bynapkinart Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 Well after a couple of months I've finally finished up with all of my mods to my 2004 Peerless Casino. I fell in love with Casinos in general after seeing this: Of course, not having the budget to go out and buy one of those guys I decided to do the very best that I could...so I started out by buying the most playable and enjoyable Casino I've ever played, a 2004 Peerless in Cherry (which I've always preferred on hollows and semis). I rewired the whole thing, starting with pots, caps, switch, and jack and then rewired the whole assembly again to make it more period-correct (caps to both pots, braided wire, proper grounding). At the same time I got a vintage-spec tailpiece and Gibson ABR-1 bridge. I installed Tusq saddles and a Tusq nut (this is the only thing I really strayed far away from 1966 specs when doing the mods...aged nylon is almost petrified and has a really cool tone, but is wicked spotty and really hard to find on the market at anywhere near affordable, and the plastic saddles people sell for $20 sound like crap. Tusq is really phenomenal on the bridge, and I liked it so much that I chose it over bone when recutting and shaping a new nut). I also put on Kluson single-line tuners (HUGE improvement over stock). The last touch was waiting for me when I got home from a wedding this week...a two-hole, vintage-correct TRC made by forum member Frenchie (I can't thank you enough!!!) A quick little mod to the truss rod headstock cavity and the two-hole pops on wonderfully and looks pretty awesome...most importantly, it looks like a 60's era epi should. I know someone is bound to step up and say that it's probably nowhere near the quality of a 1966, but I've played a 65, 67, and 68 Casino as well as gigging heavily whilst borrowing a friend's 1966 ES 330...and I can honestly say that I enjoy playing and hearing my 04 more. The most telling thing was when my friend with the 330 offered to sell me his guitar for a ridiculously low (sub $500) price if I threw in my Casino....I'm not biting. Anyways, I don't have a vid as of yet because it is very late...but I have everyone's favorite thing (pics!!). I apologize in advance, I'm not the best with photos and I don't have a nice camera...the color is a little off in some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_JB Posted May 24, 2010 Share Posted May 24, 2010 VERY NICE!! It looks beautiful! I was looking at some older ES-330s and Casinos and it made me realize how much I took a good cherry finish for granted. I like my refinished Casino a lot, but that Cherry looks just as sweet! Mad props on your Cassie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggs Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Beautiful work! eggmuffins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Brilliant!!! Notes ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 You`ve done a really good job there Ben, and I`m so pleased you are happy with the TRC, it looks good on your Casino. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 VERY NICE!! I like my refinished Casino a lot' date='[/quote'] Anthony, I was following your Casino re-finishing project with keen interest. Have you posted any photos of the end result yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyb Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 It's stunning! Obviously a labor of love well-rewarded. Nice job, and the pics are fine, BTW...they tell the story well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bynapkinart Posted May 25, 2010 Author Share Posted May 25, 2010 Thanks to all of you!!! Anthony, I have a huge soft spot for Cherry and Iced Tea on Gibsons and Epiphones....and the way your guitar was looking a few weeks ago, you have a very nice Iced Tea going on! Can't wait to see the finished product! Thanks Steve, I think the vintage E just plain looks better I took some new pics today out in the sun, hopefully they are a little nicer to look at: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_JB Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Anthony' date=' I was following your Casino re-finishing project with keen interest. Have you posted any photos of the end result yet? [/quote'] I haven't had a decent camera to take photos with. I'll have some up by tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Bill Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Is there plastic on the headstock? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bynapkinart Posted May 25, 2010 Author Share Posted May 25, 2010 no, that's not plastic....i'm actually not sure whats happened there, the paint has lightened up in spots under the poly. i've seen it before in other epi's from peerless, its never really bothered me at all cause it looks kinda cool. anyone know why that happens? any way to remedy it without getting under the poly? it doesn't bother me at all cause it looks aged and worn without looking fugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motowntom Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Napy, she is awsome!!! just for reference not all 66 casinos came with nylon saddles, mine are steel..... Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_JB Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Iced Tea burst! I never thought of it like that! It IS an ICED TEA BURST! Hmmm. Thank you. Oh and Tom, I LOVE the finish on your '66! I should have refinished it LIKE thaaaaat! If I get tired of it. I'll just strip the nitro, should be easier than sanding all over again now that it's all nitro. Beautiful Casinos everyone. Great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike54 Posted May 25, 2010 Share Posted May 25, 2010 Re: the headstock wear, I totally agree that looks very cool. Great job. Beautiful guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bynapkinart Posted May 26, 2010 Author Share Posted May 26, 2010 motown, that is an AMAZING Casino, I went and saw U2 last summer and Edge has one in that exact same color, but its a 63 or 64 i think (old headstock shape). I actually think that it's an original Iced Teaburst...Anthony, you've got that same color going but I think the original is faded evenly from the edges like motown's (incredibly amazing) casino. I like the idea of teardropping the finish though, i think the color you're aiming for is very very nice. And on the saddles, both motown's casino and the 66 i fell in love with have metal saddles, but I've played some from that era including my friend's 66 es330 which had the nylon and frankly, i think the white on nickel looks cool. the great thing is, these Tusq saddles balance the tone much better than metal...I feel like when i strum there is a fuller, fatter sound (amazing when complimented by p90s)...when i noodle blues leads the sound is both punchy and smooth as well. I need to make a vid for you guys, I highly recommend Tusq saddles and nut. motown, you're wearing your ABR1 backwards :- I want to make a blue sticker for mine with the Peerless serial and everything...just don't know how. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bynapkinart Posted June 4, 2010 Author Share Posted June 4, 2010 Alright, sorry it took so long to finally post the vid, but I went away for a little over a week. It's the second post on my blog page: http://napkinart.tumblr.com/ I'm not the best at leads, so please forgive my lack of skills...I just wanted to see if I could display any of the awesome tone of the mods and the guitar in general. Hope you all enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarFanatic3 Posted June 6, 2010 Share Posted June 6, 2010 That guitar is just BEAUTIFUL!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 no' date=' that's not plastic....i'm actually not sure whats happened there, the paint has lightened up in spots under the poly. i've seen it before in other epi's from peerless, its never really bothered me at all cause it looks kinda cool. anyone know why that happens? any way to remedy it without getting under the poly? it doesn't bother me at all cause it looks aged and worn without looking fugly.[/quote']I don't know why, but my 2001 Peerless has the same issue - not to the extent of yours, but it's there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Nice lead work!!! That's not an easy passage to solo over, most metal players like me would stumble all over the place[biggrin] Nice job with the guitar[cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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