The Ever-Evolving Epiphone Casino

Wanna know every little change that happened during the original Epiphone Casino run from 1961-1970? We got you covered! Learn a little bit about the history behind Epiphone, the artists who used the Casino, and even minute details like hardware plating and pick guard bevel!
mmguitarbar.com

[@PsionicAudio]

So nice to hear Elliott Smith played!

[@toneohm]

been my favorite musician since 2008.. it really is great to see his songs promoted

[@Tonetwisters]

We had the Epiphone line in my brother's music store and the rep offered a nice discount on wholesale on any models we wanted to buy ... I could have had a Casino or Sheraton at a ridiculous price but was attending Florida State in 1970 and could barely afford tuition and books. Such is life ...

[@karthigayenkassi411]

Some Might Say sounded perfect!

[@bradcooper918]

What pedals to get that perfect tone match?

[@robertgallagher2226]

I just got my first Casino a few days ago. Very happy with it. especially the p90s!

[@golden-sun]

Did not expect to hear Elliott Smith at the start. Recognized it instantly

[@golden-sun]

Wth, puisheen is also here. What a video

[@FuriousMess]

I heavily modded my Casino and it's a real nice guitar now, it's a 2013 MIC. I installed a B3 Bigsby and that works perfect, much preferred over the B7 on my 335 or B5 on my SG. It does require a 'special' strap button at the end from Vibramate.

[@es330td]

1969 ES-330TD (19th fret) owner here. If something happened to my Gibson I’d be testing Casinos to replace it.

[@plizzle]

My hands are large enough to accommodate wider nuts, yet deft enough to handle narrower nuts as well. I'm not sure why people seem to be so caught up in the size of their nuts, it's mostly in the way that you use them, I've always found.

[@BudiPrasetyoHarsono]

You should make a part 2 for Casino modern (MIK, MIC, MII) and include Casino Coupe

[@MMGUITARBAR]

A follow-up is certainly in the cards! If/when we do, it'll focus on the Japan-made models (Matsumoku and Terada) and the Korean-made ones (Peerless, Samick).

[@BudiPrasetyoHarsono]

@@MMGUITARBAR nice one! After that you might want to create a lesser one from MIC or MII *wink wink*

[@Johngonefishin]

Thanks for clarifying between the Sunburst and Royal Tan finishes, the Sunburst models always had the gold vol/tone knobs while the Royal tan models had the black knobs. The early Casinos also were very chimey in the middle toggle position, as used by the Beatles.

[@chrisva4268]

One of the coolest guitars I ever played was a mid 60s cherry red Casino (could've been a Dot though) with the bridge pickup swapped for a Kay "Kleenex box" at Main Drag Music in Brooklyn, wish I knew what happened to that guitar

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Love this YT documentary of the classic electric guitar. The current Chinese model is great too. Interesting how Epiphone use names e.g. Casino, Sheraton and Gibson use mainly numbers e.g ES 330.

[@craigthomson3621]

I have a lefty Chinese Epiphone Casino. Changed the pickups to Lollar and upgraded the wiring, bridge and tuners. I also have a lefty Gibson ES-330.

[@wrestleshute]

my first guitar was a Casino with a bigsby, less than a month late I picked up a 50th Anniversary in Royal Tan with trapeze tailpiece. Its just a great sounding guitar

[@robertpennington1019]

I like the changes to A Fond Farewell! Cheers

[@titobattaglia7932]

Great vid for a great guitar! The most significant Epi post-Gibson acquisition (the G.O.A.T. is for me the wonderful Deluxe in all its iterations, with the mighty Emperor a close second … Epaminondas' darlings!). Next time I'm in Seattle, I won't miss the chance to stop by!

[@jerrynebel4905]

Thanks for the video. Great production value. Look out Norm here they come. Miss sitting on your couch.

[@terryjohinke8065]

I had an Epiphone Made in Japan and hoestly rate it up the nearest best guitar I've owwned oner 55+ years ( nearly 100). Sounded great then they were a brand destroyed in the 90s. The Elitist range were good, also made in Japan.

[@Tonetwisters]

I briefly owned a 1968 and LOVED that gutiar.

[@philodonoghue3062]

One of the best, if not the best, guitar models, specs, history and culture videos - and channels. Not least because I recently acquired the ‘John Lennon’ Casino reissue. Instant and grateful new clicked Subscribe follower. 👍🏼

[@davidharding200]

I have both the Casino and the Es335. Give me the Casino everyday.

