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Which Beatle's guitar should I get?


Beatles Beatnik

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I know this is a subjective question, but let me lay out everything out first so you know my mind set and what I am looking for:

 

Les Paul Standard (Cherry Red)- I love the tones that this one gives off, and a Les Paul does just feel "right" in my hands. But I don't know the Harrison songs well enough to play yet, and his complex solo's will take me a while to master.

 

Elitist Casino (1965 Lennon look-alike)- Well I am a Lennon fan through and through, and the songs that he played on this guitar well, are really good, most are easy, and better yet, I have a dynamic range of songs to play on it: from 1965 to 1971-ish. But the detractors is that I already have a similar guitar, the Epiphone Dot Deluxe, which while it doesnt have the P-90's does put out the similar tones to the casino.

 

J-160E- Now I already have two acoustics, but one is a verrrrry nice one....and the other I won down at the beach (don't laugh too much, it is my knock around guitar.) But I do find the earlier Beatles music to be easier and I do like the idea of having an acoustic and electric in one, so I have a different one for whatever mood I am in. Really the only thing that would be a detractor for this is that I can't find many, and when I do, they are taken very quickly.

 

So those are the choices I can think of, if you have any better suggestions on a guitar please tell me about it....and I know in the end it's up to me to choose, but I like to hear everyone's opinion before I make my decision

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I'd go for the LP if it feels good to you! Don't forget that you can play any song on any guitar, unless you're in a highly-authentic tribute band :S

 

Don't be tricked into buying a guitar just because your favorite musician uses one - I learnt this with my Les Paul. Travis Stever was always playing one so I got the nicest one I could find within my price range, and it was an absolutely amazing guitar, that I love very much. However I later picked up the Explorer, and wow, the guitar was just made for me. :D/

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I know this is a subjective question' date=' but let me lay out everything out first so you know my mind set and what I am looking for:

 

[i']Les Paul Standard[/i] (Cherry Red)- I love the tones that this one gives off, and a Les Paul does just feel "right" in my hands. But I don't know the Harrison songs well enough to play yet, and his complex solo's will take me a while to master.

 

Elitist Casino (1965 Lennon look-alike)- Well I am a Lennon fan through and through, and the songs that he played on this guitar well, are really good, most are easy, and better yet, I have a dynamic range of songs to play on it: from 1965 to 1971-ish. But the detractors is that I already have a similar guitar, the Epiphone Dot Deluxe, which while it doesnt have the P-90's does put out the similar tones to the casino.

 

J-160E- Now I already have two acoustics, but one is a verrrrry nice one....and the other I won down at the beach (don't laugh too much, it is my knock around guitar.) But I do find the earlier Beatles music to be easier and I do like the idea of having an acoustic and electric in one, so I have a different one for whatever mood I am in. Really the only thing that would be a detractor for this is that I can't find many, and when I do, they are taken very quickly.

 

So those are the choices I can think of, if you have any better suggestions on a guitar please tell me about it....and I know in the end it's up to me to choose, but I like to hear everyone's opinion before I make my decision

 

1e008_john_lennon_rickenbacker_325-400-400.jpg

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Well I know I won't be a true Beatle, but I like having the authenticity of the gear (but not overboard like having the right date code, vintage strings, and dings on the guitar). And yes, the Rickenbacker guitars are just...well I havent been happier since last week when I played a 360/12 through a AC30 amp, but they are out of my price range for now. Helping pay for college doesnt really help the wallet that much, but I can treat myself to a nice christmas present.

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Elitist Casino ... the detractors is that I already have a similar guitar' date=' the Epiphone Dot Deluxe, which while it doesnt have the P-90's does put out the similar tones to the casino.[/quote']

 

Have you played a Casino? With single coil pickups, trapeze tail, floating bridge and a fully hollow body it would be very different to your Dot. In fact your Dot is basically a Les Paul with hollow wings on the sides, so if it rules out a guitar, it should rule out that.

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The J160E is on more Beatle recordings than any other guitar (it's surprising how often it as used electrically), followed by the Casino, so those are far more essential ingredients to the Beatles sound than the LP (though it's ALWAYS nice to have an LP).

 

If you are choosing between the J160E and Elitist Casino, (and if you are limiting your J160E choice to the Epiphone brand only), then you'll find that the Elitist Casino is inarguably a superior instrument, if it's in your budget. You'll find PLENTY of sonic (and other) differences between it and a Dot Deluxe.

 

The Epiphone EJ160E is not a Gibson J160E Standard (or Lennon spec) sound-alike, especially when unamplified. Like the Gibson J160E Standard, the Epiphone is a solid topped, x braced guitar, but even they sound night and day different. The Gibson standard is drier, punchier, more muscular, and more midrange-forward. The Epiphone's voice is nice, but flatter and less distinctive. It's a very pleasant guitar to play, though. It features a thinner neck and lower frets than the Gibson. It also has a different pick up. The Epiphone has a P100, which is a stacked humbucker. The Gibson J160E Standard has been sold with a true P90 for several years for more of that Beatley amplified sound (with the right strings). Earlier incarnations had a P100, too, if you're buying used.

