If you think the Standard can get you where you need to, then go for it. Maybe it's the 32 years it's had to be broken in, maybe it's just a better guitar? Maybe it's built to age better than a standard Epiphone? Maybe it's all in my head? I hate speaking in indefinite and unmeasurable terms, but the Japanese made one just has something about it that feels superior. However, right off the rip, my Japanese one does feel like a much more substantial and well-built instrument. The Chinese made ones are fine, and can probably get you in the ballpark you need to be in, and with some work (ie pickups and tuners) can be great guitars. I can't speak for the Casino, but I've played newer Chinese-made Sheratons, and I own an older stock Japanese-made Sheraton, which could probably be viewed as equivalent to an Elitist-type Epiphone. Of course, just used you get a discount, but less. A guitar that's been properly repaired will play as good as one that's never needed to be repaired, so you'll be very happy if you find a good seller who's selling them repaired. Most of them are refurbished guitars, and for some reason a lot of them have Seymour Duncan P90s, but don't let this deter you, because the Seymour Duncan P90s are as good if not better in some cases than the Gibson ones, so you should be good. It's THE marketplace for used gear sales, and I see Elitists on there all the time for as low as $1000. You can buy the standard, and upgrade it gradually later, and then you'll have a great guitar, but the Elitist is a step above anything else right from the get go.Ĭheck out if you haven't already. The Casino Standard is good, but the Elitist is perfection. The Pickups (US Made P90s) were gorgeous sounding, the neck was thin, smooth, and fast, the finish was flawless, and the moment I plugged it into a Vox amp I immediately ran through all the Beatles songs I knew, and it nails it.Įverybody else will say this, but I need to say it myself. The Elitist Casino is one of the finest guitars currently in production. I've played some of the Standards, fine guitars, pickups sound good, some of the best guitars Epi makes out of China, if you ask me (so long as you check them all out before you buy for QC issues), but the Elitist is like a whole different ballgame.

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