Epiphone ETCAWEBNH Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone ETCAWEBNH electric guitar is a rhythm and lead instrument inspired by Epiphone’s legendary semi-hollowbody Casino guitar. First introduced in 1961, the Casino became famous in the hands of The Beatles and other British Invasion bands, and its distinctive hollowbody design produces a warm, resonant tone perfect for a variety of musical genres.

The Epiphone ETCAWEBNH reviewed here offers an affordable take on the historic Casino design, featuring a laminated maple body with a hollow center block, a slim rounded neck with rosewood fretboard, and Epiphone’s P-90 PRO pickups for classic semi-hollow tone. This made-in-China version sticks close to the original formula while bringing costs down, making the Casino vibe more accessible to players on a budget.

With its attractive price point, comfortable feel and versatile sound, the Epiphone ETCAWEBNH presents an intriguing option in the semi-hollow or hollowbody electric market. This review will examine the guitar's construction, hardware, playability and sound to give an overview of its capabilities as an intermediate-level instrument.

Construction

The Epiphone Casino features a hollowbody design consisting of a thinline double-cutaway hollow body made from laminated maple. There are two f-holes on either side of the lower bout to facilitate projection.

The iconic Casino body shape has been used on a variety of Epiphone hollowbody guitars since 1961. The thinline hollowbody construction allows the guitar to deliver the rich, complex tones associated with a fully hollow instrument, while minimizing feedback issues thanks to the smaller body dimensions.

The hollowbody design makes the Casino lightweight compared to solidbody electrics, and gives it a balanced, comfortable feel whether playing seated or with a strap. The smooth contoured body edges and beveled cutaways make the Casino easy to hold and facilitate extended playing sessions without fatigue.

Overall, the thinline hollowbody construction allows the Epiphone Casino to produce a versatile variety of hollowbody tones, while enhancing playability and maintaining feedback resistance. The distinctive body shape is an integral part of the Casino's classic, iconic aesthetic.

The construction of a guitar like the Epiphone Casino involves careful craftsmanship and attention to detail in order to achieve the desired tone and playability. Many steps go into building the hollowbody, from choosing and shaping the maple wood to cutting the f-holes and contours. Hardware and electronics must also be installed with care to preserve the integrity of the hollowbody design.

Meanwhile, other guitars like the Yamaha FG800BL feature a very different construction optimized for their solidbody form. The FG800 uses a solid Sitka spruce top paired with laminated nato back and sides to deliver Yamaha's renowned acoustic tone and projection. The slim neck profile and shorter 24.9" scale length enhance playability and comfort.

The bridge and nut are engineered for ideal intonation, while diecast chrome tuners provide precision tuning stability. The body binding and rosette provide an elegant aesthetic touch. Overall, the FG800BL showcases Yamaha's meticulous attention to detail in crafting an affordable yet high-quality acoustic-electric guitar.

While the Casino and FG800 guitars represent very different forms of construction suited to their respective hollowbody and solidbody designs, they are both built by experienced manufacturers seeking that perfect marriage of great tone, comfortable playability, and visceral appeal. Careful construction and quality components allow these guitars to deliver an inspiring musical experience while lasting for many years of playing enjoyment.

Hardware Stays True to Classic Design

The Epiphone Casino guitar features chrome hardware that stays true to the iconic design of the original Casino models. It has chrome tuner keys, a chrome bridge, and chrome volume and tone knobs.

The tuners are open-geared with a 14:1 ratio for precise and stable tuning. The chrome buttons on the tuners are large and easy to turn.

The guitar uses a chrome Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge with a trapeze tailpiece. This is the same hardware configuration found on classic hollow and semi-hollow electric guitars. It provides solid intonation and sustain.

The volume and tone knobs are also chromed, adding to the shiny old-school vibe. Each knob has a pointer indicator for easy visual reference of settings. The knobs are positioned in line with the bridge for a balanced look.

