john lennon epiphone casino reissue manufacture dates

As I have gleaned most of this information from various sources online, it may not be 100% accurate, but relatively close. The Japanese certificate for this model states a contemporary serial number of 66714, which indicates a 1996 build date (first number 6) and special order designation (second number 6). (It is possible that these reissues began with the latter number and progressed numerically, though I have seen no other label to compare it to).

This 64 model sports only a replica vintage blue label and the serial number 84109, which is close to the McCartney Casino number of 84075. The endorsed Lennon models sported a vintage accurate blue label with the actual serial number of his instrument (also stamped on the back of the headstock), and also a white limited edition label indicating the model and limited edition number. As any negotiations between McCartney and Gibson regarding a McCartney model Casino rapidly dissolved, this scarce earlier iteration is the only available alternative (except of course an actual vintage instrument). With the endorsement of the Lennon estate and Yoko Ono, the two Lennon models were issued worldwide a few years later in numbered limited editions of 1965 instruments each. The 62 to 64 model Casino differs primarily from later models by its headstock shape, which is shorter and very similar to a Gibson open-book headstock.

This model was a replica of Paul McCartney's sunburst Casino (manufactured in late 1962 and purchased by McCartney in 1964) with its added Bigsby vibrato. Research indicates that this model was briefly available as a special order (or as part of a limited run) from a Beatles-themed store in Japan (via Yamano Music, Gibson's Japanese distributor) along with two other limited editions based on John Lennon's original 1965 Casino (either stock sunburst or 'Revolution' natural). I am selling an extremely rare Epiphone Casino 64 reissue built in Japan at the Terada factory in 1996.

John lennon epiphone casino reissue manufacture dates