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Test Drive Casino Coupe


Steve112

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Well, just tried the newly arrived Casino Coupe at my music shop. A Vintage Sunburst, an almost exact copy of my ES339 Pro, with the exception of the P90s, white pickguard, neck inlays and trapeze tailpiece. It's a generally good looking instrument in fit and finish.

 

It played well despite it still needing a thorough setup. The P90s sounded good, slightly percussive through the Fender Deluxe Reverb I was using. Lots of usable, well balanced volume and tone.

The guitar's basic design and finish as seen in the 339 body size, is well executed from one to the next but leaves a little to be desired in the cutting, filing and sanding of the "F" hole ends. I notice this on mine as well, no biggie, it's a really fine player!

The neck was consistent and frets were level and quite well polished.

The Epiphone toggle switch was either dirty or malfunctioning. When I attempted to switch from neck pup to bridge, no bridge sound at all. Wiggled it a couple times and got bridge sound back but remained crackly.

 

Now, the other difference of the Casino Coupe from my 339 Pro is the new unbranded Epiphone generic small-buttoned "vintage" style tuners with the pressed in bushings as opposed to the "Grover Deluxe" headstone or tulip-buttoned tuners with adjustable hex-bushings on my guitar. Even though the newer ones have a higher turning ratio, in theory more accurate and quicker to tune, there was some unwanted slop. When lowering the pitch on the "G" string, I turned the peg half a turn before the pitch lowered. No clicking or pinging at the nut but just felt a little sloppy and thus more fiddly to tune. I really don't care for excessive peg turning to finely alter the pitch. The Grovers, on the other hand, even with the 14:1 ratio are much more precise and feel like they're manufactured to tighter tolerances. Easier to tune than the new ones, go figure! Would need to play the Coupe for a day or two to determine tuning stability and potential tuner slippage.

 

So...... not a bad guitar, sure sounds quite ballsy. It could be a good player after proper and necessary setup but I'm not thrilled with either the iffy toggle OR Epiphone's introduction of the new, perhaps marginal unbranded tuners.

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My thoughts exactly. Once you have changed the hardware and tuners it is a really awesome guitar. Plays great and sounds great. The original P90s are usable but a little muddy. Switch, jack and pots definitely need to be replaced and the tuners lack tuning stability.

 

I've pimped mine a little exessively but I like the result. Grover Sta-tite tuners (not a drop in replacement, new holes were needed), Vintage Vibe blade style dogears and just for cosmetics the finger tailpiece and pickguard from Quick Guards.

 

ECC1.jpg

 

ECC2.jpg

 

ECC3.jpg

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The thing you didnt mention is the one I find most noticeable; the weight.

 

As I recall, the Casino Coupe is like the Gibson ES-390. The same shape but without the centre-block down the middle, making it much lighter and presumably more prone to feedback.

 

The P90 pups can be had on the cheaper version of the Epi-ES-339 also (the ES-339 P90).

 

I think the Coupe has block inlays too instead of dots.

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The thing you didnt mention is the one I find most noticeable; the weight.

 

As I recall, the Casino Coupe is like the Gibson ES-390. The same shape but without the centre-block down the middle, making it much lighter and presumably more prone to feedback.

 

The P90 pups can be had on the cheaper version of the Epi-ES-339 also (the ES-339 P90).

 

I think the Coupe has block inlays too instead of dots.

You're correct about the weight, mine has the center-block and it's no issue. Just didn't think about it.

Feedback is more about the cavity size and resonance than weight and would be less in the smaller body. My Gibson ES335 could be a real feedback monster if not positioned properly relative to the amp.

I'm well aware of the ES339 P90 Pro, I like it a lot!

I mentioned the neck inlays in the first paragraph.

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My thoughts exactly. Once you have changed the hardware and tuners it is a really awesome guitar. Plays great and sounds great. The original P90s are usable but a little muddy. Switch, jack and pots definitely need to be replaced and the tuners lack tuning stability.

 

I've pimped mine a little exessively but I like the result. Grover Sta-tite tuners (not a drop in replacement, new holes were needed), Vintage Vibe blade style dogears and just for cosmetics the finger tailpiece and pickguard from Quick Guards.

 

ECC1.jpg

 

ECC2.jpg

 

ECC3.jpg

Wow, that is one tricked out pony, Sofaplayer. The pups are killer looking and I'll bet they sound fabulous. Somehow the tailpiece gives it a "Swinger" kind of vibe, tasty! Had to look twice at the PG, very cool. Best looking tuners I've seen on an Epi, must be a bit of coin in your Coupe!:) Just gorgeous, nice job, never seen one nicer!:) [thumbup]

 

Thanks for the confirmation concerning the tuners. Epiphone's choice to change the spec on those takes a good playing guitar then degrades its performance....DUH!

