its98tonight

OP here, I just purchased another MIC Casino from 2013. I was surprised to find some subtle differences. 2013 has a small square block under the bridge that 2021 does not have. 2013 also features a chunkier neck and thicker headstock (2013 = 5/8”, 2021=1/2”). I just installed Lollar’s in the 2013 and it sounds amazing. B7 soon to follow!

Reach out if you have any questions. It's was a huge improvement over the factory pickups IMO. Just to reiterate, don't try to use CTS pots/jacks/switches because they won't fit and you don't want to drill into the guitar to make them fit. Also, have the pickup builder custom wind a set that will fit into your existing covers. That way you can drop them directly back into the holes they drilled at the factory to install the covers. Lollar did mine and they were very accommodating.

It's a significant investment to change the wiring harness and have Lollar install their 50s wind inside the stock covers but it's a major improvement on tone. I made my own 50s style harness by purchasing a soldering station, new Alpha A500k and B500k pots, along with a genuine Epiphone switch and jack, orange drop caps as well as braided and cloth wiring. You might save the headache and buy those parts to then give them to a trusted Luthier. Hollow bodies are a pain to work on. I opted for those parts not because they were the best but because they would not require any drilling. Let's say all that costs you around $500, then your $799 just became $1299. Me being me, I went ALL IN and paid someone to Install a B7 onto my Casino. I have just over $1,600 total invested in the Casino. Anymore and it'll be creeping into Gibson Memphis ES-330 territory. That being said, the guitar sounds absolutely incredible. I think the addition of the Bigsby did something special. I'm just making an assumption here but I wondering if the surface contact that the B7 makes with the arch top kind of limits how much the guitar can resonate. Either way, it's a great player and I don't sweat bullets when I take it out to gigs like I do with some of my other more expensive guitars.

Bigsby B7 tremolos are tough to get at the moment. I did manage to find a new one in the aluminum finish from a seller on reverb for just over $170 but the photos were stock images. In the image, the Patent information was not painted over. On other sites, such as Guitar Center and Musician’s Friend, Bigsby B7 tremolos are back ordered, listed for $225+ and their stock photos show the Patent information covered in black paint. Again, my question is only in regards to the non-gold finished B7 tremolos and whether black paint covering or not covering the Patent information signifies anything. I’ve included links below, for your perusal. What I purchased: https://reverb.com/item/2973234-vibrato-bigsby-b7-for-arch-top-electric-guitars-color-aluminum Musician’s Friend: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/bigsby-b7-vibrato-kit--arch-top-solid-body-guitars

They are nice looking and I’d really like to have one for my MIC. I’ve read where they were sold with models in the past and most currently are being sold with the made in USA Casinos. Any leads are much appreciated!

I second trying a “full-size” MIC Casino. Pickup swap will really brighten things up if you’re willing to make that investment. I just watched this video of the new USA made Casino and was pretty horrified by the quality.

I’m the guy who also had a broken bridge pickup. If you like the guitar I would HIGHLY suggest doing the following. Ask the seller for a discount, remove the pickups, send them to Lollar to have them install a custom set of their 50s wind P90s into those covers ($300). Those epi P90s don’t hold a candle to the 50s winds I just installed. Best part is, it’s the original cover so you’d never know visually, but audibly it’s a night/day difference.

Replacement Casino is here and everything seems okay. Visually, the body’s wood grain has a bit more character and the Pau Ferro neck is much darker than the first. The pick guards were haphazardly cut out on both guitars but I doubt I’ll be playing with one anyway. There is some buzzing happening but if I don’t play heavy handed, the buzzing completely disappears. The frets are very gritty. I need to get some synthetic steel wool and polish them. Overall, the guitar is good but it is much darker than I’m used to. I’ve been playing a Telecaster through an original 68 Princeton for the past 10 years or so. With the Tele, treble and bass knobs were usually sat around 4-5 and 3-4, respectively. With the Casino and it’s metal pickup covers, I’m having to almost dime my treble and completely cut the bass. When I do that, the guitar sounds amazing. Not really an issue, but a little concerning if I were to ever get stuck with a backline amp that’s not a bright as a Fender. Amps aside, I probably just need time to get acclimated to P90s. Little side note, I have average sized hands and after playing a tele for the past decade, this scale length is much more comfortable. Chord shapes that were difficult before are now played with ease. Also, (stop me if this is all in my head but) my tele has 6105 narrow tall fret wire and the combination of the scale length and string tension causes me to press significantly hard with certain chord shapes. This can sometimes lead to pitchy notes. With the 6130 medium jumbo frets and smaller scale length, I haven’t encountered those problems.

