Noob alert - advice much appreciated!

[domnextmen]

Hello all.

 

I'm an acoustic guitarist who's just switching to the dark side, I've only been playing with a pick for a couple of weeks and I really want to get myself an Epiphone 330/335 type guitar.

 

I'm in London, England and the new models are just nowhere to be found (something about distribution trouble apparently), the only similar guitars I've played are vintage Gibsons which are too expensive for me.

 

I practice on a cheap Strat but it doesn't have the tone I want, I'm not a rock man, I want a warm bluesy tone, no 'quack'.

 

It was the guitar sound on Al Green's recordings that got me hooked and apparently that was all 330.

 

The problem is this: Sheraton, dot, casino, EA-250, Riviera etc... The options are bewildering, and in the absence of being able to play them all I just need some pointers.

 

I've enjoyed bth 330's and 335's and I think either would suit - although I do need advice on pickups too.

 

I've got a Fender Princeton 65 re-issue amp which I got for a very good price.

 

So, my questions: Would I be crazy to buy a guitar like this online, without playing it?

 

I see the Riviera model gets a lot of love. This has come up on ebay uk:

 

97 Riviera

 

Would that be a decent guitar for my needs?

 

And the dot? What's the general take on it?

 

Sorry for the annoying basic questions, it's just that I'm only just starting with all this...

 

Thanks

 

dom

[charlie brown]

First off, "Welcome" to the Nut House! Hope you'll stick around and find your visits fun and informative.

 

The Epiphone Casino is Epi's "ES-330" essentially. Both the Casino and ES-330 are fully hollow body,

where as the ES-335, Epi Riviera, Dot (Gibson and Epiphone), and Sheraton are all "Semi-hollow body,"

with a block down the center, to curb feedback at higher volumes, and add "sustain." ALL are excellent

guitars, but (of course) the Gibson versions are MUCH higher in price. If you want the ES-330 sound/tone,

but not the price tag, the Casino is a Great alternative. Only real disadvantage, is the limited upper fret

access, due to the neck joint position. But, the ES-330 had that same neck joint, originally, too. (The

current Gibson version has the "long neck," like the 335.) And, for high volume stuff, it feeds back, pretty easily.

But, there are always ways to get around that! The Dot, Riviera, Sheraton, and Gibson versions, have a bit better

upper fret access, the center block, etc. They are heavier, because of that block, too. Casino, and ES-330

have P-90 pickups (Single coil, lovely tone, but a bit of 60-cyle hum/noise). The Others have "humbuckers," which

are a bit mellower, and very quiet. Both have their "champions" here. In fact, a lot of us, have one (or more)

of each type, if not each model. So, the best thing to do, is try some of each, out. See which one "speaks

to you!"

 

CB

[scarrabri]

Hi and welcome domnextmen ,I have the Beautiful Epiphone dot guitar ,its the cherry one,and i think it is brilliant ,outstanding guitar plays like a dream ,i have played les pauls and strats ,but nothing matches the rich tone of this baby, it sure has the wow factor, you cant but help loving this gem,very best wishes scarrabri

[domnextmen]

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

I played a 60s Gibson 330 last week and it was just unbelievable, but then again so it should have been at £4000.

 

I know I need to try some out but I'm looking to get a guitar within a coupe of weeks, for recording purposes.

 

What about that Riviera I linked to? I've seen some YouTube vids of the Riviera and it looks and sounds superb.

[Guest icantbuyafender]

definately +1 on the semi-hollow body style choice

 

just go to a shop and try out single coils vs. humbuckers.

 

each have their pros and cons.

 

if you want a hard rock axe, go for humbuckers.

 

and if u want a bluesy jazzy clean tone that can still get classic grit, p90 is ur best bet.

 

since you are jumpin to electric and dont like strat quack, i say try the p90s.

 

they arent as heavy hitting yet still have bottom end, and have a beautiful mid and high range .

 

basically, p90 is the pickup i bet youd like. the neck pickup tone of a casino is to die for.

[charlie brown]

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

I played a 60s Gibson 330 last week and it was just unbelievable' date=' but then again so it should have been at £4000.

 

I know I need to try some out but I'm looking to get a guitar within a coupe of weeks, for recording purposes.

 

What about that Riviera I linked to? I've seen some YouTube vids of the Riviera and it looks and sounds superb.

[/quote']

 

Sorry, I missed the link, the first time. That looks good. Those particular "Riviera" models have the full size

Humbuckers, the classic Riviera has "Mini-humbuckers!" That's the biggest difference, really. The inlay (Crown)

in the headstock is typical of most "Asian" versions, too. The "Elitist" and original USA Riviera's had an inlay

much the same as is in the Epiphone "Dot!" I've always wondered "WHY" they didn't reverse that...put the

Dot's inlay, in the Riviera's heastock (for accuracy), and the Riviera's in the Dot, since it's based on the Gibson

ES-335, with that "Crown" inlay. But, who knows???

 

As to "Recording?" Both will be fine. With the Casino, you'll (most likely) need a "noise gate," where you might

not, with a Riviera, because of the humbucker pickups, being quieter, in the first place. P-90 tone, however, is

Awesome!! So, there's advantages, to both.

