Casino4Life Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I've got an 2005 MIK Casino and have been enquiring about some upgrades. The first question is, will a Gibson ABR bridge fit on a Korean made Casino? Second question is that I want to upgrade the Epi P90s to Gibson P90s but have not been able to find a set of chrome pick up covers that will work for a Korean model (anybody know) Third would be the addition of a Bigsby (anybody with a Bigsby on a Korean Casino please post pics and your experiences) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stickyfiddle Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I believe a Gibson ABR-1 should fit, but the Gotoh version would be at least equivalent quality for a lower price. Not sure about pickup covers- most people I know have had their existing pickups rewound rather than replaced, and that's what I plan to do with mine. As for Bigsbys, as long as you're aware that you'll have to extra care with setups in order to keep it tuning properly I would 100% go for it. I've bought 2 Casinos in the last 2 years, both with the intention of adding a B70, and on both guitars it improved the mid range response and increased sustain, AND looked awesome ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus20VT Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I love Bigsby's on Casinos Would like to add one to mine one day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 If you're considering a bigsby, then a roller bridge is a must IMO, not a Gibby ABR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casino4Life Posted January 5, 2011 Author Share Posted January 5, 2011 Putting a Bigsby aside, will a Gibson ABR or Gotoh Nashville bridge fit the Korean Casinos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 Putting a Bigsby aside, will a Gibson ABR or Gotoh Nashville bridge fit the Korean Casinos? Why don't you just measure the post spacing and diameter, then look on stewmac.com for an ABR or Gotoh bridge and compare those same measurements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 If you're considering a bigsby, then a roller bridge is a must IMO, not a Gibby ABR. Exactly my experience. And an additional black Graphtech nut does help even more to keep the thing in tune. Btw.: "If" the guitar has a bridge with large holes (doesn't look so on the Casino), there are adapters available to mount a a roller bridge with small holes. Was the case on my Riviera. I put in this adapters to mount that roller bridge (note the studs are not included when buying the roller bridge): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 (note the studs are not included when buying the roller bridge) I've bought 3 roller bridges recently (within the last month) and all of them came with posts and inserts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted January 5, 2011 Share Posted January 5, 2011 I've bought 3 roller bridges recently (within the last month) and all of them came with posts and inserts. Right, I just had a look. The bridge came with posts indeed. However no inserts, this are 4mm posts that are mounted directly into the wood of the top like on the Gibson ES-335 (or the Epiphone Elite ES-335). That didn't help much on the Riviera, it has inserts with 8mm thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed1 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 In my experience, as far as your pickups go, you have 3 avenues to go down. First, you can have your existing PUs rewound. The upside is they will still fit the shape of your guitar, the downside, rewinding is almost always more than new. Second option, new PUs, Gibson , custom, whatever. The upside is you can tailor your sound by choosing type amd maker. The downside is I've yet to find one that conforms to the contour of the archtop body, so now your making curved shims. The final choice is to use the stock ones but raise them. I'm sure some of you have heard me say this before, but I found that raising the stock Epi PUs really brought them to life. The stock pickups won't require concave shims. The flexible P90 shims available from StewMac and others work fine and are inexpensive. Final adjustments with the poles and you won't believe the difference. I love the custom Pus that I got from Lollar and Biltoft, but if I were on a budget and doing it over, that's what I would do. In fact, I'm considering getting a second Casino and doing just that, if the right deal comes along. I raised mine before pulling them and going to the Biltofts and almost stayed with them. Nailed the Daytripper tone. Depends on what you're looking for. Beatles up thru Revolver, stay stock and save some money for your Bigsby. Something different, go for what you can afford. The concave shims aren't that tough to make, just a little time consuming. Just know that once you go beyond stock covers, you'll be learning how to make them. As far as the Bigsby, that's a personal thing and the only reason i would go that route is for the extra sustain I've heard it can give. I never use a bar and have even blocked the tremelo on my strat. I have to admit that a Bigsby looks very cool, though. It's whatever works for you. Like my grandfather used to say, "if everyone liked the same thing, all the guys would be after your Grandma". But then this is the same guy that used to tell me to "never marry a woman with big hands, it'll make your @$#& look small". Oh, the wisdom of our elders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casino4Life Posted January 6, 2011 Author Share Posted January 6, 2011 yeah I think I will stay with the stop Epi P90s, still pursue the Bigsby and for sure a new nut and possibly a roller bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Like my grandfather used to say, "if everyone liked the same thing, all the guys would be after your Grandma". But then this is the same guy that used to tell me to "never marry a woman with big hands, it'll make your @$#& look small". Oh, the wisdom of our elders. Your grandfather sounds like a real character, fantastic one-liners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweed1 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 Your grandfather sounds like a real character, fantastic one-liners. Ya, he was a real kick to hang around. He told me the big hands one when I was 13 and it floored me. I could put together a 10 miunte comedy routine with some of his gems. My mother wasn't too keen on some of the wisdom he imparted on me though. I miss him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougg330 Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I have the stock Epi P-90's in my Sorrento and recently A/B'ed them against the Lindy Fralin P-90's in my Gibson ES-330. They sounded different, but I'd be hard pressed to pick one set as "better" than the others. I'd vote for keeping the Epi's in place and giving them a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casino4Life Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 I think in the long run I am just going to have the electronics and nut upgraded, shelf the Bigsby for now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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