Overall, the chrome hardware complements the sunburst finish nicely. The shiny parts stand out against the dark laminate while staying faithful to the original Casino design. Players who want a vintage looking and sounding electric guitar will appreciate the hardware details on the Epiphone Casino.

The Epiphone Casino's chrome hardware definitely contributes to its classic aesthetic. Many guitarists prefer the bright glint of chromed parts over more modern black finishes. Visually, the shiny tuners, bridge, and knobs provide a pleasing contrast against the guitar's muted sunburst body.

From a functional standpoint, the chrome hardware is also quite durable. The thick plating resists corrosion and stands up well to regular playing. Guitarists don't have to worry about the hardware tarnishing or wearing over time. The chromed parts should maintain their luster for many years.

Epiphone did an excellent job making sure the Casino's hardware aligns with the original specification. Collectors and vintage guitar enthusiasts appreciate small details like matching the knob shapes and textures found on the very first Casinos. The company took care to recreate the classic look and feel.

Players who find the Casino's chrome hardware appealing may also want to look into the WINZZ ACM-H10-39-V. This guitar features a similar chromed bridge and knobs for a traditional appearance. It also uses open-geared tuners with chrome buttons. The hardware provides both form and function.

Some guitarists prefer gold hardware over chromed parts. Gold has a warmer, more vintage look to some. Brands like Gibson often use gold hardware on higher-end hollow body models. The difference is largely aesthetic. Gold and chrome are both quality hardware materials.

In the end, the shiny chrome parts on the Epiphone Casino complement its iconic design beautifully. The hardware remains faithful to the original model in both form and function. This attention to detail is appreciated by experienced guitarists and collectors alike.

Neck

The Epiphone Casino comes with a slim tapered neck that is fast and comfortable. The profile of the neck has a 60s feel, measuring 0.800 inches at the 1st fret and 0.825 inches at the 12th fret. This slim taper design allows for quick, easy movement up and down the fretboard.

The neck is made from mahogany, which provides stability and sustain. It has a rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and a 12 inch radius. The slim neck and medium frets combine to make chording and soloing smooth. The fingerboard also has parallelogram inlays starting at the 1st fret up to the 17th fret for easy navigation.

Overall, the Epiphone Casino's slim taper neck offers fast playability without sacrificing comfort. The smooth neck allows you to play intricate solos and riffs with ease.

Sound

The Epiphone Casino is well known for its rich, warm vintage sound that excels for classic rock and blues. The hollowbody design produces full, resonant tones, especially when played clean. There's an organic woodiness to the sound that enhances ringing chords and subtle fingerpicking.

When driven with overdrive or distortion, the Casino screams with sustain and vocal-like midrange. The P-90 pickups have an edgy growl that adds grit and character, allowing the guitar to punch through a mix. From sparkling cleans to raunchy leads, the Epiphone Casino covers a wide tonal palette while retaining a retro rock and roll flavor.

The acoustic properties give chords a live, three-dimensional feel. Notes bloom with warmth and presence, even when playing unplugged. Whether jamming with friends or performing on stage, the Casino's balanced and responsive sound consistently pleases ears. For guitarists seeking the archetypal rock and blues voice, the Epiphone Casino delivers those iconic tones at an affordable price.

Playability

The Epiphone Casino is known for its lightweight and comfortable feel during extended playing sessions. Weighing in at just 6.6 lbs, this thinline hollowbody design won't weigh down your shoulders even after hours of practice or performing.

The slim taper neck has a fast feel, making it easy to play quick riffs and solos up and down the fretboard. The smooth satin finish on the back of the neck enhances the comfort, allowing your hand to glide effortlessly. Overall, the playability of the Casino makes it a pleasure to pick up and jam on.

Some players even comment that the Casino "disappears" in their hands, becoming an extension of their body. The comfortable contours and thoughtful design allow guitarists to focus on their playing rather than struggling with an unwieldy instrument. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned veteran, the Epiphone Casino's playability shines through.

