custer Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Ok everyone here it is. As a huge John Lennon fan, I just have to have a Casino. My problem is which one do I choose,the Epi Casino, Elitist Casino or John Lennon Casino? So far I have only been able to play an Epi Casino and quite frankly I wasn't impressed. However it was in a music shop and definatly could use new strings and a good set up. So all you Casino owners/lovers let me know what you think. I am buying this guitar to use onstage not to collect. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 well certainly if you can afford the elitist or the lennon go for it and if i was still playing out every weekend thats what i would get. That being said I have a sunburst casino w/bigs and a natural and had them both set up with new heavier strings put on and it makes a world of difference. The only other thing im gonna do is change the toggle. It just feels to fragile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingers hurt Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Get the Elitist . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Get the "Lennon," if you can afford it! "Elitist" would be my next choice... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 If your main guitar and you have the cash Lennon, then Elitist, if just one to add to the collection then the standard. If it has been hanging a long time see where it is made MIK = good, MIC = good now but early stuff was iffy. If a local store ask to restring and play it and see if it is the strings. If you don't like it find some place to play more they should not all be bad. If you play more and don't like Casinos, it is a unique sound that doesn't fit in all situations, then decide if you want an investment, the Lennon, or just find the best deal on a standard to add to the collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 word Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Go for the best you can afford.. Personally, I don't know if I'd get the Lennon... I'm a huge Beatles freak, but replica guitars are more like "showcase" instruments to me... I actually like to play my guitars without worrying about destroying their collector value... I have a Korean Casino made in '06, which is absolutely perfect... Haven't shown my pics in a while, so here goes.. I'd still like to get an Elitist, though... In VS.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 hey lerxst, thats one beeee - a - utiful casino!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
custer Posted July 24, 2008 Author Share Posted July 24, 2008 Asking the dealer to change the strings is an excellent idea as I really liked the feel of the neck. What gauge strings do you recomend for the Casino? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Thanks, cookieman... I was considering a VS when I was shopping for a Casino, but that grain just stopped me dead in my tracks... You don't see many natty Casinos that have much grain character at all (especially these days) I just had to have it! Custer... I have 10's on mine, but I'm gonna step it up to 11s with a wound third string... I set up a friend's Casino a couple weeks ago and threw 11s on it.. I really liked it... heavier strings move the top more, and bring out more of the Casino's acoustic qualities... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
custer Posted July 24, 2008 Author Share Posted July 24, 2008 Lerxst 11s might work well for me. I use 12s on my EJ200CE and 13s on my Taylor 310. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 My Casino is my favourite guitar, for a reason. It has the best neck I've ever felt. As far as which guitar you buy, I'd definitely say that the Lennon is the best... after all, it's a US-made guitar, as close to Kalamazoo as you're going to get anymore. If it's out of your price range, the Elitist, which is essentially the same, other than the finish. I have 10s on my Casino now, but in all honesty, strings have never really been a huge deal to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 I would say 11s with a wound G. I think they come stock with 10s? I took them off right away and changed to Markley's, their 11 set gives you a choice on the G string in the package of wound or unwound. I use 11s on all my hollow bodies and the Casino sounds better with the heavier strings. It will probably need the intonation set after the change, but if a local store it can't hurt to ask and they have a better chance of selling it if it is set up right. Most Casinos I have played sound similar so it may need a set up and strings so play another somewhere. Casinos have a very warm sound and you just may not like the tone. I have 2 Casinos but don't use them in a band setting as they get too fuzzy and just can't cut like a 335 or SG with distortion. You may like the sound you have to play them and see what works for you. I'm also a huge Beatles-Lennon fan but just could not see buying the Lennon Casino as for me it would just be a closet sitter. I think the Lennon and the Elitist are the same thing, shape, ply etc, minus the details. I played both side by side some time back. The Lennon has the plastic saddles and the Elitist metal making a bit brighter to me. I think they both come out of the same factory in Japan? The guys who own both can tell you the differences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 My 2003 MIK Casino is stock except for Graph Tech String Saver Saddles and 6" trapeze tailpiece. I REALLY LIKE this guitar. Which level Casino you buy could depend on you and your bandmates. If I had a Lennon, I'd worry too much about taking it anywhere except for something like a TV show or maybe opening for a big name group. Also, whether the Casino will be your main instrument can help you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 My Casino is my favourite guitar' date=' for a reason. It has the best neck I've ever felt. As far as which guitar you buy, I'd definitely say that the Lennon is the best... after all, it's a US-made guitar...