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Why a Casino?


pohatu771

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If John, George, and Paul hadn't played Casinos, how many people here would have bought one (or six)?

 

I know if it hadn't been for John, especially, I probably wouldn't have even heard of them, and probably never even considered a hollowbody.

 

Now it's my primary guitar.

 

[EDIT] I never even gave my story... I started to, but the power went out:

 

I originally tried a Casino because of John. After playing it, though, it wouldn't have mattered who played it, because it was the best feeling guitar I'd ever played.

 

Now that I have one, John has little to do with it. I didn't buy the natural finish (I don't like it at all), I bought Cherry. Cherry is what they handed me at House of Guitars when I wanted to try one, and I like the cream-on-red look. Chuck Berry actually influenced that a bit.

 

 

The only guitars I've bought, or would like to buy, in order to sound like someone else, is a Strat to get that Clapton sound.

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If John' date=' George, and Paul hadn't played Casinos, how many people here would have bought one (or six)?

 

I know if it hadn't been for John, especially, I probably wouldn't have even heard of them, and probably never even considered a hollowbody.

 

Now it's my primary guitar.[/quote']

 

I bought mine based on the fact that it is a thin hollow body with p 90s. The Beatles had nothing to do with my wanting for the guitar. The reason I bought my first Strat is because of Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix! So I know what you mean! I am actually playing my Black Strat as I type this. It's time to put her down though as I must start getting ready for work...sigh

Svet

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Hi,Pohatu 771,i must admit the reason i`ve got three Casino`s,is all down to the fact,that i loved the look of John`s stripped 65 model.But Dave Davies of the Kinks as well as Keith Richard,used them early on,and you`ve got to love the sound of P90`s.And then i was fortunate enough to be at live aid in 85,where i first saw Paul Weller and the Style Council,and he got such great sounds out of his 66 model.So it`s a combination of look,sound and feel with a Casino,and if you get your set up right,feedback isn`t such an issue.Imust say i feel most comfortable playing a Tele,and had a great Tokai Breezysound for a number of years,but the Casino is so cool looking!!.Incidently i prefer Casino`s to Gibson ES330`s,and it`s all down to that hourglass h/stock,and the "E" truss rod cover.So there you have it.Frenchie.

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If John' date=' George, and Paul hadn't played Casinos, how many people here would have bought one (or six)?

 

I know if it hadn't been for John, especially, I probably wouldn't have even heard of them, and probably never even considered a hollowbody.

 

Now it's my primary guitar.[/quote']

 

 

It's funny, when I bought my ES-330 in the late '70s, I didn't realize it was the same as the Casino that the fabs were playing. I was looking for a Gibson, and I found the ES-330 in a used guitar store around the corner from Manny's in NYC. It had a chip in the back, so it was selling pretty cheap. I almost didn't buy it because I wanted something with humbuckers. But my friend Vinny convinced me to buy it. As we left the store he mentioned that it was the same as the Casino. So the reason I've always loved the Casino / ES-330 has little to do with the Beatles, it has more to do with my first really good axe.

 

Besides, it will always be Gretsch, Rickenbacker & Hofner to me. Sorry guys.

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I've always wanted a Rickenbacker more than a Casino, myself... I had GAS over John's 325 since before I could even play... Then I actually played one.. I don't know how ANYBODY could play that guitar comfortably... The neck is as narrow as a yardstick! Then I fell in love with the 360.. I used to go to MARS music almost every week and play one through a Vox amp for hours... I'm still in love with it.. And I still don't have one!

 

I sort of turned to the Casino as a more affordable alternative, but I didn't want to buy one just because of the Beatles.. (It's funny how you feel like king of the geeks for wanting a guitar because a musician you like plays one, but often times, the reason why they play it, is because of someon THEY like.) So I sort of put the thought aside for a while, until I was living out in Arizona.. Out there, I joined this band and we had a photographer friend who regularly took our promotional photos and what-not.. I was at his house one day and noticed he had a Casino on a stand in his living room.. I asked him if I could try it out and he said "sure"... I loved the way it sounded acoutically.. But when I plugged it in, and heard those P-90's for the first time, I was hooked! I played that thing EVERY TIME I went over his house... I still didn't run out and buy one right away, but at least I felt justified in wanting one [-X

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Many years ago I bought a used Gibson ES-330 thinking it was an ES-335.

 

As a sax player doubling on guitar I didn't have that much experience and since they both had the same shape, I figured I was getting the same guitar as the guitar player I used to play with (a 335).

 

After buying the guitar, I learned the difference --- and after playing the 330 for a while, I decided I liked the sound of the P90 pickups better than the Hubuckers in the 335.

