 1966:
1965
Epiphone E230TD Casino (hollow-body f-hole electric, sunburst finish,
stock trapeze tailpiece); Serial #328393. Purchased early in the
year, the Casino was first used in April for
the Revolver sessions, and first played
live on 1 May 1966 at the New Musical Express Annual Poll-Winners' All-Star
Concert, Wembley (right). This guitar served as Lennon's main
guitar from then on, including the '66 tours, when I saw it at Shea Stadium.
The Gibson/ Epiphone website describes the Casinos
as having "the same basic body dimensions and construction of the commonly
recognized Gibson ES-335 [actually, the 330], the Epiphone Riviera and
the Epiphone Sheraton. However, unlike the 335-style [sic] body, which
features a solid-center block, the Casino is completely hollow. Additionally,
older Casinos featured a 17-degree (as opposed to a 14-degree) headstock
and a neck joint at the 16th (as opposed to the 17th) fret. This creates
more string tension and when combined with the thin, hollow body produces
a very unique sound." In '67, when the other Beatles were painting
their guitars, Lennon sprayed the back of this guitar (body and neck) with
white and gray paint (below), leaving the sunburst finish on front but
removing the pickguard. 
In the spring or summer of '68 Lennon had his Casino professionally
sanded to a natural finish, as did Harrison, the better to improve the
tone. After that it appeared on the "Revolution" video, at the Apple
rooftop performance (left), the Live Peace in Toronto concert, and the
Rock 'n' Roll Circus show, the only further change
being the replacement of the stock Kluson tuning pegs with gold Grover
tuners. This guitar is owned by the Lennon Estate and has
been displayed at the Lennon Museum in Japan.
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