rmcfee Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 I am new to this forum and glad to be on board. I have a couple of Epis that are really fine axes - an SG and a 58 Flying V copy. However a friend is tempting me to buy his natural finish Casino quite cheap. It has chrome dog ears. I don't need another guitar (I would like a hundred of course) so I am trying to get a bit of info. How do these Casinos work at moderately high volume/gain levels? Being totally hollow do they screech and / or howl excessively? Thanks for any info. They sure look awesome. - Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Hi Rob, welcome to the forum! Casino's are awesome guitars, but being "hollow" (with no center block) they do have a tendency, at high volumes, to howl. Not the pickups, so much as the resonance of the wood, causing the feedback. ALL hollow bodied guitars will do this, P-90's or not! There are ways to minimize it...there are sound (f) hole baffles, that can be purchased, to minimize this, or you can simply use some styrofoam, or an inflated balloon, to cut down on the vibration of the wooden top, and back. Some simply tape their f-holes closed. Standing away from the amp, will help a LOT, too. But, in "tight quarters," small bars or clubs, that may not be possible. So...you could try one of the above...or something else, like a bit of cloth, stuffed inside. Hope that's of some use? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gvdv Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 Hi Rob, Welcome. You may, or may not, know that there are actually three models of the Casino (for more information see my thread at http://http://forums.epiphone.com/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=3812). The Made In Korea/Made In China models apparently sound very different (not as good as) the Made In Japan models (which are closer to the custom John Lennon 'Revolution' and '1965' in sound). Having said that, as you can see from another of my posts on this forum, I have fallen in love with my M.I.C. sunburst Casino, and plan to buy an Elitist natural (i.e. blonde colour) Casino in the future (the Elitist is the 'middle' price model, above the M.I.K./M.I.C. models, and below the John Lennon models). CB gave you some sound advice (ha ha) about how the semi hollow bodies work at high volume/gain levels, and what you can do to minimize/eliminate these effects, but you neglected to say what use you're intending to put the guitar to - live playing, recording or both? I have been amazed at how little hum there is from my M.I.C. Casino if the T.V. isn't on. If the T.V. is on, there is quite a loud hum when the guitar is at a certain orientation to the T.V., almost regardless of how far the guitar is from the T.V.. GVDV. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Ah Yes, the dreaded "60 cycle hum," of single coil pickups. Shielding will help, sometimes quite a lot, but it won't eliminate it, entirely. That's the reason dual coil, "Humbuckers" were invented...to eliminate that. But "humbucker's" don't have that wonderful P-90 tone! They're great, on their own merits, but it's not the same tone, as P-90's...with their "edge" and mid-range "quack!" So, most of us, just put up with, the "hum," and try to turn a direction, that will minimize it, if/when possible. "Noise Gates," are another solution. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 This guy is playing a Casino with a bit o' grit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsxV8g-rz3A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 This guy is playing a Casino with a bit o' grit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsxV8g-rz3A That's a great ballsy sound.... not sure what his intentions with the clean setting were tho... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcfee Posted July 30, 2008 Author Share Posted July 30, 2008 Thanks for the info everyone. I am not sure if he has a Chinese, Korean, or Japanese Casino. He wants $375. for it which seems very reasonable. I usually use Strats so this would be different but really good I'll bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubstar Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I've seen Jackie Greene play several casinos (MIK) with Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead bassist) during a 12 show sold-out run at the Nokia last year as loud as you could possibly want it to be and there was zero feedback...nothing stuffed in his guitar either...McCartney continues to use his live...btw, Larry Campbell (Dylan / Levon Helm) is also in Phil's current band, which is great... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 $375 is a great price for a Casino in good condition (as long as it's not one of the 70's Matsumoku abominations that were labelled "Casino" even though they bore no relation to the original design). It would give you a whole other sound than the strat, plus you can play it unplugged and hear yourself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 Thanks for the info everyone. I am not sure if he has a Chinese' date=' Korean, or Japanese Casino. He wants $375. for it which seems very reasonable. I usually use Strats so this would be different but really good I'll bet.[/quote'] That is a good price. See if you can find out what he has. If older probably MIK. The Peerless ones, R models, are the best of the MIKs in my opinion, I models, next best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 I've seen Jackie Greene play several casinos (MIK) with Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead bassist) during a 12 show sold-out run at the Nokia last year as loud as you could possibly want it to be and there was zero feedback...nothing stuffed in his guitar either...McCartney continues to use his live...btw' date=' Larry Campbell (Dylan / Levon Helm) is also in Phil's current band, which is great...[/quote'] At least, nothing you could SEE (stuffed inside)...LOL! But, yeah...it's possible! I think that kind of feedback is more a problem in "tight quarters," being too close to the amp, and how it's set, too...clean, distorted, etc. Great guitars, though, no doubt! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcfee Posted July 30, 2008 Author Share Posted July 30, 2008 Well it turns out the Casino is a 1996 MIK to which he added a Bigsby vibrato. I bought it and am now taking off the flatwounds and will take some time to decide if the Bigsby stays or not. I love the neck and the P-90s are great. I'm glad to join the Casino Club! Thanks for all the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Congratulations, on your purchase...hope it works out well! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookieman15061 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Congratulations! I own 2 and love em. Lets see some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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