jrd2 Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 After a few years of letting the guitar playing and interest slip, I've finally started getting the bug again. I've been looking for a new bridge for my Riviera so I've spent more time than usual on guitar websites. I noticed the 50th Anniversary 1961 Casino with tremtone and thought straight away - "I have to buy this". I then noticed the inspired by John Lennon 1965 Casino and also loved the look of this. Visually there are parts I like from both guitars, and I can't quite decide which one I'd like the most as they are quite similar. I don't know much technically about guitars so can't start a good discussion about the pros and cons of each (from looking at the specs I'd say they are almost identical), just thought I'd stick this up for discussion...... at the moment for me it's just a look/feel competition betwen the two. I think the 1961 model looks better, but if it had the metal casing on the pickups and the parallelogram inlays on the fretboard I think that would definitely do it for me! 1961 1965 JL The Epiphone 50th Anniversary 1961 Casino TD Main Features Include: Body Material: 5-Layer; Laminated Maple/Birch Neck Materials: Mahogany Neck Shape: SlimTaper™ Neck Joint: Glued-In; 16th fret Truss Rod: Adjustable Scale Length: 24.75" Fingerboard Material: Rosewood with pearloid "Dot" inlays Fingerboard Radius: 14" Frets: 22; medium-jumbo Bridge Pickup: Gibson U.S.A P-90T Neck Pickup: Gibson U.S.A. P-90R Controls: 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, Switchcraft™ 3-way toggle, Switchcraft™ 1/4" Output Jack Bridge: Tune-o-matic Tailpiece: Tremotone™ Nut Width: 1-11/16" Hardware: Nickel Binding: Body and Fingerboard Machine Heads: Vintage-style, 14:1 ratio with small plastic buttons Colour (Tremotone): Vintage Sunburst Includes: Vintage Hard Case, Numbered Certificate of Authenticity The Epiphone Inspired By John Lennon Casino, Vintage Sunburst Main Features Include: Body Material: Laminated Maple Neck Material: Mahogany Neck Shape: SlimTaper Neck Joint: Glued-In; 16th fret Truss Rod: Adjustable Scale Length: 24.75" Fingerboard: Rosewood with pearloid "Parallelogram" inlays Bridge Pickup: Gibson USA P-90T Neck Pickup: Gibson USA P-90R Controls: Bridge Volume, Neck Volume, Bridge Tone, Neck Tone, Switchcraft 3-way toggle, Switchcraft 1/4" Jack Binding: Body and Fingerboard Fingerboard Radius: 14" Frets: 22; medium-jumbo Bridge: Tune-o-matic Nut Width: 1-11/16" Hardware: Nickel Machine Heads: (1965 - VS) Vintage-style; 14:1 ratio with small metal buttons Colour: Vintage Sunburst (VS) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Obscure Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hmmm, in my humble opinion, I would opt for the '61 RI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hmmm, in my humble opinion, I would opt for the '61 RI. Same here, but I think I'd skip the tremtone ... JIm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Vega Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 I also opted for the '61 RI (with Tremotone). Dots vs Parallelograms, meh. I do think the smaller headstock on the '61 looks better as well. The case it comes with is very nice too. Their both fairly comparable, it's a personal choice at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Of the two mentioned, I'd go for the '61! It's just enough different looking, while still being a very well made, and great playing guitar (based on what I've seen/played, at my dealer's). Everyone, and their dog, has the standard looking Casino. Unless you're a serious "Lennon Fan," why not something a bit more unique? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrd2 Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 I think I've always preferred the 1961.... but I'm never one to choose something without second thoughts and taking weeks to come to a decision. The tremotone model doesn't seem to be in stock anywhere in the UK yet maybe if I hold off and wait, I'll realise I'm being far too indulgent and shouldn't be spending more money on guitars for now!! Given that this is an Epiphone forum I can't see anyone agreeing with that last point :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 61 with trem is very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Vega Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 61 with trem is very cool! You are not wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 After a few years of letting the guitar playing and interest slip, I've finally started getting the bug again. I've been looking for a new bridge for my Riviera so I've spent more time than usual on guitar websites. I noticed the 50th Anniversary 1961 Casino with tremtone and thought straight away - "I have to buy this". I then noticed the inspired by John Lennon 1965 Casino and also loved