fazeka Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 (edited) Hi all, Well, I had my heart set on a nice US-made Casino until I did some research on it. I mean, I was already getting used to the '57-'63 Epi headstock and the Mickey Mouse pre-'63 horns but yeah I was making some compromises (yes, it's not claimed to be a vintage reissue and most of us want the larger headstock and post-'63 pointier horns, etc.). You'd think they would get it "right" but I guess I'm dreaming... A couple of things are bumming me out with this new Casino (enlarge the pics to see the detail I am talking about): 1. The strap buttons on the assumed-2021 production Casino looks like what's on some of the recent Gibsons, those fugly oversized strap buttons. I get it, more secure. Just looks wrong on this Casino. Compare... 2019 prototype strap buttons Assumed 2021 production strap button (check bottom near tailpiece) Also notice the hex adjustable tun-o-matic posts...like WTF?!? 2. The tuners on the assumed-2021 production Casinos are not like the original Kluson-style with the proper-sized bushings but instead those Grover-type tuner bushings (larger tuner holes). Gibson headstocks just look wrong with these Grover-type bushings, IMO. 2019 prototype Kluson-style tuners Assumed 2021 production Grover-type tuner bushings The pics of the 2019 prototype look GREAT and appear to have all the right parts. The Royal Tan prototype serial is 135090174 indicating a December 16, 2019 build. This appears legit as these guitars likely were the ones that showed up at NAMM January 2020, just prior to COVID. So it makes sense that they were built in December 2019. The serial on the 2021 Casino on the Sweetwater site is hard to decipher so I attempted some "photo enhancements" to try to bring it out a little more: 2021 US-made Casino serial I think it's something on order of "20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx" indicating a March 5, 2021 or March 10, 2021 build (i.e., current production). So sure, I can buy the proper strap buttons and ABR posts. I believe they sell conversion bushings (although, the washer from the Grover-type bushings creates circular scratches in the headstock), but we're already paying ~$2.5k for this @#$% thing! I hope I am wrong that these Casinos will have these features but I fear I am not... Edited April 10, 2021 by fazeka clean up of links Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Accept it or pay extra. Sweetwater's photo is what you're going to get. It's not a shock that a guitar made by Gibson is using the parts that Gibson uses. As you said, this is vintage-inspired, not a reissue. Even then, it's inspired by 1962-1963 models, so your initial complaint about headstock and body shape isn't that they are wrong, it's just not your preference. Personally, I hate the strap buttons that appear on the prototype, so I'm glad they aren't using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt4356 Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Are you planning on playing the thing or framing it? The first thing I do with almost all my electrics is change the strap pins for strap locks, the same goes for my gibson custom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Fazeka, I know you from BGC where I’m known by my Knick name, Lucky. I saw your Thread there.. I’ve had a Royal Tan on Order for more than a year... I kept hoping they would be more like J, P & G. I keep hoping that we haven’t seen the real finished Guitar yet & they will fix all the things you mentioned.. I’ll still take delivery.. The question will be, is it better than the 3 I already have? If not I will most likely return it & get an LP Goldtop with P90’s & Bigsby... it will end up good either way! Thanks for your Post.. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 11 hours ago, fazeka said: Hi all, 2. The tuners on the assumed-2021 production Casinos are not like the original Kluson-style with the proper-sized bushings but instead those Grover-type tuner bushings (larger tuner holes). Gibson headstocks just look wrong with these Grover-type bushings, IMO. 2019 prototype Kluson-style tuners Assumed 2021 production Grover-type tuner bushings These look like the standard Gibson/Kluson tuners with pressed in bushing and not the larger threaded bushing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 6 minutes ago, mihcmac said: These look like the standard Gibson/Kluson tuners with pressed in bushing and not the larger threaded bushing Yes, they do. However, I believe this photo (like the other photos on the Epiphone site this photo is from) is of the prototype, serial 135090174, and I suspect will NOT represent what we'll find on the production ones. Hope I'm wrong... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 (edited) 44 minutes ago, fazeka said: Yes, they do. However, I believe this photo (like the other photos on the Epiphone site this photo is from) is of the prototype, serial 135090174, and I suspect will NOT represent what we'll find on the production ones. Hope I'm wrong... This image is from the Epiphone site of the current USA Casino being sold. Which tend to be more accurate than any of the vender sites. Edited April 10, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 11, 2021 Author Share Posted April 11, 2021 Sorry to disagree with you... Not sure if you're aware of it, but those pics you are posting of the Epiphone website are of what I am calling the "prototype", serial 135090174. 12/16/19 build. 2019 U.S. Casino "prototype" serial I call it the "prototype" based on the new Sweetwater listing for the Casino serial 20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx. Like I mentioned earlier, clearly this is a more recent 2021 build, March 5 or March 10 of 2021, to be exact. If this were the same time as last year, I would have more hope that what's being shown on the Gibson site would be what the production model will be. It wouldn't be the first time Gibson advertises something that differs from the production model. In fact, it's not uncommon for other manufacturers to do this, as well. I am probably in the minority but I was already hemming/hawing on paying based on a $2699 retail with the features I would like, basically based on a vintage Casino (which wouldn't be difficult for them to do, check out the U.S. Texan, they got the tuners right on that one despite it not being marketed as a reissue). Like I said, I hope I'm wrong. And hope you are right. My ego's not that big... 