'Our modern Casino is based on the best vintage models we could find,' said Epiphone President Jim Rosenberg. Today, Epiphone makes Casinos just as they did at the Kalamazoo factory in 60s. And like any great guitar-by design or by accident-it's perfect just the way it is. Whether it was the times or the number of instruments produced, the Casino-a full hollowbody with two P-90s (another Kalamazoo invention)-was destined to be thought of as an Epiphone classic. Though the Casino, first released in 1961, was essentially Epiphone's version of the Gibson ES-330, the Gibson version never caught on with fans. In fact, two Kalamazoo designed guitars-the J-160E out the classic Epiphone John Lennon EJ-160E) and the Epiphone Casino-together share the distinction of being the only two guitars heard on every Beatles recording session.īut over the last decade thanks to a diverse group of artists like Gary Clark Jr., Radiohead, Paul Weller, and Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs, the Epiphone Casino has transcended its Beatle connection and become a must-have for any player's collection. The Epiphone Casino might be the House of Stathopoulo's most iconic instrument thanks to its association with The Beatles.

The long and winding road of a rock maverick