Thinking of getting Epiphone Casino

[hckarakuyu]

I am thinking of purchasing an epiphone casino. my current guitar is a strat with a hardtail and i'm really used to it. I am really scared about the trapeze bridge of the casino. i heard that it was really hard to change the strings and everytime you change them the intonation went wrong. are those facts true and should i get a sheraton or dot with a tune-o-matic? or not? please i need to learn about this kind of topics, so if you could explain the whole situation it would be really good for me. thanks in advance.

 

[pitseleh]

I don't think that intonation thing is true. At least, not if you don't take the strings off all at once.

As far as whether you should buy it or not goes, I think Casinos are probably the best guitar Epiphone makes right now. Dots/Sheratons/Les Pauls are all generally pretty underwhelming in their stock form, but the Casinos I've held and played have struck me as fairly well made and solid sounding instruments. In my experience, they tend to be a cut above other Epiphones. Maybe it's a consistency thing.

They're also really light, which is nice.

 

[Jura]

Thats a nonsense.. Dont worry about it..

 

[echale3]

I have a Casino, and it doesn't have intonation issues after string changes (you might if you are changing string diameters during the switch, though), nor is it difficult to change strings. The actual bridge is set into the guitar, not floating like on a Gretsch, the trapeze part does the same thing as the stoptail.

Go for it!!!!

 

[Wiz-ski]

+1 - I currently am on my second Casino - first was an 04 Korean, and now I have one of the new Inspired by Lennon Casinos - both great guitars, never an intonation issue with string changing...

Great great guitar, nothing else like it - go for it!

Oh, and I can't leave without posting some Casino p0rn:

 

[HHB]

dogears are great sounding pickups, that Lennon looks great

 

[musicofanatic5]

I am thinking of purchasing an epiphone casino. my current guitar is a strat with a hardtail and i'm really used to it. I am really scared about the trapeze bridge of the casino. i heard that it was really hard to change the strings and everytime you change them the intonation went wrong. are those facts true and should i get a sheraton or dot with a tune-o-matic? or not? please i need to learn about this kind of topics, so if you could explain the whole situation it would be really good for me. thanks in advance.

When you change strings, do you take them all off? If so, stop doing that now! One at a time, leaving the others at full pitch. The Casino has the same tunamatic bridge as the other gtrs you mention.

"Dots/Sheratons...are all generally pretty underwhelming"

My gawd, I am finally glad to find out I am not the only inhabitant of this solar system to think this. The Sheraton II should be called the Sheraton sub-II!

 

[Deadduck]

I have a standard Korean made Casino and it's great. Never had an intonation problem. It isn't as hard to string as a Trem Strat.

My only complaint is that my bridge pup is a little muddy. I'm sure that a change of pots would probably help this, but I haven't done it.

The Elitists are supposed to be even better, but I haven't played one of them to compare.

 

[audiodrome]

What's the difference between the John Lennon 1965 Casino, the Elitist 1965 Casino, and the Inspired By John Lennon 1965 Casino?

 

[BigPapiFan]

Many archtops have floating bridges that are easily moved and these require extra care duiring a string change. Not so in the case of the Casino because the bridge is securely screwed in place into the top of the guitar. It will stay put when you remove the strings so you shouldn't have any problems with intonation as the bridge is securely screwed in place into the top of the guitar.

 

[CommonJim]

I have a standard Korean made Casino and it's great. Never had an intonation problem. It isn't as hard to string as a Trem Strat.

My only complaint is that my bridge pup is a little muddy. I'm sure that a change of pots would probably help this, but I haven't done it.

The Elitists are supposed to be even better, but I haven't played one of them to compare.

I knew TGP members would not disappoint. I've been considering the basic Korean model myself as the Lennon models are a bit much for my wallet. This solidifies my decision. Thanks for the insight.

 

[martintyler]

The current basic model is made in China, next step up is the 'inspired by lennon' models, also made in China (or Indonesia some say?) but with some USA components. Then there's the Elitist models made in Japan.. and finally the USA made Lennon models.

