I was very surprised to discover that the strings neither felt or sounded like Gibson Brightwires, a string that leaves me underwhelmed, but instead are clearly marked as D’Addarios 10-46. The output jack is top mounted and as I play sitting as much as standing, I find this most convenient. There are two volume and two tone pots and a three way switch. Nickel ages nicely, whereas chrome does not, in my opinion. Epiphone says that all the metal parts are nickel, which is a nice thing from my perspective. The bridge is of the tuneomatic type and the tailpiece is the old style trapeze. There are two Dogear P90T Classic pickups with nickel covers. This makes for a very lightweight and airy body. The top, back and sides are 5 play laminated maple with internal basswood bracings. Materials for the neck are solid mahogany with a pau ferro fingerboard with pearloid inlays. In the context of the triumvirate of ursines, it is “just right”. The neck isn’t overly fat or overly skinny. Be assured, it is much more lively acoustically than a 335 or 355. The Casino does not have a centre block like a 335, but there is a support structure to keep the bridge downward pressure from causing issues. They have a feel that is different from solid bodies and dedicated acoustics. I like hollow body and semi-hollow guitars. It came out of the box last night and was first played today as I like to let guitars acclimatize for a bit. Cosmo had two of the regular Casinos in natural in stock and he selected the nicest one and then had the techs do the initial set up for me. He bought his used on eBay, whereas mine was brand new, sourced through my dear friend Peter Waldon at Cosmo Music in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In a recent Vlog, Mick took viewers through his own Casino experience.

I do not do everything that Mick does, but he and Dan do influence me, in very positive ways. This purchase, and I did buy it, I blame on myself, but with significant influence from distant bud Mick Taylor of That Pedal Show.

Why a Casino? Some odd desire to try to be John Lennon? Nope. That makes for a really nice instrument at a price tag in the realm of affordable for more people.

Don’t get excited, this is not the long awaited US built version of the Casino, it’s the Casino that you can get today, built at the Epiphone factory in China.

John lennon with his epiphone casino