BlueMeanie Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Asking advice from the masters! Can you guys pls give me the pros and cons of the Joe Pass and Casino? I plan to choose one guitar but i just want to hear from you guys who might have owned or played both. what are the big differences? Playability, sound, overall look... thanks very much guys! Luis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloozeguy Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Asking advice from the masters! Can you guys pls give me the pros and cons of the Joe Pass and Casino? I plan to choose one guitar but i just want to hear from you guys who might have owned or played both. what are the big differences? Playability' date=' sound, overall look... thanks very much guys! Luis[/quote'] Not exactly a master here, esp. concerning the Casino, but I'd say it depends very much on the style of music you're playing. Casino a jangly-guitar rock machine primarily (think Beatles, who used 'em a bunch; Epi also touts Paul Weller who plays in that same vein); the JP very much a jazz box, and I'm hoping to get one myself some time soon for some TBone-to-BB style blues (as well as learning jazz chords and licks. Sigh!). That said, in trying out the JP, I noticed that it can get some nice Beatle-ish sounds on the combo pickup setting and some twangy surf-tones on the bridge pickup. I think neither of these would be what you're after if you want to do some metal-shredding, or even real heavy blues-rock. Your other concerns: Playability--this all a matter of taste, of course. I really rather like the JP's neck. there's a flatness there that I don't notice in the Casino, Dot, or even the ES175 that makes it very comforable for me. And I find the size of the the whole machine (a bit smaller than your standard big-bodied jazz guitar) extremely comfortable. The standard Casino supposedly has a thinner nut (1.62), and I would find that a bit crowded for my fingers (I come to this via finger-picking). Upscale versions of the Casino, I've heard, have a nut-width like the JP and most other Epi electrics (1.68). If you're new to playing that doesn't sound like much, but, trust me, you DO notice it! Overall look--you can't beat either! One other consideration: the JP has a rosewood floating bridge, the Casino a tune-o-matic. I am told that this gives the JP a softer sound, and then, you can do more/easier adjustments on the Casino. I have seen a bunch of used JPs modded with a tune-o-matic, though. I hope this is helpful, and I call on all the rest of the electric-head "masters" to correct anything this usual-acoustic-forum wanker may have strayed on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I own both, and love them both. Scale length is the same, necks are similar enough that I don't notice a lot of difference, and the big difference comes down to the pickups. The Casino's P-90's are brighter sounding in all positions, with substantially more bite on the bridge pickup and more twang using both pickups. On clean settings, the JP's neck pickup gets the warmth and richness we associate with jazz guitar --- Wes, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, although the Casino's neck pickup can get a nice warm jazz sound too; it's just a bit crisper and less mellow. On overdriven amp settings, the JP's humbuckers crunch up nicely, while the Casino's P-90's get a sound that I'd describe as more "snarly." Listen to the Beatles' "I Want You --- She's So Heavy" from Abbey Road. The verse section (I want you --- I want you so bad) is the Casino's neck pickup, the bridge section (she's so ..... HEAVYYYYYYY) is bridge pickup. No frills rock tone. The Casino's body is a bit thinner and lighter than the JP, if that's a consideration. The Casino's double cutaway and 22 fret neck has more high register access, if that's part of your style. I'd say that if you play more often with clean tones and like rich, warm mellow tones with the ability to get down and dirty on occasion, the Joe Pass would be a good choice; if you prefer a rawer, grittier sound or need more brightness(say to cut through a band), or if you play high on the neck a lot --- or if you're one of those guys who can make musical use of the Casino's lower feedback point --- you might be happier with the Casino. Both are very versatile guitars and can cover a lot of musical territory if you adjust your amp settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloozeguy Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 I own both' date=' and love them both. Scale length is the same, necks are similar enough that I don't notice a lot of difference, and the big difference comes down to the pickups. The Casino's P-90's are brighter sounding in all positions, with substantially more bite on the bridge pickup and more twang using both pickups. On clean settings, the JP's neck pickup gets the warmth and richness we associate with jazz guitar --- Wes, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, although the Casino's neck pickup can get a nice warm jazz sound too; it's just a bit crisper and less mellow. On overdriven amp settings, the JP's humbuckers crunch up nicely, while the Casino's P-90's get a sound that I'd describe as more "snarly." Listen to the Beatles' "I Want You --- She's So Heavy" from Abbey Road. The verse section (I want you --- I want you so bad) is the Casino's neck pickup, the bridge section (she's so ..... HEAVYYYYYYY) is bridge pickup. No frills rock tone. The Casino's body is a bit thinner and lighter than the JP, if that's a consideration. The Casino's double cutaway and 22 fret neck has more high register access, if that's part of your style. I'd say that if you play more often with clean tones and like rich, warm mellow tones with the ability to get down and dirty on occasion, the Joe Pass would be a good choice; if you prefer a rawer, grittier sound or need more brightness(say to cut through a band), or if you play high on the neck a lot --- or if you're one of those guys who can make musical use of the Casino's lower feedback point --- you might be happier with the Casino. Both are very versatile guitars and can cover a lot of musical territory if you adjust your amp settings.[/quote'] Of course, the pickups!! And there I am angst-ing over the bridge! DOH! Some real nice points there, Parabar, helpful to me, too. I can't tell from your avatar, but does your JP have the stock bridge? Pros and cons, please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueMeanie Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Wow! Superb advice guys! Really appreciated :) I do really LOVE the Beatles..and it's a big reason why i want to pickup a casino.but i also love blues and rock that it really makes me wanna get both guitars! Ha! :P I was just having second thoughts on a casino because i don't want to get stuck on just Beatles or Oasis. The JP on the other hand is a beauty on it's own. more versatility and all. Because of budget constraints..I was thinking get a EPI JL inspired casino and get an Ibanez AF75.. because if i got a EPI JP, i wouldn't know where to get a casino'ish guitar :) Again thanks guys! Luis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesman345 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 This is an Epi Joe Pass (Samick) that I used to own. I replaced the rosewood bridge with a gold Schaller tune-o-matic and added a Bigsby B7 vibrato. I didn't like the see-through tortoise pickguard, so I colored the underside with a black magic marker (looks like a factory job). The JP is a great all-round guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 bloozeguy wrote I can't tell from your avatar, but does your JP have the stock bridge? Pros and cons, please! My JP is all stock (Samick 2001). The pic in my avatar is my Broadway (Peerless 1997), which has the following mods: Gold tune-o-matic bridge replacing original rosewood L-5 tailpiece replacing Frequensator Gold bell knobs replacing stock black ones White selector switch tip replacing original black one The L-5 tailpiece and TOM bridge make a HUGE difference in sound and response. What was a really good guitar is now right up there with Elitists and even real Gibsons (seriously!) as far as tone. After playing a few Elitist Broadways, Gibson L-5's and high-end Ibanez and Yamaha L-5 alikes, I can't justify the price difference (unless I stumbled across a ridiculous deal). I might at some point upgrade the pickups, but I'm in no hurry, since the sound puts a smile on my face every time I play it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadedepi Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 No big deal, but I find this an interesting choose between? :) Faded... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.