Product: Epiphone Casino EB-255
Price Paid: US $200
Submitted
10/14/2003
at
01:26pm
by
Val Strode
Email: avstrode<at>swbell dot net
Features
:
10
Well, this is a 1994 Epiphone Casino 255 EB (ebony) which means that is black all over except for the pickguard and edging, the edging being an off-white cream color which gives the guitar a vintage aged look. I won't go into much detail here as it has been covered in the other Casinos. I will say the neck is thinner than a strat. A student of mine with a strat has small fingers and it is much easier for him to play the Casino. (Although not as thin as a Tele). It has 2 Alnico P-90 pickups that will play their own song if you set it down next to the amp and leave for a moment. Mine came with the casino case, which I recommend. You could replace the Alnicos with Gibsons if so inclined, but the Al's are good enough for me.
Sound
:
10
I use a Fender sidekick bass amp and a Crate 50w w/Celestions. It sounds like an acoustic on the bass amp and Hendrix on the Crate. (My son who plays a Les Paul, was introduced to the concept of feedback from the P-90s). The sound is bright on the highs and full on the lows. You can do a lot with 2 P-90's.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
Don't know about set-up as I got it used. Action is low, but of course you can adjust it so low it plays on the frets. The previous user had replaced the vol/tone knobs with speed knobs, and I replaced the tuners with black Grovers and put #10 strings on it. The pickup selector knob seems loose.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
Well, like John Lennon's, this one had the headstock broken at one time but unlike Lennon's was repaired very well. Does not affect the playability in any way. Not sure what would happen if I dropped it but a backup on a gig is always a good idea. I have played quite a bit on a Gibson 335 and feel this is just as durable if not more. THe finish will not come off without a sandblaster it appears. Mine is 9 years old and still looks like an almost new finish.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never used them, so don't know.
Overall Rating
:
10
I started playing bass in 1969 and guitar in 1971.
I currently own a Jay Turser Beatle bass, also ebony.
I would buy another Casino as my prime general purpose guitar
I love the black shiny finish, the acoustic type low tones you can get as well as the jangly treble tones with the flip of the switch. I also like the narrow easy neck and low action (maybe too low for rhythm guitar).
I was not crazy about the tuners, and wish the plug was on the outer edge of the guitar.
I think it compares favorably to the 333 or 335, but is a different beast because of the P-90s. More for blues, Beatles, 60's stuff (sounds ok doing Byrds too). Probably more versatile than the 335 but does not have the drive and power (Not for heavy metal, but, as Lennon said about it, "it f...in' moans and howls")
