I think this is probably the best place to ask if anybody has any experience with the Epiphone Casino Inspired by John Lennon. I was going to buy a Casino before I got my Pro Jet and am still considering buying one at some point. Just wondering if it is worth paying the extra for the J L model.

I think this is probably the best place to ask if anybody has any experience with the Epiphone Casino Inspired by John Lennon. I was going to buy a Casino before I got my Pro Jet and am still considering buying one at some point. Just wondering if it is worth paying the extra for the J L model.

I have one and it's definitely worth the extra cash. The pickups and electronics are Gibson USA.

The build quality on mine is fantastic. As a plus, the Inspired by Casino comes in a very nice hardshell case.

I have one and it's definitely worth the extra cash. The pickups and electronics are Gibson USA.

The build quality on mine is fantastic. As a plus, the Inspired by Casino comes in a very nice hardshell case.

I have decided that I will get a Casino, the only thing now is whether to wait a while longer and save the extra cash, about an extra £300. hough from what you say it certainly sounds worth it. After all a hardshell case would be around £70. I think you might have convinced me to wait a while longer.

Thanks for the help.

I have decided that I will get a Casino, the only thing now is whether to wait a while longer and save the extra cash, about an extra £300. hough from what you say it certainly sounds worth it. After all a hardshell case would be around £70. I think you might have convinced me to wait a while longer.

Thanks for the help.

I don't think you'll be disappointed by waiting. It's a much better guitar than the standard one.

Here's a link to a pretty good wiki that shows the specs on all of the Casinos including vintage guitars.

http://www.epiphonewiki.com/index.php?title=Casino

I don't think you'll be disappointed by waiting. It's a much better guitar than the standard one.

Here's a link to a pretty good wiki that shows the specs on all of the Casinos including vintage guitars.

http://www.epiphonewiki.com/index.php?title=Casino

Thanks, I really appreciate the help.

Hi Bern

I bought a JL IB Casino a while ago. Absolutely love it.

Interestingly when I tried out the IB, the shop also had a standard Epi Casino so out of curiosity I tried that too in an A/B test as I really wanted to see where the extra dosh for the IB went.

WOW...I found a significant difference between the two. The IB sounded fuller and more focused (due to the Gibson pickups etc), the finish looked better and was period correct and importantly the feel of the IB was just right.

Can't fault this guitar. I used to gig with it on occasions but now it stays at home, in fact it's out of its case right now residing on a stand waiting for me :D

Yes the Ellitest (spilling?;)) is constructed with better woods and is superior however for the money the IB can't be beaten.


Just to finish off, I've had no issues with this guitar at all. There are those that knock Epi, maybe in some cases correctly but this model is very very good and feels quite special, to me anyway. I've been playing guitar for over fifty years so hopefully feel I have a reasonable 'take' on guitars, their merits and pitfalls. Hope that doesn't sound arrogant, it's not meant to.

Just wondering if there are any differences between the sunburst and natural, apart from there being no pick guard on the natural. The reason I ask is at most places the sunburst is slightly dearer.

Just wondering if there are any differences between the sunburst and natural, apart from there being no pick guard on the natural. The reason I ask is at most places the sunburst is slightly dearer.

There's no real difference in quality. The pick guard on the natural one is in the case. It's not installed because when John stripped the finish off of his casino in 1968 he also took off the pick guard and installed gold grover tuners. The finish on the natural one is matte as opposed to glossy on the sunburst IBL Casino. The natural IBL replicates these.

The MAP price for either should be the same, at least it is here in the US. If you're in the UK -- which one of you're earlier comments leads me to believe -- then I could well imagine that you're getting the stick in one way or the other on the price for the sunburst one.

What's the price difference between the two that you're seeing?

There's no real difference in quality. The pick guard on the natural one is in the case. It's not installed because when John stripped the finish off of his casino in 1968 he also took off the pick guard and installed gold grover tuners. The finish on the natural one is matte as opposed to glossy on the sunburst IBL Casino. The natural IBL replicates these.

The MAP price for either should be the same, at least it is here in the US. If you're in the UK -- which one of you're earlier comments leads me to believe -- then I could well imagine that you're getting the stick in one way or the other on the price for the sunburst one.

What's the price difference between the two that you're seeing?

It's not at every store, but some places have a £50 difference. Which one do you have? I personally prefer the look of the sunburst, but I do like Grover tuners.