[/quote'] The Lennon Casinos are made in Japan, in the same facilty the Elitist Casino and the other Elitist hollow and semi-hollows are made. The Lennons are "assembled" in the USA, though there is no clear explanation what that means. Probably that the electronics and hardware are added to the finished body. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 thicker gauge strings on a casino is a must. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwl325 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Well, I guess I've been fortunate enough to sample all except the Elitist. My first Casino was (is!) an MIK in dk. cherry that was literally an impulse buy while shopping for an amp. I'd been curious about the Casino for some time, so decided to try one while checking out a used Bassman during GC's Labor Day sale a couple years ago. I liked the guitar so much I decided to buy it. My next excursion was with a JL Revolution I found on the 'bay for a good BIN. This was truly a wonderful guitar, sounded as good unplugged as many acoustics I've played. Then last Fall, I scored one of the JL 1965 Refurbs MF was blowing out. Even as big a Lennon fan as I consider myself, I couldn't justify keeping both JLs, and deciding I could get more for the Rev, I decided to let her go. Interestingly, I was able to pick up several other guitars for the sale price, one of which was a used Natural. Upon getting the used Natural, I was initially a bit concerned, as the very light finish on the neck showed the various neck segments as I'd not noticed them before, so I was concerned it might have been a case of neck repair. Several of the nice folks here reassured me that wasn't the case, though the guitar is a refurb for some reason. Anyway, this one is Chinese-made, early 2007 vintage. Everything on her seems just fine--fit, finish, binding, etc.. The wood is very pretty beneath the finish. I'm having some fun cosmetically "Lennonizing" her a bit. To my amateur's hands, the neck feels a bit heftier than my MIK Casino, though I've not measured them to compare. All this said, the one version I haven't owned certainly seems like it might be the best "bang for the buck" Casino, and that's the Elitist model. This guitar is going to be very similar to the JL (essentially made in the same place), at half the price new, even better used. The main differences as I understand between the Elitist and the JLs are the finish (poly vs lacquer, respectively), some minor physical dimension differences, and the JLs are final-assembled here in the US, plus of course the case, case candy, etc. with the JLs. But the Elitist will still have the Gibson p/ups and electronics that the JLs have. If the ~$1K-ish price tag is still too much though, I don't think you'll be disappointed with either the MIK or MIC Casinos. Happy hunting! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 <...> I have a Korean Casino made in '06' date=' which is absolutely perfect... Haven't shown my pics in a while, so here goes..<...> [/quote'] Lerxst, you can show that MIK Casino any time you want! It's beautiful. I have a 2001 MIK Casino, and it is every bit as nice as my 1970 MIK (Kalamazoo) Gibson ES-330 (although the Gibson sound better unplugged, they sound very close plugged in). I bought them both used. When I went to GC to get a Casino, I was in the market for a new one, but like Lerxst, the wood grain on the used one I bought just looked better than the new ones, so I got it used. The previous owner changed the tuners, pots, and switches (possibly the pups), and I changed the knobs and pickguard. The neck is touch and go, the P90 sound is wonderful, the fit/finish are superb, and I really love playing it. I would like to try an Elitist, just to see what the difference is, but I can't imagine it would be that much, after all, the differences between my Casino and my Gibson aren't that great (Nitro finish, real MOP, higher fret access on the Gibby). Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I have a Natural 1983 Japanese Matsumoku made Casino,which has the best figured Maple i`ve yet seen.And not only that this guitar is as good as it looks.As you all know i`m a big fan of these(own three of them),my modded 82 Antique sunburst is my main gigging guitar,but this Natural is my play at home and stare lovingly at guitar.In my time i`ve played plenty of ES330`s,Kalamazoo Casino`s,as well as Korean and Terada made ones including a Lennon 65 model,and these Matsumoku`s compare very favourably with the best of them,and if anything they are among the best if you specifically want that raunchy John Lennon"Live peace in Toronto sound".Not sure who made these Pickup`s(rumour has it Maxon),they don`t sound like Gotoh.Anyway they are perfect for me.Frenchie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvdv Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Ok everyone here it is. As a huge John Lennon fan' date=' I just have to have a Casino. My problem is which one do I choose,the Epi Casino, Elitist Casino or John Lennon Casino? So far I have only been able to play an Epi Casino and quite frankly I wasn't impressed. However it was in a music shop and definatly could use new strings and a good set up. So all you Casino owners/lovers let me know what you think. I am buying this guitar to use onstage not to collect. Thanks![/quote'] Hi Custer, I had the same dilemma (plus one extra one), and I've written about it, and my experience of my new Casino here http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3812 As you'll see, I 'resolved' my extra dilemma by promising myself a sunburst Casino for now, to be joined by a natural Elitist at some point in the future. I wasn't that impressed at first, but that guitar has got under my skin in the last week or so to the extent that I think it's going to become my main guitar. Good luck with your search, GVDV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 The Lennon Casinos are made in Japan' date=' in the same facilty the Elitist Casino and the other Elitist hollow and semi-hollows are made. The Lennons are "assembled" in the USA, though there is no clear explanation what that means. Probably that the electronics and hardware are added to the finished body. Red 333 [/quote']That's news to me. I was always under the impression that the Lennons were made in Nashville. Maybe I was confusing it with the McCartney Texans... they were made in Bozeman, correct? At least, some of them were. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 That's news to me. I was always under the impression that the Lennons were made in Nashville. Maybe I was confusing it with the McCartney Texans... they were made in Bozeman' date=' correct? At least, some of them were.[/quote'] It is confusing. When they first came out people grilled them and they admitted the guitar is made in Japan and final assembly whatever that means is done in the US. I'm guessing PUs pots etc. Paul insisted the first I forget how many to be made in the US and the rest could be MIJ. Shows he does keep up with stuff and know that Gibson/Epiphone were the same thing at one time and made side by side in Kalamazoo at one point and also knows now Epiphone is made overseas. I do like the fact too that he pointed out to the Gibson team looking at his guitar the gap in the binding and told them if you are going to make my guitar then you have to make it exact. Pretty cool, unlike that Lennon EJ160E. Paul always was the thrifty one and that may explain why he bought the Texan and the Casino because he knew they were cheaper Gibsons. They were probably just what a store in Enlgand had in stock though and he liked them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvdv Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 It is confusing. When they first came out people grilled them and they admitted the guitar is made in Japan and final assembly whatever that means is done in the US. I'm guessing PUs pots etc. Paul insisted the first I forget how many to be made in the US and the rest could be MIJ. Shows he does keep up with stuff and know that Gibson/Epiphone were the same thing at one time and made side by side in Kalamazoo at one point and also knows now Epiphone is made overseas. I do like the fact too that he pointed out to the Gibson team looking at his guitar the gap in the binding and told them if you are going to make my guitar then you have to make it exact. Pretty cool' date=' unlike that Lennon EJ160E. Paul always was the thrifty one and that may explain why he bought the Texan and the Casino because he knew they were cheaper Gibsons. They were probably just what a store in Enlgand had in stock though and he liked them.[/quote'] McCartney has said that he got the Casino because he asked a fellow in a guitar shop which guitar would feed back most easily, and the reply was the Casino. So, I think that price was probably not an issue for him in that case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvdv Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 Custer, Did you buy a Casino in the end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Nelson Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 McCartney has said that he got the Casino because he asked a fellow in a guitar shop which guitar would feed back most easily' date=' and the reply was the Casino. So, I think that price was probably not an issue for him in that case.[/quote'] Please state where you heard that? Actually McCartney bought the Casino on advice from John Mayall after they had discussed the guitar tones heard on old blues records (Page 152 "Beatle Gear ". by Andy Babiuk)..had nothing to do with feedback which in 1964 was a demon to be exorcised not embraced...but of course that all changed..it's the myth and misinformation that makes me crazy... Mr.Nelson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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