Epiphone Casino Explained

Epiphone Casino
Manufacturer:Epiphone
Period:1961–present
Bodytype:hollow
Necktype:Set
Scale:24.75" with 12" fretboard radius
Woodbody:maple (laminated)
Woodneck:mahogany on most models in most periods; sometimes maple
Woodfingerboard:rosewood on most models, ebony on some
Bridge:adjustable Tune-o-Matic style
Tailpiece:Trapeze or Bigsby vibrato
Pickups:2 P-90s
Colors:Natural, Vintage Sunburst, Turquoise[1]

The Epiphone Casino is a thinline hollow body electric guitar manufactured by Epiphone, a branch of Gibson. The guitar debuted in 1961 and has been associated with such guitarists as Howlin' Wolf, George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher, Keith Richards, Dave Davies, Brad Whitford, Shirley Manson, Paul Weller, The Edge, Josh Homme, Daniel Kessler, Brendon Urie, Gary Clark, Jr., Glenn Frey, John Illsley, and Peter Green.[2]

Construction

Casinos have been manufactured in the United States, Japan, Korea and China. The Casino, also designated by Epiphone as model E230TD, is a thinline hollow-bodied guitar with two Gibson P-90 pick-ups. Although generally fitted with a trapeze-type tailpiece, often a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece is used in its place (either as a factory direct feature or as an aftermarket upgrade). Unlike semi-hollow body guitars such as the Gibson ES-335, which have a center block to promote sustain and reduce feedback, the Casino and its cousin, the Gibson ES-330 are true hollow-bodied guitars. This makes it lighter, and louder when played without an amplifier, but much more prone to feedback than semi-hollow or solid-body electrics. The Casino neck joins the body at the 16th fret instead of the 19th like on the Gibson ES models.

Early versions of the Casino had a spruce top. Through 1970, the Casino headstock was set at a 17-degree angle and the top was made of five laminated layers of maple, birch, maple, birch, and maple.[3] With the exception of the John Lennon models, subsequent Casinos have been made with 14-degree headstock angle with five layer all maple laminated tops. Current versions have a laminated maple top, sides, and back, and a mahogany neck.

Per the Epiphone String Gauge Guide, the Casino comes with string gauges (from high to low): 0.010" 0.013" 0.017" 0.026" 0.036" 0.046".[4]

Use by the Beatles

In 1964, Paul McCartney, The Beatles' bass player, was the first Beatle to acquire a Casino[5] (a 1962 model), using it for his studio forays into guitar work, including his guitar solos on "Ticket to Ride" (1965), "Drive My Car" (1965) and "Taxman" (1966); he also played it on “Helter Skelter” (1968). In 1965 John Lennon and George Harrison bought 1965 Casinos.

John Lennon used the Epiphone Casino as his main electric instrument during the remainder of his time with the Beatles, replacing the Rickenbacker 325. In 1967 Lennon and Harrison had the pickguard removed during the making of Magical Mystery Tour album. In 1968 when the band were traveling in India, Donovan advised Lennon and Harrison from his Casino and professionally sanded to bare wood and lightly lacquered with two thin coats of nitro-cellulose, after using both during making the double album The Beatles.[6] [7] [8] [9] In the early seventies, the original tuners were replaced with a set of gold Grover tuners or machine heads.

Harrison had his fitted with a Bigsby trem and removed the pickguard. He also had it sanded down in 1968.

McCartney's 1962 Casino, kept in the original sunburst finish, is still owned by him and occasionally used live. Like Harrison's Casino, McCartney removed the pickguard and added a Bigbsy trem to it.[10]

Current Casinos

Epiphone currently builds several versions of the Casino. These include:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Epiphone Casino . Epiphone.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190628082349/http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Casino.aspx . June 28, 2019.
  2. Web site: Photos . GaryClarkJr.com . 23 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120221110601/http://www.garyclarkjr.com/gallery . February 21, 2012.
  3. Web site: Vintage Epiphone Guitars Model Information and Specs: Casino electric archtop (thinline) . Vintage Guitars Info . 5 July 2016.
  4. Web site: Epiphone String Gauges . Epiphone.com . 2014-06-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100923070929/http://www.epiphone.com/images/StringGauges.pdf . September 23, 2010.
  5. Web site: Epiphone: 140 Years . Epiphone.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170816143433/http://www.epiphone.com/History.aspx . August 16, 2017.
  6. Web site: The Casino: Epiphone's Iconic Beatles Guitar . November 3, 2021 .
  7. Web site: Sanding an Epiphone Casino . November 21, 2022 .
  8. Web site: John Lennon & the Epiphone Casino – the History Behind the Legendary Hollowbody . December 6, 2021 .
  9. Web site: The Beatles' Casinos | Vintage Guitar® magazine . January 17, 2018 .
  10. Web site: The Beatles' Casinos. vintageguitars.com. January 17, 2018 . 11 May 2023.
  11. Web site: Epiphone Elitist Casino . Epiphone.com . 23 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130721010421/http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Elitist-Casino.aspx . July 21, 2013.
  12. Web site: Expert Review: Epiphone Casino Coupe . Phil . O'Keefe . December 4, 2014 . Harmony Central . 5 July 2016.
  13. Web site: Epiphone 1961 50th Anniversary Casino . Epiphone.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130723040233/http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/1961-50th-Anniversary-Casino-TD.aspx . July 23, 2013.
  14. Web site: Epiphone unveils made-in-USA Casino . Michael . Astley-Brown . Guitar World . 30 March 2021.
  15. Web site: Epiphone reboots its Broadway, Sheraton and Casino collections with some of its most luxurious finishes yet . Matt . Owen. Guitar World . 24 May 2023.

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