Epiphone Casino Labels
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Epiphone used over the years (1931-1957) five different labels for their achtop guitars. According to Wiedler, the Oval label runs from c. 5000 to c. 7400, the Long Island label from c. 7400 to c. 10500, the Rectangular Masterbilt label from c. 10500 to c. 15400, the Green label from c. 15400 to c. 20300. The Blue label starts with a new serial number system from 50000 to c. 69700.
The Epiphone range of the 1960s closely followed the Gibson guitars of the same time; they were both made in the same fatory in Kalamazoo. The Casino corresponds to the Gibson ES330 having the same dimensions and construction, but with different headstock shape and tailpiece.
The Casino Story For the Epiphone Company of 1961, the Casino was a small breakthrough. After the merger with Gibson in 1957, Epiphone no longer made jazz archtops. A new era of music had arrived. Epiphone has made a name for itself by producing some of the greatest and most innovative musical instruments for over 135 years. The Aria Epiphone Japan models that were made by Matsumoku from the early 1970s and ending before 1987 do not have a reliable serial numbering system but can be approximately dated using their Epiphone label colours. 1971-1975 - Blue label - Early models say 'Union Made' 1976-1979 - Tan or white 'Lincolnwood' label with Norlin logo. First released in 1961, the Casino is arguably Epiphone's most well-known model. While the thinline Casino (and the nearly identical Gibson ES-330) bear a close resemblance to the Gibson ES-335 model, they have a few major differences that contribute to their significantly different sound. Welcome to a Tuesday Gearday review her at SCHOPFIELD MUSIC!!!!This Week, Napoleon is reviewing his 2018 Epiphone Casino! A great Hollow Body guitar with P.
“The blue label was introduced when Epiphone changed their serial number system for acoustic instruments in c. 1943, replacing the green label at the occasion. Note that the guarantee claim of earlier labels is no longer present on the blue label. The reason for this change is not known – possibly it was related to restructuring measures after the untimely death of company president Epi Stathopoulo on June 6, 1943. The new numbering system appears to have started with SN 50000 (the highest documented number of the old system being SN 20301).” (Wiedler: Close-up # 2)
NOTE : Epiphone named their archtops Masterbilt. However, the Long Island labels read Masterbuilt.
References :
Felix Wiedler, NY Epi Reg
Jim Fisch & L.B. Fred, The House of Stathopoulo, 1996, p. 67
Oval label
Long Island label
Rectangular Masterbilt label
Green label
Blue label
When a guitar was later repaired or refurbished at the factory, Epiphone often applied a newer type label with the old s/n typed in. “Although this is speculation: We believe such “untypical” labels were applied when an instrument went back to the Epiphone factory for a repair or refurbish. In the 1939–1943 period replacement labels (with typed SN) are always of the older “Masterbilt” type. But why that? Possibly Epiphone just forgot to produce green labels with “blank” SN, so kept using old stock.” (Wiedler : close-up # 12)
Newer Rectangular Masterbilt label – Old s/n
Newer Blue label – Old s/n
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Very unusual is the label of Olympic Plectrum 16243 – a typed Masterbilt label stuck on top of a green label. SN 16243 is the only example known so far which shows a replacement label glued on top of the original one. It would be quite interesting to see what model name was typed on the green label. (Wiedler : close-up # 12)
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Except for the Oval label, all labels have the model name typed on the label in capitals. The Blue label however has occasionally the model name typed in small letters or a combination of both.
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NOTE: One often notices direct below the label a curved pencilled line, maybe to indicate where the label should be placed. This practice seems to start with the use of the Long Island label and ended at c. s/n 50.000.
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August 2015 Wiedler wrote us:
“Talking about that pencil line, I am pretty sure it was done by running a pencil along the f-hole, serving as a positioning guide to glue the label in. I noticed that the pencil line was still used on Spartan 50440. Shortly after 50440 the line was discontinued and they started positioning the label at a different angle: More parallel to the rim than to the f-hole.”