I stumbled upon a 2019 release of a 12-string Epiphone Riviera. After doing a little digging, it seemed like American Musical Supply were indeed the exclusive dealer of said guitar (never know with marketing these days). I thought it was interesting to see an actual exclusive guitar being offered by a dealer as opposed to just an exclusive finish, of exclusive spec (i.e. factory bigsby), etc. Anyways, I’m hoping Epiphone decides to do another run as I’m not able to find one second hand.

Exchange is already underway. I did enjoy the way it played underneath all the horrible buzzing. Unfortunate about the solder but I image the QC sticker is worth about as much as the paper it’s printed on. I’m curious what the differences in tuners, bridge, tailpiece are between the MIC and USA Casinos. Regardless, I doubt upgrading is as easy as I’m imagining (imperial vs metric). Other than that, maybe a bone nut? Great guitar for the price. Hoping this incoming replacement is the ONE.

After a 4 week wait, the MIC Epiphone Casino was delivered today. There is a broken solder point on the bridge P90’s bass side. I am opting to return rather than solder myself because I don’t want to risk discoloration of the cover. https://imgur.com/gallery/rrEGwh8

I don’t really understand how a half-dozen specs require an additional $2k...

The $2k price difference between the MIC and USA Casinos had me taking a hard look at what the differences were, some being changeable (electronics, hardware) and others being more permanent fixtures (fretboard material, finish). Obviously, there are an array of differences but my main concern was what makes a Casino sound like a Casino... What it came down to was 5-ply layered maple with brass wood bracing construction in the MIC vs. 3-ply maple/poplar/maple construction in the USA. This information is from the Epiphone site (the same site that reserves the right to change specifications at any time) so take it for what it’s worth. That being said, I’m interested to see if the MIC scratches the itch as they seem to have generally favorable reviews. As for the USA model, I’m sure it’s fantastic but I’m just not a fan of the “Open Book,” look.

I don’t know what you’re on about with the mention of worn, coupe, Korean and Indonesian... The original post says 2021 MIC Epiphone Casino... Here’s a link if any further clarification is needed: https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPIBDM867/Casino/Natural

I was reading this blog post on Lollar’s website. I didn’t realize there was minute differences in the spacing, depending on the Casino. Was surprised to read that they’ll wind new P90s and install them in the old chrome dogears. I think that might be easiest... https://www.lollarguitars.com/dogear-and-casino-model-page

I was just watching a video on installing aftermarket P90s in a MIC Casino. It looks like the stock pickups are curved to match the contour of the body but most aftermarket pickups are flat and come with shims. Is that a huge deal?

If the pickups are super hot then that may be a necessary swap. I almost went for the USA but again, the goal was to get something up a little cheaper (<$1k) to gig with. Hoping they continue to manufacture (what is frankly a model that deserve a permanent place in the Custom Shop) in the USA. As for the rest... I don’t doubt they’re worth it, but the price tags on the MIJ guitars seems a little inflated to me. I’m guessing because there just hasn’t been any options in the past (MIC, MIJ or Vintage). Good luck with the wait, I hate buying something sight unseen but there’s not much of a choice these days...

I bought a 2021 MIC Casino. Wondering what will need tending to outside of a typical “new guitar set-up.” I’ve read where the fretwork was rough in the past. Not sure if the pickups, bridge or tuners need any attention. I own a custom shop Fender and Martin and while I appreciate to build quality those guitars, I wanted a hollow-body for rhythm playing that wouldn’t give me anxiety just for bringing to a gig. Not expecting it to play like a dream directly out of it’s cardboard box, but I’m hoping if give attention to the right places, it’ll be a nice little instrument.