Looking for a new life companion

I'm looking to buy my last new guitar. One that I can stick to for the long run.

So I fell in love with a 1978 semi hollow body epiphone casino, bright red and absolutely beautiful. The only issue is with the body. My current guitar is a 2004 Fender Telecaster, solid body. I really like fenders, but this epiphone had me at hello. So I'm just wondering, what are the major differences between hollow and solid body guitars? I'm used to always using a solid body, not to mention I'm not the biggest fella and I've heard that some semi-acoustics are quite a bit larger than solids, I haven't seen this as much a problem, but I don't know. Also, what are your opinions on casinos? This is the first of its kind I've come across, so I know pretty much nothing about them.

Should I get this guitar? Or stick to fender, perhaps a highway one strat. I'm torn. It's about $600 so I really want to make sure it's the right pick.


This is the beaut I'm looking at.

And this is for alternative rock type music. Strokes/Libertines style.

Providing you know how to set up an amp, you will get a 'clearer' tone out of your telecaster. But keep in mind if you haven't played other guitars, that a Telecaster's tone is very unique. A telecaster has single coil pickups, which are generally much clearer, but have less 'umph.' A hollow-body (especially with humbuckers) will give you a fuller sound, but not as much clarity.

I own both a Strat and a Tele, but I bought them both because they were good deals. I like them both, and I'm not sure which I like more. For some things I like the Telecaster, and for some things I like the Strat. You can get Strat's with a humbucker and two single coils, or 3 single coils.

Is this really a guitar from 1978, I don't know much on the history of these. If you think it's a once in a life time deal, then get it. If you like the guitar, then get it.

Just keep in mind that a good tube amp can improve your sound much more than a guitar...

Also keep in mind, there's better deals out there. Do you want to know how much I paid for my Mexican Telecaster?

$80 After very little work, it looks entirely new.

If you're in the market for a new guitar, don't count Craigslist and Ebay out (mainly Craigslist.)

I'll do some research on this guitar (providing it was made in '78 and not a reissue) and get back to you.

EDIT: Don't let my humbucker / single-coil thing scare you, you can make humbuckers fit in single coil positions and vice-versa if you wanted.

EDIT2: Also, that guitar will probably be no thicker than your Telecaster.

EDIT3 People seem to think that 70's Casinos are NOT well made guitars.

I don't know the specific guitar, but they don't seem to be very collectable, it's pretty expensive, and you can get Epiphone Dot (pretty much same guitar) for 3-4 hundred. And if those reviews are true, it doesn't seem to be a good guitar.

But again, don't let anyone tell you what to do, it's your money.

Don't get me wrong, I like my telecaster. But I'm looking for something with better pickups and a little less of the 'twang' which is why I'm stuck between this casino and a strat. It is an actual 1978 issue its in excellent condition for being that old... and well, I haven't gotten a change to try it out, but the sound of the casinos (from what I've listened to) are pretty good, though I'm not sure when it comes to alt. rock.

Definitely going to go for the tube amp, though. I haven't had an amp in over a year now, anyways so getting on is high on my list of priorities. To be honest, though, I'm pretty weary of somewhere like craigslist, though to an expensive guitar. Ebay, however, I'd be willing to work with.

Oh, I just read your edits, thanks, bud. I think I'll head over to the local shoppe and get my hands on a few other models before setting my mind on this one. I definitely like the style, though.

Yeah, I'd try playing a Dot or a Dot Studio, then go play the other. Most likely you'll find that the better guitar is the one that's half the price, but I'm not sure.

With a Stratocaster, you're basically getting a Tele without twang, and a bit more pickup combinations.

Also, I wouldn't worry too much about a guitar being good for a genre. Rarely are guitars good for one genre, and bad for another. Some guitars may be favored for some genres, but generally everything is pretty versatile. Even amps don't make that much of a difference if EQ'd properly. Unless you're playing metal, you pretty much don't have to worry about things like that.

But above all, as you said, go to a music shop and play as many guitars / amps as you can.