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If you're buying a Casino, then you're buying it because it has P-90 pickups! That's the whole point and if you say that you'd like to change the pickups to give a different quality/timbre of sound then you shouldn't be buying a Casino in the first place. It kind of defeats the object!
Keith Richards endorsed the Casino in ads before McCartney bought his and Lennon and Harrison bought theirs. I started playing a Casino copy in '85 and that was some of the best live plying I've ever done onstage. McCartney used his Casino on a recent album and was amazed at how different the tones were that he got. The new Casinos are definitely worth getting if you are serious guitarist.
I was gifted a casino recently. Absolutely blown away at its awesomeness. It was never on my radar during 35 years of playing and workinh5music retail for 15 years. Not even a Beatles fan, but the casino does the job I would usually think of playing a tele, Gretchen, or 335. Game changer.
Yep, I too am now a Casino believer after listening to Cory play his and picked one up a few weeks ago. Really surprised at the versatility. Not to woofy like humbuckers is good description.
I got in a funk many years ago and sold a great 1966 Casino that had belonged to Charlie Louvin, cheap! Still kick myself! Product of going through a divorce almost 30 years ago. Lesson? Don’t make rash decisions when you’re down and out. Wait. Life will change. I hope someone has treated it well.
I went to buy either a Casino or an SG 18 months ago, late 2021. 50th birthday permission from the wife. Came home with an Epi '66 Century. Later realised it was a 2017 and likely one of the very last new gats in it's model. Epic guitar. Basically the same as a Casino without any cutaways. A typical old Jazz F-hole archtop with a single P-90. And a massive body. Century was a 1930's everyman's Epiphone, re-released in 1960s as a thin body with a P-90. Anyway, killer guitar. Would I love the Casino's cutaways, second pup and neck binding? Sure. Does it really matter to me? Nah. I have enough guitars and my Century plays Get Back and Blackbird just fine. Mortgage and kiddo's future take priority.
I have a 7 year old MIC lefty Casino I bought new for super cheap. You're 100% right Corey, the pickups do need an upgrade, IMO. That said, I still have the stocks in. I love the guitar, now if I coud only get some Congillo tone outta my finers, I'd be all set. I'm one of the guys who's commented on your old Casino. Man I love that guitar. Thanks for a great upload and good luck to all who enter the contest, nicely done, Sweetwater
Fun video - can't go wrong kicking off with a bit of Beatles! Your 61 sounds exquisite. That said, the stock Epi sounded just fine. I bought one a year ago and put in Lollar P90's / 'vintage' wiring and a bone nut. Worth it, I think to really bring out the innate character of it - probably closer to your '61 and the American made Casinos the Fabs were playing. A lot of the time I just pick it up and play acoustically on the couch - perfect for that, too. Thanks for the overview.
This is a most excellent video presented and played by a superb guitarist who knows how to get that tone using the guitar in his hands. Thank you Corey!
I bought the Natural finish Casino and I had to sell it. I didn't like the feel or playability. I ended up biting the bullet and buying a Gibson ES 335. I'm sure a better guitar player would not be bothered by the Casino. I also wanted P 90s in my set of guitars so I am having p 90s put into my '61 Standard SG.
I 100% understand epiphone not putting the Kalamazoo headstock on these but it’s kind of funny that you do get that shape on newer lower cost epis but not on these.
As always, a great demo. Man, you are such a tasty player Corey. You really make it all sound so good. You also really know how to do a true demo (and there are a lot out here who call there videos "demos" when they are actually not much more than a guitar player (or whoever) just having a chance to show off their latest hot licks. So, respect brother! Hey, any chance you could get your guitar hands on an old (same vintage as your Casino) Gibson ES-330 and A/B them for us? I bought a pre-owned (but never used) current Chinese Epi Casino back in the summer and like it. I got a good deal on it and bought it kinda on a whim. I knew what I was buying and it is exactly what you demonstrated here - a very cool and versatile axe that is a great value for the latitude of sounds (and styles) you can get out of it. But, as your old gorgeous Casino demonstrated, there is most definitely a difference between the genuine old Casino and a new Chinese one! But, I am curious what your own Casino and a vintage 330 do beside one another. If this is do-able some time, I would be most appreciative. Again, thanks for the great demo vid. Regards from Stratford, ON., CA. Cheers.