Versatility

The Epiphone Casino has incredible tonal versatility thanks to its semi-hollow body construction and humbucker pickups. Whether you want clean, jazzy tones or fat, saturated overdrive, the Casino can do it all.

The hollow body provides excellent resonance and sustain for clean chordwork and arpeggios. When playing without dirt, the Casino has a rounded, full voice with piano-like dynamics and chime. The neck pickup delivers a smooth, mellow tone perfect for jazz, while the bridge pickup has more twang and cut for everything from blues to country.

When driven, the P-90 pickups easily distort into a warm, tubey overdrive without losing bottom end. The Casino excels at classic rock crunch and singing lead tones. The bridge pickup has an aggressive bite that's great for hard rock or punk. With higher gain, the Casino nails vintage metal and grunge tones. And unlike solidbodies, the semi-hollow body prevents lifelessness at high gain levels.

Whether you want to play jazz standards, classic rock anthems, or modern metal, the Epiphone Casino provides incredible tonal flexibility. The versatile voice lets you go from clean to mean with ease.

Pros

The Epiphone ETCAWEBNH’s iconic thinline semi-hollowbody design is one of the most recognizable in the history of the electric guitar. Though the sharp cutaways make it look smaller, the 16” wide hollow body helps produce full warm tones with lots of sustain.

This guitar represents outstanding value, with features and craftsmanship that rivals models costing two or three times as much from Gibson. The mystery and allure surrounding its development at the Epiphone factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan during the late 1950s and early 1960s adds to its cool factor as an affordable vintage-style instrument.

Many players will choose the Epiphone Casino over other thinline semi-hollow alternatives thanks to its comfortable lightweight feel, classic looks and balanced warm tone. While not as versatile as a solid body, the Casino still handles higher gains and volume levels exceptionally well. Overall, it's simply one of the best deals out there for a stage-ready hollowbody guitar with real vintage vibe.

Cons

The Epiphone Casino can be prone to feedback at high volumes. This is due to its full hollowbody design which, while great for resonance and sustain, also allows sound to bounce around inside the guitar body. This can result in feedback, especially when playing through loud amps or with high levels of distortion.

There are a few things that can help mitigate this issue:

• Lowering the overall stage volume - Keeping the overall volume a bit lower prevents the guitar from getting overdriven. This allows you to keep your tone without feedback.

• EQ adjustments - Carefully reducing treble frequencies that are most likely to feedback can help tame issues, while still retaining sparkle and clarity in the tone.

• Gain staging - Keeping preamp gain moderate and using louder master volumes prevents overdriving the guitar signal, reducing feedback potential.

• Body damping - Lightly pressing the non-strumming hand against the guitar body helps dampen vibrations, controlling feedback. Products like the "EBow" more formally create this effect.

So although the hollowbody design can encourage feedback, a few minor adjustments to playing style and setup can usually keep it under control. The versatile tone and style of the Casino make it worth managing this minor tradeoff.

Conclusions

The Epiphone Casino lives up to its legacy and gives guitarists that classic Beatlesque hollowbody tone at an affordable price. Though it lacks some bells and whistles of more expensive models, overall it's a solid entry in the hollowbody electric market.

If you're a beginner or intermediate player looking for that rounded, warm hollowbody sound without breaking the bank, the Casino is a great choice. It delivers smooth, singing tone that excels on chords and clean rhythms but can also grind when pushing the amp into overdrive.

The Casino may not have premium appointments, but for what guitarists are paying, it's impressive. The build quality and playability stand out for an import model at this price point. Between its laminated maple construction and set neck, it feels sturdy and resonant when playing unplugged or amplified.

Sure, you could pay significantly more for a top tier Gibson or Gretsch hollowbody. But for much less, the Epiphone Casino gives you usable tone that nails old school rock and roll, blues, jazz, and more. If you dig the Beatles, Dave Grohl, Oasis, or other groups who employed this iconic guitar, do yourself a favor and try the affordable Casino.