Elias Graves Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 This is my Casino. It sounds killer. It's a 95 model made in the Peerless factory. I've learned a few things from this guitar. 1. I love Casinos 2. To be truly great, it needs a new wiring harness, bridge, nut and Bigsby. 3. I hate Bigsbys. Trying to decide if is should dump an extra $250 into a $500 guitar or sell it and buy an Elitist. What do you guys think? I got sucked in by the cool color but the playability and sound won me over. But the tuning instability and stickiness of the Bigsby are making me nuts. I know if I keep it, I'll do the work it needs and I'll still hate the Bigsby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Elias That is one of the coolest guitars Epiphone has ever produced. You had the Godin, then this and the Wildcat. I just sold my Casino to start a fund for the Pelham blue ES-355 (wont be available until January '13). If I had a beautiful Casino like that, I'd keep it (the Casino I had, had a neck/headstock repair). You might try putting a roller bridge on that if you are having tuning instability. I put one on my P-93 Riviera and it really did help with the "instability" Just my small opinion and observations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waveshaper Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 Elias, If you are the type to get joy out of seeing an instrument that has been improved because of your wishes, etc. than you should stick with it. On the other hand, if you see such a thing as a headache than you should get a different guitar. - John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 I have hot rodded a few guitars. Some came out good, others were still dogs. Every time, though, I ended up with an $800 $500 guitar. I'm thinking it's time to just go get the nice one and be done with it. Putting $300 into this one is beginning to look like a fool's errand. It's a nice guitar, but, in the end I don't like the Bigsby and thats one thing I can't change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crust Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 I have hot rodded a few guitars. Some came out good, others were still dogs. Every time, though, I ended up with an $800 $500 guitar. I'm thinking it's time to just go get the nice one and be done with it. Putting $300 into this one is beginning to look like a fool's errand. It's a nice guitar, but, in the end I don't like the Bigsby and thats one thing I can't change. Well, yes. Getting rid of one guitar, for a better guitar. Nothing wrong with that (unless you just keep what you have, and get a better guitar anyway) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 Yeah, that's not gonna happen. :D space is limited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Alan Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 It is a great looking guitar, that is for certain. That color is just awesome. I tend to agree with everyone else. You'd likely be better off selling it as is. You won't get back the extra money you put into it when you sell it, and you'll be appealing to a far smaller group of buyers regardless of if the mods you made make it better; which I would imagine they would. You never know though, if you make the changes, you may end up not being able to part with it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 The "stickiness" and tuning instability you refer to are likely due to binding at the nut, and easily remedied by a good luthier. I have the exact same model and color, and mine works just great. Proper string winding and a well-cut (and lubricated --- try graphite or Big Bends Nut Sauce) nut will fix most of the intonation problems frequently blamed on Bigsbys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Zeplin Posted June 13, 2012 Share Posted June 13, 2012 I have hot rodded a few guitars. Some came out good, others were still dogs. Every time, though, I ended up with an $800 $500 guitar. I'm thinking it's time to just go get the nice one and be done with it. Putting $300 into this one is beginning to look like a fool's errand. It's a nice guitar, but, in the end I don't like the Bigsby and thats one thing I can't change. Can you replace the Bigsby with the traditional trapeze type tailpiece? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted June 13, 2012 Author Share Posted June 13, 2012 There is definitely some nut work that needs doing, but the import Bigsby itself has some catches in it. I went through the whole mess a couple weeks ago; cleaned it, put graphite on all the moving parts. It's better than it was, but I think it comes down to me learning that Bigsbys aren't my thing. I suppose it could be replaced with a trap tail, but that's gonna leave holes in the top. I think my best bet is to just sell it off and go find an elitist or a 61 anniversary model. Those are the ones I really like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldhippie Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Ohhh...if I only could have this beautiful guitar!! It looks great and I would do some upgrade like some others said. Change the nut and get a roller