Lennon Revolution Casino question #2 (opinion needed)

[mgrmatt]

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has one of the actual reissued Lennon Natural Revoloution Casino's and what they thought about it ,sound and quality wise?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt

[RotcanX]

Once is a typo. Three times is bad spelling. 'Revolution'. Aaargh.

 

Sorry that I can't help you with your question... not too many people have that baby.

[Vic Flick]

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has one of the actual reissued Lennon Natural Revoloution Casino's and what they thought about it ' date='sound and quality wise?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt[/quote']

 

I have one, top notch quality all-around.

 

[byrds1965]

Played one the other day. Naperville Music in Illinois still has one hanging on the wall. It has been there for a while now.

 

I played it about a year ago along with my MIK and a burst Elitist they had. Out of all of them it was the best of the bunch. The quality was flawless though so was the Elitist.

 

The Elitist seemed a little brighter as did my MIK. The Lennon more woody. I am a huge Beatles fan, but I know I would just put it away and never play it and for the cost I can have a few other guitars. If you have the money the Lennon is the one to get. It will hold its value or increase.

 

Look Naperville Music up on line. They may be willing to deal on the one they have. It has been there a long time now.

 

Good luck.

[Red 333]

I was wondering if anyone on the forum has one of the actual reissued Lennon Natural Revoloution Casino's and what they thought about it ' date='sound and quality wise?

 

Thanks,

 

Matt[/quote']

 

I have it a Revolution, the 1965 Lennon casino, and an Elitist. Both the Lennons are superior to the Elitist, with the Revolution being the superior of the two. The Elitist is an EXCELLENT guitar, but the two Lennons have more bark and snarl. I probably give the nod to the Revolution because I so much prefer how it feels, with the satin finish.

 

Red 333

[mgrmatt]

RotcanX,Thank god I play better than I spell!!!

[byrds1965]

"The Elitist is an EXCELLENT guitar, but the two Lennons have more bark and snarl"

 

Red you explained it better here than I did.

 

My MIKs and the Elitist I played have a brighter more electric sound. The Lennon Revolution I played and the Red Peerless I used to have, had more of that growl to them. The closest way to describe them is they have a Gretsch growl to them. I'm sure it's combination of things but the plastic saddles seem to dampen the high end and sustain some.

 

I have a 64 Tennesean and it has that same bark or growl to it. I had my red casino at the same time I had my natural and burst MIK, and the red one sounded more similar tone wise to my Gretsch rather than the other 2 casinos.

 

Hard to describe a sound in words.

[charlie brown]

"Lennon" Casino's are top notch, through and through. The "Snarl/Growl" is (for one thing) because the pickups are wound to the same tolerances as John's were. Pots, as well. They did extensive research on his actual guitar, to come up with one as close as humanly possible, to that original. The Korean and "Elitist" versions are great guitars...just not to the spec's, of the "Lennon" version.

"Elitist" do have "Amerian" electronics, but to more "current" in specs, as opposed to 1965 tolerances...I suspect, anyway.

I own a 1966 Casino, and it "Growls" like the Lennon one, too....bit "rounder" in tone, from the Korean, or even the "Elitist," for lack of a better explaination. But, wonderfully clean, too, when needed. What I don't know, is if the wood, on the Lennon ones, is "aged" more? I would suspect so, but can't be sure.

 

CB

[pohatu771]

I have a little question to follow-up with the wood aging...

 

Is the Revolution supposed to be a reproduction as the guitar is now (meaning 1999), or as it was in 1968?

 

Thirty years would certainly make some difference.

[charlie brown]

Only in, as an approximation, at best! I think, if anything, the wood for the Lennon Casinos is probably from the

same stock, they (Gibson) use for the VOS or vintage correct replicas. Maybe Uncle Al, or someone else, here,

has a bit more insight?

 

CB

[RotcanX]

I have a little question to follow-up with the wood aging...

 

Is the Revolution supposed to be a reproduction as the guitar is now (meaning 1999)' date=' or as it was in 1968?

 

Thirty years would certainly make some difference.[/quote']

 

That's an incredibly good question. I would assume that these guitars represent the original guitar as it was in 1968, that is to say they are what you would have if you had taken a time machine back to 1968 and stolen it from John. The way to really make a guitar look 30 years old takes 30 years, and AFAIK these instruments are not 'relicked'.

