Phlendocat Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Hi all, After reading the many Casino posts from the knowledgeable members of this forum, I decided to spend the $ and make some upgrades. I felt that aside from the one-piece neck and slight difference in headstock angle, there really was zero need to spend $1000+ on either an Inspired By or Elitist Casino, or even a JL model (it will be a cold day in hell before I ever give Yoko any of my hard-earned cash). So here are the upgrades: Bone nut, Switchcraft toggle, Graphtech bridge/saddles, new (American made) pots, and Duncan Antiquity P90's with replacement chrome covers. BTW, years ago I took the time to sand off most of the Poly finish. It doesn't look like it's been dipped in plastic anymore, and it sounds much better. I'm getting the work done at Carmine St. Guitars in NYC, as I've been very happy with the good work coming out of Rick's shop. It should be ready in 3 weeks. Ill keep you posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 Pictures! Gotta have pictures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 16, 2009 Author Share Posted December 16, 2009 I'll definitely post some pix when I get the git back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 BTW' date=' years ago I took the time to sand off most of the Poly finish. It doesn't look like it's been dipped in plastic anymore, and it sounds [i']much[/i] better. Wow. I'm too chicken to try that. Fine upgrades you've chosen, you're gonna love it I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcClane5000 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I would have never done that to a Peerless Casino, they're some of the most saught after Korean Epiphones and ALWAYS had stunning finshes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
byrds1965 Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I would have never done that to a Peerless Casino' date=' they're some of the most saught after Korean Epiphones and ALWAYS had stunning finshes...[/quote'] I had a red Peerless Casino that was the best of my bunch. The Peerless was the one I should not have gotten rid of but I wanted a burst one.........sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I bought my 2001 Peerless Casino used. The previous owner put Duncan P90s, Grover tuners, US switch, and US pots in it. I put the black pickguard and witch hat knobs on it. Plugged in it sounds better than the Gibson ES-330 Unplugged the Gibson sounds better. BTW, I like the poly finish. Insights and incites by Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 I would have never done that to a Peerless Casino' date=' they're some of the most saught after Korean Epiphones and ALWAYS had stunning finshes...[/quote'] They may be the most sought after of the Korean Epi's, but lets face it: Guitars shouldn't look or feel like they're covered in an inch of oversprayed plastic! Yes, it protects the wood (the job of every finish) but I found that the Poly was a magnet for dirt, and oil, and what's worse it really choked the sound. What's more, the only reason why new guitars are finished in Poly is because it's cheaper, and there's no danger of exploding like when a Nitro finish is applied. BTW, once I made the decision to wet-sand the surface almost down to the bare wood, the guitar came to life in a way I really hadn't anticipated. The sustain was better, the notes were clearer, the treble was brighter, etc.. In terms of looks, the guitar now has a nice even matte surface, with no blinding shine whatsoever. The neck is smooth and easier to play, and it really looks like a guitar in a higher price bracket. All I need now is to find out how to get a genuine black rubber grommet for the toggle (nobody sells them) and I'm all set. Pix to follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeper Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 3 weeks!!! Sheesh thats a long time to get no real "work" done to it. I guess thats why my customers love me so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 3 weeks!!! Sheesh thats a long time to get no real "work" done to it. I guess thats why my customers love me so much. Yea, kinda bummed about the long turn-around, but Kelley is a good guy- he's always done right by me. Plus, Casino's are a ***** to work on... those F-holes don't make things easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyg Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I had a red Peerless Casino that was the best of my bunch. The Peerless was the one I should not have gotten rid of but I wanted a burst one.........sigh. I would have never done that to a Peerless Casino' date=' they're some of the most saught after Korean Epiphones and ALWAYS had stunning finshes...[/quote'] Would we be better off buying these then? Just asking. Peerless Songbird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redddog Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 I was able to attain the matte finish by simply using 0000 scotch brite pads. A whole hell of a lot easier to do than sanding the whole thing down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Phlendocat,the Peerless Casino is one of the best built and sounding single coil guitars made,to do any alterations on it is hardly going to be an improvement.Your desired result may have consequences opposite those you hoped for because a lot of collectors and enthusiasts looking for a Peerless Casino want it original and unmolested with the work you're having done it can no longer be regarded as a Peerless.Also I must take issue with your disdain for Yoko Ono Lennon,her motives for allowing Epiphone to produce the John Lennon models were purely altruistic(unlike Janie Hendrix's blatent money grab with the Gibson/Strat dud)as she knows there are many who owe a lot to John for inspiring them to become musicians.It was this realization that prompted her to permit the production of these guitars.The proceeds of these guitars goes to an organization founded in John's name to further the careers of young people who wouldn't otherwise have the means to pursue their dreams.I know first hand of Yoko's kind and thoughtful spirit.Several months ago I wrote to Ms. Ono Lennon to let her know how much it meant to me to be able to play John's songs on guitars that were identical to his as it was John who set me on a path that would bring me more joy and satisfaction than anything else in my life.I went on with other heartfelt and emotional thoughts that I won't get into.A few weeks after I mailed the letter I received a reply from Studio 1 with an autographed picture written personally to me in Yoko's own hand as was confirmed in a cover letter from her P.A. stating that Yoko insists on signing everything herself.For a woman, who spends so much of her time traveling the world promoting her and John's continuing quest for an end to war and famine, to take the time out of her busy schedule and write a letter thanking a fan whose life her husband touched so deeply,shows she is a person with an enormous heart and a gentle soul.I cannot sit by and let someone speak ill of her for I think all the negativity about Yoko is truely out of line and undeserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Phlendocat' date='the Peerless Casino is one of the best built and sounding single coil guitars made,to do any alterations on it is hardly going to be an improvement.Your desired result may have consequences opposite those you hoped for because a lot of collectors and enthusiasts looking for a Peerless Casino want it original and unmolested with the work you're having done it can no longer be regarded as a Peerless.Also I must take issue with your disdain for Yoko Ono Lennon...I cannot sit by and let someone speak ill of her for I think all the negativity about Yoko is truely out of line and undeserved.