In my experience, both Gretsch and Epiphone are brilliant producers of affordable instruments. My first bass guitar was a Gretsch Electromatic model, and I’ve also owned an Epiphone 335 in the past. I actually never really noticed it and forgot about it until I was photographing it for this listing.Comparing these two legendary manufacturers is not an easy task – especially due to my personal experience with both. Not a big deal, I just want to mention everything. It looks like a window that's been steamed up. It's smooth to the touch, it's just some grayish discoloration under the clear coat. It's stamped as a factory '2nd' on the back headstock because of some cloudiness in the black finish on the front of the headstock.

The guitar is in excellent condition overall. The pickguard (also included) still works with the Filtertrons but I like to show off the unique figuring of the maple body. The only sign of the old pickups are the tiny screw holes from the dog-ear P90 covers. I added some genuine Gretsch pickup bezels (their fancy name for the smoked-plastic rings that surround the Filtertrons) to give it a finished look. I always aim to preserve the originality of a guitar, especially with these semi-collectible Peerless-made Epiphone models. The pickups are humbucking and fit perfectly into the P90 routs without any modification so it's all completely reversible. The muddy stock pickups have been replaced with genuine Gretsch Filtertron pickups to really make this thing sparkle. The original wiring harness is included, as well as the original pickups, pickup covers, and pickguard. The new pots have been wired in vintage-correct Gibson 1950s style (i.e. I completely overhauled the cheap import wiring on this and replaced all the electronics with all US-made components: CTS 450g Series 550K pots (+/- 10% tolerance) and a Switchcraft jack and 3 way toggle switch.

I love Casinos but was always disappointed with the sound and quality of the current Chinese-made reissues, so I went and found an older, more sought-after Korean-made model from the famed Peerless Plant in South Korea to serve as the base for this dream guitar. This guitar was a passion project for me. The guitar and case will even be shipped in the original box that the case came in, so you know it'll be a perfect and secure fit. This Casino jangles in a way that the other reissues never will!Ĭomes with a brand new Epiphone Casino 1960 Reissue Hardcase - beautiful elephant-grey covering with blue plush interior and satin nickel hardware ($149 new).

Epiphone casino vs gretsch