[frenchie1281734003]

Having followed this thread with interest,i thought i might add a few comments about this guitar and it`s accuracy.Firstly let me state,these Lennon reissue Casino`s are the best,most accurate version currently available,and only owning a real mid sixties Casino,could possibly make you any happier.Having said that,no matter what anybody says,the guitar(both versions)is a very close approximation of Lennon`s original,let me explain.I think Gibson genuinely wanted to make a very accurate copy of Lennon`s guitar,but the actual cost of doing so was too prohibitive,so compromises had to be made.First off body/neck production was done at Terada(no problem there,excellent factory),finishing and h/ware installation plus final set up was done by Gibson themselves,again no problem,and this added the meat to the authentic look of the original.The differences are in the details,i for one am sure Gibson used off the shelf electrics and h/ware on these guitars,for example,the gold Grovers should say pat pending around the inner edges,and they don`t,and on the "65"model,they should be Klusons,and stamped so(there`s plenty available on ebay)instead they are blank Gotoh`s(Japanese h/ware!!),so why should the pots and pickups be anymore accurate?.Other differences to Lennon`s actual guitar although minor are as follows.1)The metal pointers under the knobs,point straight up,on Lennon`s original they are at about a 45 degree angle.2)It has concerned me that the wood grain on the majority of these reissues,is quite pronounced,with wide grain lines,as opposed to the spikey kind of mountain range less pronounced look of the older original guitars(hope you get my drift)the basic body of this guitar,barring the finish appears no different to the Elite/Elitists(even though Gibson state the Lennon`s are 5 ply Maple/Birch,and the Elitists are 5 ply Maple,(they look the same to me).3)nowhere in the bumpf from Gibson do they state that they used Brazillian Rosewood for the fret board,and neither does it look like they did.4)The Epsilon E on the truss rod cover is slightly wrong in shape,and too thick(heavier print).5)The epiphone name on the h/stock,is made out of the wrong material,and is again too thick,and most obvious of all,the dot is above the "I",whereas on the original(and most 64-65 guitars)it`s above and behind the "I".6)The pearloid neck inlays,are again different to the original material.7)On the back of the h/stock you will find, the reproduction serial stamp 328393 is too low down,it should be higher and slightly slanted.8)The bottom of the neck heel joint,is the wrong shape,compared to the originals.These are all minor issues,which in no way detract from the guitars themselves,which are superb,i don`t believe for one second any speial aged ply was used for the bodies of these guitars.I also feel the main difference in tone between the Lennons and Elite/Elitist models is down to the little Nylon bridge saddles,and the pickups(The bumpf says the Elite/Elitist pickups are U.S made,but doesn`t say Gibson made!!),plus they are wax potted whereas the Lennon`s aren`t(so i`ve been told).In reply to pohatu771`s question,the Revolution is a reproduction of the guitar as of 1997(when they took the details and measurements),and the darker Amber finish attests to this.The 68 Revolution Casino,had a lighter finish and retained the Kluson tuners,and still had the Kluson tuners for the January 69 roof top concert.If you add the little black knob i suppose you could call it the "LIVE PEACE"(in Toronto)Casino,the Grovers having been fitted by then. Hope this clears a few things up,but it will probably lead to more questions!!.

[charlie brown]

I would agree, at least to some of the "detail differences," mentioned. I own a '66 Kalamazoo made, Casino. You're quite

right about the inlaid Epiphone name, on the headstock, being to thick (letters being too wide, etc.) And, it makes sense

that Gibson would have the guitars made, in Japan as Elitist's, then sent here for finishing and assembly, with "American"

(whatever THAT means, nowadays) parts. As to the "pointers" under the tone/volume controls. John, or..the person that

refinished his Casino, to "natural," could have positioned the pointers, as they appear, now? Who knows? All I know, is

that the Lennon Casino's are great guitars (as are the Elitist's their made beside). The "devil's in the details," thing, aside

from the inlay in the headstock, can all be made correct, by the buyer, should he/she choose to do that. Should they have

to? No...but, as you said, a completely seperate tooling/assembly in Nashville, for one guitar model, is cost prohibitive, and

silly! Buying the Lennon guitar, won't make you be, play, or compose, like Lennon. It's just a nod to his genious, and some funds for the "Spirit Foundation" (or Yoko's bank account, for the more cynical among us).

 

Cheers,

CB