I have an Indonesian Casino. Love the feel of playing it acoustically. But amped up the clean tones at least always feel a bit dull and washy -- lacking punch and clarity. Also the bridge and neck PUs are really unbalanced -- the neck is so much louder, but if I dial down the volume to balance them out it gets even duller sounding. I removed the tone knobs. I guess next would be to try 1meg volume pots but I've already ordered some new pickups to try.
I've had my Casino for at least ten years now - John Lennon signature model - one of the best guitars I've ever owned, and I've had some great Gibson 330s and ES330, 345, etc... Don't believe the folks that are just here trying to rack up hits on youtube, The Casino (If you get one made in the right place - not China ) is a great guitar!
I'd love to have an ES-330.... but that's above my price range. I'm thinking perhaps an Epiphone Casino and swapping in some Lollar P90's just may get me close to what would make me happy. Certainly a cheaper way than buying a Gibson es-330 or even an Epiphone Casino made in the USA.
I found this video which reinforces the idea of upgrading an Epiphone Casino with some pickups to make an affordable option for us average working musicians. I played a '54 Gibson ES-225T (w/P-90) for 20 years until it was stolen. Can't afford another vintage guitar...so yes, this pickup upgrade on an Epiphone's the way to go. I have Lollar P-90's in my Forshage Orion and they're great pickups! Thanks for the great video, Corey. Extremely well done! (and here's another video endorsing an upgrade to the Casino in case anyone's interested.) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dH1ntOpfAVg.html
first 2 pu guitar where I like the middle position! I think I should buy my first P90 guitar! Great playing and good audio quality (vid)...what is your signal chain (guitar to pc) ?
At 68 I am still learning and sadly forgetting the great stuff you teach. Man I wish we had You Tube in the 70s. We put records on slow. Lol. Wore them out learning songs and licks. I have a 335 and 72 Custom shop les paul. 65 black face. Tele and strat. Still fun after 55 plus year
At 69 I grew up in the same era. Used to sit in front of my Dads JBL 15 inch mono speaker and listen to 45's trying to figure out chords. Was hard to find guitar sheet music to learn from. Had a garage band and made do with what equipment we could afford and modify. Was a diiferent era.
I think one thing is overlooked here which The Beatles didn't', this guitar has a major advantage: it is very light and unplugged has a decent volume. When composing or figuring things on guitar, it is a hassle to plug in, plug out, switch the amp on and off etc. A full acoustic is too large and often to loud, and a semi too heavy and maybe too silent. a Casino comes in very handy. And there are only a few guitars, if even not, that offer this 'practicaliness'.
I learn something about playing guitar every time I watch your channel, and I've been playing for 50 years. I had a newer John Lennon edition Casino that I sold a couple of years ago. Just too many guitars. But I miss it now. Very playable with a wide range of sounds, as you so expertly presented. By the way, your jazz runs around 7:05 on the tape were awesome!
..I had for a very short pd of time in 1972, a sunburst E230TD Casino, about a '67-68 guessing. Didnt have the iconic pickguard, had different chromed tuners in lieu of the button Klusons..had to give it up, sold it cheap..totally regret it!!
I bought a casino at the end of 2023. There was a partially glued fret and several high frets causing a lot of buzz. However, about $350 worth of warrantee work was done and NOW it's amazing. Don't buy used, get a new one and get the frets done under warrantee if need be.
Picked up a 2014 Casino from a Craig's List ad for $300 a few years ago and modded it with Tyson Tone Lab low output P-90's, Bigsby B3 and a 50's upgraded wiring harness. It's a tone monster and plays like a dream. What a unique sound. Great video on a special guitar, Thank-You!
I put those same tyson tone low output p90s in my epi coup. I second guess that I should have bought the normal output, but it's much improved over the woody epi p90s it came with. I also sanded mine down to wood cause I didn't like the poly feel. (took way too much time)
A Casino is a tone monster of a guitar! Unfortunately the fretboard was too narrow and the strings were too close together for my cigar fingers .......but I kept it for seven years just because of the way it sounded! Lol
I was at a local guitar store today, enjoying a look around while the tech guy set up my wife's guitar, and I saw this gorgeous Epiphone standing in a corner. I took it and plugged it into an amp they had sitting in the booths and started throwing out some Beatles rooftop gig songs and solos. Get Back, Dig A Pony, and I've Got A Feeling. The Epi sounded gorgeous, and I loved the resonance of the hollow body, with the raw but mellow P90 sound. Just fantastic! I put it back in the stand. Ten minutes later, I asked about it before they closed shop. They had just sold it! Probably to somebody who had heard me play Beatles on that thing, and saw me put it back. So I feel like I might have actually helped sell an Epiphone Casino today... Now I want one, badly!