 

I've played guitar of-an-on-again (mostly off) for a number of years. This summer I decided to get serious and learn to play blues/rock/C&W/and light jazz lead. I put in a few hours a day, learned major, minor and pentatonic scales, and since I knew the first 4 strings (I played bass for a few years), a lot of pop music theory, and moveable chords on the guitar (from doubling on rhythm) I took to it quicker than I expected. Now I play guitar on over 40 songs in my duo, The Sophisticats

 

My ES-330 is now a collectors item, and I've seen them going for up to $5,000 on eBay. Since I double in my duo on sax, flute, wind synth, vocals and guitar, I was sure my 330 would get dinged up, so I bought the closest thing to in currently in production, the Casino.

 

While I respect the Beatles, this guitar is capable of much more than what they did with it. The P90 pickups have been around for at least 50 years because they sound great.

 

Why buy a Casiono?

 

1) P90 pickups - that can produce a wide range of sounds

2) It is very light

3) it is also an acoustic guitar so you can practice without plugging it in

4) great neck

5) looks good.

 

Here's a picture of the Casino and my ES-330 so you can see how close they are.

GuitarCousins2.JPG

 

Insights and incites by Notes

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I've always wanted a Rickenbacker more than a Casino' date=' myself... I had GAS over John's 325 since before I could even play... Then I actually [u']played[/u] one.. I don't know how ANYBODY could play that guitar comfortably... The neck is as narrow as a yardstick!

 

 

Have you ever tried jamming 12-strings on that yardstick???

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Have you ever tried jamming 12-strings on that yardstick???

 

Yipes... I've always wanted a 360/12 too... For "that sound"... But I know I'd probably never be able to play it without muting a BUNCH of strings! The 6-string version isn't too bad though, from what I recall... Haven't played one several years.. I never actually see Rickenbackers in the real world anymore.... Nowadays ya gotta order one and wait about a year..

 

What's the nut width on the 360 anyway?

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Yipes... I've always wanted a 360/12 too... For "that sound"... But I know I'd probably never be able to play it without muting a BUNCH of strings! The 6-string version isn't too bad though' date=' from what I recall... Haven't played one several years.. I never actually see Rickenbackers in the real world anymore.... Nowadays ya gotta order one and wait about a year..

 

What's the nut width on the 360 anyway?

 

[/quote']

 

 

Approximately 1-9/16" by my measurement. Doing that Needle & Pins / Feel a Whole Lot Better A-chord thingy on a Rick 12 can be a challenge.

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Speaking as someone with small and thin fingers I love the feel of Rickys, and I have no problem with the nut width. That's maybe why I like my nineties Riviera too - the nut width is smaller than Les Pauls and Sheratons. I also have a '58 Fender Duosonic (22.7" scale length) that feels like a toy - it's great!

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Back in the band daze, I was strictly a Les Paul geek. I wouldn't touch anything else (well, maybe a Guild M-80 I used live, but sucked on recordings). I would see hollowbodies hanging on the walls of stores and just wonder.. who'd the hell would wanna' play something so big and empty and.. OLD looking? I put music away for a minute or two, and when I came back, I wanted something different. On a whim, I saw a korean Casino on the bay at a reasonable price and said what the hey? If I don't like it, I could always sell the sucker or trade it in for something else.

When it came in the mail, I opened the case. It still had that bigazz look from back in the day I remembered so well. Once I picked it up, all reservations went out the window. I'd never played an electric where I felt every note resonates up and down the entire body. The acoustics were so warm. When I plugged it in.. maaaaaan.

I haven't looked back since. The combination of p90's thru a hollow body just sounds right to me. The Fab 4 had absolutely nothing to do with it. It just shows they had good taste in geetars!

Was thinking of saving up to get a Gibby 330, but instead I'll use that loot to buy an Elitist Casino, or, even better, a vintage one from the 60's. Someday....

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Both the same. They say 1.63"' date=' which would actually be 1-5/8", but mine didn't quite make that.

 

[center']

rick%20head.jpg

[/center]

 

They do make the 660-12 which is 1 3/4" wide at the nut.

 

See 360-12 Specs

 

Yeash! I thought the 12-string would be a little bit wider!

 

Is the 660 the "Tom Petty" model? I remember reading something about Tom Petty getting Rickenbacker to make a 12-string with a wider nut/fretboard... Something that Rickenbacker almost never does.. John Hall is adamant that they never make custom guitars.. No matter how much someone begs/pays them... (Just like they never change their design flaws no matter how much people complain about them!).. But there are 2 other instances I can think of, where they made an instrument at someone's request.. One was the "bantar" electric solid body banjo guitar that they made for Roger McGuinn (I saw Bela Fleck play one live) and the Double neck bass/guitar for Geddy Lee...

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use to be a lp and stratplayer.since a couple of years when

i came across my cheep blackie it has been my main guitar.

it got other picups and tuners than the stocks and i just love it.

#-o

like lennon said :the f*****g thing just howls

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Yeash! I thought the 12-string would be a little bit wider!

