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ES 330 vs Casino Elitist

Boca Bob

By Boca Bob
in Epiphone Electrics

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Boca Bob

Boca Bob

Posted
Posted

Getting gas for the holidays. I can spend half the money and get a Casino Elitist, or go all the way for a real 330. Come on guys/girls - side by side, assuming I can afford the 330, would I be sorry if I ran into a friend with a 330 and compared it with my Casino?

 

I can't help remembering a saying I saw on another forum: "no one ever bought a Gibson and afterwards wished they had an Epiphone."

 

So, Epi lovers - what say ye?

 

Thanks,

 

Bob in South Florida

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Jayyj

Jayyj

Posted
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I have both, 1965 ES-330 and '90s Japanese Casino. The 330 is perfect, just awesome and my favourite guitar that I own. The Casino is very different, good for Cuck Berry riffs and the inevitable Beatles moments. The dealer I work for had a '65 Casino for a few months a couple of years ago, an early one with the McCartney headstock, and that was very close to the 330 in feel and quality.

 

I've played a good number of Chinese and Korean Casinos and they're good value but personally the Japanese or US guitars are worth paying the extra for.

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Gunner

Gunner

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From the standpoint of build quality I don't think you would be sorry with the Elitist Casino. However, it has a 1-5/8" nut whereas I believe the ES-330 has a 1-11/16" nut. Another big difference would be poly vs. nitro. I personally don't mind poly but would pick the ES-330 based on the nut width. Like CB said, play them both if you can, but that isn't always an option.

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Parabar

Parabar

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From a strictly playability standpoint, it might well come down to the individual instruments as to which one you prefer. I would expect the ES-330 to hold its value better than an Elitist Casino should you decide to sell it later.

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freddairy

freddairy

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I was faced with this decision last week. I went with the Elitist. I wasn't too overly excited about the quality control on the past few American Gibsons I bought. I will say the Casino is more iconic looking. Well, at least rock and roll wise.

 

I'm a little bit worried about the narrow nut, I'll let you know when it gets here. I also picked up a I.B.J.L Casino which is also in route to me so I might be able to do a comparison. I'm about 90% sure I'll send the I.B.J.L back.

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Boca Bob

Boca Bob

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I'm pretty sure the Elitist Casino has a 1.68" nut, not 1 5/8", as stated above.

 

Sorry, but the Elitist Casino has a narrow 1 and 5/8" nut, not 11/16". It's listed as 1.625, which is 5/8".

 

That's way too narrow for my tastes. So I'm probably going with the 330. Heaven knows why they would've made it that narrow. I believe both the regular Casino and John Lennon ones are both 11/16" or 1.68". Go figure...

 

Here's the IBJL link: http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Inspired-by-John-Lennon-Casino.aspx

 

Here's the Regular link: http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Casino.aspx

 

Here's the Elitist link: http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Elitist-Casino.aspx

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freddairy

freddairy

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I guess I can't really say until I get my hands on my Elitist. But I don't get the whole it's too narrow thing. You hear more guys complain about that than their mid 60s Strats. 1 5/8s was the stock Fender B neck for many years. I'll let you all know in a couple of days.

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Boca Bob

Boca Bob

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I guess I can't really say until I get my hands on my Elitist. But I don't get the whole it's too narrow thing. You hear more guys complain about that than their mid 60s Strats. 1 5/8s was the stock Fender B neck for many years. I'll let you all know in a couple of days.

 

I didn't mean it was too narrow for everybody, just me. In fact, I personally like them even wider, say 1 and 3/4". I do a lot of finger picking and jazz chording. For me, some of the intricate jazz voicings need more left hand finger space. I'm only guessing, but I think 11/16" became the standard as many felt 5/8 was too narrow, and 3/4 too wide.

 

:-)

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freddairy

freddairy

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My 2013 Elitist was waiting for me when I got home from work today. I'm a big guy and I can say without a doubt the next isn't too narrow. I calibrated my calipers and the nut width is 1.640. Depth at the first fret .830. Compared to all the 60s B necks Fender put it this is about the same.

 

I also picked up the IBJL Casino yesterday. It has a bigger nut width 1.690 and about .850 depth at the first fret. The Elitist is a better all around guitar. Infact compared to the regular USA Standard Gibsons I've owned I'd say this guitar had higher quality control.

 

The ES 330 is a Custom Shop job so it's probably a fantastic guitar. But the Elitist will get the job done on a professional level.

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Boca Bob

Boca Bob

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My 2013 Elitist was waiting for me when I got home from work today. I'm a big guy and I can say without a doubt the next isn't too narrow. I calibrated my calipers and the nut width is 1.640. Depth at the first fret .830. Compared to all the 60s B necks Fender put it this is about the same.

 

I also picked up the IBJL Casino yesterday. It has a bigger nut width 1.690 and about .850 depth at the first fret. The Elitist is a better all around guitar. Infact compared to the regular USA Standard Gibsons I've owned I'd say this guitar had higher quality control.

 

The ES 330 is a Custom Shop job so it's probably a fantastic guitar. But the Elitist will get the job done on a professional level.

 

Thanks for the update Freddairy :-)

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dporto

dporto

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"Sorry, but the Elitist Casino has a narrow 1 and 5/8" nut, not 11/16". It's listed as 1.625, which is 5/8""

 

So you're talking about a difference of 1/2 of 1/16th of an inch spread over 6 strings. That's equal to 1/12th of 1/16th...That's equal to .0052 or 52 thousandths of an inch...Narrow? I would call it negligible...Now if you're talking about the difference between your average classical guitar and your average electric, you've got a valid point...