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 (edited) The pics on the Epiphone site are the most accurate as to what they are currently selling. Edited April 11, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 Can you guys make out the Serial # on the Headstock from the Pic on Sweetwater? Is it the same as Fazekas Imgur Pic? For years Gibson & Epiphone Websites have been notorious for not having up to date Pics & Specs.. Are we positive this is any different? I think we’ll know when we actually have one in our Hands... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 Lucky, as I stated in my original post: "I think it's something on order of "20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx" indicating a March 5, 2021 or March 10, 2021 build (i.e., current production)." 2021 US-made Casino serial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 (edited) It looks like the one on the far left from the Epiphone site and the one on the far right from fazeka's Imgur possibly have the same serial numbers.. Those being Royal Tan and the one in the middle is the Vintage Sunburst. Edited April 12, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 Um, that's not a "possibly", that's a "yes". My image is just stored on Imgur; the source image is from the Epi site. FWIW, Lucky was asking about the serial of the new 2021 production Casino, which I shared the link to above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 (edited) Hmm looks like 2069467 maybe.. But I don't think it would be correct translating to Production year: June 1992 (serial: 9467) Made by Samick, Korea. Edited April 12, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 That serial is from the pic off the Sweetwater site. It looks like "20641xxxx" or "20691xxxx". The current Gibson serial format as I understand it is: DdddYxxxx. The "D" is the decade ("2"), the "Y" is the year within the decade ("1"). So, "21" as in 2021. The "ddd" is the day of the year. "064" or "069" is March 5 or March 10, respectively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 (edited) From the factory this past weekend. Take from it what you can: My disappointment is that this appears to be a Chinese case, the same one that was used for the anniversary Casino and Sheraton about ten years ago and has been recently marketed for the 1966 Century. They look nice, but they are a step down from the Canadian or Costa Rican TKL cases that Gibson guitars (including the USA Texan) uses. Edited April 12, 2021 by pohatu771 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 12, 2021 Author Share Posted April 12, 2021 See, that's funny. I suspected it was going to be a Chinese case (don't get me wrong, hate that too, but a little more easily correctable). I would have been fine if everything else was "vintage spec" (see my post above) and the case was the only "problem". I see the Grover bushing "washers"... yup, as I suspected. Bummer!☹️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 (edited) I think the China Epiphone cases are Gray inside like my Epiphone SG, 335 and 339 cases. I haven't seen blue inside yet, it could be something nice Gibson got for the Casino. A $2600 guitar should come with a nice case. Edited April 13, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 (edited) 24 minutes ago, mihcmac said: I think the China Epiphone cases are Gray inside like my Epiphone SG, 335 and 339 cases. I haven't seen blue inside yet, it could be something nice Gibson got for the Casino. A $2600 guitar should come with a nice case. Standard Epiphone cases are black with grey interiors. The reissue and anniversary models have vintage-style grey/blue cases. They've been used for the anniversary 1961 Casino, 1962 Sheraton, 1962 Sorrento, and 1966 Century (all the same case, as far as I know; I have my Sheraton in the "Century" case), and the 1962 Crestwood Custom. These are mine - the TKL Canada included with the USA Texan, one marketed as the 1966 Century (that has a Sheraton in it), and the one included with the 1962 Crestwood Custom. I believe the case in Casino photo is the same as the Century. Edited April 13, 2021 by pohatu771 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fazeka Posted April 13, 2021 Author Share Posted April 13, 2021 Yup, you can tell right away in that photo which one the TKL is and the ones that are Chinese... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 (edited) I hope the Casino gets a TKL 335 Case with an Epiphone badge.. Some of my cases dehumidifying in the sun... Edited April 13, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 I have a James Bay Century that came in the grey repro 50's/60's case with the blue interior. I don't fancy much the texture of the exterior, but it's a well made case. I don't think you should worry about that. The hardware is nice, it latches easily, and it seems solid. I like the welded construction of the seams on the exterior covering. I have cases from Gibson Custom and Gibson Acoustic (so TKL) that have all these little dangling threads coming off of the exterior material's seams, or else the material is lifting off the body of the case, so that is a welcome construction detail. The grey case's interior seems to be a good compromise between the extreme plushness of some modern cases and the Epiphone cases from the fifties and sixties which inspired the look of these cases, but were even stingier with the padding. I have a Gibson Legend 1942 J-45 , which is about as spendy as J-45s go, and it came with a repro of a 1942 case. For the cost of the guitar, you'd think it would come with something better than what amounts to a chipboard case, but it's true to the original, like these grey, vintage-inspired Epiphone cases. Red 333 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 The exterior covering (and the handle) are my only real complaints about this case. And today I confirmed that it is the same one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Yeah. Like seal skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makeety Makondo Posted June 3, 2021 Share Posted June 3, 2021 It's not a reissue, so these details are neither here nor there, really. What I do find odd, VERY odd... Has anybody noticed the fretboard inlays? They're BACKWARDS!! lol... Seriously, they point the wrong way! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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