Anyone have The JL 1965 Casino?

[jamie]

I find it interesting how these JL Casinos keep popping 8 years after their introduction and supposed limited run.

It also struck me as odd that I received an e-mail promo from Epiphone around 1 yr ago which offered the the first 100 in the series for sale saying they had held those back from sale...after 7 years!? I would love to see a registry set up like the Lennon 325 Rick web Registry.

Could the refurb label be a way around the licensing agreement and percentage deal with Yoko?

[shamustwin]

I've had #95 for a couple of years now.

I do still see "new, never sold" JL's on the bay.

Most of the time they don't sell for the +/- 2000 reserve.

[karl_teten]

I have played Greg Feo's '65 Casino and it RAWKS!

My '65 Lennon is near identical in feel and sound. Greg's neck profile is a hair thicker than the Lennon model. My understanding is the profile on the '65 Lennon is identical to Lennon's orignal.

The '65 Lennon is one of my favorite guitars and one of the most versatile I own.

[wj350]

"My understanding is the profile on the '65 Lennon is identical to Lennon's orignal."

Yeah, that's I guess the major aspect that generated the higher cost (others like the lacquer finish, charity thing, etc. added as well). But according to Epi, they actually took the exact measurements of Lennon's Casino as it was at the time and spec'd the guitar accordingly.

My Rev is a wonderful guitar, that's for sure. The neck feels thicker than my Korean Casino, but not overly so. I've never held a vintage model, so no knowledge of how they would compare.

I'm thinking some of these should start showing up on people's doors today or tomorrow, if not already.

Bill

[wj350]

Ok..my wife just opened the box. Black case (not Lennon 1965 Original). Headstock is stamped "R", into the wood.

No certificates, etc.. there is an overstamp on the Lennon sticker...

No visible signs of repair at headstock/neck joint. Don't know how to ask my wife to look for other problems over the phone, so this is the best I can do for now.

With all of this in consideration, if the guitar plays and sounds good, I'm inclined to think ok, good deal--I can live with the R.

Pix: http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd80 ... 2021Sep07/

Anyone else out there?

[blueflamerick]

So, how does it feel, play, & sound?

[wj350]

Erik, unfortunately I'm on the road for the next several weeks (arghhhhhh!), so i can't give you a hands-on impression. Based on the physical shape though, I'm extremely confidant it will feel and sound as good as my Revolution model.

It's hard to convey how good these guitars are--I was playing a riff for a fellow Rickresource'r the other night over the phone using the Casino unplugged. He asked what I was playing, assuming an acoustic.

The necks are just slightly beefier feeling than the Korean Casinos, but not club-like in any sense--it's still a narrow feeling neck to me, which I like.

Craftsmanship is excellent--I bought my Rev used on the 'bay, but she was mint when she arrived. Binding, fit, finish etc. are all flawless.

This refurb deal is hard to beat...I can do without case candy, COAs and designed cases. The little "R" is pretty insignificant too, considering the price.

Hopefully some others will get theirs and post soon!

Bill

[dustymurphy]

"the best deal since MF was blowing out the Gretsch Country Classics for $1099."

I got one when they went. I also have a 6120 that I bought vintage at a garage sale once, and the Country Classic plays a little better. It's faster and less 'baseball bat' feeling. Of course, amped up, they're two different birds, the 6120 has DeArmonds and the CC has Filtertrons. I could go on and on about how they're similar and how they're different, but that's a different story for a different time.

[jamie]

Bill- I'm surprised that you found the Rev. model to have a slightly more beefy neck than the MIK model as I also owned a '96 MIK Casino which had a much larger profile neck. Possible they varied though the years. Both my Re. & '65 Casino have the same extremely slim profiles that I would compare to my '91 Classic LP with its slim 60's profile.

I've found a fairly noticeable difference in sound between the '65 and Rev. model with the '65 sounding a bit brighter. Most likely the thicker nitro finish is a contributing factor to that.

I also like the contrast of the more natural wood feel on the neck of the Rev model vs. the polished nitro on the '65 neck. Another good reason to own both lol!

[jamie]

Noticed the R on your is stamped quite low on the headstock between the E-string tuners. Mine is directly under the serial number.

Also there appears to be a different serial number sequence with this run. Mine begins with the letter "TO" which may signify it was made at a different factory?

[wj350]

Jaime, I'm guessing you're right about the changes through the years. My MIK is a 2005, possibly made in a different plant from those in the '90s(?). I think I read somewhere that at one point or another most of the Epi imports were produced by Samick. I have a slightly older (early 2000s) Samick RL-2 whose neck is beefier than the MIK Casino. (Incidentally, the Samick is a really nice quitar as well--it was an impulse buy at some little hole-in-the-wall music shop I stumbled across).

Interesting comparison on the Rev and 1965 tones--can't wait to hear mine--Arrrgh!! Waiting sucks!

[JakeK]

I've always wanted one, but every time I've had the chance, I've passed it for a 325V63, a 660/12TP and a '62 RI Strat. Don't know why I've never bought one. Go figure!

[wj350]

Someone just got a good deal on one this afternoon....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... NA:US:1123