My favourite guitar. The tones that come out of it for the price are amazing. It's great for jazz, blues and some rock. A great all rounder. P90s help that of course. It's not a heavy rock or shredder type guitar and sounds more humbucker than single coil obvs. It's a joy to play. Also you can practice on it without needing to plug it in. It's lot as loud as an acoustic of course but loud enough to not need an amp to practice. A great Beatles guitar too for Beatles fans.
I had an Elitist Casino. Fantastic guitar and it got stolen. That’s a hard one to get over but I’m a huge Beatles fan and love the Casino, light,sounds,plays and looks awesome
Great review Corey I got this exact guitar for Christmas a couple years ago and love it. The only caveat I'd give to your viewers is the buzz I started to hear after a while. It was driving me nuts trying to figure out where it came from until I realized the Tune-O-Matic bridge on the Chinese model has a little wire in it that buzzes. If that happens there are other bridges specifically the GOTOH brand (no affiliation) that work like a charm without that wire.
This rarely happens to me, but I bought a new Casino (a red Coupe) expecting to swap the pickups for Lollards or Fralins, but realized that I like it stock. I can hear and understand why a pro would want a ‘66, but I don’t, and that makes me very happy, because it makes my guitar even more of a bargain! Mine has a bone nut, a better bridge, Ratio tuners, and it’s done. A great foil to my Tele.
I adore my casino coupe. Same specs as the casino, but with a 339 sized body. Great for my 5'7 stature. I replaced the stock p90s with Lindy Fralin hum cancelling p90s, alnico magnets in the neck for a more balanced sound, Screw magnets in the bridge for a bit more snarl. It's a lot of fun - I also added a bigsby and hipshot locking tuners. It's a gem.
Casinos are great guitars! Definitely change pickups or contact Kent Armstrong pickups if they’re equipped with them. Read up on Kent. Dan Armstrong’s son. Worked with some heavy hitters. I guy by the name of Jimmy page? Plus many more. I sent him the pickups and he upgraded them for a fraction of the cost of buying new pickups. If you can afford. Change the pots and wiring. Kind of a bitch to do, but so worth it. Get a casino and a telecaster. Done.
I bought a used Epi Elitist Casino (made in Japan) about a year ago and figured I was overpaying a bit because of the Get Back effect. But the prices have continued to rise, so I don't feel bad about it now. It has US-made Gibson P-90s that sound great, so I wouldn't change a thing. And it's still a lot cheaper than a Gibson ES-330!
Hi Corey, congrats on breaking 60K subscribers! Great to see the traction you have with musicians around the world. On a separate note, I took on the call to adventure and started my hero's journey on W.C.G.!
Being a Beatles fan the Casino is one of my most desired guitars, your in depth review has shed some light for me with regards to its many capabilities. Questions: How do the Worn Casinos compare to the two you showcased here? What pickups would you recommend that can enhance the Casino? Thank you again for your awesome work, it is greatly appreciated by us guitar aficionados, and congratulations on your subscriptions and success on your channel, may God Bless you always Corey!
What tonal difference do you want? The stock P90's are slightly overwound and the metal covers roll off the high end above ~2kHz. You could first try changing the covers to plastic if you want a bit more highs. That might be good enough. Then, consider lower inductance pickups, and the magnetic power. AlNiCo V is a good average. IV is a bit warmer/fatter. II is lower power less crisp. III is lower power, but maybe more balanced sounding than II. I'd probably pick VIII over ceramic 8 if you want max power. FI, you might like IV in the bridge and III or V in the neck. Magnets can usually be swapped out of P90s. Philadelphia Luthiers has them. I'm sure the Lollars are good, but is any guitar pickup worth $115 when you can swap magnets and change covers cheap? The Lollar P90 shim pack is a good idea, though. Coil height is a big part of pickup sound. If you want a bit better clarity and grit without harshness, GFS has vintage Dogear P90s wound to standard specs for ~$35. I have a GFS Vintage spec neck p90 w/AlNiCo V in an XV-585 and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Again, you might want AlNiCo IV or even II in the bridge. Mojotone makes quiet coil P90s if you don't want the hum. They might be worth the price. Demos sound good. Consider the guitar cable capacitance with any pickup. It matters less with higher inductance Fe core pickups like P90s, but it does affect the resonant peak. Something in the 200~400pF range would be good. Closer to 200pF is better for lower inductance pickups.