I saw someone post a nice table of the four models and the differences, but cant find it now.

 

[indravayu]

I know many will disagree with me on this, but the current low-end Casinos feel cheap and flimsy to me - I wanted one badly until I played a few and was totally turned off. I haven't played an Elitist, but most folks seem to suggest that they are far superior.

 

[chad330]

When you change strings, do you take them all off? If so, stop doing that now! One at a time, leaving the others at full pitch.

Why leave the others one? I had a casino and now have a es330 and never had an issue taking all the strings off during a change. I will tend to maybe leave the high E until I have a newer string on just so I'm not having to watch out for the bridge coming off...but otherwise what would be the benefit of doing one sting at a time??

 

[indravayu]

Why leave the others one? I had a casino and now have a es330 and never had an issue taking all the strings off during a change. I will tend to maybe leave the high E until I have a newer string on just so I'm not having to watch out for the bridge coming off...but otherwise what would be the benefit of doing one sting at a time??

If you take off all the strings your intonation will have to be reset - if you do the one string at a time method, your intonation should stay intact.

 

[musicofanatic5]

Why leave the others one? I had a casino and now have a es330 and never had an issue taking all the strings off during a change. I will tend to maybe leave the high E until I have a newer string on just so I'm not having to watch out for the bridge coming off...but otherwise what would be the benefit of doing one sting at a time??

Strings at standard pitch create a considerable amount of tension, and this is the usual physical state for a gtr (unless you detune every time you put the gtr down! Anyone doing this can also stop immediately!) Your gtr will be happiest and most cooperative if you do not subject it to radical changes in tension. When you release the string tension completely (or any more than is necessary), it takes longer for the gtr to re-acclimate to full tension. This can manifest itself in tuning instability, and even have a long-term detrimental effect on the neck joint. This will certainly have more of an effect on a hollowbody, set neck gtr, than on a solidbody, screwed-on neck. It is basically just unnecessary changes your gtr does not need to be subjected to. File under common sense.

My advise to anyone who does not know how to deal with a bridge that might fall off their gtr when strings are removed or breaks out in hives at the thought of intonation going out of adjustment: stick with telecasters.

By the way: a good Casino is a great gtr!!

 

[Dickie Fredericks]

+1 - I currently am on my second Casino - first was an 04 Korean, and now I have one of the new Inspired by Lennon Casinos - both great guitars, never an intonation issue with string changing...

Great great guitar, nothing else like it - go for it!

Oh, and I can't leave without posting some Casino p0rn:

To the OP... just buy it and love it. My 69 Gibson 330 looks just like this only its more yellow now LOL Love the trapeze there and the pups look the same too.

My Dad wanted a Casino and my Mom bought him a 330.

Thats a nice guitar.

 

[mainsale]

No issues with changing strings on this Casino Elite.

 

[smogfalls]

No issues with changing strings on this Casino Elite.

Beautiful guitar. I also have the Elitist model but in vintage sunburst. It's the best playing guitar I own, so quick and easy. Never had intonation problems and I'm very picky about such things, and changing strings is easy!

Mainsale, where did you get hold of the shim for your bridge pickup? I made one out of an old leather belt but I'd like to get something that looks a little neater!

Oh, and btw, I did some clips with my Elitist Casino a while ago to demonstrate it's rich clean tones, check all 3 threads out here...

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/518030

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/520030

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/479375

Cheers,
Xan

 

[shark_bite]

Beautiful guitar. I also have the Elitist model but in vintage sunburst. It's the best playing guitar I own, so quick and easy. Never had intonation problems and I'm very picky about such things, and changing strings is easy!

Mainsale, where did you get hold of the shim for your bridge pickup? I made one out of an old leather belt but I'd like to get something that looks a little neater!

Oh, and btw, I did some clips with my Elitist Casino a while ago to demonstrate it's rich clean tones, check all 3 threads out here...

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/518030

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/520030

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/479375

Cheers,
Xan

Xan, those clips blow me away every time I hear them. Especially the Rain Song one.