aldiablo Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Hi, I am new to the forum and I have a question that I hope you's can help with. I am looking to get an Elitist Casino. I have wanted a Casino for years and have always been aware of them, what with the Beatles connection and all, and the time has come I think. My main guitar at the moment is a Greatsch White Falcon and I'm looking for a hollowbody guitar to use as back up but also to offer me something a little different aswell for live and recording use. I also own some other guitars including a Gibson Les Paul, Burns Double Six and an old 60's Harmony Silvertone Silhouette. My question is this. What are the differences between the current Elitist Casino and the Elitist casino 1965? Are there any differences at all? I would probably be able to get my hands on either and am wondering which would be best. Thanks, Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Hello and welcome to the forum! I also got confused by this at one point but this is the best I can explain it. There are two types of commercially available Japanese Casinos that have been produced in recent times: The USA assembled John Lennon Reissues and the Elite/Elitist. However, for a while the Elitist VSB was marketed as the Elitist 1965 Casino and on some websites is still being sold as such. I'm unsure whether this was to differentiate it from the Natural Elitist (i.e natural finish, not "stripped" or "unfinished" like Inspired By JL or USA Assembled Revolution casino) or if there is a real difference or if it was to change the marketing angle once the casino was the only one being produced in this range to tie in with their historic thing of late. I even think I remember seeing some pictures of the VSB Elitist with a black washer like JL's but as far as I'm aware all the other featurtes were the same as any other Elitist Casino and not like the USA 1965 Casino: -Nickel Grovers instead of Kluson style tuners -white/grey elitist sticker instead of blue kalamazoo sticker -elitist TRC instead of 2 hole E logo -Standard P/G with raised silver/black E logo instead of 60s style flat foil E logo -bone nut instead of corian -nickel bridge saddles instead of nylon -Elitist case instead of JL Sig case -elitist serial number instead of JL serial stamped with # out of 1965 on certificate. As far as I'm aware, whether someone calls it an elite, elitist or elitist 1965 casino those features mentioned above will be consistent. Headstock angle and body/neck construction I'm less sure about. EDIT: I see that the Gibson website is marketing an Elitist 1965 but the Epiphone website just calls it an Elitist. My guess is that they're the exact same guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 -Elitist case instead of JL Sig case - How does this look? I got a little confused, because i have a "inspired by" Casino, but the case i got looks like any standard Epi case i guess Isn´t this "special" brown case just with the "Revolution" Casino? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 How does this look? I got a little confused, because i have a "inspired by" Casino, but the case i got looks like any standard Epi case i guess Isn´t this "special" brown case just with the "Revolution" Casino? The special brown case comes with the USA Assembled models. Lennon face and sig, pink interior with shroud. Elitists come with an Elitist case (blue interior for elitist and purply for elites i think) Inspired By JL come with a standard Epiphone Case. Does it have the JL face/sig on it as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldiablo Posted June 8, 2011 Author Share Posted June 8, 2011 Hey thanks for the reply Clarkuss. Yeah I would imagine if there is a difference it may be with the headstock angle. Like the 1965 may have the 17 degree and the regular Elitist may have the 14 degree. And maybe the neck construction could be different, like they the body a neck may join at a different fret. I cant really find anything about it on the net though. Maybe they are the exact same guitar and they just stopped calling it the 1965. If there is a difference in headstock angle etc. though I think I'd rather go with the 1965 build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Does it have the JL face/sig on it as well? Unfortunately not....but thanks anayway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Unfortunately not....but thanks anayway. The Epiphone website just says hard case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hey thanks for the reply Clarkuss. Yeah I would imagine if there is a difference it may be with the headstock angle. Like the 1965 may have the 17 degree and the regular Elitist may have the 14 degree...Maybe they are the exact same guitar and they just stopped calling it the 1965. The Elitist Casino and Elitist 1965 Casino (and Elite Casino) the same guitar with the same specs. The "1965" has been used (or not) inconsistently by retailers, etailers, and even Epiphone itself, that's all. Of the reissues in question, only the John Lennon 1965 Casinos and John Lennon Revolution Casinos (original, made in Japan/assembled in the USA versions, not the "Inspired By" versions) have a seventeen degree headstock. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldiablo Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Thanks a million for the info Red 333. Seems weird that they'd call it 1965 Casino and give it a 14 degree headstock but there you go. I'm sure they're great guitars either way. Do any of you guys have any experience with the Elitist Casinos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 Thanks a million for the info Red 333. Seems weird that they'd call it 1965 Casino and give it a 14 degree headstock but there you go. I'm sure they're great guitars either way. Do any of you guys have any experience with the Elitist Casinos? Yup. I have an Elitist Casino, John Lennon 1965 Casino, and John Lennon Revolution Casino. Superb Guitars. JL 1965 Casino JL Revolution Casino Elitist Casino Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 I have one of the first 50 1965 John Lennon Casinos and it is without a doubt the most comfortable playing guitar I ever had in my hands-and there have been hundreds.It's my favourite of my 28 guitars and if the Elitist Casinos and Inspired by Casinos are only half as good then they are excellent guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldiablo Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks guys. Yeah I'm sure that they're great guitars. Well they are made at the Terada factory like my Gretcsh and if they are anything like the quality of my Falcon then they must be great guitars. They do good work at that factory. My Gretsch is a really fantastic guitar. Built so well and sounds amazing. Any of you guys had any issues with feedback with the Casino's? I imagine with the P90's and completely hollow body it may be an issue at times. Had any experiemce using fuzz pedals etc. with one? I'm playing kinda 60's garage/garage punk stuff. The Gretsch fits into this really well. It can feedback at times but it's a really cool useable feedback, especially when a fuzz is on. No squeals just a big *** noise. I dont use fuzz constantly or anything. Most of the time I would just have a bit of gain on. The Falcon has humbucker Filtertrons and bracing. Would the Casino have a harsher feedback with the single coils? As I said I'm kinda looking for something to back up the Gretsch and that will also give me something a little different to. Plus I just want a new guitar. I'm actually a little between the Elitist Casino and something like a 60's Harmony H75 or H76. Leaning more towards the Casino though as there has always been an attraction there, plus the Casino's are easier to get your hands on. Those topline 60's Harmony's are supposed to be great guitars though. Very well built and all. I have one of the budget Silvertones and it is a nice guitar. As it's one of the budget one it does have a few intonation issues and with the little single coils and solid body when it feedsback it aint nice. It is a nice sounding guitar. More of a recording guitar though. Your a lucky man Red33. How would you compare the different Casino models you have? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony_J Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks guys. Yeah I'm sure that they're great guitars. Well they are made at the Terada factory like my Gretcsh and if they are anything like the quality of my Falcon then they must be great guitars. They do good work at that factory. My Gretsch is a really fantastic guitar. Built so well and sounds amazing. Any of you guys had any issues with feedback with the Casino's? I imagine with the P90's and completely hollow body it may be an issue at times. Had any experiemce using fuzz pedals etc. with one? I'm playing kinda 60's garage/garage punk stuff. The Gretsch fits into this really well. It can feedback at times but it's a really cool useable feedback, especially when a fuzz is on. No squeals just a big *** noise. I dont use fuzz constantly or anything. Most of the time I would just have a bit of gain on. The Falcon has humbucker Filtertrons and bracing. Would the Casino have a harsher feedback with the single coils? As I said I'm kinda looking for something to back up the Gretsch and that will also give me something a little different to. Plus I just want a new guitar. I'm actually a little between the Elitist Casino and something like a 60's Harmony H75 or H76. Leaning more towards the Casino though as there has always been an attraction there, plus the Casino's are easier to get your hands on. Those topline 60's Harmony's are supposed to be great guitars though. Very well built and all. I have one of the budget Silvertones and it is a nice guitar. As it's one of the budget one it does have a few intonation issues and with the little single coils and solid body when it feedsback it aint nice. It is a nice sounding guitar. More of a recording guitar though. Your a lucky man Red33. How would you compare the different Casino models you have? Sounds like you're going after the Dan Auerbach tone. I own a chinese made Casino and with a big muff can nail anything the Black Keys have put out. Of course, I'm also running it through a Fender Twin Reverb with gratuitous amounts of reverb. Feedback is an issue depending on how heavy you have the fuzz. Set your fuzz to where it's RIGHT at the sweet spot of sustaining musical feedback but not where as soon as you lift your fingers off the strings it starts to squeal. Just my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldiablo Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thanks Anthony. Yeah when I'm using fuzz it is more of a 60's garage sound. Like the Mummies or something or a Nuggets kinda thing if you like. I have a Zvex Fuzz Factory and the Ashbass Fuzzbrite which is a clone of the 60's Mosrite fuzz and I play through a Fender Hotrod Deluxe. Yeah hollowbodies are always gonna feedback at times I guess. When it does you want it to be in some way musical and something that you may be able to use to your advantage if you want. I've often used the feedback that the Gretsch makes with a fuzz and a reverb pedal on during parts of songs like breakdowns or whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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