Epiphone Releases Limited-Edition 50th Anniversary 1961 Casino Guitar

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its first release in 1961, the Epiphone Casino has been the instrument of choice for guitar greats, from Paul McCartney, Keith Richards, Paul Weller and Dwight Yoakam, to today's hottest artists like Miranda Lambert and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum.  Now, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first 1961 Casino, Epiphone is proud to announce the new, limited-edition 1961 Anniversary Casino, which has many features that were discontinued after the original Casino's first year of production. Celebrating 50 years of rockin' out, Epiphone has produced a total of only 1,961 Anniversary Casinos, each with a numbered Certificate of Authenticity – a quality that enhances the guitar's appeal and collectability.  The exclusive Epiphone 1961 Anniversary Casino is available beginning in July 2011 at authorized Epiphone retailers worldwide for the U.S. MSRP of $1,332 (trapeze tailpiece) and $1,415 (Tremotone™), while supplies last.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110718/NY34128 )

"Arguably our most famous model, the Epiphone Casino has embodied everything rock 'n' roll for 50 years," said Jim Rosenberg, President of Epiphone. "The release of the 1961 Anniversary Edition delivers the classic performance of the original, along with the details that made this groundbreaking axe the choice of some of music's guitar legends. We're proud to offer musicians the opportunity to once again experience what makes one of Epiphone's most versatile guitars so special."

Classic Vintage Styling and Unique Features

Introduced in 1961, the original Casino had a combination of unique features that ultimately were never offered beyond that first year. These include the triangle metal logo badge on the headstock, "Dot" fingerboard inlays, a blank two-ply "bullet" trussrod cover, a tortoise-colored pickguard with foil "E", and black dog-ear P-90 pickups. Epiphone has faithfully reproduced these features for a one-of-a-kind retro look not found on Casinos produced after 1961. Other features include the correct "burst" patterns on front and back, a neck joint at the 16th fret (instead of the 17th), Wilkinson™ vintage-style tuners with small plastic buttons, and the historically accurate rectangle "blue label" inside the sound hole.

Original Premium Electronics

No detail of the original 1961 Casino has been missed. Epiphone has recreated the original U.S.A. made black P90s, which offer a stellar combination of high output and biting treble response. They also feature vintage two-conductor, braided, shielded wiring and black plastic covers. Other electronics faithful to the original Casino include a Switchcraft™ 3-way toggle and 1/4" output jack.

Quality Construction, Hardware and Add-ons

The Casino is completely hollow, which contributes to its unique, signature sound made most famous by The Beatles. The body is made of five-layer Maple/Birch with a solid Mahogany SlimTaper™ neck, attached using the traditional mortise and tenon neck joint, hand-fitted and glued to the body. Hardware includes a tune-o-matic bridge and the choice of either a Trapeze tailpiece or Epiphone's new reissue of the original Tremotone™ vibrato. Each 1961 Casino also features an original-style hard case with gray exterior and blue plush interior.

The Story of the Casino

For the Epiphone Company of 1961, the Casino was an ideal guitar for stage and studio and can be heard on many landmark recordings of the 20th Century, including The Beatles' "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" and The Beach Boy's "Pet Sounds." By 1964, the Beatles were stars and when Paul McCartney went shopping for a new guitar, he reached for a Casino. John Lennon and George Harrison soon bought their own and used their Casinos on stage and at Abbey Road throughout the band's career. Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Paul Weller of the Jam, and Noel Gallagher of Oasis are just a few of the players who made great records with Casinos. In 1961 the Casino sold for about $300. Today these original pieces can be valued up to $15,000.

About Epiphone

Epiphone fretted instruments, amplifiers, strings and accessories are known worldwide for offering the best combination of quality, performance and value. One of Gibson's most formidable competitors through the first half of the 20th century, Epiphone was acquired by Gibson Guitar in 1957. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Epiphone is part of the Gibson family of brands. For more information on Epiphone, go to www.epiphone.com.  Follow Epiphone on Twitter at www.twitter.com/epiphone or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/officialepiphone.

SOURCE Epiphone