Casino4Life Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 i've got a 2005 Peerless Casino which I love and have pondered a electronics upgrade. What are peoples experiences with upgrading the electronics in their Casino's? Also thinking of adding a Switchcraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Lunatic Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Hmmmm Why are you pondering an "upgrade"? i.e. what is the guitar lacking, or what would you like to accomplish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordy01 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I've been talking to a few of my professional musician friends about this topic lately. I ask them what they would change, if anything, on their guitars if they could. Most of them say the biggest change in tone comes from changing their amp. They also have been saying lately that they are now using a Monster guitar cable, and that it has helped considerably. I know that some of the guys on various forums state that changing the pots and jack also helps, but in my opinion the change that comes from that would be small. It can't hurt, but it won't be the magic bullet we all look for. (I know I'm gonna catch flak for that statement) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingarmadillo Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I changed out the switch and the jack and put in Switchcraft - doesn't really change the tone but it did get rid of the tendency to drop out every now and then. I wouldn't change anything else. BTW, I have the same model year as yours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fringe Lunatic Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 The Monster cable thing reminds me of the many blindfold tests reported on the Web comparing Monster speaker cables with coat hangers. None of the self-described audiophiles could tell the difference. I'm in the amp camp, too. If changing the pots, switch and jack is done for reliability and somewhat more precise tone/volume control, I can see that, but better tone? Catching flak due to being in touch with reality is a forum hazard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 +1 for the amp. Every guitar I've ever plugged into my Pre-CBS Fender Pro Reverb sounds good, including $100 Epi Juniors, stock MIM telecasters and the Indonesian Squire Strat I bought my daughter for Xmas for $99. Can't say that about some of my other amps, but it's true for that Fender and one other blackface Fender I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 +1 for the amp. Every guitar I've ever plugged into my Pre-CBS Fender Pro Reverb sounds good, including $100 Epi Juniors, stock MIM telecasters and the Indonesian Squire Strat I bought my daughter for Xmas for $99. Can't say that about some of my other amps, but it's true for that Fender and one other blackface Fender I have. Yep. It's hard to beat a good vintage Fender amp. I love mine. I noticed you have "stock MIM Telecasters" sandwiched in between two $99 guitars in your example. Do you not like them or something? I had one for years and I thought it was a pretty good guitar. I wish they were only $100 too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casino4Life Posted January 11, 2011 Author Share Posted January 11, 2011 Again as I was saying I was "pondering" changing the amp as been on my mind, I am currently playing through a Fender Hot Rod Deville 410 but am looking to acquire a Fender Twin Reverb. I have played through a vintage '65 Twin Reverb and a reissue '65 and prefer the sound over the Hot Rod Deville, any thought? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Again as I was saying I was "pondering" changing the amp as been on my mind, I am currently playing through a Fender Hot Rod Deville 410 but am looking to acquire a Fender Twin Reverb. I have played through a vintage '65 Twin Reverb and a reissue '65 and prefer the sound over the Hot Rod Deville, any thought? IMO the Fender Twin is the best tube amp for "clean" sounds ever made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I noticed you have "stock MIM Telecasters" sandwiched in between two $99 guitars in your example. Do you not like them or something? I had one for years and I thought it was a pretty good guitar. I wish they were only $100 too. No I like them plenty, just was using as an example of "cheap" guitar. Maybe a squire would be a better metaphor. I had a nice one I traded for an Epi ES-175. Bought it for $300. I miss it now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twofeets Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I just got rid of the stock Epi P90's and put in a set of GFS P90's with a push-pull for phase reversal. I finally got the guitar back together tonight. Huge, huge difference in tone even with imported "semi-boutique" pickups. If you can find a set to work with your Casino's pickup covers, I recommend it. I think it's more of the equation than pots or cap or switch...not as much as the amp, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twofeets Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Oops - forgot to say my guitar is an ES295. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Upgrading the electronics certainly improves the tone, at least in my experience. Though in saying that, I changed the wiring configuration in my Casino a bit. I had CTS pots fitted, with linear pots for the tones (the stock ones are audio). I also used PIO capacitors, and a Switchcraft jack and switch. I had it rewired vintage style, with the capacitors connected to the tone and volume pots, and also had my tech wire it for independant volume controls, which is very useful. I kept the stock pickups as I was happy with them, and it definitely sounds a lot better than it did before, and it was already very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 My Opinion: In terms of overall sound dynamics, Type of guitar...In this thread, the Casino Amp and Pickups, then electronics. (same as most have said) As far as amp and pickups I think valid discussion can be made as to the importance of either. As to electronics, the switch and jack are, as stated, a matter of reliability. If changing the pots, switch and jack is done for reliability and somewhat more precise tone/volume control I believe that Fringe chose his words carefully and I wonder sometimes how many people actually understand what a statement like that means. Not trying to be insulting here as I know many of our members do understand. I have measured many stock pots after removing them for replacement reasons. On one set I measured recently (all were supposed to be 500k) I found 2 were at about 480k and 500k. Of the other 2, one pot measured 430k and the other was only 380k. This is not going to give you the functionality or control of a matched set of 500k pots. Simply buying "better quality" pots will get you just that. (more reliable and longer lasting ) Even that can be a crap shoot. Keep in mind that most/not all replacement pots have a tolerance of +/- 20%. This means that although you may be getting better quality construction you could still end up with pot values ranging from 400k to 600k when purchasing 500k pots. Thus, many suppliers are going to more expensive, better tolerance pots. Of course you can buy matched sets but, they come at a premium. More important is often the "type" of wiring scheme you use. Modern, vintage, dependent, independent all have an effect on the control you have available to you on the guitar itself. The type of taper on your pots and their use in volume and tone position can also be major factors. This is most often personal preference depending on how you use your controls. Swoop set forth a good example. I'm sure it is a valuable improvement for his setup. The vintage independent is a good and useful scheme. It is his preference and may not be what is desired by the next person. As to cables, better cables for short runs are not necessarily going to produce better sound. If you pay for the best it should be with the expectation that they are better constructed and more durable. If you just bought a high buck cable it probably will sound better than the cheaper, worn out cable it is replacing. So much for my opinion. Feel free to disagree. Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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