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Ed Zeplin

Ed Zeplin

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"Sorry, but the Elitist Casino has a narrow 1 and 5/8" nut, not 11/16". It's listed as 1.625, which is 5/8""

 

So you're talking about a difference of 1/2 of 1/16th of an inch spread over 6 strings. That's equal to 1/12th of 1/16th...That's equal to .0052 or 52 thousandths of an inch...Narrow? I would call it negligible...Now if you're talking about the difference between your average classical guitar and your average electric, you've got a valid point...

 

No it's 1/16 difference 5/8 = 10/16. I had an acoustic with a narrow nut and it did make a difference to me.

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bobouz

bobouz

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Narrow? I would call it negligible...Now if you're talking about the difference between your average classical guitar and your average electric, you've got a valid point...

Well, we're all different. I find the Elitist Casino neck to be smaller than I prefer, and that includes not just the width at the nut, but also the overall depth and profile all the way up the fingerboard. The Elitist is a wonderful instrument with a great tone, but for me the 330 is significantly more comfortable in hand.

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dporto

dporto

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Well, we're all different. I find the Elitist Casino neck to be smaller than I prefer, and that includes not just the width at the nut, but also the overall depth and profile all the way up the fingerboard. The Elitist is a wonderful instrument with a great tone, but for me the 330 is significantly more comfortable in hand.

 

That's fair enough, point is well taken.

 

"No it's 1/16 difference 5/8 = 10/16"

 

Yup your're correct (math is math...) ...it made sense at the time [blush]

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freddairy

freddairy

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I really think if you actually sat down with a 1 5/8th nut width Casino you would get used to it. I know some of you say it's a personal thing, I get that so I'm not trying to attack those, but I was in the same camp a few years ago and would only play large neck guitars. Then I started hanging around some Bluegrass musicians who could play circles around me on guitar, banjo, and mandolin and I started thinking it doesn't matter what shape the neck is really.

 

All the vintage Fenders are that size and you never hear anyone complain about their vintage Fender having too thin of a neck. Gibson necks got even smaller down to 1 9/16ths. But that said Freddie King played them in the 70s and I doubt there is anyone posting on this forum with larger hands than that man. Gary Clark Jr. plays an Elitist(1 5/8), a '61 RI (1 11/16) and a vintage '67(1 9/16ths). I've never met him, but he looks like a larger guy. But I guess when your playing on national TV and dating French models you don't worry too much about the nut width on your Epi. :)

 

Don't even get me started on Hendrix's big hands and his '67 Flying V. :)

 

Now all that said, I'm thinking of selling a Strat and a Silvertone to fund either a 330 or 335.

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bobouz

bobouz

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I really think if you actually sat down with a 1 5/8th nut width Casino you would get used to it.

Well, again I can only reference my own experience. I purchased an '09 Casino Elitist new with the 1-5/8" nut width, and have spent lots of time with it. I also have two '66 Gibsons with the 1-9/16" nut width, and a Valensi Riviera with a 1-5/8" nut width (and the overall smallest neck profile of the group). So I've had plenty of exposure to skinny necks, and I like each of these guitars for various reasons. But compared to my two 330s or any number of other instruments I own, they feel somewhat cramped & restrictive.

 

The original point is that if buying new, there will be differences in playability between an Elitist and a 330. Some players may find those differences to be minimal, while others may find them to be significant. Comparing the two in hand would be well worth any prospective buyer's time.

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charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted

My guitars all have different necks, both girth and width.

I just "adapt," when changing. And, if you play them

enough, it's not even a conscious effort, really.

 

BUT, having said that, the best advice on here, has been

to play/compare them side by side, and make one's decision

that way. That's Always the Best course, IMHO. Every guitar

varies, a little, even within the same model range.

 

Cheers,

CB

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Ed Zeplin

Ed Zeplin

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I really think if you actually sat down with a 1 5/8th nut width Casino you would get used to it. I know some of you say it's a personal thing, I get that so I'm not trying to attack those, but I was in the same camp a few years ago and would only play large neck guitars. Then I started hanging around some Bluegrass musicians who could play circles around me on guitar, banjo, and mandolin and I started thinking it doesn't matter what shape the neck is really.

 

All the vintage Fenders are that size and you never hear anyone complain about their vintage Fender having too thin of a neck. Gibson necks got even smaller down to 1 9/16ths. But that said Freddie King played them in the 70s and I doubt there is anyone posting on this forum with larger hands than that man. Gary Clark Jr. plays an Elitist(1 5/8), a '61 RI (1 11/16) and a vintage '67(1 9/16ths). I've never met him, but he looks like a larger guy. But I guess when your playing on national TV and dating French models you don't worry too much about the nut width on your Epi. :)

 

Don't even get me started on Hendrix's big hands and his '67 Flying V. :)

 

Now all that said, I'm thinking of selling a Strat and a Silvertone to fund either a 330 or 335.

 

For me the narrow nut caused my hands to cramp. I am sure others are much more dextrous than I but I have no problems playing my recently purchased J45. I my eyes a thin neck is no problem but the narrow one gave me issues.

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bonzoboy

bonzoboy

Posted
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After spending 4 glorious years with my 2 lovely Casinos-a 1965 John Lennon model that's one of the first 50 made and a natural finish Indonesian made model,I can saw without a single doubt that even the much cheaper MII one is of exemplary quality.You say that you'd prefer a "real" Gibson 330 but I can assure you that the "real" Epi Casinos are just plain incredible guitars too and they are quite simply the best bang for the buck in the Gibson family of guitars.I'd pick the Epi over the 330 any day for the simple fact that the Casino is a much better made and to my ears better sounding yet a more affordable choice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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