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Help Dating a Japanese? Casino


Ridgeback

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Greetings,

 

Several years ago I purchased this cherry red Epiphone Casino. It has the oval orange label serial number in the cavity. Serial #65838 The seller claimed it's a 1986 MIJ Casino at the time stating "some MIJ serial numbers are 5 digits in which the 1st indicates the year of 198x or 199x, 2nd telling the model (2:EMPEROR, 3:RIVIERA, 4:SHERATON, 5:CASINO) and the rest being the production number of that year".

 

The neck joint is at the 17th fret. Is that unique among most Casinos?

 

Any MIJ Casino experts care to weigh in on the true origin and year production of this Casino?

 

Thanks,

Scott

post-4248-018373400 1518883740_thumb.jpg

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well, if I was dating a Japanese...yeah I'd maybe take her to a casino. Hope that helps.

 

Roight. Motor the PacRim Sheila down to the gambly wanbly for a few tottles and some shrimp on the bahbee. Rippa gurvy.

 

rct

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Greetings,

 

Several years ago I purchased this cherry red Epiphone Casino. It has the oval orange label serial number in the cavity. Serial #65838 The seller claimed it's a 1986 MIJ Casino at the time stating "some MIJ serial numbers are 5 digits in which the 1st indicates the year of 198x or 199x, 2nd telling the model (2:EMPEROR, 3:RIVIERA, 4:SHERATON, 5:CASINO) and the rest being the production number of that year".

 

The neck joint is at the 17th fret. Is that unique among most Casinos?

 

Any MIJ Casino experts care to weigh in on the true origin and year production of this Casino?

 

Thanks,

Scott

Picture696.jpg

 

1996. My sunburst 1996 Casino's serial number is 65783. As you stated, the first digit is the year (6) The MIJ were first made by Matsumoku in about 1975 until about 1987 when Matsumoku went bankrupt. In about 1988 production was continued by Terada until about 1997 when they moved into the Elite/Elitist lines. The first year of Terada production was 1988 signified by the first serial digit being "8" this continued until 1997 when the first digit was "7". The second digit as you stated indicates the model with "5" indicating a Casino. This is as close as I've been able to get dating these guitars. the last three digits of my serial number is "783" which is a run number but I don't know if it's the run for the month (what I think but I don't know what indicates which month) or the year. The Teradas except for a special run of "64 Casinos" (A precursor of the Lennon) for Yamano Gakki, a Japanese music store have the 17th fret joint.

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Picture696.jpg

 

1996. My sunburst 1996 Casino's serial number is 65783. As you stated, the first digit is the year (6) The MIJ were first made by Matsumoku in about 1975 until about 1987 when Matsumoku went bankrupt. In about 1988 production was continued by Terada until about 1997 when they moved into the Elite/Elitist lines. The first year of Terada production was 1988 signified by the first serial digit being "8" this continued until 1997 when the first digit was "7". The second digit as you stated indicates the model with "5" indicating a Casino. This is as close as I've been able to get dating these guitars. the last three digits of my serial number is "783" which is a run number but I don't know if it's the run for the month (what I think but I don't know what indicates which month) or the year. The Teradas except for a special run of "64 Casinos" (A precursor of the Lennon) for Yamano Gakki, a Japanese music store have the 17th fret joint.

 

Thanks Gralst! So 1996. But what is your point about the 17th fret joint mine has? Typical for the Teradas? Unusual?

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In about 1988 production was continued by Terada until about 1997 when they moved into the Elite/Elitist lines.

The first Terada-made instruments to carry the Elite/Elitist moniker & marketed in the USA were built in 2002. I'm not aware of any being sold before then internationally.

 

Also just a note: Terada built Elitist Casinos, as well as the earlier release of the John Lennon AIUSA Casino (Assembled in USA > Body built by Terada, hardware & electronics installed in Nashville by Gibson), have the neck joining the body at the 16th fret.

 

Another note: There was a Terada built "Revolution" model that predates the AIUSA Lennon Revolution model, and was most likely limited to the Japanese market.

 

Interesting stuff. Terada products are very well made, whether acoustics or electrics!

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