OK...Which one Do I Buy ? Epi Casino Worn -or- Epi Riviera

Tonray's Ghost · Fri Nov 19, 2021 9:40 pm

Casino Worn - or - Riviera.....January Purchase....get your votes in !

Tiga · Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:57 am

I really like the look of the Casino. That gets my vote.

sabasgr68 · Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:34 am

Not into hollow bodies, but I´d chose the first one, the greenish? Casino Worn.

Tonray's Ghost · Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:54 am

Both the vote count and the prospective buyer lean towards the Casino worn. (Shhh.. And it's over $200 less expensive)

BatUtilityBelt · Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:06 am

Not into 'worn', but Casino over Riviera.
?

Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:36 am

What sort of ship will you be paddling with that headstock?

OMB · Sun Nov 21, 2021 11:35 am

I have owned a Casino and a 2000ish Riviera. Very different sounding and feeling guitars because one is fully hollow and the other is a semi hollow. I have even been considering another Riviera because the mini hums sound great.

Mossman · Sun Nov 21, 2021 11:54 am

I'm a little torn... I love Casinos, and that model has Pro P90s (which sound great), but I don't care for Olive Blah, or any of the other "worn" finishes... I've always liked the Royal Tan finish that's on the Riviera (I've always wanted a Casino in Royal Tan), but I'm not a big fan of mini humbuckers. Then again, I've never actually played a Riviera (never seem to see them in stores), so I can't really rule them out.

I guess I'm no help here.

Partscaster · Sun Nov 21, 2021 2:31 pm

It would come down to neck feel, and pickup sound, for me.
Can/have you been able to try them?

is this the two versions?

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Tonray's Ghost · Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:45 pm

Partscaster wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 2:31 pm It would come down to neck feel, and pickup sound, for me.
Can/have you been able to try them?

is this the two versions?

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Yes those are the same two I am referring to

They only just arrived in Thailand this month...I may be able to try them...have not ventured downtown yet but I may do that. I like the Casino look but I already have an LP with p90s. My only concern is with that Frequensator tailpiece....seems a bit dodgy to me...but maybe just due to its uniqueness. I do like mini-hums....we shall see what trasnpires.

Of course both is an option (growing in popularity)...but then I'll have to ditch the VOX Cambridge 50 in the mix....we'll see about what kind of deal I can get on car purchase at the Motor Expo in December then I'll see what's left !

A third option is the Casino Worn in Olive Drab (I know some hate it...but I was never in the military and I can love it)....and in addition this :

Gretsch G5220 (the pickups have been reviewed as sounding a lot like mini hums rather than full on Humbuickers)

Tonray's Ghost · Sun Nov 21, 2021 5:55 pm

mickey wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 10:36 am What sort of ship will you be paddling with that headstock?

Yeah...love everything about them except for that absurdly looking headstock....What are they thinking ?

Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:42 pm

Epi started using that headstock design in the 1930's or 1940's, in other words long before Gibson bought Epi.
Like they started using the frequezator tailpiece along about the same time.

golem · Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:50 pm

Not a fan of that color green, although I'd make an exception if it was the Chris Cornell sig.

Partscaster · Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:14 pm

I think I'ld get the riviera, and perhaps a good boost pedal.
Those p90's on the casino could seem a bit limiting after a while.
Riviera has the cleans and seemed to get into edge of growl just fine. One could buy a good OD Boost pedal to get it into more hair without coloring the guitars nice voice.

Tonray's Ghost · Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:10 am

mickey wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:42 pm Epi started using that headstock design in the 1930's or 1940's, in other words long before Gibson bought Epi.
Like they started using the frequezator tailpiece along about the same time.

Still don't like it...even it is vintage style..not so much the shape..it's just too long !

Tonray's Ghost · Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:15 am

Partscaster wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 9:14 pm I think I'ld get the riviera, and perhaps a good boost pedal.
Those p90's on the casino could seem a bit limiting after a while.
Riviera has the cleans and seemed to get into edge of growl just fine. One could buy a good OD Boost pedal to get it into more hair without coloring the guitars nice voice.

I do love that Casino, however you are correct and I already have a p90 guitar. Mini Hum guitars are far and few in between....if only it came in a Olive drab...but now leaning towards the Riviera if only for it's unique design and those mini humbuckers. Just means I need to cancel the Vox Cambridge 50 amp for now....can always add an amp later as I have a perfectly useable setup already.

