Help settle an argument… Epiphone Casino v Epiphone ES335

[steak&chips]

Been having a debate with a friend about which guitar you’d pick, if you could only have the one, never to play the other again! Both are great guitars, which probably goes without saying, but neither of us could agree so need fellow forumers to decide…

What you picking? You can only have one… forever!

 

[Don E.]

I picked Casino (Coupe) years ago. No regrets. Upgraded to an Eastman T64/v this year. It's what you wish your Casino felt and sounded like.

 

[soulman969]

A Casino hands down. P90s can take you where no other pickup can go. It's also one of the more unique sounding guitars made.

 

[3bolt79]

Been having a debate with a friend about which guitar you’d pick, if you could only have the one, never to play the other again! Both are great guitars, which probably goes without saying, but neither of us could agree so need fellow forumers to decide…

What you picking? You can only have one… forever!

The upper fret access is much better on the ES 335. If you want to play higher than the 15th fret, the Casino is not for you.

 

[Darkness]

Casino

 

[Maguchi]

The Casino 8 days a week!

"Unlike semi-hollow body guitars such as the Gibson ES-335, which have a center block to promote sustain and reduce feedback, the Casino and its cousin, the Gibson ES-330 are true hollow-bodied guitars."*

*Wikipedia

 

[Charles Carter]

I've always wanted to be Larry Carlton.

 

[Rusty Chops]

Me too.

335 please

 

[steak&chips]

Ooh it’s a close one, with 6 votes to 5 in favour of the Casino at the time of posting!

 

[LP_SPC_1_P90]

335, but it really doesn't matter, a 339 would work too. The Casino is hollow, 335 semi-hollow, the Casino hollow can really be played unplugged in comparison. That's a win for the Casino to be that versatile. To me it's not going to be a super shallow acoustic bowl though. And for true hollow body, I have an acoustic electric Ovation that does that trick, scratches that itch. I'm more of a semi-hollow to chambered for an electric body in that style. Leaning more towards the LP or a White Falcon for preference. I don't think I helped anyone settle an argument though, just indicated a preference for a preconceived expectation of this style guitar. For some reason, for a hollow body, I like either the ES125 TDC(George Thorogood's White Fang or Ted Nugent's ES175 Byrdland.

 

[Timflyte]

I have a '68 Casino.
A '96 Epi Dot.
Both good guitars.
But the Casino is a regular model.
I wish ,instead of the dot , that Epiphone would've made back then other actual Epiphone models ( Sheraton w mini HB , Rivera ).
I can see why they made the dot.
But back then it would've been nice.

 

[nopicknick]

Avatar says it all!

 

[SJS]

I recently bought an Epi Lucille from a buddy. A few months later he sent me a Casino. I'd take the Casino. The Casino has taken over my life. Remarkable guitars.

 

[Mike Hickey]

I'd go with the telecaster.

 

[spupilup]

I never could bond with the Casino despite really wanting to. I had a Korea model and two made in China. They never lasted very long. I hated the trapeze tailpiece, the necks were too thin and the two Chinese models had cheap bridges with saddles that rattled. It drove me nuts! From my P90 fix, I have a modified LP Special that I am more than happy with. So, for that hollow/semi hollow bodied itch, I grabbed a DG-335 last spring and it has fulfilled all my wishes. Compared to a Gibson DG-335, it was cheap. I am preparing to mod my bridge and tailpiece (today, if the parts that are out for delivery actually arrive). The biggest plus for this particular 335 is the neck. It's as fat as my Special and my AO Tele so I couldn't be happier. Who knows, I may still grab an Ubukata ES-355 but I'll never bother with another Casino.

This is all coming from a huge fan of the Beatles and John Lennon particularly. I wanted to love them but each Casino I owned was ultimately a disappointment.

 

[saipan]

ive never played either one..but chuck berry had a 335 so i went with that

 

[BlueSquirrel]

I don't think it is possible to compare the ES-335 with the Casino. They sound and feel totally different, imho.
@steakandchips What kind of music are you into?

 

[steak&chips]

I don't think it is possible to compare the ES-335 with the Casino. They sound and feel totally different, imho.
@steakandchips What kind of music are you into?

Yeah I agree they’re different beasts, but those differences are what made the debate interesting - if you had to choose one, never to see the other again! To keep one, you’ve got to sacrifice the other. If they were too similar it would be a case “meh, either will do”.

The type of music I’m into probably lends itself to 335s and Casinos mostly, with a bit of a Strat flavour too, I.e. a lot of indie/rock Beatles, Oasis, Lathums, Smiths, RHCP, Hendrix, among others.

 

[3bolt79]

Well, I was going to send my Casino home with my son, but have reconsidered sending him with any guitars as he is living in his buddies garage for the next year while he pays off debt. Really, would you keep guitars in a garage in Oklahoma? The temperatures fluctuate quite a bit.

He's going to have to store his Gibson LP and Fender Strat in the garage, and his property won't arrive from Germany for another three months, at which time he won't be able to bring them to me to store

His buddy won't let him store the guitars in the house as there isn't room. So I guess I will maybe send him home with the two that have hard cases, and are made of laminates. But the rest are going back in my guitar room.

That aside, I think the original question was which one to pick. I'd say the best answer is to have one of each.

 

[BlueSquirrel]

Yeah I agree they’re different beasts, but those differences are what made the debate interesting - if you had to choose one, never to see the other again! To keep one, you’ve got to sacrifice the other. If they were too similar it would be a case “meh, either will do”.

The type of music I’m into probably lends itself to 335s and Casinos mostly, with a bit of a Strat flavour too, I.e. a lot of indie/rock Beatles, Oasis, Lathums, Smiths, RHCP, Hendrix, among others.

Ok! I remember watching a review which compared them, I'll try to find it again.
It might be of interest to you!