US- and Japanese-made versions of Lennon's Casino, both finished (the '65) and stripped (the 'Revolution' guitar), are available, while the model's significance was marked by the 50th Anniversary model in 2011. The model was subsequently resurrected in Japan in the late 70s, before making a huge comeback as a reissue in the mid 90s, thanks to Weller and Oasis. That year also marked the end of the first run of US- made Casinos. While Beatle George later moved on to a red Les Paul and a beautiful rosewood Telecaster, Lennon had the finish stripped from his Casino, and used it right up to the break-up of The Beatles in 1970.
Ease of playability is legendary thanks to slim necks, fattish frets and low actions. The Beatles connection is a huge part of the appeal of the Casino, but the bright chime of those P90s is crucial, too. Like the ES-330, 60s Casinos had fully hollow, five-ply laminated birch and maple bodies - they don't have a centre block like a Gibson ES-335 or Epiphone Sheraton - and a pair of singlecoil P90 pickups.
