A full hollowbody with P-90s generates the chimey tones from Revolver to Let it Be.

You'll love the light weight and comfortable neck of the Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino. The Elite series are instruments that approach custom shop perfection. Crafted with premium woods, fitted with American pickups and circuitry—-even American-made toggle switches and Grover tuners-they're made at a special factory devoted to their manufacture where they receive a high degree of hands-on luthier attention. You'll find the Elite 1965 Casino true to the original made famous by The Beatles. A finely crafted, great-sounding, and easy-playing instrument that beautifully blurs the line between Epiphone and Gibson. Includes hardshell case.

Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino Features:

• 5-ply maple back, sides, and top
• One-piece mahogany neck
• 24-3/4" scale
• Neck set at the 16th fret
• Rosewood fretboard
• Bone nut, 1-5/8"
• 22 frets
• P90 USA single coil rhythm pickup
• P90 USA single coil reverse treble pickup
• Nickel hardware
• 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way toggle
• Grover tuners

Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino Includes:

• Epiphone hardshell case

You may love your guitar but you'll love this one more. Step up to an Epiphone Elite today.

Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino

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Average of 31 User Ratings

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A Better 330 for a Thousand Less

Posted by Crazy Horse from Boise, ID on Aug 4, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist

Reviewer's Play Style: Garage Rock

I love this guitar. I've got the natural finish and put a Bigsby on it. My brother has an original Gibson 330 (the reissues have the Memphis Tone Circutry). We a/b'd them and could not tell the difference sonically. I've got two Gibson Les Pauls and the finish on this guitar is on par with them. Even though it's a laquer finish, it is very fine, not sticky or gummy (like some Fender laquer finishes).

The pick-ups sound like real p-90's (not muddy like some other Epiphone p-90's). They are equal distances from the strings, therefore the bridge pick-up does have a slightly lower volume than the neck pick-up. You can either compensate with the volume knobs; use the volume difference to your benefit; or put a couple of small washers underneath the rear pick-up to raise it closer to the strings.

A 330 reissue will cost you $2499. Buy this and use the remainder towards a good tube amp. You won't regret it.

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simply the best

Posted by man with eyes closed from milwaukee on May 23, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: active musician

Reviewer's Play Style: rock-blues

This guitar is a dream. I've had the casino for a couple of months now and it has not let me down in any way. I play in a band eight days a week, grouling out rock standers like "long tall sally" and "good golly miss molly" and the casino is right by my side for every number. So if your looking to buy this guitar, DO IT! its worth every penny!

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Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino

Posted by dtop from Los Angeles on Mar 15, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Folk, Classical

I bought this excellent guitar from MF 2 years ago and try as I might, I still have not been able to find a flaw on it. The quality of this instrument even surpasses that of my USA Hamer. The thin rounded neck is the most comfortable one I have found for my rather small hands. Sounds excellent on a clean setting all the way to fairly heavy distortion on my old Fender Superchamp or my son's Mesa Boogie. I have found feedback with distortion is only a problem with certain amps and speaker combinations. Beyond the desire for variety, only two things cause me to need to play my other guitars: It is difficult to reach beyond the 19th fret (thus the 4.5 on features) and there is not enough sustain for certain kinds of solos. If you are a detail oriented, anal retentive type of person you will find that there is a tremendous difference in craftmenship between the Elitist Casino and the regular Casino and for you the Elitist will be worth twice the price. If you are considering a hollowbody electric, check out the Elitist Casino. It is an outstanding guitar.

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My new Favorite Guitar

Posted by Robster from Kansas City on Jan 27, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Seasoned Professional

Reviewer's Play Style: Progressive and Classic Rock

I own many guitars, including Gibson Custom Shop guitars, and this one is NICER than ANY of my Gibson CS's. I never thought I would hear myself say this, but my new favorite guitar is an Epiphone! LOL Actually, It's an Epi Elitist, which is in a category all to itself. This guitar (I have the one in Natural finish) has completely enchanted me with its unbelievable playability and the attention to detail on the neck - fretwork is unbelieveable, the best crowning and polishing I've ever seen on a guitar right out of the case. It is perfectly balanced, and stays in tune for days. I do recommend getting some straplocks right away - you don't want this beauty to take a dive! I especially love that it was made to real 1965 Kalamazoo specs - the 14 degree headstock tilt, the body/neck joined at the 16th fret, the real abalone and Mother of Pearl inlays, it's really quite stunning. I find myself playing so much more now that I own this guitar - it's like falling in love with playing guitar all over again. Spend the money - buy this guitar!!!

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A great guitar

Posted by Dandy from Denver, CO. on Nov 9, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Hobbyists

Reviewer's Play Style: Gospel & Rock

I just bought a 1965 Casino Elitist and I am happy I decided to make the purchase. The finish is perfect, workmanship supreme, and the tone is amazing. I play rhythm guitar and I wanted a guitar that has warm clean. The pickups are great sounding. The neck and overall feel is great.

I own a Larrivée D-3R ,Fender American Standard HSS Stratocaster and now a Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino. My favorite acoustic guitar is my Larrivée D-3R, which sounds as good as my friends 1970 Martin D-28. My Elitist 1965 Casino now is my favorite electric guitar. The way it is going it will replace my Larrivée as my number one guitar.

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Epiphone Elitist 1965 Casino

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$1,499.00

MSRP: $2,498.00 Savings: $999.00(39%)

Finance Now for $150/mo.

Select Color/Option Here ... Natural...$1499.00 Vintage Sunburst...$1499.00

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