LPDEN Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Elitist Costs about $900 more than the 1961 50th Anniversary model... Elitist is made in Japan, 1961 50th Made in China Both use 5-ply body construction, Elitist Maple, '61 Birchwood Both come with Gibson USA P-90 pickups Both come with Hardsell cases So, which one do you buy and why? That's what I am trying to decide on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 If your budget can afford the Elitist, I think you'll find it well worth it. The workmanship, electronics, woods and specs are definitely a cut (or several) above. On the other hand, if the price difference is hard to manage or justify for you, the '61's are excellent guitars too --- they are by no means "cheap instruments," and the folks here that have bought them seem very happy with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 If your budget can afford the Elitist, I think you'll find it well worth it. The workmanship, electronics, woods and specs are definitely a cut (or several) above. On the other hand, if the price difference is hard to manage or justify for you, the '61's are excellent guitars too --- they are by no means "cheap instruments," and the folks here that have bought them seem very happy with them. I agree that is some cases you do get what you pay for. I spent a few hours yesterday comparing the two, and I honestly have to say the Elitist was suprisingly (to me) not the clear winner across the board. Plugged in I thought the '61 was as good if not better than the Elitist through several different amps (A Fender Deluxe Reverb, Blackstar HT Club 40 Combo and a Vox AC30). That was the sentiment also of a few others trying out guitars in the room as well that were listening to me demo the 2 Casino models. Unplugged the Elitist was a toss up for resonance volume and feel among those who were interested in my comparison. I was almost calling it a draw. Fit and fisnish and quality was a split decision on the most smallest of items which turned out to be some factory gunk left on the fretboard of the '61 50th (but can be cleaned off). I therefore gave the fit and finish and prep edge to the Elitist. At the end of the day this post was a devil's advocate sort of approach. I thought I'd walk out with the Elitist in-hand because it was indeed within my budget and the clear favorite going in, but I walked out with the '61 50th Anniversary Casino after what I felt was a detailed comparison purchase. Pics forthcoming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Case & Case Candy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 '61 50th Casino Royal Tan & L.E. Pelham Blue Dot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 10, 2012 Author Share Posted March 10, 2012 Beautifully finished neck & back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 +1 on the ´61 Anniversary Casino.I have one and it is just amazing.The look, feel and playability. Get one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modern image Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 elite is better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfine Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 That Royal Tan looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrasso Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 HNGD. Beautiful Casino. As you can tell, Epiphone archtops are addicting. You will buy more. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 They all look nice Personally I would favour the MIA ES 330... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 1331431941[/url]' post='1146648']elite is better The "better" line has been blurred between these 2 models, really it has. As an Elitist owner since 2003, I would buy the Elitist every time over most anything out there for their price:quality ratio including many Gibson archtops. As I mentioned earlier, I was ready to take a new Elitist Casino home. But the '61 50th LE went home with me for the very reasons while I already own and have owned other Elitist models: Quality tone and playability that superbly challenges it's upper level competition. The '61 50th Casino has put the Elitist Casino in the very same position the Elitists put the Gibson namesake in some 10 years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 1331462632[/url]' post='1146791']That Royal Tan looks great! I agree. I usually only buy Natural in my archtops when given the choice, but Royal Tan is spectacular! I would have picked it even had a natural been available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 1331468889[/url]' post='1146841']HNGD. Beautiful Casino. As you can tell, Epiphone archtops are addicting. You will buy more. Mark Yes they are! Before whittling my collection down several years ago, I had 9 archtops, and loved each one of them and played them as much as time allowed. They just fit my playing style the best with their unique tonal capabilities and range. I foolishly sold most of them off in pursuit of other interests, but have come back to my senses and will likely seek out some others I have had my eye on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 They all look nice Personally I would favour the MIA ES 330... V Been there, done that. I tried the one and done approach in the past for a solid-body solution with R8 & R9 LPs, but in the end the great amount of cost didn't provide an equal amount of playability, tone, feel or overall enjoyment that I have found with say the Elitists some and other limited higher price alternatives I have owned from various manufacturers, including lower priced Gibson models, for example. And don't get me wrong I am not saying the higher priced Gibsons, aren't better (materials, finish and electronics most notably), they unarguably have been. Much better than the higher priced Fenders (i.e. Custom Shop) I compared to their own lines. But having been at this for about 35+ years, I have noted that every year since the last 10 years alone that the quality gap closes more and more between high and mid level gear. Even the value gear is today is head and shoulders above where it was some 8 to 10 years ago. Often times many people get blinded by a label alone and don't see far past that, if at all. And IMHO, that's a costly mistake to make. Maybe it's a cycle for me, maybe it's the manufacturers trying to offer better quality at lower price points in a down economy. But whatever it is, I am finding many of today's mid-range guitars continue to close the gap to the upper a level creating a real test in that Quality:Value ratio department. I think this '61 Casino that I would have otherwise given the cold shoulder to in favor of the Elitist Casino that is proven to me as an already established Elitist model owner since 2003 is a testament to the change taking place with certain offerings. I'm just glad Epiphone had the insight to offer an otherwise mid-line guitar with the attributes and qualities of it's higher priced brethren. It may not be everyone's cup of tea or solution, but I think they hit a home run. I'm mostly interested to see what they have up their sleeve next, or if this is just one of those gaps in their testing the response to mixing things up some in their established lines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 +1 on the ´61 Anniversary Casino.I have one and it is just amazing.The look, feel and playability. Get one! I like your avatar picture by the way.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsyseven Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I like your avatar picture by the way.. Yours too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashleyb Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 very nice I have a natural Elitist and i absolutely love it. its made me want to get another as a backup and i have looked at the 61'RI The Royal tan looks amazing but i cant help but feel disappointed that it hasnt got a Bigsby B7 instead of the Epi made Tremolo bar and why has it not got Nickle/Chrome P90 covers Please dont make me swap the Rik 330 for a Vintage Sunburst Elitist ...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPDEN Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 1333376870[/url]' post='1167836']very nice I have a natural Elitist and i absolutely love it. its made me want to get another as a backup and i have looked at the 61'RI The Royal tan looks amazing but i cant help but feel disappointed that it hasnt got a Bigsby B7 instead of the Epi made Tremolo bar and why has it not got Nickle/Chrome P90 covers Please dont make me swap the Rik 330 for a Vintage Sunburst Elitist ...... I actaully like the Tremotone better than the Bigsby. I've said it eleswhere, but aepi should have stuck with the Tremotone! You can get it on the '61 but only in Vintage Sunburst. The Royal Tan was only available with the Trapeze tailpiece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 Hi LPDen,I have an MIC natural Casino and a 1965 John Lennon model that was one of the first 50 made.The '65 is by far the absolute best of all 30 of my guitars and it's so easy on the fingers that it practically plays itself as you barely have to touch the strings to fret a note however there is no sign of fret/string buzz anywhere on it and of course it sounds just like John's when played through a Vox or Feender Twin or Deluxe Reverb amp.I haven't played the '61 but from my exxperience with my '65 I really would have a hard time imagining how any guitar could be better than that.I hope this was of some help.Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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