[@joemasse4568]

I know what you mean, es335 is closer to a Les Paul than a true acoustic hollow body, like the Casino or es 330, and the P90s gives them a vintage raw sound that is very appealing, plus a great guitar to play unplugged watching the tv

[@davidharding200]

@@joemasse4568 yeah ... what you said!😂

[@thebreakfastmenu]

I played a 68 at CME a few years ago and it was incredible sounding. The neck was the tiniest neck I've ever played, too.

[@christhompson5553]

Love my 2000 Korean Casino I bought from you guys this month - it’s my #1!

[@neilslade]

I have a 2001 Korean factory Casino, added a Bigsby and Kent Armstrong pups. The advantage of the Korean made Casinos is that it has a neck set the same as a Gibson 335, i.e. the neck is set at the 19th fret- not the 16th- giving you better/longer access to upper frets. The standard Casino, as again presently made in China has the neck set further in at the 16th, losing a few fret accesses high up the neck. I like mine best. The neck is also slimmer, like a good 335, unlike the chunkier other Casino necks.

[@andremaion]

Won my like with Fond Farewell ♥️

[@BrooklynGMT]

Great video! Loved the history of the brand and model

[@squirrellydavecarter1451]

The pro bucket split pickups are amazing. I installed them in a cheap guitar that I had kicking around and was amazed!

[@IamMagPie]

Nice video. I would have loved to hear more about the Elitist version and the current Epiphone USA version. It's a pity the latter has black pickup covers and trapezoid inlays pointing the wrong way. I believe the Elitist series made by Terada in Japan might be the best Casinos ever. They are flawless, and the pickups and hardware is Gibson made.

[@barryduff3047]

It’d be interesting to hear what you have to say about the new USA Casinos.

[@Mountainrock70]

Great video and research. This should show that if you aren’t buying Gibson and Epiphone guitars you are missing out.

[@ronboff3461]

excellent review...mine is a 1999 natural..very nice grain

[@christianmotos]

Love that you played Elliott Smith. Enjoyed this video very much. Can you do one for the Hofner Verythin?

[@darwinsaye]

My only issue with nylon saddles was the tendency to split in half at the string slot.

[@dudleydeplorable5307]

I've had a blonde (burst) single P-90 Casino for decades. I don't know how common the single pickup version is. I purchased it back in the late 60's or early 70's. I think from a pawn shop in Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids. I've never seen another single P-90 Casino. It's visually and sonically beautiful. Due to health, I can't play anymore.

[@MagusPerde42]

One thing that you didn’t discuss are the badges on the pickguard and tremolo. They switched from foil to embossed metal and back to foil, but I have no idea when.

[@piggycity]

I love your channel! I have a 1967 Casino and I love it!

[@mortonwilson795]

Thanks for the great snapshot of Casino history! I recently bought a China made classic 'tobacco sunburst' and will upgrade to Lollar P90s shortly. The actual instrument itself is lovely - body, acoustic tone, neck all good. I have only seen one comparison with the newish USA made Casino which was quite revealing (!!!), but also keen to see if more news comes out about the Ltd. Edition Slim Harpo 330 which looks very interesting! Thanks again.

[@bechela1]

I got the same casino recently and am also planning on going with the Lollar P90s, as well as new electronics to match. It really is a well made guitar that plays great and, with the exception of the electronics, hangs in there with my other more expensive guitars

[@mortonwilson795]

@@bechela1 Hi Andrew, my Casino now with Gavin at Nameless Guitars here in HK. Nice guy, we had a great chat about the guitar world. Going for the Lollar p90's as recommended on their site and have left it to Gavin re: Vol/Tone kit - the Lollar 'Gibson' packs look good altho will need a it of work. Lollar got back to me - they have had several requests for dedicated Casino electronics kits and are clearly considering it.

[@mcfontaine]

Yet another brilliant episode guys. Thank you.

[@Holonomics]

This is a really informative and interesting video - cheers. I love the way you ramp up the fuzz and get a little shoegazy at the end :)

[@TheeReturn]

Paul Weller Jam era 77-82 was mostly Rickenbacker.

[@lustycourtier2425]

Loved that. Cheers

[@cactus-mcjacktus]

these are awesome and they sound mind blowing, but between Starcasters and ES335s, i definitely have my hollow body preferences.

