Ease of playability is legendary thanks to slim necks, fattish frets and low actions. The Beatles connection is a huge part of the appeal of the Casino, but the bright chime of those P90s is crucial, too.

So in summary, these new 2nds seem to get about a 10-15% discount off regular new Casinos.Like the ES-330, 60s Casinos had fully hollow, five-ply laminated birch and maple bodies - they don't have a centre block like a Gibson ES-335 or Epiphone Sheraton - and a pair of singlecoil P90 pickups. Price comparison for the Japanese market based on the lowest prices of other Casios on Rakuten right now:Ī 1961 reissue (not 2nd) with tremotone: Y72,000 (~$900)Īnother 1961 reissue factory 2nd, but without tremotone: Y57,000 (~$715)Ī1961 reissue (not 2nd), no tremotone: Y68,000 (~$850)] The Internet seems divided on this topic and I can't find many used 2nds for sale. But I'm getting close to 20 guitars now, and I have to accept that they can't all be keepers, so I have to consider this kind of thing.

How much would you say the resale value of a guitar - an Epiphone, specifically - is affected by a '2' or 'second' (ie 'factory second') stamp on the back of the headstock? Personally, I don't mind owning a factory second, even if it's a visible defect (and I understand most 2nds don't have any noticable problems). They come with the regular accessories, warranty registration card, etc. Epiphone states that factory 2nds are identical to regular guitars apart from having some minor cosmetic defect that doesn't affect playability. It's a factory second with the '2nd' stamp on the back of the headstock. I'm not dead set on the 1961 reissue over the regular one, but I do quite like the look of it (headstock, scratch plate, old-style logo), the Gibson USA pickups & tremotone are nice, and it seems to be better-regarded than the regular Casinos. It's one of the 50th anniversary 1961 reissues, with the tremotone option. I've been looking at this one for the past few days:

I have a serious hankering for a Casio lately.

1961 epiphone casino reissue