My Epi ES339 is a great guitar, it plays very well indeed, I've gigged it several times. Its tuning is rock stable with the Grovers.

I've already replaced the jack with a Switchcraft and plastic jack-plate with the metal Gibson plate out of caution.

The small-bodied ES style guitars are good instruments, and a lot of folks don't wish to buy a guitar and then immediately have to swap out something just to make it play properly!

It's a darn shame that for a few cents, Epiphone would jeopardize a product line with a CRUCIAL part of the instrument. [thumbdn]

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Congrats on the new Coupe. I got mine a few months ago, and changed out the tuners to Grover Deluxe Vintage. Much better tuners. I don't find my pickups to be muddy at all. I play in our church worship band, through a line 6 pro....whatever it's called, and through the PA. No feedback problems but they keep a lease on me. The weight was what surprised me. I knew it would be light, but 5.5 lbs. is great on my old back. The strat and tele are hanging on the wall.

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Hi Ryder, on your recommendation (in the other thread) I got the Grover Deluxe 133N tuners for my Casino Coupe. I do strongly prefer the vintage-split post style, and they really weren't expensive. Anyway since we're posting pictures of our casino headstocks, here are a couple since the tuner upgrade.

 

Also, sofaplayer, love your upgrades! Takes some conjones to spend more on all those various upgrades than the original guitar purchase price, but now you have a totally unique, customized instrument that I presume you're planning on keeping until the end.

 

Ken

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post-68498-039728300 1434164852_thumb.jpg

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Er... it "sort" of has a center block that attaches only to the top and is about 1cm thick. Otherwise you couldn't solidly mount the pickups and other components (they'd have to be "floating"). The 5-ply maple top is too thin and fragile on its own. You can stick your pinkie in your f-hole to confirm, if that's what floats yer boat.

 

Ken

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Just to clarify, is the Casino Coupe full hollow body, or does it have the centre block like the Dot? I have a Casino, and thought the Casino Coupe would be a great guitar for my 10 year old daughter.

 

ta, paulie

 

The Casino Coupe would be a great choice for your daughter, and anybody else for that matter because it's an amazing instrument that in my opinion is an instant classic. However it's not really a "kid sized" or "travel sized" guitar, it's even a wee bit bigger than a Les Paul. So if you're really looking for a guitar for somebody with extra small hands, I would go on Amazon and look for a short-scale guitar (they are super inexpensive). If your daughter already has guitar playing experience this advice would not apply.

 

Ken

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Wow, that is one tricked out pony, Sofaplayer. The pups are killer looking and I'll bet they sound fabulous. Somehow the tailpiece gives it a "Swinger" kind of vibe, tasty! Had to look twice at the PG, very cool. Best looking tuners I've seen on an Epi, must be a bit of coin in your Coupe!:) Just gorgeous, nice job, never seen one nicer!:) [thumbup]

 

Thanks for the confirmation concerning the tuners. Epiphone's choice to change the spec on those takes a good playing guitar then degrades its performance....DUH!

My Epi ES339 is a great guitar, it plays very well indeed, I've gigged it several times. Its tuning is rock stable with the Grovers.

I've already replaced the jack with a Switchcraft and plastic jack-plate with the metal Gibson plate out of caution.

The small-bodied ES style guitars are good instruments, and a lot of folks don't wish to buy a guitar and then immediately have to swap out something just to make it play properly!

It's a darn shame that for a few cents, Epiphone would jeopardize a product line with a CRUCIAL part of the instrument. [thumbdn]

Thanks! I agree that the cheap parts are totally out of place on this guitar. For only a few dollars more it could be a perfect instrument out of the box.

 

 

Also, sofaplayer, love your upgrades! Takes some conjones to spend more on all those various upgrades than the original guitar purchase price, but now you have a totally unique, customized instrument that I presume you're planning on keeping until the end.

Thanks! Actually it find it harder to modify an expensive guitar. I planned to put the tailpiece on a Heritage Golden Eagle but just couldn't justify drilling new holes in a perfect and expensive guitar. So it ended up on the Casino Coupe. But I like the result. Indeed I don't intend to sell it ever.

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thanks Ken. I think the truth is that I want it, and she is my excuse.