bridge. I hope you don´t regret if you sell this beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KVL Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 That is a beautiful axe, bud. Hope you do well with the sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Looks like a keeper to me!! Love that color. My Bigsby works great on my Gretsch, ProJet, 5122DC & Duo-Jets. Don't have one on anything but a Gretsch however. You might look into a Compton Compensated Bridge if available for the Casino. All the Gretschie's that own just love them. I may get one for my Caddy Green Duo-Jet. You could take a totally new approach however! Just roll the Bigs whammy bar out of your way and don't mess with it. Just let it look cool on the guitar if you don't like them. BTW, is that yellow thing an antenna in the output jack? Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeweyCox Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Do like Johnny Marr, just ditch the tremoloarm, can't be hard to take it out… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 Hi EG, I see you're using that Bigsby you don't like on your photo. Just a thought (and I'm not saying that you do) but Bigsbys are not meant to be used like a Floyd Rose. Rather, they're only designed for a little slow, gentle vibrato. In any case I don't use the Bigsby very much on my Wildkat. Instead I swivel it upwards and out of the way as has been mentioned above and I can say that it does look very cool that way. If you otherwise like everything else about the guitar it might be better to spend just a few quid on a graph tech nut and a roller bridge first. My memory's not great but am I right in thinking you also sold a tasty Gibson LP Junior as well as your Alleykat? I admire that, unlike me, you use your guitar as a working tool and that you're not bothered about amassing several guitars you don't really need and/or might not play so much. I do have a feeling that you will sell the Casino too and I agree that if you're only going to have one main guitar then you should spend a bit more on it. Maybe you could have a think and then suggest the features, tones, looks and functions that make up your ideal "my only one" guitar. Fellow forumites could then, perhaps, chip in with a few ideas to help you search for it. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanH Posted June 18, 2012 Share Posted June 18, 2012 What a looker! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harmony Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 I just got my Elitist Casino a month ago, and I am amazed by the quality, playability...and the sheer TONE that comes out of the instrument. I absolutely love it, and I know I will never get rid of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueman335 Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Elias That is one of the coolest guitars Epiphone has ever produced. You had the Godin, then this and the Wildcat. I just sold my Casino to start a fund for the Pelham blue ES-355 (wont be available until January '13). If I had a beautiful Casino like that, I'd keep it (the Casino I had, had a neck/headstock repair). You might try putting a roller bridge on that if you are having tuning instability. I put one on my P-93 Riviera and it really did help with the "instability" Just my small opinion and observations. +1. I have a P-93, and have no tuning issues with the Bigsby. Like you, I put on a roller bridge, as the strings aren't going to move as freely with regular saddles. Works great. I also have a 1990's Casino in ebony, that is a great guitar (no Bigsby). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Graves Posted June 22, 2012 Author Share Posted June 22, 2012 The gold thing? Just a cord. I sold the Casino. Nice guitar, but I hate the Bigsby. Still have my home made tele. Also picked up a PRS SE singlecut soapbar for cheap the other day, as I needed a beater since I travel a fair amount. Pretty nice guitar. The plan now is to save some cash and start looking either for a 61 reissue or an elitist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aster1 Posted June 23, 2012 Share Posted June 23, 2012 I'm with you Harmony. I just love my Elitist Casino and unless I'd have to eat or do something radical, I'd never sell it either!! Elias, I have both guitars that you're looking at. Guess it's what sound you're after (if just one guitar). I like the SG bunches, but if push came to shove, & I could ONLY have one of the two, the SG would not be a close 2nd. That's just me as I just like single coil pups better for what I enjoy playing. Alan, that Caddy Green with the DEEP grained, warm Mahog & gold pickguard & appointments, may be my favorite Ele. guitar for looks (in the top 5 equal for sound too). I'd have a dickens of a time to decide between the Gretsch Duo-Jet and the Ric 330 FireGlo however. How could a Father decided between one of his "chil-ren" either! It really trips my trigger for playing, sound, and LOOKS as well. That's why I just couldn't stop with one I guess. Aster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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