Epiphone Casino

Infobox Guitar model|title=Epiphone Casino


manufacturer=Epiphone
period=1958 — present
bodytype=hollow
necktype=Set
scale=24.75"
woodbody=maple (laminated)
woodneck=mahogany on most models in most periods; sometimes maple
woodfingerboard=rosewood on most models, ebony on some
bridge=Fixed
pickups=2 P-90s
colors=sunburst, cherry, natural, blackThe Epiphone Casino is a thinline hollow body electric guitar manufactured by Epiphone, a branch of Gibson. It is the base of the Gibson ES-330 and is traditionally regarded as a budget version of this guitar, even though it is the original version.Fact|date=March 2008 However, the guitar's association with guitarists such as John Lennon and Noel Gallagher has caused the popularity of the Casino to rise and it is now considered a classic in its own right.

Construction

The Casino is a hollow-bodied guitar with two Gibson P-90 pick-ups. 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 the Gibson ES-330 are true hollow-bodied guitars. This makes them lighter and louder when played without an amplifier. However, due to its hollow body design, it is much more prone to feedback than semi-acoustic or solid-body electrics.

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 [ [http://epiphone.com/story.asp Epiphone Musical Instruments ] ] [ [http://www.provide.net/~cfh/epiphon2.html#casino Vintage Guitars Info - Epiphone model history collecting vintage guitars ] ] . 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 [ [http://epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=5&CollectionID=1 Epiphone Musical Instruments ] ] [ [http://epiphone.com/story.asp Epiphone Musical Instruments ] ] . Current versions have a laminated maple top, sides, and back, and a mahogany neck.

Sound

It is known for its heavy and rich sound which makes it an ideal rhythm guitar. The sound of the Casino is generally thinner and more trebly than a guitar equipped with humbuckers such as the Gibson ES-335 which is the semi-acoustic of choice for many lead (as well as rhythm) guitarists.

Use by the Beatles

The Casino was made famous when the Beatles used them on many of their recordings.

In 1964, Paul McCartney, The Beatles' bass player, acquired a Casino and used it for his studio forays into guitar work, including his guitar solos on "Drive My Car" (1965), "Taxman" (1966), "The End" (1969), and more. John Lennon and George Harrison bought 1965 Epiphone Casinos, clearly seen in photos of Japan concerts (last World Tour, 1966). John Lennon effectively put his Rickenbacker 325 on the shelf and used the Epiphone Casino as his main instrument during the remainder of his time with the Beatles. In 1968, when the Beatles were making the White Album, John decided to sand his guitar down, recoat it with lacquer, take the pick guard off and replace the tuners with a set of gold Grovers. His guitar, in that condition, is first seen in the Revolution promo film. The guitar was used at The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus in December, 1968, and the Apple rooftop concert on January 30, 1969. It can also be seen in the "Let It Be" film and most other pictures of John playing guitar after that time. George similarly sanded down his Casino, but stopped using his Casino in 1967 and began using Fenders and a Gibson Les Paul, "Lucy", which was a gift from Eric Clapton.

Other notable players

Current Casinos

Epiphone currently builds several versions of the Casino. These include:
*Regular "archtop-series" Casino made in Korea [http://epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=5&CollectionID=1]
*Elitist Casino made in Japan [http://www.epiphone.com/elitist/casino.htm]
*USA Collection John Lennon 1965 Casino [http://epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=18&CollectionID=2]
*USA Collection John Lennon Revolution Casino, based on the modifications Lennon made to his guitar during the recording of the White Album [http://epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=19&CollectionID=2] "USA-Collection" Epiphones are assembled in USA from components manufactured in Japan.

References

External links

* [http://www.zuitar.com/zuitar/search.cgi?query=Casino&bool=and&substring=0&mh=25 Casino Models] at Zuitar Guitar DataBase