Trying to find a Korean Epiphone Casino

**SamBooka** · 08-28-2019, 03:36 PM

For various reasons that may or may not make sense (eg I have peeless emp regent and it is great) I am looking for a Korean Epiphone Casino.
Not a lot of luck since there are tons and tons of Chinese ones (which I might get if I cant find a Korean one)
Question: Aside from the serial number (or the Handcrafted in China stickers etc) is there a visual way to spot the differences between Casinos from the two countries
I havent noticed a difference in trusrood covers, knobs, logos or other things that you can easily pick out from the photos on Reverb.

Thoughts?
Thanks!!
Drew

**blille** · 08-28-2019, 07:05 PM

You can get a Peerless Songbird

**SamBooka** · 08-28-2019, 09:00 PM

Those are even harder to find than Casinos lol

**Jabberwocky** · 08-28-2019, 09:56 PM

I thought that the 2019 Epi Casino Limited in Cherry looked rather fetching in this video. I might just snag one and upgrade the P90s to Fralins.

**Little Jay** · 08-29-2019, 01:49 AM

I think all Korean Casinos have the neck joint at the 17th fret, modern Chinese Casinos have it at the ‘correct’ 16th fret.

But there is a transitional period where Chinese Casinos also have it at the 17th fret, to make things complicated ;-)

Also Korean Casinos mostly seem to have a more correct slender f-hole shape, the Chinese seem to shape f-holes a bit wider. But there might be variation in Peerless-made vs Samick-made vs Unsung-made Casinos as well.....

**LtKojak** · 08-29-2019, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Little Jay

Samick-made vs Unsung-made

Pssst...! Unsung is the city in Korea where the Samick factory is located...

**lumena** · 08-29-2019, 07:08 AM

If you have a serial number you can put it here in the secret decoder and get more info
The Guitar Dater Project - Epiphone Serial Number Decoder

**SamBooka** · 08-29-2019, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by lumena

If you have a serial number you can put it here in the secret decoder and get more info
The Guitar Dater Project - Epiphone Serial Number Decoder

Yeah.. I dont always get good pics.. eg when you look at the Guitar Center site..

**Little Jay** · 08-29-2019, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by LtKojak

Pssst...! Unsung is the city in Korea where the Samick factory is located...

Haha, ah ok!

**blille** · 08-29-2019, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

Those are even harder to find than Casinos lol

True! It took me a while but I found one in GC online. It just takes some patience. Too bad I live so far from you, I'm actually selling it locally now (can't keep that and the ES-330)!

Sellers on reverb tend to be a bit more knowledgeable and tend to mention it on the ads.

Best luck!

**mad dog** · 08-29-2019, 01:37 PM

Sam:

Not sure of all the Korean prefixes, but in the serial no: "R" = peerless, "S" = samick, "I" = Saein

FYI: I've had three Peerless casinos, one elitist casino from Japan. This last casino from Peerless is the best of all of them. I will be selling it soon, having just traded into two most wonderful deeper bodied jazz guitars. This casino will get a lot less play time.

MD

**SamBooka** · 08-29-2019, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Little Jay

I think all Korean Casinos have the neck joint at the 17th fret, modern Chinese Casinos have it at the ‘correct’ 16th fret.

But there is a transitional period where Chinese Casinos also have it at the 17th fret, to make things complicated ;-)
...

By no means authoritative but what you’re saying seems to make sense! Some appeared to be 16 fret… Some 17. Unfortunately everyone I contacted with a 17 Fret joint says the guitar is Chinese. I haven’t noticed a difference in the apples but the pictures are always great. Great tip about the neck joints though! Thanks!

**SamBooka** · 08-29-2019, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by mad dog

Sam:

Not sure of all the Korean prefixes, but in the serial no: "R" = peerless, "S" = samick, "I" = Saein

FYI: I've had three Peerless casinos, one elitist casino from Japan. This last casino from Peerless is the best of all of them. I will be selling it soon, having just traded into two most wonderful deeper bodied jazz guitars. This casino will get a lot less play time.

MD

What do you like about the peerless? I’m just very happy with my peerless emperor regent so I want to go that route.

**mad dog** · 08-29-2019, 08:14 PM

Sam:

Sent you a PM.
MD

**blille** · 09-05-2019, 10:55 PM

Peerless Songbird w/ OHSC Peerless Songbird w/ OHSC | Frank's Amps and Gear | Reverb

Not affiliated. IMHO the pickups are too hot but apart from that it’s awesome.

**Little Jay** · 09-06-2019, 03:59 AM

Do the Peerless Songbirds have a mahogany neck?

*edit: seems they do, great:

(From the Thomann site, specs say mahogany as well)

**Jimmy Mack** · 09-06-2019, 08:08 PM

Reverb and Ebay. But damn, you should play the thing before you buy it. If not possible, get that return policy embedded.
Buy a '61 RI Epi Casino. You will be hard pressed to find a better instrument. And it's MIC.
It's like an Elitist. Gibson USA p/ups, electronics, and wonderful tone woods - better than most - a 3 ply top that just bounces with tone and response. You will love it acoustically as well.

That's my advice.