[/quote'] Hey Bonzoboy, Thanks for your reply. I'm certainly not concerned with whether or not a collector would be interested in buying my Casino. I also understand that the Peerless, in it's untouched state, is a pretty good guitar. I've never disputed that. In fact I've written numerous songs with it, made some fine recordings, and overall it's served me well. The upgrades are for my personal amusement & satisfaction, and I'm quite certain that they will enhance an already fine instrument. I'm very pleased that you have made such a fine connection with Yoko. She has certainly proved to be invaluable to the ongoing success of the Lennon Estate. I for one am grateful that she allowed John's name and likeness to be used on such fine projects as The Beatles Anthology. Additionally, I'm not here to create a debate as to whether or not she's a nice person, much less speculate what her motives are or were for any of her business decisions. I let people who are more in the know (like Tony Bramwell, and Julian Lennon) do that. Additionally, I'm sure she'd be very pleased that someone like you stepped up to the plate to defend her. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantana Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Phlendocat, try here Rosetti If you speak to Shelley in spares, she'll help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Hey Fantana- Good looking out. Thanks for the link. I've seen other Casino projects that used sanded down Gibson switch surrounds for the black grommet ring. I fwas just hoping to be able to find a real neoprene washer- I think it's a custom order through a rubber/grommet warehouse. Thanks again!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peeper Posted December 17, 2009 Share Posted December 17, 2009 Try your local hardware store, thats all it is anyway. I never understood the whole "copy your idols guitar to a T" thing. I mean, there are a lot of great guitarisist out there that have influenced me, and though I still want an old ML to hang on the wall in honor of Dime, I never felt the need to have his guitar, or SRVs, or EJs', or etc.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thanks Musikron, The hardware store near me looked at me like I was insane when I told him it was for a guitar. Anyway, I hear what you're saying about the "copy your idols" thing. I always felt a bit weird about that as well, that's why I replaced the white pickguard with a sweet vintage tortoiseshell. I do like the black grommet though- visually it's got a nice contrast against the natural plywood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phlendocat Posted December 17, 2009 Author Share Posted December 17, 2009 I was able to attain the matte finish by simply using 0000 scotch brite pads. A whole hell of a lot easier to do than sanding the whole thing down. That's what I used- a simple scotch brite pad and a tiny bit of water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 There is an Ebay seller "martinmark-2000" that sells a neophrene grommet for the Casino from time to time. You might contact him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnMcClane5000 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 Would we be better off buying these then? Just asking. Peerless Songbird No' date=' I wouldn't do anything to the guitar... That stupid 'quest' for the perfect tone is the reason why soooo many fine guitars are being ruined, that's what I want to say... Imagine doing that to a 59' les paul burst... You'd lose a couple of hundred grand just for doing that... All I'm saying is these (Peerless Casinos) are beautiful sounding and feeling guitars and I've never seen any dipped in plastic ones... If you feel that your guitar's not to your liking anymore put it in it's case and wait two weeks... Who knows, maybe it'll sound different? Maybe our perception changes with our mood? But this crave to dislike everything that's 'stock' just to prove the point that huge companies don't know how to build guitars and amps and whatever... PS: you know what I do when my guitar's greased up? Right, I clean it, with a wipe and some finish cleaner, dead simple... Same thing with tuning... What happens if by god the guitar get out of tune? Right, I tune it, don't need no robots to do that... I'm not trying to cause no fuss, but stories like that just break my heart... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 I really like my natural Peerless Casino, but it DOES look like it was dipped in plastic and I would have preferred a matte finish if given the choice. Pete Townshend's admission that he destroyed over 200 guitars for his shows (many 60's-era Gibson SG Specials with P90's) upsets me far more than someone changing a gloss finish to matte on a Peerless Casino. Very few modern guitars are going to be valuable in the future and, as nice as they are, I doubt that Peerless Casinos will be on that short list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Zeplin Posted December 18, 2009 Share Posted December 18, 2009 So now Epiphone guitars aquire collectibility and greater worth according to where they were made? ( Elitist instruments notwithstanding) Sounds like wishful thinging to me. Unless that Casino was made in the 1960's in Kalamazoo it will have no real demand. JL played a US made guitar from another era and that is where the collectibility begins and ends. Modern day mass produced guitars will never gain any sustained sense of desirability regardless of which asian sweatshop they were made in. YMMV. One other thing, it's his guitar to tinker and modify as he sees fit. The thick plastic coating on a guitar is a tone sucker. It doesn't allow the wood to age or breathe or vibrate naturally. It can take a bullet, but that's where its benefits end. Give me a nitro finish any day. And before the bashing starts I own both nitro and poly finished instruments and have over the years of playing formed my own opinions, some of which I have shared. Z Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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