GibsonWarrior Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 This is my Vintage '67 Epiphone Casino 230TDC which i recently acquired. Shes in straight shape but has succumbed to the rigours of life and is heavily checked. When i got her she had a nice set of mint Double ring '69-74 Gibson Deluxe Klusons which ive set aside for a '70 SG i have and i have replaced them with some more Casino Correct Kluson Deluxe Oval button tuners. The Pickguard and original bridge are missing as is the Epi 'Tremotone' vibrola bar. She would have been a deep/dark Cherry originally, like the Gibson 330's of the period but this has faded to an almost burgundy mist/tomato soup colour. She sounds and plays amazingley, the neck is a little chunkier than i thought it would be, certainly more Elitist than JL USA Casino in profile. This guitar rings for days and is certainly less boxey in sound - i guess due to the effect of 40+ years!! The pups are pure P90 heaven, the best P90's ive owned. At the moment im more concerned with playing and using her maybe replacing some of the missing components, however the finish is pretty sparse in some areas of the neck (bare wood) plus it is flaking in others. Ultimately im guessing a refin is on the books, a nice Iced Tea burst would be most preferable though the original Cherry or just Natural isnt out of the question either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carverman Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 At the moment im more concerned with playing and using her maybe replacing some of the missing components' date=' however the finish is pretty sparse in some areas of the neck (bare wood) plus it is flaking in others. Ultimately im guessing a refin is on the books, a nice Iced Tea burst would be most preferable though the original Cherry or just Natural isnt out of the question either. [/quote'] Great acquisition there! Noticed a few cigarette burns on the headstock too. Although in most cases, you want to keep the nitro finish "patina" of the years, this may be one case that you are probably correct in thinking of a refinish. I would think that natural may be a bit difficult with a cherry red stain applied, as there would be minute streaks of cherry stain in the wood..and these being plywood, you definitely don't want to start sanding as the top layer of the laminate is only about a 1/16" thick. I would say that finding a nice cherry stain is the most appropriate way of retaining the value on this particular part of Epiphone history. Congrats on the find! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibsonWarrior Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 Thanks Carverman, im not sure if they are cigartette burns or a reaction to a glue? - as though something was stuck on there? Your right about the cherry sinking into the grain, heres a close up showing just that: That might well preclude it from being a burst or natural finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Personally I think she is beautiful the way she is. I have a 1964 Gibson LG1 with finish checking, dings and dong's all over, but I paid a bunch to get the neck reset and have a K & K Mini put in it as soon as I got it. That guitar is the same age as my wife (who has considerably fewer dings and dong's for her age... ) Out of my small collection, it is probably the first one my guitar playing buddies grab when they come over. I think the finish checking gives it a certain allure to other guitar players.... it's like, "Yeah... this guitar has been played". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibsonWarrior Posted March 8, 2010 Author Share Posted March 8, 2010 Personally I think she is beautiful the way she is. I have a 1964 Gibson LG1 with finish checking' date=' dings and dong's all over, but I paid a bunch to get the neck reset and have a K & K Mini put in it as soon as I got it. That guitar is the same age as my wife (who has considerably fewer dings and dong's for her age... ) Out of my small collection, it is probably the first one my guitar playing buddies grab when they come over. I think the finish checking gives it a certain allure to other guitar players.... it's like, "Yeah... this guitar has been played". I absolutely agree with the sentiment. The neck checking however is flakey and in some cases sharp and brittle. I had a little shard stick itself in my palm the other week - no biggee but the finish is coming away higher up the neck. I have newer guitars and she sure does draw you to pick her up!! Im more concerened about playing and using her first off. A refinish would be purely on the grounds of practicality and perhaps protecting its future value, though thats a case of 6 of one and a half dozen of the other i guess!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carverman Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 I A refinish would be purely on the grounds of practicality and perhaps protecting its future value' date=' though thats a case of 6 of one and a half dozen of the other i guess!![/quote'] Checking is one thing and with a Gibson nitro finish, that is quite common on guitars of that vintage..but when the nitro is flaking off..it's time at least IMO, to have a proper refinish done. Certainly on the headstock..and from what I've seen..chunks of finish missing around the binding, probably the top at least. As far as future value..if you don't do anything to it and keep it stock and the a new nitro finish is applied, I can't see that detoriating it's future value as long as the same finish and stain is used, so that the guitar is seen as original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GibsonWarrior Posted March 10, 2010 Author Share Posted March 10, 2010 Has anyone else on here had a vintage Casino or other guitar refinished? I'd like to see what finishes you have opted for...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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