Well! It’s guitars like this that make being a vintage guitar dealer such an outright thrill. Here we have an all original, first year Epiphone Casino, in something very close to museum quality! Fully hand built at the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Casino was a variation on Gibson’s own ES-330 and this first year model is a stellar example of everything that made Keith Richards acquire one on the Rolling Stones’ first visit to America. Keef used his 1961 Casino almost immediately, on ‘Satisfaction’, recorded in the US, on that first tour.
The Casino bark is unmistakable
Unlike their ES-335 cousin, the ES-330 and the Casino have no Maple centre-block, making them fully hollow – brilliantly suited to studio work, or live instruments where you might want to indulge in a bit of feedback. The Casino is famous for its ability to go dark and dirty with a set of 11 gauge strings. Coupled with a pair of P-90s, the Casino bark is unmistakable – as twangy and lively as you want at the bridge, deliciously warm & woody at the neck.
August or September of ’61
Likely built around August or September of ’61, our Casino here already sports the white-black-white pickguard, which would officially replace the earlier tortoise version in ’62. Around the same time the inlaid mother-of-pearl Epiphone headstock logo replaced the previous pressed-tin badge and a temporary gold-foil logo. Only 176 Casino labels were stamped with a TD suffix in '61 - as this one is - regardless of whether they had a trapeze tailpiece or the Epiphone vibrato system. Later in the year the labels on the tremolo/vibrato models added a V to the stamp - TDV. This, therefore, is one of those first 176 Casinos ever produced.
Brazilian Rosewood board
Finished in the highly desirable Royal Tan, (nitro, of course), the paintwork on top is immaculate, while the back shows little more than a small patch of light buckle-rash. Elsewhere there’s just a few small marks – evidence of string changes – on the front of the headstock. The one-piece Mahogany neck, (with Gibson’s thinner profile, introduced the previous year), is perfect, as are the frets and Brazilian Rosewood board, (see pic # 6).
Most desirable
The Casino is often hailed as the most desirable – and collectible – of all vintage Epiphone models, and, with its killer appearance, striking tone and premium appointments, it’s easy to see why. Reflector knobs, ABR-1 bridge, (non-retaining-wire version), Kluson Deluxe tuners, nickel-plated hardware and a thick, solid Maple top all combine to make for one of the alltime great vintage guitars. The adjustable length ‘Tremotone’ vibrato, with its stylish Epiphone-logo tailpiece adds significantly to both the appeal and the guitar’s vintage value.
Play with the big boys
Jimi Hendrix played a Casino in his days with the Isley Brothers, Eric Clapton played a Casino, BB King, too. George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney all played Casinos, the latter using his on ‘Ticket To Ride’, virtually within hours of receiving it! Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, (his Casino is all over Pet Sounds), Paul Weller, Noel Gallagher… the list of high profile Casino owners goes on and on. Now, here’s your opportunity to “play with the big boys”.
Extraordinarily fine condition
As noted, the guitar is in extraordinarily fine condition, and comes complete with its original Epiphone soft case, (pic # 7). Two real bonuses are the original Epiphone hang-tag, (also shown in pic # 7), and the second strap pin, which has never been installed! As shown in the tremolo close-up, (pic # 5), there’s even some lovely, fine birdseye in the Maple top.
Free courier delivery
This 100% original 1961 Epiphone Casino is very reasonably priced for its outstanding condition, and as with all Just Guitars instruments, FREE COURIER DELIVERY is included to any address in Australia. ($100 airfreight to New Zealand, $175 to the US, Canada, UK and mainstream European countries)
Weight: 6lb 5oz / 2.86kg
Just Guitars