 

paulie

Haha, good one. [biggrin] Your honesty should not go unrewarded, grab that Coupe.

 

Just for anyone considering a guitar for a youngster, although the body size is good for a smaller player, the width of the "D" shaped neck may be a little large for smaller hands.

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I'm looking to try some coupes next week.

 

The P90s have put me off in the past, but I will bring my own rig along this time to evaluate properly.

The Coupes are really fine guitars and look amazing. Some folks aren't fond of the Epi P90s but good equalization can work wonders. Hope your search is well rewarded mercifal-evans. Let us know the results of your enquiries. [smile]

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The Coupes are really fine guitars and look amazing. Some folks aren't fond of the Epi P90s but good equalization can work wonders. Hope your search is well rewarded mercifal-evans. Let us know the results of your enquiries. [smile]

 

Well I turned up at the shop with my amp but the guitars were not there! A glitch with the website I'm told. Apparently its showing everythng in stock.

 

I did play 2 guitars. Two Gibson LP doublecuts (brief reviews posted).

 

I will send my phone number on so they can text me when they actually have a casino coupe physically there. :(

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Well I turned up at the shop with my amp but the guitars were not there! A glitch with the website I'm told. Apparently its showing everythng in stock.

 

I did play 2 guitars. Two Gibson LP doublecuts (brief reviews posted).

 

I will send my phone number on so they can text me when they actually have a casino coupe physically there. :(

Dang! That IS frustrating!

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  • 11 months later...

Sofaplayer, drool worthy pimping. I think i installed the same custom pickguard and then got black knobs for my Cherry Red finish. I replaced the input jack with a switchcraft and Gibson metal plate because the plastic Epi plate broke from the friction while sitting on the sofa, now I've got to replace the switch because it sometimes cuts out moving to the bridge position. It's just under a year old.

 

A question for everyone; Anyone using pedals with it? I ask because here's the long winded reason. I just bought and am returning an Epi ES 335 Pro Ltd Ed. I love the tone of 335s but the bigger body kept pushing me back to the Coupe, i felt like i could move faster on the Coupe and it felt more intimate if that makes any sense. It's probably due to my decades of playing smaller acoustics- I'm new to Electric. SO, is there anyway to get more of that 335 sound? Would that be a mid boost? An EQ pedal or something like an Archer? I recently saw a Guitar Paradiso YouTube clip with Mick and Pete where an ES 330 briefly played thru an Archer with low gain and it bumped up the mids.

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Sofaplayer, drool worthy pimping. I think i installed the same custom pickguard and then got black knobs for my Cherry Red finish. I replaced the input jack with a switchcraft and Gibson metal plate because the plastic Epi plate broke from the friction while sitting on the sofa, now I've got to replace the switch because it sometimes cuts out moving to the bridge position. It's just under a year old.

 

A question for everyone; Anyone using pedals with it? I ask because here's the long winded reason. I just bought and am returning an Epi ES 335 Pro Ltd Ed. I love the tone of 335s but the bigger body kept pushing me back to the Coupe, i felt like i could move faster on the Coupe and it felt more intimate if that makes any sense. It's probably due to my decades of playing smaller acoustics- I'm new to Electric. SO, is there anyway to get more of that 335 sound? Would that be a mid boost? An EQ pedal or something like an Archer? I recently saw a Guitar Paradiso YouTube clip with Mick and Pete where an ES 330 briefly played thru an Archer with low gain and it bumped up the mids.

 

Since you're sending back a 335 take a look at an ES 339 - same body size as a Coupe, but with 335 electronics and construction. I'm not sure that you could get the sound from just a pedal unless it was some sort of synthesizer pedal.

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Since you're sending back a 335 take a look at an ES 339 - same body size as a Coupe, but with 335 electronics and construction. I'm not sure that you could get the sound from just a pedal unless it was some sort of synthesizer pedal.

 

+1

 

If anything you'll get closer to the sound of a standard Casino / ES-330 than a ES-335. For the semi-hollow sound in a smaller guitar you need to get the ES-339. Same size as your Coupe but with the center block. I haven't played one but I'm sure it's as wonderful als the full hollow Casino Coupe.

 

I have one always on pedal that does some kind of magic trick to the mids. A Chase Bliss Audio Gravitas, a Tremolo / Clean Boost pedal. It offers different kinds of tremolo that can be dialed in so subtly you hardly notice a Tremolo effect. But adding a little clean boost somehow boosts the mids or rather the mid presence. As a result, the guitar sounds remarkably fuller, warmer and more present.

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