The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
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  1. #26

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    ps- interestingly enough the korean saein factory (who put out well rated epi's) later put out their own line of guitars--shine...some nice lookers


    Epiphone Casino-sno685-jpg
    Epiphone Casino-wno640-jpg

    cheers

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    The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary
     
  3. #27

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    For your more detailed questions, you might want to look up the moderator Paruwi on MyLesPaul. He knows quite a bit about Epis -- more on the solid-body side, but he might be able to help.

  4. #28

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    My cherry Casino is pretty much like to OP git except the nut at its narrowest point is 1.675" fully hollow with post support, 17th fret joined neck, heel joint on the neck.

    It plays like a dream, and stands shoulder to shoulder with my CS ES-330. They are probably the best deal on the planet.

  5. #29

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    Gnappi: Yes, mine has the post support under the bridge as well. Looks to be a bit over 1/2" square.

    I've measured the nut on my Casino with a SS 6" machinist ruler and it's no more than 1 5/8" so I guess others are correct and these neck widths are all over the planet. LOL

  6. #30

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    It's rare to find hollowbodies with 1 5/8 necks, unfortunately, so it could be a good thing, I'd love it. Enjoy, looks like a great guitar!

  7. #31

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    I think Epiphone only recently started making Casino's with the 'correct' neck joint at the 16th fret. All older Asian-made models have a neck joint at the 17th fret. I don't know exactly when they switched, but it can't be much longer ago than a couple of years. I don't know if that causes a difference in string tension and feel. Theoretically a the 17th-fret neck joint leaves a little more 'afterlength' for the strings between bridge and tailpiece, which should feel a little looser, but I don't think it would be that noticable.

    Where the older US-made Epiphone Casino's were exact copies of Gibson's ES-330 - except for the headstock - the Asian (including Japanese) models differ slightly in body shape, position of the f-holes, shape of the horns, etc. One would only notice seeing the Casino and ES-330 side by side, but they do differ.

    I never looked inside a Casino, but I am curious how the top is braced. I know the ES-330 has the kerfed spruce 'spacer' that in the ES-335 connects the centre block to the top and back:



    What does the Casino have? I am curious because in my Epiphone Sheraton the top and back are glued directly to the centre block, without the kerfed spruce spacer (the centre block is roughly shaped to follow the contours, but it's far from perfect showing some gaps).
    Last edited by Little Jay; 09-07-2016 at 05:17 PM.

  8. #32

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    LittleJay: From what I can tell it looks like there's a block about 1/2" thick and about 5/8" wider on each side than the pickups that runs down the center of the top with cutouts for the pups. There's also a block at the neck and one at the rear top to bottom plus the side kerfing.

    Except for the blocks, center post, and kerfing there are no bottom braces.

    The top looks slightly lighter than the pic posted but both top and bottom look good, it's not plain grain.
    Last edited by Naquat; 09-06-2016 at 10:18 AM.

  9. #33

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    Here are some gut shots of my 1981 Matsumoku made Casino. No bridge support post but a preferably well contoured centre block beneath the top:


  10. #34

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    Duotone: Unlike yours mine has a bit of a gap in spots

  11. #35

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    Thanks guys, I always wondered! So it's actually kind of like a 'floating centre block' and no braces nor the kerfed spacer (more like a series of parallel bracings) of the ES-330. The Casino has substantially more mass attached to the top than the 330. Is the tone also more that of a semi then? I don't have a lot a experience playing Casinos and 330s, but I remember a 60ies 330 I once tried being lighter and 'airier' than a Casino I tried in a store. The latter sounded very mellow and dark (but rather pleasing and in a good way), although the Henriksen amp I played it through probably contributed to that.

  12. #36

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    Christmas gift! Not that I was surprised


    I had a serious itch for a thinline guitar, cherry red or bust, and budget. I liked the 1966 Century but zeroed in pretty early on standard Casinos, did my homework about them, how post-2018s have lower wound P90s, etc… This little gal was the first I tried, and it was the best no matter how many I tried. So it has been bought before anyone else could get their paws on her, taken to my tech for inspection and a pro set-up, played just a little, then on injunction from my daughter (“it’s your Xmas gift! Can’t touch it now!”) put in the case to wait for Xmas.


    I’m thrilled. It’s a great little guitar. It plays very nice, looks spectacular (fit & finish are top, the pics don’t do it justice), tuning is stable, it’s light as a feather and comfy, and most importantly it’s got plenty of great sounds that I did not have in my stable – blues and bop are the genres it evokes for now. I also like it that it’s its own thing, with its own character – not a “copy” of something else. Yes of course it was the budget version of a 330 in the beginning, yes of course it’s made in China and not a 1960s vintage Casino, but in some way it’s still the “real thing” and iconic in its own right. It’s a Casino dammit


    I’d prefer it if the board was a nice smooth dark rosewood, the switch is a bit noisy at times, and there is some fine-tuning I have to do about string balance. And I don’t care… It’s a fine addition to the collection, a kind of guitar I never had, and I like it a LOT. Thank you wife, thank you kids, for feeding the addiction ;D

    Epiphone Casino-img_6922-jpgEpiphone Casino-img_6919-jpgEpiphone Casino-img_6921-jpg

  13. #37

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    Congrats!

    So 2018 and older have lower output P90s? Do you know what the ballpark resistance is?