Mon Nov 22, 2021 4:43 am

Tonray's Ghost wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:10 am
mickey wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:42 pm Epi started using that headstock design in the 1930's or 1940's, in other words long before Gibson bought Epi.
Like they started using the frequezator tailpiece along about the same time.
Still don't like it...even it is vintage style..not so much the shape..it's just too long !

I agree completely. I have only ever owned a single Epi (a Joe Pass Emperor II) that I have hardly ever played.
Every time I get it out of the case the huge headstock grosses me out!
Don't get me wrong, it really is a great guitar, it is just that gross boat paddle of a headstock!

JoePass77.jpg

OMB · Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:57 pm

I never had any issues with the frequensator tailpiece. It stayed in tune and was easy to restring. The necks on both those guitars I think are identical coming out of the same factory? They have much more meat on the bones than the Korean versions which caused me great (cramping) difficulty. They were introduced late 2020 and a few Casino's showed up but there is now a Riviera at Guitar Center finally but I can't buy any more guitars until I sell 2.

If you can play them both to compare that would be ideal because they feel different with the very light Fully Hollow versus the slightly weightier Semi.

OMB · Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:59 pm

mickey wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 4:43 am
Tonray's Ghost wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:10 am
mickey wrote: ↑Sun Nov 21, 2021 6:42 pm Epi started using that headstock design in the 1930's or 1940's, in other words long before Gibson bought Epi.
Like they started using the frequezator tailpiece along about the same time.
Still don't like it...even it is vintage style..not so much the shape..it's just too long !
I agree completely. I have only ever owned a single Epi (a Joe Pass Emperor II) that I have hardly ever played.
Every time I get it out of the case the huge headstock grosses me out!
Don't get me wrong, it really is a great guitar, it is just that gross boat paddle of a headstock!

JoePass77.jpg

I am surprised you didn't sell it. Once I see something I don't like there is no recovery for me. Off to the Bay or Verb it goes.

Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:51 pm

OMB wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:59 pm
mickey wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 4:43 am
Tonray's Ghost wrote: ↑Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:10 am

Still don't like it...even it is vintage style..not so much the shape..it's just too long !
I agree completely. I have only ever owned a single Epi (a Joe Pass Emperor II) that I have hardly ever played.
Every time I get it out of the case the huge headstock grosses me out!
Don't get me wrong, it really is a great guitar, it is just that gross boat paddle of a headstock!

JoePass77.jpg
I am surprised you didn't sell it. Once I see something I don't like there is no recovery for me. Off to the Bay or Verb it goes.

Well, I don't need the money.
I've not used eBay since about 2007 or 2008.
I've never used Reverb.
No one here has ever made me an offer for it.
It doesn't have to be fed or watered.

redman · Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:22 pm

I have no experience with either of the Epi's but here are two alternatives that I know are absolutely fine 335 copies first is the Wolf/AIO KSA50 ($429)

https://www.allinoneguitars.com/product ... -dark-blue

the other is the Ibanez Custom AS 103 they are out of production but you can readily find them used on reverb around $1000

This one is listed for $900 https://reverb.com/item/46470942-ibanez ... 12-natural

Both are really great guitars and, in my opinion, both are superior to the Epi Dot the only Epi 335 style I've played I sold my Wolf to my writing and recording buddy and have regretted it ever since and he likes it so much he won't even talk about selling it back to me.

Tonray's Ghost · Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:44 pm

Then of course for mini hum goodness there are these:

Tokai: $450

Clipboard01.png

Epiphone: $650

Clipboard02.png

I might believe the extra $200 bucks is worth it for the Epi ProBuckers but the Tokai seems to hold it's own in reviews/demos

BatUtilityBelt · Mon Nov 22, 2021 8:51 pm

I don't know about MIC Tokais, but I would happily trade my Epiphone for another MIJ Tokai of any model.

Perfect Stranger · Wed Dec 01, 2021 3:21 pm

You may want to try out the Epi 339 with P'90's. Mine is definitely a keeper after I put my touches to it.

Partscaster · Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:24 pm

Perfect Stranger wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 3:21 pm You may want to try out the Epi 339 with P'90's. Mine is definitely a keeper after I put my touches to it.

That sounds good.