 

You'll hear even more difference between the solid top EJ160E/J160E Standard and the true, '60s spec reissues ( like Gibson's Lennon "Peace" model, and those sold by Fuller's). These guitars are as akin to a hollow body electric archtop as they are to an acoustic dreadnaught, and sound it. If you heard one played acoustically, you'd think it was stuffed with socks. They have laminated tops with horizontal ladder braces, and adjustable bridges. Now, these are features which would otherwise be considered detrimental to an acoustic guitar's performance, but, they make the reissues prized for truly sounding like what you hear on Beatles recordings, both acoustically and electrically. Vintage and vintage spec J160Es have a very quick note decay, punchy thud, and cutting midrange, which is why they're so good as a rhythm instrument.

 

You have to keep in mind that in the late 50s and early 60s, no one expected an amplified acoustic to SOUND exactly the same, just LOUDER when amplified, the way we do today. The original J160E was really a hollow body electric guitar in acoustic guitar guise, and it's best to think of it this way. You'll be surprised how often the electric guitars on Beatle recordings is the really the J160E.

 

The Epiphone EJ160E approximates this, but doesn't nail it. It's a more convential sounding acoustic than a J160E Standard or Lennon Reissue, and for that reason, it doesn't sound as Beatley amplified. The Elitist Casino, on the other hand, pretty much sound like you'd expect, which is fantastic.

 

Red 333

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I think you have a hard choice ahead of you.As far as I know George used the SG and Casino on Revolver and Eric Clapton gave him "Lucy" while they were recording the White Album.(I guess you know Clapton used on"While my guitar...."When John got the Casino during Revolver it became his main electric from then on.Of course the J160E figures into Beatle songs just about from day one.I think I'd go for the Casino as that's the guitar John,George and Paul had in common and was an integral part of their recordings from"Ticket to Ride" to Abbey Road and Let it Be.The J160E would be my second choice it played such an important part in songs like"I feel fine""I'll be back" etc.If you got the plain Casino you'd still get the Beatle vibe and may have enough left to get an Eppy EJ160E that sounds almost identical to the Gibson but is far cheaper.I must say the John Lennon Casino is by far a better guitar than any of the other Eppys I've mentioned(I have a John Lennon and natural Casino as well as a EJ160E)it has the identical tone of John's own Casino(I run it through a Vox amp)and the quality is outstanding,a dream to play.I hope this was of some help.

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The J160E is on more Beatle recordings than any other guitar (it's surprising how often it as used electrically)' date=' followed by the Casino, so those are far more essential ingredients to the Beatles sound than the LP (though it's ALWAYS nice to have an LP).

 

If you are choosing between the J160E and Elitist Casino, (and if you are limiting your J160E choice to the Epiphone brand only), then you'll find that the Elitist Casino is inarguably a superior instrument, if it's in your budget. You'll find PLENTY of sonic (and other) differences between it and a Dot Deluxe.

 

The Epiphone EJ160E is [u']not[/u] a Gibson J160E Standard (or Lennon spec) sound-alike, especially when unamplified. Like the Gibson J160E Standard, the Epiphone is a solid topped, x braced guitar, but even they sound night and day different. The Gibson standard is drier, punchier, more muscular, and more midrange-forward. The Epiphone's voice is nice, but flatter and less distinctive. It's a very pleasant guitar to play, though. It features a thinner neck and lower frets than the Gibson. It also has a different pick up. The Epiphone has a P100, which is a stacked humbucker. The Gibson J160E Standard has been sold with a true P90 for several years for more of that Beatley amplified sound (with the right strings). Earlier incarnations had a P100, too, if you're buying used.

 

You'll hear even more difference between the solid top EJ160E/J160E Standard and the true, '60s spec reissues ( like Gibson's Lennon "Peace" model, and those sold by Fuller's). These guitars are as akin to a hollow body electric archtop as they are to an acoustic dreadnaught, and sound it. If you heard one played acoustically, you'd think it was stuffed with socks. They have laminated tops with horizontal ladder braces, and adjustable bridges. Now, these are features which would otherwise be considered detrimental to an acoustic guitar's performance, but, they make the reissues prized for truly sounding like what you hear on Beatles recordings, both acoustically and electrically. Vintage and vintage spec J160Es have a very quick note decay, punchy thud, and cutting midrange, which is why they're so good as a rhythm instrument.

 

You have to keep in mind that in the late 50s and early 60s, no one expected an amplified acoustic to SOUND exactly the same, just LOUDER when amplified, the way we do today. The original J160E was really a hollow body electric guitar in acoustic guitar guise, and it's best to think of it this way. You'll be surprised how often the electric guitars on Beatle recordings is the really the J160E.

 

The Epiphone EJ160E approximates this, but doesn't nail it. It's a more convential sounding acoustic than a J160E Standard or Lennon Reissue, and for that reason, it doesn't sound as Beatley amplified. The Elitist Casino, on the other hand, pretty much sound like you'd expect, which is fantastic.

 

Red 333

Whew...... that wore me out

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