Epi Casino USA Collection

The appearance and pickups look good. I wonder if they do any justice to the Kalamazoo stuff...

https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPIG...ntage-Sunburst

I think they're good. Who knows about Kalamazoo level? Probably on par with the 335s, and whatever anyone says, Gibson's still making some great sounding ones.

I owned a Casino back in the day (circa 1969) and it was identical to the instrument shown except mine had a Bigsby-style vibrato tail-piece with a walnut trim insert embossed with Epiphone's stylized "E". That re-issue looks pretty damn good (and authentic) to me.

I was and probably still am thinking about one of those as my entry semi-hollow guitar

IMO the Casino (vintage or re-issue) is a little too "upscale" to be regarded as an entry-level instrument. I reserve that genre for guitars like the Musicmaster, Melody Maker, Danelectro, various Harmony and Alamo models, etc. plus the seemingly endless parade of inexpensive imports. John Lennon, Peter Townsend, John Sebastian, and countless other artists laid down many a classic track played on the Casino.

I'm convinced they're going to be very good. I have a "Crafted in China" Casino, seriously great for the mney; It's a fine guitar, basswood, but the USA models are a lot more attractive specs-wise. This particular factory in China is supposed to be several steps ahead of the commonly used Chinese instrument manufacturers.

I'm thinking about sanding mine down to the wood. Is that possible without totally fookin' it up? Most of my guitars are bursts, and it would be nice to make it different.