of you have, or have had one. Or if you don't, was the upper fret access a deal breaker?

I'm almost to the point of regretting not getting a nicer finished one, but this one will be paid off in a month, so really no point in returning it. I can always get another one later. @soulman you have one of these don't you?

I had a natural finish Casino which I sold earlier this year. As much as I loved it most of my playing was done on my other models. When playing at home I sit down a lot more these days and a full 335 size body is less comfortable for me than smaller body models like my ES339. But now I find myself missing it so when it's convenient I'll probably pick up a used "Worn" version. Kinda like the look of the olive drab for this one.

 

[FrieAsABird]

I have two Casinos. One of them is its original red color, the other one was natural but a previous owner decided to paint it black with bad rattle can paint. I stripped it, but sadly part of the wood had been stained pretty bad. So I’ve started to give it a new look- I’ll post pics when it’s done. Here’s my red Casino:

 

[FrieAsABird]

I really love Casinos. The red one has a nice, slightly thicker neck while the currently natural finished one has a really flat neck, but plays nicely too. I got 10-46 on mine.

 

[3bolt79]

Yeah, I went cheap on mine cause it’s my first Casino and I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not. Now I’m kinda wishing I would have spent more and got a nicer finished one. Oh well, it is what it is I guess.

Mine has kind of a thin D profile neck. It’s ok. I neither love it or hate it. But the neck pickup with high gain? OMG! Instant Spirit in the Sky sound. It also has that raspiness of The Beatles Revolution.

I just don’t understand why they made them with so little upper fret access. Did nobody play that high up the neck when they came out?

It’s kinda like a certain guitar on my Bucket List, a late 70’s Gretsch Super Ace. Cool looking guitar, but the upper fret access is not so great, although better than the Casino.

 

[soulman]

Yeah, I went cheap on mine cause it’s my first Casino and I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not. Now I’m kinda wishing I would have spent more and got a nicer finished one. Oh well, it is what it is I guess.

Mine has kind of a thin D profile neck. It’s ok. I neither love it or hate it. But the neck pickup with high gain? OMG! Instant Spirit in the Sky sound. It also has that raspiness of The Beatles Revolution.

I just don’t understand why they made them with so little upper fret access. Did nobody play that high up the neck when they came out?

It’s kinda like a certain guitar on my Bucket List, a late 70’s Gretsch Super Ace. Cool looking guitar, but the upper fret access is not so great, although better than the Casino.

The funny thing to me is that unless one is into the vintage thing and wants sunburst or natural like John Lennon's stripped version the Casino Worn Series is actually kind of unique, especially the olive finish. And from what I can determine they're identical electronically and have the same hardware. The biggest issue for me would be the neck profile. I've played older models that used both a "C" and a "D" profile and I do not care for the "D" profile at all. That would be a deal breaker for me as far as any Casino goes.

As for the upper fret access at the time the Casino and it's Gibson ES330 cousin were designed I don't believe anyone envisioned them as being the type of guitar latter day shredders would play. It was even somewhat surprising to me to see a bluesman like Gary Clark Jr playing one and making it sound fantastic. I always though of them more as a pure rock guitar ala the Beatles or one a player might use for jazz since it can go in either direction with ease thank to it's P90s. It's just one of those rather unique guitars that really has no equivalent.

 

[schmee]

The frets on my 2010 Casino were fine, shiny and level. Luck of the draw I guess.

If you have a guitar with gritty or dull frets, this combo will make them shine like a mirror in about 5 seconds each fret. Dremel tool and 3M Finesse It. It ain't cheap but will polish your guitar to a shine very quickly too using a foam wheel and drill motor.
Frets:


Body: