osroubek Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I was wondering if someone can point out the differences between the Inspired by JL casino Revolution vs the JL Revolution. Both cost the same ($999) and both are available in the natural finish. Are they made in different parts of Asia? Which of the two plays better, if that is even something someone has noticed? The store I ordered one from only has the Revolution available and the Inspired by is out of stock. Which one should I be more interested in? I called Gibson and they were not that helpful. Any comments would be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 the Inspired by JL casino Revolution vs the JL Revolution. Both cost the same ($999) Are you sure you are talking about the Revolution? Those guitars do not cost the same as the Inspired By. I believe that the Revolution model has been discontinued and perhaps the dealer you are dealing with is just trying to unload it at a very low price. Anyway, here's a chart telling of the differences between the various Casino models. My advice, get yourself the Inspired By Casino. It is the best of all worlds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 I was wondering if someone can point out the differences between the Inspired by JL casino Revolution vs the JL Revolution. Both cost the same ($999) and both are available in the natural finish. Are they made in different parts of Asia? Which of the two plays better, if that is even something someone has noticed? The store I ordered one from only has the Revolution available and the Inspired by is out of stock. Which one should I be more interested in? I called Gibson and they were not that helpful. Any comments would be appreciated. I'd be very surprised if you're looking at the "Assembled In USA" JL Revolution model at that price, but if you are, buy it right now! Those are well noted as being one of the very best & closest to the original reissue Casinos out there, right down to the two hole truss rod cover. The AIUSA version is no longer in production. The body was made in Japan by the Terada factory, then shipped to the USA for the installation of Gibson electronics & hardware. $999 is a great price, if it's the right guitar. Wait, on second thought, don't buy it, and PM me with the dealer's phone number! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Thanks for the detailed chart. I really wonder what version I have on order. As far as I know, it is NOT the Inspired By, but is some version of the Revolution with the natural color. I don't think they would be selling a 'real' Revolution for $999, unless their description in their database is entered incorrectly. I guess I will find out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted August 16, 2011 Share Posted August 16, 2011 You'd better hope it isn't the Standard Casino in natural. If you paid $999 for that, you better start calling the Better Business Bureau. $999 for a Revolution Casino is very hard to believe. But as I said, maybe the guitar has been sitting there for years and the seller just wanted to get something for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 16, 2011 Author Share Posted August 16, 2011 Thanks. When the time comes I will make sure its not a stock Casino, as I played the one they have the other day. I was a little disappointed with the quality as I also played a Sheraton and it has such a better build and finishing touches for the exact same price ($599) but of course heavier and had a deeper, more mellow sound, but yet interesting to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 While you're at it, check out the 50th Anniversary '61 Casino. I played one, last weekend, along with a IBJL, as well. Both, were very nice guitars, with the same USA electronics. Fit and Finish, on the one's I played were both great! And, very reasonable, in price, too. Love the case, for the '61, as well. Gray, with blue interior, just like the original's. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Saw an IBJL Casino last week and I wouldn't spit on it if it was on fire, poorest finishing work I've seen for a long, long time, they would have had a hard time trying to give it to me, I doubt I'd accept it even for free, disgusting piece of crap it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 Is the Revolution, non-inspired by, of better quality? Supposedly I have one on order but the price is similar to the inspired by version. On the Epi website there is the John Lennon Revolution which seems different than the 1965 Revolution. They do not give suggested prices so I'm not sure what version my local store has on order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Saw an IBJL Casino last week and I wouldn't spit on it if it was on fire, poorest finishing work I've seen for a long, long time, they would have had a hard time trying to give it to me, I doubt I'd accept it even for free, disgusting piece of crap it was. Don't hold back Rasty, tell us how you really feel.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Well, I suppose there are those, that are less than perfect, out there? But, the one's I saw/played on, were very nice, in all respects. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted August 17, 2011 Share Posted August 17, 2011 Don't hold back Rasty, tell us how you really feel.... Yes, it's very rare for me to speak out and be so forthright hey Brian, LOL, the one I saw was simply appalling though, and it should never have left the factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Ok, it turns out to be the Inspired By with the natural finish. It plays very nice compared to the stock Casino for $599 and the natural neck finish feels smoother. The one thing that is obvious right away is that the stock guitar pickups are hotter/louder than the Inspired By version. The pups on the stock version say Alnico on them and the IBJL has the P-90's as I understand it. You have to turn the amp up to get an equivalent volume and add a little more hi's. The stock version seems to have more punch but I preferred the IB anyway for overall reasons. Are there any opinions regrading these differences in pickups? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 Ok, it turns out to be the Inspired By with the natural finish. It plays very nice compared to the stock Casino for $599 and the natural neck finish feels smoother. The one thing that is obvious right away is that the stock guitar pickups are hotter/louder than the Inspired By version. The pups on the stock version say Alnico on them and the IBJL has the P-90's as I understand it. You have to turn the amp up to get an equivalent volume and add a little more hi's. The stock version seems to have more punch but I preferred the IB anyway for overall reasons. Are there any opinions regrading these differences in pickups? Thanks. Both guitars have P90s. The IBJL has Gibson USA P90s and the Standard Casino has Epi Alnico V P90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted August 20, 2011 Share Posted August 20, 2011 The pups on the stock version say Alnico on them and the IBJL has the P-90's as I understand it. Alnico is the type of magnet used, whereas P-90 is a type of pickup, P-90s can have Alnico magnets in them (and most probably do). Did you happen to notice the distance the pickups were from the strings on each guitar, maybe the IBJL needs them raised a bit closer to the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 Thanks for your quick reply. I was not expecting the tonal difference when I went in yesterday to test it out. I like the Alnico's in a way more so than the one's on the IBJL, but I suppose they can always be swapped out at some point. Perhaps if they are too hot then you'll be decreasing treble more and perhaps have to deal with more feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 20, 2011 Author Share Posted August 20, 2011 I did not look too closely to see the distance from the strings. That's a great suggestion, and I will try to lower the action slightly as well, so this may help. I thought it was the plastic on the pickup from the factory but after I removed it, it did not make much of a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 So basically, the pups cannot be raised, only the pole adjustment screws can be raised/lowered and lowering the action a little did not add much to the sound. There is a definite difference in loudness and tone from the stock guitar with the Alnico V P90's vs the Gibson P90's on the IBJL. From my reading, the Gibson P90's are more mellow and not as bright. Perhaps that's what many are looking for but my amp settings have to be adjusted quite a bit to get a sound that I feel is acceptable, that is, with some reasonable amount of clarity. I'm using a Mesa LoneStar 2x12. I have also tested it with my Vox AC30 and again, treble needs to be boosted quite a bit and the bass backed off to get a nice clean sound. I wonder if the pups are just this way, or should I consider swapping them out for something else. I've read on this site that others can determine how the pickups sound based on measuring the output with a multimeter. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 So basically, the pups cannot be raised, They can, there are spacers available that fit under the pups, I've not had to to this myself, so I don't know exactly which ones to get, but hopefully someone with that experience will chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Thanks. I just read on a different thread about using shims to raise the pups. Is this a big 'to do'? I don't want to ruin things. Is this something that is rather easy to do or should it go to a local shop for this service? Also, does checking each pup with a multimeter make any sense? So you know what you're dealing with, since I wonder if all P90's are created equal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 Thanks. I just read on a different thread about using shims to raise the pups. Is this a big 'to do'? I don't want to ruin things. Is this something that is rather easy to do or should it go to a local shop for this service? Also, does checking each pup with a multimeter make any sense? So you know what you're dealing with, since I wonder if all P90's are created equal! As I said, I've never had to raise them, so I can't answer that part with any real knowledge, I'd rather someone who knows about it can give you some advice. Measuring pup impedance can be done while they're still installed, just follow the method mentioned in the first post of THIS THREAD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 An additional thought - The tonal properties of the two bodies in your comparison may be contributing significantly to what you're hearing. Play those two guitars side by side acoustically. If the IBJL sounds mellower, that's almost certainly a piece of the equation impacting your plugged in tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxman Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 From my reading, the Gibson P90's are more mellow and not as bright.... my amp settings have to be adjusted quite a bit to get a sound that I feel is acceptable, that is, with some reasonable amount of clarity.... I have also tested it with my Vox AC30 and again, treble needs to be boosted quite a bit and the bass backed off to get a nice clean sound...... I wonder if the pups are just this way, Based upon what you say, you are experiencing exactly what you should be experiencing. It is wrong to think that P-90s are going to be this sparkly, bright pickup. This isn't a Strat you are dealing with. It is a hollow body with P-90s. The sound you are getting is the sound you should be getting. You WILL have to make adjsutments to your amps in order to brighten up the tone and give it more clarity. When I play my Casino into my AC30 I find it is not the best match for that guitar. As you said, treble must be boosted and bass backed off to clean it up. Don't ever think of playing that Casino into an AC30 on the Normal channel. Pure sludge. Top Boost channel works OK with the Casino, but not as well as a Fender amp. You have to realize that P-90s in a hollow body are not going to jangle. If you had to put them on a mellow/bright scale, they are closer to mellow than to bright. Nothing wrong with the pickups you have, no need to raise them or buy new ones; you just have to understand that, yes, the pickups are just this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osroubek Posted August 21, 2011 Author Share Posted August 21, 2011 Thanks Taxman for your response. I guess I should have realized that right away, but refused to listen to common sense. Out of the guitars that I have, I didn't think this one would need more than the usual adjustments in the amp settings. That's why each instrument has its own unique sound quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted August 21, 2011 Share Posted August 21, 2011 no need to raise them The OP was worried about the weak output of the pups, raising the pups is probably the best way to combat that, I don't think it's wise to simply dismiss it out of hand just like that. It's easy to experiment if this would work in this case or not, try using a few icy pole sticks and placing them under the pups temporarily as shims/spacers and testing the output produced then, it will cost nothing and will give him results he can build upon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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