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Epiphone Elite Casino


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Hello all. Am a newbie here and am am attempting to perform some due dilligence regarding a potential Epiphone Casino purchase. The guitar is being sold by a friend of a friend and I'm quite green when it comes to these guitars. It is a light colored Elite/elitist without the pickguard. It comes with a hardcase and is supposedly in good condition. I've seen a few pictures but would like to get permission before posting them here. I will try to get some better pictures as well and see the guitar in the flesh. It has a truss cover which is labelled elite. On the back it has a sticker stating it was set up in the United states. The f-hole has a label stating that it's an Epiphone Casino 1965/NA. The serial number is T30XXXX. Using guitar dater and other resources I've searched for it appears to be a 2003 Terada made Japanese guitar. What I'm confused by is the 6 numbers in the serial number. Up to this point, all of my research (include Gibson/epiphones own info) indicates that the elite/elitist guitars had 5 serial numbers after the factory letter designation. Any thoughts? The Epiphone "i" has a dot above it which I thought was characteristic of Teradas. It has the standard Epiphone headstock (not the gibson style made for domestic Japanese production). Any thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks.

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Thanks for the info! Obviously need to get my hands on it and try it out but the in general, I've heard that these Japanese models are great guitars. I guess the Matsumuko versus Tereda is controversial in some circles but are considered to be a different animal versus the MIK and MIC models. I wonder how these compare to the American originals? I'm a neophyte player but have 3 main guitars... a select American Strat, Johnny Marr Jaguar, and a roughly 1986 Les Paul Studio with ebony fretboard. Definitely have developed GAS! I'll try to get some pics up ASAP. Thanks.

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If I could only have 1 guitar it would be an Epiphone Casino and the Elitist guitars are up there with the best being made in modern times at a non-ridiculous price range so if you can try it out, make sure you do, because you will probably fall in love with it.

 

I have 3 Korean Casinos because I play in a Beatles tribute band. I have two "John" style ones and a "George" style but if the band ended tomorrow I would sell all 3 and get an Elitist or 1965 Lennon Casino. Both made in Japan in the same factories with the Lennon one being 60s specs.

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Here are some pics. Thanks for checking them out. The guitar definitely has the elite sticker on the back. I guess this must predate the decision to switch to the elitist name to avoid confusion with the Ovation guitars.

 

post-57622-098774200 1371500400_thumb.jpg

 

post-57622-062677800 1371500414_thumb.jpg

 

post-57622-056616800 1371500424_thumb.jpg

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Oh another dumb question. Did these come from the factory without the pickguard? This guitar doesn't seem to be labelled a John Lennon model specifically but I guess it is a reissue of the natural grain/blonde finished guitar without pickguard. Thanks in advance.

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If I could only have 1 guitar it would be an Epiphone Casino and the Elitist guitars are up there with the best being made in modern times at a non-ridiculous price range so if you can try it out, make sure you do, because you will probably fall in love with it.

I'm right there with you. I have a 2010 Elitist from Terada and it is pretty much my go to guitar the majority of the time.

 

Mine also has six digits after the T in the serial #, and it has a dot over the i in Epiphone, and it came with the p/g installed. The Bigsby is a recent addition:

 

006_zps4f500b88.jpg

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I'm right there with you. I have a 2010 Elitist from Terada and it is pretty much my go to guitar the majority of the time.

 

Mine also has six digits after the T in the serial #, and it has a dot over the i in Epiphone, and it came with the p/g installed. The Bigsby is a recent addition:

 

006_zps4f500b88.jpg

 

"Holy George Harrison, at the Budokan," Dennis G...that guitar looks GREAT, with the Bigsby! [thumbup][biggrin]

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IF I was going to get another Casino...if would DEFINITELY be an "Elitist!"

Even at the considerable extra cost! Every one of those, I've played, have

been outstanding! Both in construction, and finish, but also in "unplugged"

resonance! [thumbup]

 

CB

Couldn't agree more CB, and do I feel happy today. Just looked at the current street price, and it's considerably higher than when I bought mine, and I got $200 off the then street price in a dealer promo. Woohoo! But, even at today's street price, it's a bargain guitar and knowing what I know now, I'd buy one again in a heartbeat.

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Thanks for all the responses. I know the pictures are limited but I'm going to test out the guitar ASAP. On the pictures provided, I don't see any red flags or anything unusual jumping out at me. Scouring ebay and other websites has given me a good idea for the value as well. I'll let you guys know and hopefully post some additional photos. Thanks for the help!!

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"Holy George Harrison, at the Budokan," Dennis G...that guitar looks GREAT, with the Bigsby! [thumbup][biggrin]

Thx CB. The best part? It plays as good (if not better) than it looks! When the house catches fire, this is in my right hand and my Ovation Elite is in my left. Mrs. G is on her own LOL! (Kidding, sort of [confused] )

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Oh another dumb question. Did these come from the factory without the pickguard? This guitar doesn't seem to be labelled a John Lennon model specifically but I guess it is a reissue of the natural grain/blonde finished guitar without pickguard. Thanks in advance.