the look of this. Visually there are parts I like from both guitars, and I can't quite decide which one I'd like the most as they are quite similar. I had to make the same decision some time ago. Fortunately I could play all currently available Casinos, plus an original one from 1964 (and a Gibson ES-330L) in direct comparison. Just from the images I opted for the IBJL VSB, but after I played all of them I left the shop with the Elitist VSB. Why? Because the IBJL in person was not even close to the pictures and to what I expected (this may be different on other guitars). It had that screaming sunburst from almost black over cherry red to lemon yellow. The standard was the same color, and what astonished me: The 1964 as well, even though slightly faded. The IBJL felt more like a pimped standard Casino (which it is in fact, but it looks much better on the pictures). The necks on standard, IBJL and 50th anniversary were all too thick for my preference. The Elitist VSB was dead on, from both the look and the feel. In terms of color it looks almost exactly like the IBJL image you posted, a burst from dark brown, over almost invisible dark wine red to a warm honey tone in the middle (funny: in person the Elitist looks as much better compared to the images as the IBJL looks worse). The neck is significantly thinner than the standard/IBJL/50th, and very close to the original 1964 neck. Of course it was a bit more expensive than the IBJL I looked for, but at least for me it is easily worth the additional money. It plays and sounds like a dream, far better than I expected, even better than the ES-330L for my taste (and it looks and feels at least as valuable as the Gibson). It tunes up perfectly (thanks to the 18:1 Grover Rotomatic tuning machines), stays in tune, and was set up perfectly right out of the case. So my suggestion is to play them all, side by side, note the differences in feel and sound (they are sometimes subtle, e.g. when it comes to the difference in neck shape of standard/IBJL/50th anniversary models), and then decide which one fits your needs best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Hey, one can't go wrong, with an Elitist Casino! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 So my suggestion is to play them all, side by side, note the differences in feel and sound (they are sometimes subtle, e.g. when it comes to the difference in neck shape of standard/IBJL/50th anniversary models), and then decide which one fits your needs best. I totally agree - if at all possible, try them all & then go with the one that works best for you. I have both the ES-330L and the Elitist Casino (along with a Peerless Casino). Each one is significantly different in tone and playability. For me, the 30/60 neck of the 330L is the best fit, and having 19 frets clear of the body is a welcome bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motowntom Posted October 20, 2011 Share Posted October 20, 2011 With the prices on eleitest and the such, save up another six months and go vintage. Nothing like the real deal, I have seen them pop up in "player condithion" for 1700.00-1900.00. I have a 66" and there is nothing like it. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrd2 Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 1961 should be in my hands tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Vega Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 1961 should be in my hands tomorrow Good choice (probably couldn't go wrong, but...). You'll be happy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Never played a ´61 but i have to say that i totally love my "inspired by" Casino in sunburst... And i think this one is very special because it´s not that typical 3 tone sunburst like all those other Casinos.It´s a two tone sunburst, very very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobouz Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 With the prices on eleitest and the such, save up another six months and go vintage. Good point. The Elitist's asking price went from $1499 to $1799 this past January. That's a pretty steep jump, and puts it in competition with some other very viable options, including the recent 330L. In fact, my very slightly used 330L in mint condition cost less than what the Elitist Casino is now going for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryansong65 Posted March 9, 2014 Share Posted March 9, 2014 I got the EPIPHONE 61' 50TH ANNIVERSARY and the John Lennon inspired by Casino in vsb they are different for sure I played the elitist and cant justify spending the extra $900.oo for it over the other 2...but its whoever has to play them I like the necks on the 50th anniversary 61' and the LENNON Inspired by Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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