 

CB

[xdouglasjordanx]

i just recorded a album on my buddies dot, he had upgraded the pu to vintage gibsons.. but it played very well and it was great in the studio.

also my first guitar had epiphone picups in it and it did me well for a while.

[domnextmen]

Good info guys, thanks. A Casino sounds like it might be the ticket.

 

Forgot to ask about neck sizes. I like slim necks, do the sizes vary between the epiphone models?

 

Oh and could I put the pickups of my liking in any of these guitars?

 

I'm slightly concerned since the guitar will be used for recording in a studio with a fender princeton and a lot of electronic equipment around. Anyone had problems recording Casinos due to the feedback?

[charlie brown]

Necks on Casinos are (generally) nice an slim. Dot's are fatter! Sheraton is more like the Casino (or the other way around),

and Riviera is more on the "slim '60's" style, too. As always, there are/will be, "exceptions." As long as you stay within the

type that comes on each guitar, you should have no trouble changing out pickups, with little modification. But, If you want

to put "Humbuckers" in a P-90 guitar, it will need some woodworking. The exception being, "Mini-humbuckers" will usually go into the "Soapbar" P-90 holes (in solid body guitars), with just some minor hole drilling in the bottom of the rout, to make way for the mounting. (Minimal) The Mini's have a different mounting ring, for "semi" or "hollowbody" guitars. You can go the other way, much easier, by installing P-94's (Gibson's Humbucker sized P-90), in Humbucker mounts/holes. GFS, and others make a similar pickup, to the P-94.

There are other's here, that have done just that, to their Dots and Sheratons. Mine, are all stock, so far! Korean and Japanese P-90's have a decent reputation, to begin with, so they aren't changed out, as often. But, as always, it will be up to you, as to what you want/need, that way.

 

CB

[Guest icantbuyafender]

you wont really need a noisegate unless you want a distorted guitar sound, which i really dont think you are going for... correct?

 

just a good EQ, your princeton and a casino is all you need. The 60 cycle hum isnt deafeningly loud, and when not playing roll back the volume for hum free silence. then when you jump back in on a riff just roll up the volume and start pickin!

 

i personally am partial to the casino, b/c the korean p90's , like CB said, are actually quite good. you wont need to do a thing.

[HarpBoy]

I'll cast my vote for the Gibson P94s. They are outstanding pickups, although not cheap. If you put them in a Dot or Sheraton, you'll have the goodness of P90s, with a solid block to fight feedback in a full size body. If you can find one, a Nick Valensi signature Riviera would save you some coin over buying a guitar with HBs and swapping out for Gibson pickups. I can't speak for the GFS P90s, although folks 'round here seem to like them, and the price is certainly right.

[gus²]

"So, my questions: Would I be crazy to buy a guitar like this online, without playing it?"

 

 

I did that, lol. I just bought an Epi-Dot on e-bay for 350 bucks...i´m having some common problems like fret-buzz, but i´m getting it to a luthier tomorrow and it will be fine. I haven´t played it on a good amp yet but people usually change the factory pickups of their dot for a gibson 57 humbucker...i don´t know if it´s because gibson´s are way better or because epi´s pickups are really bad

[AS90]

I buy all my guitars online. Why dont you search ebay for guitars that are in the London area and try before you buy?

[Bender 4 Life]

If you're worried about feedback, and/or ground loop hum (earthing hum) then concider a Sheraton.

The neck is slim, it's very resistant to feedback, and the pickups that come stock in it are fine for

vintage blues & vintage classic rock.

Mine absolutely SINGS.

[Lord Summerisle]

I used these guys when I lived in Europe, and had no complaints:

 

http://www.imuso.co.uk/

 

I think they have Epi Sheratons etc in stock, judging by the info at their website.

 

 

If you are looking for a true hollowbody (like a Casino / 330) then your options are quite limited. You could always try a Gretsch 5122, but it's going to be a bit twangier than a Casino...

 

 

 

 

 

If you don't mind a semi-hollow à la Gibson ES-335, then you have many more possibilities. The Epiphone Sheratons and Rivieras others here have mentioned are (frequently) great guitars. But you could also investigate...

 

 

the Washburn HB35:

 

 

 

and my personal favorite....

 

the Hagstrom Viking:

 

 

 

Happy hunting...

[domnextmen]

Great responses everyone, thank you.

 

I have to say the decision isn't exactly getting easier!

 

Judging by the impressions and love people are giving the various models on my list, I'm starting to think I should just do my best to get any one of them for a good price and get on with playing!

 

So many beautiful guitars, the Hagstrom is really great looking, as is the Gretch.

 

If I had the cash I'd probably get a few...

[Notes_Norton]

I have a 1970 Kalamazoo Gibson ES-330 and a 2001 MIK Peerless Casino.

 

If you like the 330, you'll like the Casino. They are about 95% the same guitar, and most of the differences are cosmetic.

 

 

And after "Gibsonizing":

 

 

They sound OK acoustically (the Gibson sounds a little better unplugged) and through the amp they sound very close (The Casino sounds a little better but it has after-market pickups - Duncans).

 

Notes