  14. #38

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    Nice guitar. I had a Casino Coupe for a while. Great guitars. You can darken the fretboard with one very light coat of Tru Oil. Very easy to do, but you will waste 99.9% of the bottle if that is all you need it for.

  15. #39

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    Quote Originally Posted by blille
    Congrats!

    So 2018 and older have lower output P90s? Do you know what the ballpark resistance is?
    June 2018 and newer. They call them the "new vintage voiced Dogear P-90T Classic single coil pickups” and they are significantly less hot than the previous ones. There is a woeful lack of technical info on them, and I don’t have an Ohm reading (I seem to remember something around 8.0? But I might be all wrong).

    They do sound better than the old ones to my ears (I made quite a few comparative test) and the neck pickup, with volume rolled back a bit, is a very good jazz sound to me!

  16. #40

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    A best buy!

    Here's what I'd do. I wouldn't worry too much about the toggle switch. Find a position you like and leave it. It may break in over time. Really, how often do you toggle it anyway?

    The chrome pickup covers purportedly compress the sound a bit by shaving off some high frequencies. They are cosmetic only yet they smudge up. I'd put black plastic ones on.

    P-90 Pickup Cover | stewmac.com

    While I'm doing that, I'd check whether I'd desire any shims for height adjustment.

    Shim Pack for Dogear: Lollar Pickups

    Since you have your strings off, or nearly so, you could darken the rosewood.

    Darkening My Fretboard

    If I didn't like the toggle switch that much, I'd pull it out and solder in a Switchcraft or comparable.

    3-Way Switch for Gibson/Les Paul: Lollar Pickups




    Then it will be your customized guitar!

  17. #41

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    I just got my 4th Chinese Epiphone semi hollow, a bright see thru Cherry 335 Pro that is beautiful. Yes, a few tweaks and we're off and jamming!
    The newer P90's are nice, had a free set of (some boutique builder's) Upgrade p/ups given to me to try, and I decided that it was not worth the effort because I am so happy with what came stock in the 339 Pro P90. Really. My Casino came with Gibson P90's, so no thought there. I thought about a Casino Coupe, but lusted after some hum bucker tones this time, since the P90's don't work so well at my gig.

  18. #42

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    OK here goes. Two very rough takes just to give you an impression of how the casino sounds as a jazz guitar. I just placed a cheap USB mike in the middle of the room between a bluetooth loudspeaker playing the backing tracks and another recent acquisition – an Acoustic Image Clarus amp through a 12” speaker (my treasured Tremolux had been stored away for when I’m not at home…).


    The amp is set super clean with a bit of mid scoop. Guitar volume between 7 and 8 on neck pickup.


    The clams are free of charge



    https://soundcloud.com/user-249413257/satin-casino

  19. #43

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    Quote Originally Posted by radiofm74
    OK here goes. Two very rough takes just to give you an impression of how the casino sounds as a jazz guitar. I just placed a cheap USB mike in the middle of the room between a bluetooth loudspeaker playing the backing tracks and another recent acquisition – an Acoustic Image Clarus amp through a 12” speaker (my treasured Tremolux had been stored away for when I’m not at home…).


    The amp is set super clean with a bit of mid scoop. Guitar volume between 7 and 8 on neck pickup.


    The clams are free of charge
    i love it! I came so close to buying a blond Casino Coupe before I got the Godin 5th Avenue. I might still get one.

  20. #44

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    Nice guitar, I have always wanted a ES330/Casino type guitar. I will bet it sounds great through that Tremolux, I was just playing mine. Have fun!
    Thanks John

  21. #45

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    Talk to me about vintage late 60s Epi Casinos. One is for sale locally that I’m considering taking a look at. It’s not 100% original, has a factory second stamp on the headstock, is missing some parts, but the original goodies that I care about are there and in tact. It has the “long neck”—what does likely mean? I’ve read a bit about the neck join of 330s but not quite sure what the ramifications of long vs short neck would be.

  22. #46

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    Late 60's Casino had a 19 fret neck to body joint, unusually long for a Casino which has been mainly a 16 or 17 fret joint. Pretty much the same as an es335 or long neck es330. I don't like the longer necks, too much reach to first position for my tastes. Each to their own.


  23. #47

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    Late 60's Epiphones, like Gibsons, had many a small neck. They were narrow at the nut, and thin at the first fret. That may be to your liking, but be aware. I sold a beautiful '63 Epi Riviera because I had real trouble navigating its smallish neck. It was a real shame, I loved that guitar.
    And with those thin necks, they were easily broken at the headstock. So you must check for evidence of a neck repair.
    Otherwise, it may be a wonderful guitar, a favorite of many, capable in jazz, rock and blues.

  24. #48

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    Thanks Jimmy. The seller has remarked the neck is not one of the terribly skinny ones.

  25. #49

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    It was one of my first electrics bought new in about 70. I liked it, but it was a bit feedback prone for what I was doing back then, which was fusion. Somebody saw me playing it and offered a straight trade for a 61 LP SG. Nice deal for me.

    What they're saying about the neck is true as far as I can remember. Since then, and now that I'm playing carved archtops I've often thought of it and wondered what kind of jazz sound I'd be getting. My guess is that it'd be pretty decent.

  26. #50

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    Quote Originally Posted by wzpgsr
    The seller has remarked the neck is not one of the terribly skinny ones.
    One person's"terribly skinny" is another's "sleek and speedy." (Not necessarily mine but to each their own.)

    If you're comfortable with a vintage-spec Telecaster neck you probably would get along with the late-60s Gibson carve.