It's not at every store, but some places have a £50 difference. Which one do you have? I personally prefer the look of the sunburst, but I do like Grover tuners.

I've got the sunburst model. The tuners are nice and do their job well.

I've got the sunburst model. The tuners are nice and do their job well.

I think it looks far nicer & if I had both in front of me right now would probably go for the sunburst.

I think it looks far nicer & if I had both in front of me right now would probably go for the sunburst.

Yup. I agree.

Yup. I agree.

Just a question of getting the cash together and I'm sold on the JL in sunburst.

The IBJL has a narrower nut width so you may want to play one first if possible.

The IBJL has a narrower nut width so you may want to play one first if possible.

Thanks for that tip. Trouble is they are a bit thin on the ground in stores here & it looks like I may have to resort to the internet. Do you know of any other guitar with a comparable nut width?

Thanks for that tip. Trouble is they are a bit thin on the ground in stores here & it looks like I may have to resort to the internet. Do you know of any other guitar with a comparable nut width?


Ha...be grateful you don't live in Cornwall Bern.

I had to drive to Hartnolls in Plymouth, a 160 mile round trip to try and buy mine. And Hartnolls had kindly shipped the IBJL from their Torquay branch to save me the extra distance.

Personally I wouldn't want to buy without trying. For forthcoming G5435T purchase I may have to drive to Mansons in Exeter, that's if Modern Music our local Fender dealer in Truro can't get one for me. Have spoken to Andy of MM about stocking Gretschs but unfortunately it's quite a small shop and already stacked to the ceiling with lovely things. But sadly not Gretsch lovely things.

Just wondering if there are any differences between the sunburst and natural, apart from there being no pick guard on the natural. The reason I ask is at most places the sunburst is slightly dearer.

Haven't tried the Natural finish IBJL (it didnt appeal) but have read that the sound 'breathes' more due to not being painted. Can't argue with that as I don't know but am sure there can't be very much difference.

Macca didnt feel the need to strip his and still uses it to this day (ok yes it is an original USA built Casino)

But lets face it, JL had his Casino stripped at a time he was whacked out on Macrobiotic food and having press conferences in bed ;). :D

Haven't tried the Natural finish IBJL (it didnt appeal) but have read that the sound 'breathes' more due to not being painted. Can't argue with that as I don't know but am sure there can't be very much difference.

Macca didnt feel the need to strip his and still uses it to this day (ok yes it is an original USA built Casino)

But lets face it, JL had his Casino stripped at a time he was whacked out on Macrobiotic food and having press conferences in bed ;). :D

I do vaguely remember reading something about one of the reasons Lennon striped the guitar was because it would "breathe". It may well be true though I think that at the level I'm playing it would not make much difference. It's really just more about how the guitar looks. That's why I wanted to know if there was any functional differences between the two.

I just read somewhere that IBJL is limited edition, only 1965 being made. Does anybody know if this is true?

I just read somewhere that IBJL is limited edition, only 1965 being made. Does anybody know if this is true?

Nope. Not true at all

Nope. Not true at all

That's a relief thanks. I've been looking at he 1961 reissue as a substitute.

I just read somewhere that IBJL is limited edition, only 1965 being made. Does anybody know if this is true?

Yep +1 on the SAS's post, hopefully it's a good seller for them but nothing's for certain. Epiphone have recently stopped producing their tried and tested ES175 which is quite a surprise to many.

So Nick's "Tip Of The Week" is get your IBJL as soon as you can, you never know when they're going to pull the plug :eek:

Yep +1 on the previous post, hopefully it's a good seller for them but nothing's for certain. Epiphone have recently stopped producing their tried and tested ES175 which is quite a surprise to many.

So Nick's "Tip Of The Week" is get your IBJL as soon as you can, you never know when they're going to pull the plug :eek:

I'm with Nick on that one. :)

Thanks for all the advice chaps.

Bern - sorry for the delay. I think the Hagstrom double cut is a pretty slim neck profile. Hope that helps.

Bern - sorry for the delay. I think the Hagstrom double cut is a pretty slim neck profile. Hope that helps.

Thanks for that mate. I'll look around and see if I can find one. I just want to find something close to the IBJL that I might be able to try out before I buy. Most places here don't have the JL in stock so it's hard to get my hands on one.