Guitar advice...

Show off and geek out!

Moderators: sunny, BzaInSpace, runcible, spzretent

Post Reply
Laz69
Known user
Posts: 2631
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:09 am
Location: Scotland
Contact:

Guitar advice...

Post by Laz69 »

Looking for a little bit of advice from some of the guitar players on here. I'm thinking of getting a new guitar soon(ish) and have been looking at a few different ones, but i've not had a chance to go try and FEEL the ones i've been looking at. So i'm looking for any info from anyone who may have used or tried the ones i'm looking at.

I previously had a few guitars; Les Paul copy, Strat and most recently a Epiphone 355 Dot which was a surprise Xmas pressie from Mrs Laz a few years ago. Unfortunately, i had to sell it when we hit the financial skids a few years ago, which broke my heart as i loved that guitar and its sound. Sentimentally, it was difficult too, but needs must.

Anyways, i've been looking at a couple that i like:

Epiphone Casino
Epiphone Riviera Custom Royale P93

I had a look at the Epiphone 355s that are commonly available just now, but i really don't like the look of them now. The new "worn" finishes are not a patch on the one i previously had and i've found it difficult to locate one similar to what i had online or locally, hence why i've been looking at the above 2. I'm also trying to limit myself with what i eventually spend and have located both the above for no more than £350-400, so thats prob about my limit too.

So, i suppose the burning questions are:

Has anyone played the above guitars?
Any major differences between them and a 355?
Do the above two have larger bodies than the 355? (not something i can find info on, but they APPEAR to be larger...)
Anyone got any horror stories/bad experiences with the above guitars?
Anything else i should be aware of?

I know, ultimately, i'll be best to get my hands on them before i do decide, but any advice/experience that anyone can pass on would be appreciated...
Sim
Known user
Posts: 397
Joined: Wed Jun 23, 2004 2:15 am
Location: East Anglia, UK

Re: Guitar advice...

Post by Sim »

I don't have any experience with 355s or the Casino or Riviera but I think the Casino is fully hollow (if that makes sense) whereas, as far as I'm aware, the 355 and Riviera are semi-hollow (hollow wings with solid centre block) - not sure if that makes any difference to you?

I was looking for a 335-alike recently and considered the Epi dot, and Sheraton. But then I found an Ibanez AS93 from their Artcore series (horrible name). Now I'm normally pretty conservative when it comes to finishes on my guitars but for some reason the blue burst (http://www.ibanez.com/HollowBodyGuitars/model-AS93) just called out to me...

Not played it in completely yet and am still messing around with getting it set up just how I like it, but so far really enjoying it. My first non-solid e-guitar so I don't really have enough experience to compare it to anything else.

So it might be worth investigating the Ibanez range as well as Epi, I normally associated them with horrible pointy metal type guitars but really happy with this particular semi.
____________________________________________________
http://spiritualized-discography.com
TheWarmth
Known user
Posts: 3959
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am
Location: Chicago, IL
Contact:

Re: Guitar advice...

Post by TheWarmth »

I had an Epiphone Casino for awhile (probably 7 or 8 years ago) and thought it sounded good and played well. I had issues with the pick-up selector failing, though, and I think that in order to keep those guitars at the price point that they're set at, they have to cut some corners. I'd recommend that you go play some in a store if you can.
jimgraboid
New user
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Sep 25, 2011 5:30 am

Re: Guitar advice...

Post by jimgraboid »

Greetings,

I am pretty sure a riviera is the same guitar as a casino except with 3 p90's and a bigsby. Both guitars are hollowbody, a 335 is semihollow. I have owned a korean made casino for about a year and reallly love the neck (something i wasnt expecting) and the way it takes compression, it brings out this great usable woody tone. I had never played hollowbodies because they are really kinda jazz boxes, and i dont play jazz, but I dont see me letting the casino go any time soon. I still play my paul and my univox tho, just not as much...


hope i was helpful
Laz69
Known user
Posts: 2631
Joined: Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:09 am
Location: Scotland
Contact:

Re: Guitar advice...

Post by Laz69 »

I appreciate the feedback (no pun intended). Not sure when i'll be able to take the plunge just yet, but i'm going to try and get into the local music shops at some point to see if they have any of these in stock to try out.

Hope its sooner rather than later...
Post Reply