1967 Epiphone Casino Cherry Red

1. 1967 Epiphone Casino Cherry Red River
2. 1967 Epiphone Casino Cherry Red Hot

Happy to present this near-mint all-original 1967 Epiphone Casino, with tremendous-looking first-year cherry finish, which hasn’t faded at all. The guitar is in amazing condition, and only some minor checking upon close inspection can give it away as a vintage piece! The two P90’s sound lovely. Here's a fantastic 100% original 1967 Epiphone Casino at a poptastic price. Stunning and quite rare cherry red finish, double strong sounding P-90's and Epiphone's cool vibrato system make this a real head turner and a joy to play. I cannot see a single thing that has been changed or altered since it left the Kalamazoo factory in 1967. A short video on me, checking sound of this elegant beauty, EPIPHONE Casino (Made in China 2010). Thank you for watching!

Epiphone guitar production had already been at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant for five years when Howard Roberts' first signature model was launched, towards the end of 1964. Only ten instruments were shipped that first year, and the model was too late to make the 1964 Epiphone guitars, basses amplifiers catalogue. In September 1964, the Howard Roberts model was listed at $295 for a Sunburst model, or $315 for Natural. These two guitars were initially given model codes HR-S and HR-N, though these would change to HR-SE and HR-NE by July 1965, when fully acoustic versions were launched, and now given the model codes HR-S and HR-N. Oddly, the standard description for Sunburst Epiphones was 'Shaded' however early publicity material uses Gibson's 'Sunburst'. Same finish, just a different name. In fact the 1965 price list also includes the HR-C - a new acoustic model the Howard Roberts Custom.

The Howard Roberts electric models were fitted with a single 'jazz' humbucker at the neck position. This pickup was not mounted into the guitars top, rather was attached to the side of the neck, in the same manor as the Gibson Johnny Smith - it was actually the same pickup, though without the gold cover - in order not to interfere with the natural resonance of the guitars top when played.

1966 full line catalogue
Today the electric Spanish guitar is found everywhere... orchestras, combos, jazz bands and as a featured solo instrument. Epiphone electric Spanish guitars suit the need of every player, from the top professional, to the semi-pro, to the amateur

The electric version of the Custom, HR-CE, was first pictured in the 1966 Epiphone catalogue, and first listed in the October '66 price list, with a tag of $650 - compared to $455 for the standard Howard Roberts model - placing it in the same ball park as the Epiphone Sheraton, which was listed at $625-$695 depending on precise specifications. It was broadly similar to the existing model, but with more elaborate ornamentation and an ebony fretboard. The headstock featured the Epiphone 'tree-of-life' design, as opposed to the old Epiphone 'oval'.

Like most Epiphones with a Shaded finish, the Howard Roberts model had deep brown walnut-stained back and sides - however, and quite unusually, this was also the case for the HR-N/HR-NE (natural top).

The Epiphone Howard Roberts was only shipped until 1969, however shipping records suggest a very small number were shipped as with Gibson branding in 1970. Jump forward to 1974 and the Howard Roberts was again available, and again with Gibson on the headstock - see the Gibson Howard Roberts.

Epiphone Howard shipping statistics

Shipping figures for the Epiphone Howard Roberts are available for acoustic and (partially) electric models; the Howard Roberts Custom HR-CE figures are not available.

Epiphone Howard Roberts original advertising

Electric guitar advertisements originally published from 1966 onwards. Click on the images for larger copies. Check out other vintage Epiphone advertisements

Epiphone Howard Roberts - Jazz guitarist Howard Roberts - Color Him Incredible (1966)
1966 advertisement for Epiphone guitars featuring Howard Roberts and his 'funky' style of jazz guitar playing. The image shown is from the the original vinyl cover of Roberts' first album on Capito...
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Epiphone Howard Roberts - Creative Guitar (1967)
This advert from 1967 was posted towards the end of Epiphone's US production; but actually the best year in terms of sales for the two Howard Roberts models. Mr. Roberts is shown (inset) playing hi...
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Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones with his Epiphone in 1964

Paul McCartney playing his right-handed Casino strung lefty in the studio with the Beatles

1961 Casino launched, Tremotone vibrato as standard. The earliest examples, and the guitar shown in this catalogue have dot neck marker inlays and black plastic pickup covers. See the 1961 'guitars, basses, amplifiers' catalogue.

1962 Tremotone now optional. The dot position markers are upgraded to pearl parallelogram inlays, and by late '62 the Casino also had nickel pickup covers. See the example pictured in the 1962 'guitars, basses, amplifiers' catalogue

1962 US prices are as follows:
single pickup E230T $230; dual pickup E230TD $275; with tremotone vibrato E230TV $269.50; E230TDV $314.50

1963 1963 US prices are as follows:
E230T $230; E230TD $275; E230TV $269.50; E230TDV $314.50

1964 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones aquired a 1962 Epiphone Casino in May, shortly before the first US tour. His Casino is an early model with black plastic pickup covers and Tremotone vibrola, but with the prallelogram inlays; E230TDV.

It was a great guitar for studio work and clubs. But once we got into theatres and bigger gigs. I found the the feedback and howl of these Epiphones uncontrollable, and I started to go for solidbodies, like the Les Paul

See the 1964 full line catalogue

1964 US prices are as follows:
E230T $260; E230TD $310; E230TV $299.50; E230TDV $349.50

1965 George Harrison and John Lennon are given Epiphone Casinos

1965 US prices are unchanged from 1964:
E230T $260; E230TD $310; E230TV $299.50; E230TDV $349.50

1966 See the Epiphone Casino in the 1966 Epiphone catalogue

In late 1966 Cherry finish was listed as available for order on two pickup Casinos, at $15 extra
1966 US prices are as follows - note the single pickup vibrato model is no longer listed, with the last shipping in 1967:
E230T $285; E230TD/E230TDC $335/350; E230TDV/E230TDVC $375/390

1967 Cherry finished Casinos shipped for the first time. 1967 price lists now list Cherry and Sunburst finishes at the same price.

Peak production of over 1800 instruments shipped.

1967 US prices:
E230T $295; E230TD/E230TDC $365; E230TDV/E230TDVC $395

1968 The single pickup Casino is no longer listed in price lists, and the final 6 are shipped this year.

1968 US prices:
E230TD/E230TDC $395; E230TDV/E230TDVC $425

1969 Lowest number of instruments shipped since the models launch in 1961 - the Casino was discontinued

Norlin took over ownership of CMI (and Epiphone) in December, moving production to Japan.

1976 The reissue Epiphone Casino was first advertised in Japan as early as 1976

1982 Reissue available in Antique Sunburst and Wine Red finishes. Japanese made

1967 Epiphone Casino Cherry Red River

1967 Epiphone Casino Cherry Red Hot

1997 Current reissue available in Cherry, Ebony, Natural and Cherry Sunburst. Korean made

1999 Two John Lennon signature models released - the 1965 Casino - based on Lennon's original guitars, and the Revolution Casino - based on the same guitar Lennon stripped fin the late 1960s

2003 Current reissue Elitist Casino - available in Vintage Sunburst and natural

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