If you’d like to launch a British Invasion of your own, just contact the good blokes at Gryphon Stringed Instruments and they would be happy to arm you with this guitar.The rivalry probably existed well before then, but as Epiphone eventually transformed its primary focus from building banjos and mandolins to guitars, the competition between the two companies became increasingly evident. This guitar, for example is priced at $3250 but would sell for quite a bit more across the pond.

Epiphone Casinos are quite pricey in the UK but here in the US they are a relative bargain. Still, the sale of the model didn’t stop Gibson from halting production of Epiphones in the US and shifting to Japanese manufacturers for the line. (Gibson owned Epiphone when this guitar was built.) It’s in fine condition, although the foil “E” that used to grace the pickguard has fallen off. The Casino was a popular during the 1960s, and more than 6700 were sold.

The Casino is basically the Epiphone take on the Gibson ES-330, a thinline hollowbody with single coil P-90 pickups. This guitar also has the single trapezoid inlays, which started appearing on the model in late 1962. It features the fairly rare Royal Tan finish, a lighter, more golden sunburst that was unique to Epiphone. The Casino was introduced in 1961 and this particular guitar was built in 1966. George Harrison inspiring English guitarists to pick up Epiphone Casinos of their own. Thanks to the Beatles, the model continues to have a certain cachet and today players like Paul Weller, The Edge, Thom Yorke of Radiohead and Noel Gallagher of Oasis seek out and play vintage models for their unique tone. Lennon essentially used his Casino as his main guitar from then on and McCartney has referred to this as his favorite electric guitar on numerous occasions. Keith Richards played one during the Rolling Stones’ 1964 American tour and Paul McCartney used a 1962 model on “Ticket To Ride,” “Drive My Car” and “Taxman.” George Harrison and John Lennon got their own Casinos, both 1965 models, soon after.

Although it’s not a particularly well-known guitar here in the US, in England the Epiphone Casino is quite popular and it is still considered to be one of the main weapons used during the British Invasion.

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