jff Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 That thing looks great. I used to have an '81 Les Paul standard (black). It was an amazing guitar, but I traded it in on some '65 Ludwig drums in black diamond pearl. Wish I stil lhad that guitar, but the drums have served me better than any guitar ever has. Nowadays I have a Muddy Waters Telecaster. My next guitar will either be an Epiphone Dot, an Ibanez Artcore AS73 and possibly an Epiphone Casino. I'm leaning towards the Dot or Artcore since they have humbuckers and my tele has single coil pickups. How do P-90s (which is what the Casino has) compare with Tele-style single coils? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danelectro Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 How do P-90s (which is what the Casino has) compare with Tele-style single coils? Not similar at all, especially in the Casino. I'd stay aways from the new Epi Casino, I had one and it was pretty bad. The pups were weak and not very P-90-esque and the guitar had a rattle I could never find. Read the reviews on Musicians Friend or Harmony, most will share my opinion. It sounds like you're after a semi-hollow body. However, so you know the SG I posted is only $699 and is a real USA Gisbon, the P-90 in these scream. The reviews on these are great. However it is somewhat limited being a one pup guitar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 It sounds like you're after a semi-hollow body. Semi-hollow would probably be the way to go, althought there's something enticing about a Casino. I enjoyed the one I tried out a couple months ago. I have to admit I didn't realize it was a full hollowbody until today. When you say stay away from the "new Casinos", do you mean the very new ones (as in, the last few years worth of production), or ALL of the reissue Casinos (going back to mid-90s, or whenever the reintroduced them)? I was more impressed with the Ibanez than the Epiphone Dot. I didn't get to try either of those through an amp, but the Ibanez felt better in my hands (possibly due to the bound neck) and seemed to have a nicer finish (thinner layer of clearcoat, or whatever they put on those things). I'd have to cover up that goofy lightning bolt on the headstock with some black tape if I got one of those. So I guess the contenders are: Used older model Casino (very likely over $500)Epi Dot ($399)Inbanez Artcore AS73 ($329) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danelectro Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 (edited) The problems I had had with mine and what others have complained about are with the new and used recent Korean made Casino's. People rave about the construction of the Artcore. But most that rave about these guitars are "modders". They usually only use the body as a platform and completely replace the electronics and the hard parts, bridges and tuners etc. The Dot is Chinese made and reviews have not been favorable. Most prefer the higher end Korean made semi hollow Epi models like the Sheraton. You may want to check out Musicians Friend from time to time. A few weeks back they had a sale on the USA Epi Sheraton, the John Lee Hooker sig models, for $749. Another thing to consider is Orville. If you're comfortable doing the ebay thing the semi hollow Orville's show up cheap from time to time. Edited August 4, 2006 by danelectro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 People rave about the construction of the Artcore. But most that rave about these guitars are "modders". They usually only use the body as a platform and completely replace the electronics and the hard parts, bridges and tuners etc. I've found that people rave and complain about anything and everything, regardless of price. Electonics on guitars seem to be the thing most people are unhappy with. According to what I read on guitar boards, 95% of all production guitars have crap pickups and/or switches/knobs/jacks. I don't know what I'll wind up getting, but I certainly appreciate your input. Orville...interesting. I had not heard of those. The 335 style Orville on ebay now is $900. I'll keep an eye out for those, you never know when one will slip through the cracks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danelectro Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 One more thread jack . Another semi hollow that can be a great guitar is the Tokai 335 copies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
a.miller Posted August 4, 2006 Share Posted August 4, 2006 Another semi hollow that can be a great guitar is the Tokai 335 copies.Really?!? I am longing for the "perfect deal" for a 335 on ebay and always see those. I just figured they were junk, as many copies of guitars tend to be, IMO. I've never played one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danelectro Posted August 5, 2006 Share Posted August 5, 2006 (edited) Of all the Korean stuff made these days Tokai makes the nicest Gibson style copies, so they say. People complain the pups are muddy but I think that's what you get with any budget model guitar. Easy enough to fix. People are saying good things about GFS pups and these can be bought real cheap, less than $100 for both the neck and bridge. They make some pups modeled after the original PAF that is supposed to be great. I don't have any hard core experience with either Tokai or GFS but the guys at the guitar forum I frequent do. Most there are the "modder" types so they usually have the scoop on the good cheap stuff. Edited August 5, 2006 by danelectro Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anodyne Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 my epi dot is a few years old, and it's of korean extract (not china). they may likely be making them in china now though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
a.miller Posted August 6, 2006 Share Posted August 6, 2006 the guitar forum I frequentwould you mind disclosing said forum? I wouldn't mind poking around there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
danelectro Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 Jam Session Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jff Posted August 7, 2006 Share Posted August 7, 2006 would you mind disclosing said forum? I wouldn't mind poking around there. I'll chime in, though these might not be the forum that was alluded to... thefret.net fenderforum.com (the name sounds like a Fender oriented site, but all guitar related discussion is welcome) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted August 8, 2006 Share Posted August 8, 2006 What was a 15 year old metal kid to do . We did a lot of stupid stuff with nice guitars back then and beyond. During the Nirvana craze I traded a 1984 Gibson Explorer for one of those Univox Mosrite copies Kurt was fond of. I'm pretty happy with my current collection. Affordable guitars are much better now than before. All of my Fender's are vintage reissue imports, though some have been modded with USA CS parts. My Gibby's are as good as any I've previously owned except were much more affordable. I doubt I'll part with the guitar I have now unless something really gets to me. If I get anything else it will be a P-90 equipped Gibson, maybe one of these. My question is why the compensated bridge isn't tilted. The intonation must kinda suck on that... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
delmarkurt Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Not sure if anyone cares, but Paul Languedoc is now selling guitars to the public for 10k a pop. For many years he only built guitars for Trey Anastasio from Phish. Good for Paul, I'm sure he'll sell a few....just not to me. ....But it is pretty sweet to look and drool. Check the site. http://www.languedocguitars.com/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gobias Industries Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Not sure if anyone cares, but Paul Languedoc is now selling guitars to the public for 10k a pop. For many years he only built guitars for Trey Anastasio from Phish. Good for Paul, I'm sure he'll sell a few....just not to me. ....But it is pretty sweet to look and drool. Check the site.http://www.languedocguitars.com/ Oh man....that is awesome. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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