I might be nuts, but that's usually what I hear from these. Unlike the plastic-covered P90 pickups, these metal-covered ones seem to have a slight scoop in the lower-mids and perhaps a teensy bit in the highs, which gives the impression that they don't push the amp quite as soon as the plastic-covered ones. The pickups have an aggressive, punchy, midsy quality to them that's just a hair snarly in the bridge and more-relaxed at the neck. The neck is slim, quick, and comfy - very much like the period guitars it apes - and stable, too.

While this makes it handle a little more like a semihollow guitar, the 'vibe' is still like playing a hollowbody - tone is more fundamental and round - though the block helps to deal with unwanted feedback and does increase sustain and stability a little over old, fully-hollow models. It's also theoretically a hollowbody guitar but, like some Gretsch models, it has a smaller 'soundpost' block of roughly 2x2' wood in the center of the guitar that couples the top to the back. This, of course, has a thicker poly-style finish rather than thin nitro. That said, they depart from vintage specs in the minor details.

They're really close to the build quality of the US-made modern repros built at the Gibson factory.

These are Indonesian-made and higher-spec and you can tell right away. They're slightly different in some ways, but the overall experience is a million times closer to playing 'the real thing' than the lower-rung Chinese-made Epiphone Casino copies. This guy's in 'original' sunburst, gloss finish as opposed to the 'refinished' natural/satin of the other model.īoth are quality guitars and have the cut, feel, heft, and handling of the original '60s models. This is number two of a pair of Epiphone 'Inspired by John Lennon' Casinos that're in the shop for consignment.

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