 

The "Elite" you are looking at is from the first full year of production, the original designation for this guitar was as the "Epiphone Elite 65 Casino", and not as a Lennon specific model. It would have originally carried a white three ply pickguard with the raised plastic "E" logo.

 

As others have said, the "Elite/Elitist Casino is right up there. I play an 83 Matsumoku, but these are just as great.

 

Steve.

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Thx CB. The best part? It plays as good (if not better) than it looks! When the house catches fire, this is in my right hand and my Ovation Elite is in my left. Mrs. G is on her own LOL! (Kidding, sort of [confused] )

 

Oddly enough, a trademark conflict with the Ovation Elite name is why Epiphone changed the name from Elite to Elitist (so it is said).

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Oddly enough, a trademark conflict with the Ovation Elite name is why Epiphone changed the name from Elite to Elitist (so it is said).

What a "coinkydink" as Yakov Smirnoff (okay showing my age) would say. I knew that there was a trademark issue, but didn't realize it was with Ovation. Either way, both "Elite's/Elitist's" are well worth the money. Great guitars.

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  • 4 months later...

Reading between the lines I'm thinking the Elitist has a chunkier neck profile than the 65 Lennon ?

 

 

 

If I could only have 1 guitar it would be an Epiphone Casino and the Elitist guitars are up there with the best being made in modern times at a non-ridiculous price range so if you can try it out, make sure you do, because you will probably fall in love with it.

 

I have 3 Korean Casinos because I play in a Beatles tribute band. I have two "John" style ones and a "George" style but if the band ended tomorrow I would sell all 3 and get an Elitist or 1965 Lennon Casino. Both made in Japan in the same factories with the Lennon one being 60s specs.

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I have never played a 65 Lennon, but I cannot imagine a guitar with a slimmer neck than the Elitist that I owned. My guess is they are the same or similar since they are/were both made in the same factory in Japan (for the most part). I have played the standard and IBJL casinos and the necks were much fuller than my Elitist.

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The Elitist is a skinny neck alright, but I recently got to AB one against my JDM Fuji Gen Casino and the Fuji Gen still came out thinner by a fair bit! The Elitist is narrow but a nice generous C profile like the handful of real '65s I've played, the Fuji Gen has less on the shoulders. I wouldn't choose it but I've got used to it with a bit of fettling to the set up.

 

The Elite/Elitists seem closer than anything previous to the originals, although all the various Japanese factory reissues I've seen have been great guitars in their own way.

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I sincerely hope, that Gibson/Epiphone NEVER stops making the Elitist Casino!

I'd just like to see them ADD, a few more color options, that's all! Especially

"Faded Cherry!" [thumbup] And, a Bigsby option, as well. [biggrin]

 

CB

I'm right there with ya CB. It's just an awesome guitar for the price. Did they ever produce the Gary Clark Jr. Blak n' Blu? As pic's of my Casino earlier in the thread will attest, I'm a fan of the Bigsby as well. I think Epi would be very foolish to abandon the Elitist Casino. It's just an iconic guitar, and if I've ever heard one negative comment for every 100 positive, it's a lot.

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I have a lot of guitars, some very good ones, too. My Elitist Casino is the best all around guitar I own, and I certainly agree this is the one I would keep if I could have only one guitar...

 

DSCN0661_zpscc6cd48a.jpg

 

Keep making them, Epiphone...when you guys get it right, you make as good a guitar as anyone on earth, and you REALLY got the Casino's right! msp_thumbup.gif

 

There are only a few new guitars that are far better than their price point, and Epiphone makes a lot of them...Dot, Casino, Wilshire, Wildkat, Masterbilt acoustic...Keep them all going, Epiphone!

 

 

mark

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Hello all. Am a newbie here and am am attempting to perform some due dilligence regarding a potential Epiphone Casino purchase. The guitar is being sold by a friend of a friend and I'm quite green when it comes to these guitars. It is a light colored Elite/elitist without the pickguard. It comes with a hardcase and is supposedly in good condition. I've seen a few pictures but would like to get permission before posting them here. I will try to get some better pictures as well and see the guitar in the flesh. It has a truss cover which is labelled elite. On the back it has a sticker stating it was set up in the United states. The f-hole has a label stating that it's an Epiphone Casino 1965/NA. The serial number is T30XXXX. Using guitar dater and other resources I've searched for it appears to be a 2003 Terada made Japanese guitar. What I'm confused by is the 6 numbers in the serial number. Up to this point, all of my research (include Gibson/epiphones own info) indicates that the elite/elitist guitars had 5 serial numbers after the factory letter designation. Any thoughts? The Epiphone "i" has a dot above it which I thought was characteristic of Teradas. It has the standard Epiphone headstock (not the gibson style made for domestic Japanese production). Any thoughts are much appreciated. Thanks.

This is a little off subject but I had an Elitist Casino (not sure which plant in Japan) but I loved everything about it except the little tiny 1 5/8 inch nut. Makes a huge difference if your playing is as sloppy as mine........I sold it and am currently looking for a 61 reissue.........

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