LeftyBassist.com

I'm thinking of buying an Epiphone Casino, a special Southpaw Guitars run.

I've owned a few lefty Epiphone guitars. Half of them winners, some so so, and some terribly made. I was disappointed when I bought a Joe Pass model and it looked like a donut that had been encased in thick layers of transparent sugar. I'll admit though, jazz guitarists with axes infinitely better made and of better quality complimented me on my sound and were surprised that the Epiphone sounded so good. (Had Gibson Classic 57s in it).

I wondered if anyone of you has snagged an Epiphone semi- or full- hollow body in the last few years? Or played one? What's your opinion.

I would have if they had offered any other color besides sunburst. Blech.

I like sunburst and have 6: Les Paul, Hofner, Strat, Tele, Jazz Bass, Ric 330, but I could go for another color on the Casino. I'd rather have a natural translucent tint. That's my fave finish on a 335 too.

I spent an hour playing it. Lookwise, fantastic, absolutely flawless finish. Finish is diff from a Sheraton and Joe Pass I had that were encased in thick layers of the goop. "Crafted in China," the quality control on the outside seems to have been very good. I won't know about the wiring and such unless something fails.

Sound-wise: A great surprise. I thought I'd change pickups first thing, but at this point, they sound good enough to me to keep them. The neck pickup is warm but not at all muddy, treble pup does that great sting that Macca's famous for on Taxman. Sounds good clean or dirty. I wanted something I could play jazz with. P90s aren't bad at all for it.

I was skeptical about the Chinese build. Epi seems to have a dedicated factory there, and they seem to be doing a great job from what I've heard and now seen.

Comfort. It's very comfortable to play. Very easy neck for getting vibrato. Dogs like it too!