frenchie1281734003 Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Having luckily got a Lennon 65 reissue Casino last Saturday, and at that time also being the owner and fan of three Matsumoku made Casino`s, I thought it might be an idea to do a comparative test, to see what the merits of each guitar are. So what follows are the results, and my conclusions, and I hope other owners find this of interest. The sound part of the test was done using a Roland Cube 30 modelling amp, using the JC, Vox AC30, and Fender twin settings. I know this isn`t the best amp in the world but it served this purpose admirably. Firstly, the differences between the two guitars. 1). The lennon has a longer and wider H/stock, plus notice the dot above the "I", this is in the wrong place on the reissues, whereas the Matsumoko doesn`t have one at all! Lennon. Matsumoku. 2). The Lennon appears to have a Pearloid logo (it should be Mother of Pearl), whereas the Matsumoku surprisingly is Mother of Pearl!. 3). The Lennon has a Corian nut, which does look quite plasicky, and the Matsumoku has bone, which has yellowed over time. 4). The Lennon has a nut width of 1 and 5/8ths, the Matsumoku 1 and 11/16ths. 5). The Lennon has Gotoh "Kluson" copy tuners, which are a bit stiff, and the Matsumoku sealed Gotoh"mini Schaller type" with Kluson type buttons, which are quite smooth. 6). The lennon has a one piece Mahogany neck, which although narrower in width, has more depth than the Matsumoku`s three piece Maple neck, the Matsumoku feels flatter in the palm. The fretboard on the Matsumoku is a much nicer piece of Rosewood possibly Brazillian, whereas on the Lennon it looks more porous and feels drier to the touch. 7). The headstock back angle is 17 degrees on both guitars . 8). Both have Pearloid neck inlays, but those on the Lennon have more figuring Lennon. Matsumoku. 9). The neck to body joint of the Lennon model, is very precise compared to that of the Matsumoku, which is not quite as good (CNC vs Man I think). 10). The lennon models neck, angles away from the body more than the Matsumoku does. Lennon. Matsumoku. As a consequence of this, the Lennon has the strings going higher over the bridge pickup (Thus the bridge is set higher above the body too) , but also having more of a break angle over the bridge down to the tailpiece. The Matsumoku`s strings are closer to the bridge pickup, but the break angle is shallower to the tailpiece. This is of benefit to the Matsumoku, as there is no pickup imbalance due to the bridge P-90 being closer to the strings. 11). both guitars have a rim depth of 42mm. 12). The body width of the Lennon at it`s norrowest point is 8 and 15/16ths, and on the Matsumoku 9 and 6/16ths. But the Matsumoku Casino`s do have a strange kind of Gretsch body outline. 13). Both the Lennon and Matsumoku have Nickel plated pickup covers, but on the Lennon model the pole piece spacing is the same for both pickups, and on the Matsumoku proportionate to the strings (Narrower spacing on the neck pickup). Lennon. Matsumoku. 14). The Gibson ABR bridge with Nylon saddles found on the Lennon does feel a tad more solid than the Gotoh metal saddled one on the Matsumoku. 15). The toggle switch on both guitars feel and look similar, with the one on the Lennon being a Switchcraft. The pots on the Lennon which are CTS are smooth and graduated, and somewhat surprisingly those on the Matsumoku, which incidently have dust covers too, are just as good!!. 16). The inside neck joints are different on each guitar, the Lennon, being a Dovetail enclosed in a Mahogany block, and that on the Matsumoku sitting in a Maple block, with an open end (Mortise & Tenon). 17). The Lennon model has Kerfing inside, the Matsumoku doesn`t. 18). The Ply thickness of the body on the Lennon is 3/16ths (5 ply), that of the Matsumoku 5/32nds (5 ply). And although the Lennon has thicker ply it is slightly lighter, weighing in at 2.8 kg compared to 2.9 kg for the Matsumoku. I`m sorry I had to do this in Kilogrammes, but my scales only do 2 pound increments at a time. 19). The length of the body from end pin to neck joint is 18 and 1/2 inch on the Lennon, and 18 and 3/8ths for the Matsumoku. 20). The Lennon comes with the 6 inch heavier Trapeze tailpiece, whereas the Matsumoku came equipped with the lighter 5 and a 1/2 inch version standard to Asian Casino`s, although I did upgrade on this guitar. 21). The fret end neck binding on the Lennon model does make it a little less comfortable to play than the Matsumoku which has none. 22). The Lennon is finished in thin Nitro, and smells wonderful, whereas the Matsumoku is finished in Poly, which is also quite thin. SOUND TEST. Acoustically the Lennon is quite warm sounding, but a little quiet. The Matsumoku is brighter sounding and quite a bit louder. Plugged in the Lennon is warm & articulate with the tone down, becoming more crystal clear with tone going up, and with the volume up it goes into a smooth raunchy overdrive, but go too far, and the feedback starts. The Matsumoku on the other hand is much brighter when plugged in, slightly less articulate, but does go into a very nasty, raunchy sound earlier than the Lennon, and feeds back later. How much of this has to do with the different neck materials used on each guitar, and how much it is to do with the pickups themselves is hard to tell, probably a bit of both. OVERALL CONCLUSION. The Lennon is a more refined guitar, with a definite edge in amplified sound, it looks absolutely stunning, and I just love that faint smell of Nitro. The Matsumoku on the other hand, sounds much more acoustic unplugged, has a very nasty amplified sound (in a very good way), and most surprisingly, is the more comfortable guitar to play!!. Which is better?, well the Lennon overall shades it, but the Matsumoku certainly has it`s merits, and pushes the Lennon all the way! I`m happy to have both, and if pushed would be happy with either, they are both fine guitars. The Matsumoku 82 on the left has been modified, with a Kalamazoo label, Gotoh Nashville type bridge with Nylon saddles, Grover tuners, and a Nickel 6 inch heavier tailpiece. The Lennon is in the middle. And on the right is the Matsumoku 83 Casino used in this comparison, it too is slightly modified, with the 6 inch tailpiece, a 60`s foil type Epsilon E added to the scratchplate, and a hand made Black grommet for the pickup selector. The Wine Red Casino I had is now living with a friend. I hope you have found the post interesting.
charlie brown Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 I notice, from your last photo of the "group," that the Lennon one seems to have sharper horns, and a narrower "waist," with the graduation to the lower (rounder) bout a bit more pronounced. Is that true? No big deal, just curious... CB
frenchie1281734003 Posted October 13, 2008 Author Posted October 13, 2008 Hi CB, you are sort of right there, and it`s mostly to do with the wider waist of the Matsumoku. I forgot to mention that both these guitars share the bevelled h/stock sides, that the Elitist`s strangely don`t have.
Red 333 Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Wow, Frenchie--awesome job! What valuable information to help us understand more about the Casino's various incarnations. I hope you saved a draft of your post on your computer, as someone will certainly ask about this in the future. Again, we're all indebted. Red 333
frenchie1281734003 Posted October 13, 2008 Author Posted October 13, 2008 Thanks Red, I really wasn`t sure whether anyone would be interested or not!.
Greg Curtis Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 I'm interested Frenchie, and if you're happy then I'm happy buddy!
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