[@darwinsaye]

Semi hollows and hollows are totally different animals though. And P90s vs humbuckers as well.

[@willjones4992]

Fond farewell 😢

[@ianjamesevans]

I'd add Daniel Kessler from Interpol to the list of prominent Casino players. IIRC he has a frequensator tailpiece on his Casino.

[@Not_Sure-2020]

Fender Mustang had the rocking bridge as well.

[@MidtownSkyport]

Oh I clicked on this so fast. Now to actually watch the thing :)

[@nodfactor8808]

My kind of KZbin content. 🤘🏽

[@frederickconnell6052]

I have a Epiphone by Gibson electric guitar with serial. No on it looks like one from the sixties,,solid body very heavy guitar,,,

[@lennon1252]

You never spoke about the Elitist model. Probably the best of the Casinos

[@MMGUITARBAR]

This piece is just focused on vintage Casinos, but a follow-up covering all Japanese production (Matsumoku and Terada, and all of the Elitist variants) has been cooking for some time.

[@Eternity909]

Love these videos, keep em coming!

[@mrcarloselche248]

Why do the Japanese made ones of the 80s and the Koreans of the 2000s have a neckjoint at the 17th fret?

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

Epiphone Custom Modern figured prophecy Crestwood casino all high end Epiphones...American Master Builder Scott Lewis over at the Qingdao Epiphone facility and his American luthiers are doing a fantastic job its great to see that Epiphones are great again..

[@duffers29]

Video about Casinos and u open with a Gibson, should have opened with Casino a quality guitar in it’s own rite b4 Gibson take over , still quality now 👍enjoyed the vid .

[@flapjack413]

Am I seeing a Mosrite with a built in speaker in the background? Never seen that one before, crazy, lol. Interesting video otherwise, too!

[@MMGUITARBAR]

You totally are (built-in distortion too!)

[@JaimeCerrada]

The Ever-Evolving Epiphone Casino (But he's playing a 1963 Gibson ES-330).

[@pedalscapes]

Great feature, thank you 😎

[@SirSneakerPimp]

Puisheen in the house!

[@garyp5522]

Great Video. Very informative. You even feature the offset guy LOL. But a bit disappointing that the worn was not mentioned. But you got my attention and I am now a subscriber Thanks.

[@weirdnproud117]

Great video, y'all!

[@stephenscott4166]

Great review… Thanks!!!

[@BLUEWATERTOO]

Not one word about the Casino Coupe.... BTW Those "trapazoid" fret markers are actually parallelograms!

[@MMGUITARBAR]

Yes indeed they are. We goofed!

[@Purezshock]

jay bennett/dave vandervelde loved their casinos

[@pgroove163]

Grant Green.... Gibson es330

[@jonathanking7594]

Great preso Mike

[@markwright9352]

Never understood why Epiphone don’t offer the Royal tan finish with a dark back

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

I've always been curious about them, but after TPS had to replace all the hardware in theirs and then Shane from In the Blues (who btw had been waiting years and years to try one) did a demo-review and said it was the worst guitar he's ever touched . . . now I'm even more curious but dubious too LOL

[@alanhembra2565]

I’m still mad at myself for not buying a 12 I found used once.

[@patriciogoyenecherojas2971]

Could you include the automatic translation? It would be a great help for no english speakers!

[@1040ecapja]

What a great video. Subbed.

[@moosey62]

Arguably the most ubiquitous? You wanna argue about sales figures? LOL!

[@VERBANDTREM]

I love a Casino, But that 63 ES330.......drooooooool

[@MMGUITARBAR]

That ES-330 is a special one (my personal git ;) Thanks for watching! - Mike B

[@VERBANDTREM]

@@MMGUITARBAR lucky! I think they sound and play better with the bigsby.

[@andrewderrick668]

What drive is Mike using at 13:00?

[@MMGUITARBAR]

That was a Hot Cake! Love that pedal -Mike A

[@danielemilazzo432]

I wish I bought an elitist few years ago.

[@paulwilliams1045]

Wiggle stick

[@gabeandhasina]

Logging my vote here for a return of the bikini logo.

[@ratonahill2199]

10 times what it is now? the Dollar? 50 times as much!

[@user-zx2pb7ks9p]

Casino no long neck。。。。so sad。。。

[@nigellacey559]

one big problem...it has epiphone on the headstock...a headstock shaped like a bum.

[@dfuzzybuzzy]

SICK! SUBSCRIBED!