 

Is the 660 the "Tom Petty" model? I remember reading something about Tom Petty getting Rickenbacker to make a 12-string with a wider nut/fretboard... Something that Rickenbacker almost never does.. John Hall is adamant that they never make custom guitars.. No matter how much someone begs/pays them... (Just like they never change their design flaws no matter how much people complain about them!).. But there are 2 other instances I can think of' date=' where they made an instrument at someone's request.. One was the "bantar" electric solid body banjo guitar that they made for Roger McGuinn (I saw Bela Fleck play one live) and the Double neck bass/guitar for Geddy Lee...

 

[/quote']

 

 

The 12 string Rick (625 -12) on the cover of Damn the Torpedoes was Mike Campbell's, and it was the third 12-string Rickenbacker ever made (Harrison's original 12-string was the 2nd). In the late '80s, Petty approached Rickenbacker to make him one with a wider neck which became the 660-12TP. Very few were made, but they decided to make a non-Petty standard model 660-12 which is still in production.

 

tompetty.jpg

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I have a T-shirt with a picture of that guitar on it that says "Sell your computer, buy a guitar" underneath. On the back, near the collar it says "Tom Petty Rocks" I'm not a huge TP fan (got a couple albums).. I just liked the quote... And the guitar!

 

Is it a solid body? Looks like it's solid, but I thought the 325 was solid too, until I played one..

(Last question, before I get directed to the Rickenbacker Forum!)

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I have a T-shirt with a picture of that guitar on it that says "Sell your computer' date=' buy a guitar" underneath. On the back, near the collar it says "Tom Petty Rocks" I'm not a [i']huge[/i] TP fan (got a couple albums).. I just liked the quote... And the guitar!

 

Is it a solid body? Looks like it's solid, but I thought the 325 was solid too, until I played one..

(Last question, before I get directed to the Rickenbacker Forum!)

 

No, your shirt is correct, Tom Petty Rocks!!! I saw him when he backed up Dylan in the '80s, I saw him in 2006, and yesterday I got tickets to see him this August. In fact, I'm wearing a Tom Petty t-shirt as I type!!! I wore it to the Stevie Nicks concert last night - JohnO was there as well, but I didn't see him.

 

Yeah, they're solid bodies. And just to annoy John Hall, here's my Rick copy from the '60s:

 

Ideal%20body.jpg

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I'd like to see Tom Petty live... I like him enough as it is, but I think if I saw him perform live, I'd probably love 'im... That usually happens with performers that I have only a passing interest in... It certainly was the case with Jackson Browne.. And I downright loathed him before I saw him play live.. I wasn't there to see him in particular.. It was a day-long outdoor benefit show that he puts on every year in Sedona, AZ.. Lotsa bands/performers... CSN were headlining that year.. But when JB came on, I developed a new-found appreciation for him... There's nothing like a live show.

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I'd like to see Tom Petty live... I like him enough as it is' date=' but I think if I saw him perform live, I'd probably love 'im... That usually happens with performers that I have only a passing interest in... It certainly was the case with Jackson Browne.. And I downright [i']loathed[/i] him before I saw him play live.. I wasn't there to see him in particular.. It was a day-long outdoor benefit show that he puts on every year in Sedona, AZ.. Lotsa bands/performers... CSN were headlining that year.. But when JB came on, I developed a new-found appreciation for him... There's nothing like a live show.

 

 

 

Jackson Browne open for Petty when I saw him in '06, he did a great set. Steve Winwood is opening for him this year.

 

The best concert I ever saw was the Springsteen Born in the USA tour. Next to that, Petty was the best. In fact, I saw the Boss last year and Petty in '06 was better. He opened with 5 all out rockers, energy like you wouldn't believe, the entire venue stood and screamed the entire time. Finally he did a slower song, everyone sat down & took a breath, and at the end of it, he brings out Stevie Nicks and the place erupted again!!! We never sat down after that!!!

 

And the vintage guitars Tom & Mike play!!! I haven't seen that many in one place since I walked into my music room!!! Just kidding, I can't keep up with those guys - they have money and I don't!!!

 

Anyway, my daughter went crazy for Stevie that night, so now I take her every time Stevie's in the area. And you're right about live concerts, you don't appreciate an artist until you see them perform. To me, Stevie Nicks had a couple of good songs with Fleetwood Mac, that was about it. And Stop Dragging My Heart with Petty. But then you hear all her songs all together in concert, nearly two hours and not a clunker to be found, a great band (Waddy Wachtel is her lead guitarist and musical director), very impressive.

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Saw that PBS concert that was on last weekend...really enjoyed that. Petty rules!

 

 

Was that the one from Gainesville FL??? I have the DVD of it, that's the same tour that I saw. At one point, Mike Campbell appears to be playing one of those Epiphone Collegiate model LPs. Florida Gators naturally.

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