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Gibson ES-335 or Epiphone Casino


ddsax422

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These are different guitars

  The ES 335 is a semi hollow guitar whilst the Casino is completely hollow.  These guitars give different sounds but as to playing the Casino is much lighter.

For me if I could get a 70s or 80s Japanese Casino I'd go for it.

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I have both & like them pretty much equally… They are different Guitars & each have a different Sound.. Both sound great though.. The Casinos are lighter which is great if you’re playing for long periods while standing..  The ES335’s have a longer playable scale fretboard to hit the high notes which is great for Lead Guitar.

I tend to play my Casinos more.. I really like the versatility of their Sound.. They do everything well..

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Referencing the US built models below...

Hmmm, the Casino is much lighter in weight being a true hollow body, would give more acoustic sound unplugged. When plugged in the P90's mounted on the acoustic chamber react  nicely producing a really wide range of tone.

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The ES-335 is a semi hollow with a center block. Has easy access to the high notes with the fingerboard being farther outboard of the body. The Humbuckers are usually very pleasing and work with just about any genre.

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Tough choice, depending on how you play, or what you need to get out of them.

Edited by mihcmac
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On 8/12/2021 at 6:50 AM, Larsongs said:

Yeah, I think most here are familiar with the differences between them.. No worries..

Yep, they are very different....           🙂

the Royal Tan True Hollow Body below is the current kind of similar to the Beatle version, I think.... You could probably get about 5 MIC Casino's for the price of this one.

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the ES-335 just rocks..

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or you could get a Semi Hollow ES-335 P90 and confuse the issue a little.

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or a True Hollow Body ES-330 and confuse it a lot more, if you are going after sound and not a Lennon look alike.

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hmmm, also need to mention the "339 sized" True Hollow Body MIC Casino Coupe..

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Edited by mihcmac
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20 hours ago, SteveFord said:

Larsongs,

You have the black one with the P90s?

Neck profile says Rounded C, I'll bet that's a great guitar!

No, I have the Vintage Sunburst Gibson ES335 like the one in the above Picture.

I also have an Epiphone USA Casino in Royal Tan with Nickel Dogear P90’s on Order.. Like the one in the above Picture….

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After 15 years with a Korean Casino, I'm now four months in with the USA model. This is pretty much my perfect guitar.

I'd like a traditional ES-335, but I have the Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth for something that combines classic design elements to make something that looks modern.

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11 hours ago, pohatu771 said:

After 15 years with a Korean Casino, I'm now four months in with the USA model. This is pretty much my perfect guitar.

I'd like a traditional ES-335, but I have the Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth for something that combines classic design elements to make something that looks modern.

Congrats on your NGD! Curious what you mean by, pretty much perfect? I also have a Peerless Korean Casino with Bigsby & it’s a good Guitar but the Pickups don’t sound as good as the Gibson USA P90’s in my IBJL Revolution Casino or my 50th Anniv. 1961 Casino with Tremotone… The latter being my go to Casino for several years.. It’s on par with the Elitist’s that I’ve Played. 

I’m hoping the new USA Casinos will be even better…

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On 8/11/2021 at 9:49 AM, Notes_Norton said:

I like the Casino better. Why? P90s rule!!!

I like the Gibson ES-330 for the same reason.

After playing P90s exclusively for a  year, everything else just sounds dull.

 

 

I bought a used Epi Dot  for $300 and installed Fralin P-92s for another $300, and for $600, I've got a guitar that feels and plays like a 335, but probably sounds closer to a 330 than a 335. Like you, I love P-90s. I may have painted myself into a corner, because almost all of my guitars have pickups with similar sonic descriptions to P-90s... more mids, better articulation than most humbuckers and more like single coils, and a little more grit.

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The new ES-335 has "calibrated T-type" pickups instead of the traditional '57 classics. From what I can tell, the newer pickups are more articulate (less muddy) and not as warm as the old ones, but not quite as well rounded and pretty as the '57s. Some may describe them as lifeless, but I actually prefer them, esp. cranked where their texture really shines through.

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43 minutes ago, Notes_Norton said:

I have a Korean Casino (Peerless factory).

Is there a significant difference between the USA and the Korean model?

Curiously,
Notes

The Peerless, I own one, are really good Guitars. Especially with upgraded USA P90’s…

There are many differences between the Peerless & USA.. 5 Ply vs 3 Ply Top to begin with… All the Electronics, Tuners, Nut & Pickups are highest quality USA vs MIC or MIK. There is no Royal Tan in Asian or Korean Casino’s.. Many of the Appointments like reverse Neck Inlays & Headstock. There are probably more but this gives an idea….

The biggest thing to me is the sound difference.. The Asian P90’s are brittle & harsh while the USA P90’s aren’t….

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You guys may also like the new design,  MIC   ES-335 Figured with the Raspberry Tea Burst finish..

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or for a few thousand more, the Gibson ES-335 Figured with the Iced Tea finish...

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Edited by mihcmac
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