I always loved John Lennons later Casino sound (Abey Road era), and bought one a few years back. I loved it instantly although the guitar dit have some kind of of a rattle or should I call it hum? Anyway, replacing the bridge helped, but there is still some noise left I hope to deal with. I think I'll try taking off the pick guard. I actually like the pick ups, even if they are a little less hot (I found out by following a pup replacement video). I wonder what aging does to a 50 year old guitar: how did it sound 50 years ago? Were the pups always hotter or can pups seem to become hotter - in relation to the maturing wood of the guitar?
Hey Corey, thanks for the lessons. And the demos. And thanks again to Sweetwater for another free guitar. I've had my eye on these for a couple of years and haven't yet found anything quite like it. Lately I've been thinking I'll drop a dogear P90 into my MIJ Coronado clone (just haven't decided which position yet) -- it has a couple of those hot single-coils like Teiscos and Univoxes. But if you send me this one, you'd save me a lot of trouble. And by the way, I enjoy the tones Gary Clark Jr. gets out of his Casino more than the Beatles stuff (they were good, too).
7:59 I played a Casino for years, all types of music from Jazz to Rock to Blues to more modern "classical" compositions. I stumbled across the guitar volume=low, amp volume=high tip on my own while using that guitar. I eventually switched to a 335 style guitar because some venues were poorly wired and the Casino would hum like it didn't know the words when we played there. I also found the Casino hummed with some good but less expensive amps. So, maybe something to consider when buying a Casino, try it with the amp you will be playing it through.
I have one, too -- thrilled with it in every way. I had intended to get the Elitist model (even though I wasn't crazy about the narrower nut width and "hourglass" headstock, as on the mid-'60s models) but it was discontinued before I could order. I'm glad things turned out that way, because the USA model conforms more closely to McCartney's '62. Visually, I love the Casino's association with The Beatles, my first musical influence, but as a jazz player, I wanted this model as the Epi equivalent of Gibson's ES-330, so closely associated with the great Grant Green.
I have a China made Casino and the sustain and beautiful tone you already get acoustic can top the USA made Casino. I have trouble to lay this beauty down since I got it. Rest assured, it still has the versatility of the sixties Casinos and for the money, you will get an immensely versatile guitar....that, due to the fully hollow body, can also be used unplugged in hotel rooms.....remember why the Beatles used this workhorse so intensively.
I found an incomplete custom made Casino copy and paid the student luthier to complete it. It had a thick Maple top and nearly 10 lbs. It had a heavy acrylic finish that cracked because it froze one Winter. It sounded way better after I removed the acrylic flakes so it was nearly unfinished.
I played one and didn't care for it. Then I played one of the new US made ones and bought it immediately. Paying almost 5x what the one made in China cost was a tough pill to swallow. Realizing later that the Chinese one was a dud and that some (maybe most) are nice was tougher. Still, it's nice to get a guitar that you love without changing a thing compared to knowing you need to upgrade the pickups and hoping it works out right.
I was lucky enough to find one on local CL for 300 with OHSC, in like-new condition! Back in the 70s I had a 60s one, and this new one seems much heavier than I remember the old one being; however, the tone is still all there and it plays really well for not being set-up. In retrospect, I wish I could have found a Coup version, as smaller instruments really suit my getting older, and preference for comfortable playing. I also recently replaced all my acoustics with ones size 0 or smaller, and with the smallest one being a 1963 Martin model 5-16; now that's a comfy couch guitar! I'll still grab an Epi Coup if I can find one for the right price, but meanwhile I'm digging the Casino 100%! It's great for playing unplugged while watching TV, etc... I'm sure the Coup won't sound quite as good unplugged, but no rush, it's always good to have something different to look forward to. ;)
I have the George Harrison model from a few years back with a Bigsby tremolo. I love it so much. Just wish it had a little longer scale neck. I'd like one between this and a strat because the string tension just feels too loose.
Beautiful playing how would you compare this to the other casinos ( elitist? That vintage? ). Looking - but there are so many versions and also what amp you playing it through when you’re playing the jazz stuff. Beautiful much appreciated.❤
Nice work! The guitar is magnificent in every way. So versatile and expressive. I bought one a while ago and never even thought about getting another hollowbody.❤❤❤
Fantastic little opening jam!!! I keep playing it over and over so any chance you could do a longer version just to enjoy the sound?? Also, what are the amp/pedal settings for that?
