"Come the apocalypse there will be Poly finishes, Keith Richards, and cockroaches..." Ha! My new favorite quote.

I was considering swapping out the pickups in my Casino too. After having watched this I think I'm going to make it easier on myself by designing and building robots to do it for me.

We love you, you grumpy old man... :-)...

This video is probably one of the best videos to show that the biggest change you can do on any guitar is to upgrade the pickups. There’s so much more brightness and clarity and overall it just sounds much more alive.

This is just about one of the finest journeys you can go on during a pandemic lockdown. Your frustrations are for our amusement 😊 Thank you for taking us along for the ride 🙏 Massive improvement with the lollers, and that black pickguard is just 🔥 Hope it was worth all the hassle and you enjoy the Casino even more 😉 Cheers from Denmark.

Greetings from the States Mick! Just wanted to note that I alway enjoy seeing a new vlog being uploaded by you. Joy during a bleak time! Thank you!

The new gear makes it sound a lot less like anything I heard Lennon play and more bright/modern. The old pickups had a creamier tone. Breakup too much? Sure...maybe don't use it for that much breakup but still have a different sounding guitar. Now it sounds bright and tight..like a lot of guitars. just my two cents. p.s. still gave it a thumb's up because it was worthing watching. thanks

I kinda prefer the original pickups. I like the muddy shit. It's awesome both ways and I absolutely love this show.

Just a quick tip on drilling those holes - run the drill backwards and it will be a lot less aggressive and will not ‘bite’ like it does when running it clockwise. Or use a tapered reamer.

Both sets of pickups sound amazing in different ways.

It seems like you felt the frustration more than you showed it. Alongside being up front about it, you finished the job and made something excellent for all of us to enjoy. Thank you (again) for making me want to think about guitars

I suspect the original wiring was 'modern' whereas that SSS loom was 50's, so that'll be one reason it stays brighter as you turn it down. Much much nicer with the new pickups and electronics. PS in case you wire another fully hollow in future, I find it much easier to pop all the pots down through the bridge pickup cavity rather than the F-hole :-)

You guys need a Firebird

I was having flashbacks to sweaty, pissed off, overly lengthy afternoons replacing pickups and wiring. Worrying that this had taken so long that I was inhaling toxic levels of lead solder and really wanting to lob the guitar out of the window in frustration. It sounded fantastic in the end though so a worthwhile demonstration of how you can improve something you aren't quite happy with

The clarity of the new pickups is amazing! The originals sound pretty decent for what they are in and going to be used for. Not sure I would have wanted to spend that time switching them out! ;-)

This was far more entertaining than it had a right to be..

Yeah that was quite the transformation, and I felt your struggle working on it. I love these videos though. Your passion for tone is infectious and wonderful. Thanks for taking us all along on the journey!

The most useful and important thing I learned from this vlog was how to sound like a radio presenter from the fifties. Cheers Mick! 😄👍🏼

Why do I get the feeling the prices of secondhand Casino’s has just gone up 😆 great project!

Can I just say, that in the years I've been watching the GigRig and TPS, your playing has gotten better and better. Just killer-kudos on the hard work and results.

A whole Lollar luv has gone into this show. 😉

Gotta say, I prefer the clean tones of the original P90s. The Lollars have much more detail, but the original ones have this thick warmth which is brilliant. Once you start adding overdrive though, the Lollars really come into their own.

When drilling/ reaming existing holes that are already there: put a piece of tape over the top and drill (in increasing drill sizes if needed) IN REVERSE. That way the teeth of the bit won’t grab, sheer, tear and pull through the hole. It’ll help everything stay clean. Cheers.

me: *carefully uses peg hole reamer to increase hole size* mick: brrrrrrr

Hurrah. Gonna have to wait for a bit as it is TV with the fam time. But in other news Mick, I got offered a new job today!

Was looking at modded black pickup, black pickguard casinos yesterday, and this video pops up today

This video has all elements of the best movies, drama, comedy, horror, action and a glorious ending after all that rollercosater of emotions ...

The stock pickups sound exactly like an old school, smoky, mellow jazz box - which is what the Casino was designed to be. Mine sounds great and nails the Beatles and early Stones tone exactly. The Lollar replacements make the Casino sound like a completely different , brighter guitar - which is ok if thats the sound you like.

MASSIVE improvement! Original pickups/wiring sounds muffled and dull, whereas Lollars make it sound clear and bright!

As awesome as you are Mick... your sadness is unmistakable in missing your good friend Dan sitting next to you. The two of you are like chocolate and chip. KZfaq is not the same without you two sitting in the same room together. Thanks for the content 🤘🏽

Thanks for putting this video together; it's nice to see someone who's not an electronics pro going through the steps of figuring it out to get an idea of what I'd be committing to.

Congrats, Mick! As a young guitar player I remember seeing a magazine ad for a Casino and thinking that it was one of the coolest looking guitars. In my 20s, a friend very generously let me borrow a mid-60s 330 for a while. Just last week I bought an Eastman t64v (w/ bigsby & lollars), and am loving it! Enjoy, and stay safe!

As much as I like working on guitars, only being able to access the electronics through the f holes is my worst nightmare. Therefore, I highly appreciate your patience! Great work!

Man all your demonstrations are some of the best playing I've ever heard! So good!

Hi Mick. To make removal of the tone and volume controls easy, I usually wrap an old lace or piece of string around the underside of the control, then with each end of the string or lace opposing each other, pull upwards. Saves the use of levers putting excessive force on the guitar body.

Those pots and the pickups definitely are an upgrade, suit the guitars tone so much better in my opinion. Impressive guitar from stock, but this upgrade is such a better sound I think. You can achieve the warmth those original pickups had just by rolling your tone back and you wont lose the clarity when you roll the volume back!

Got a couple of TPS shirts in the mail earlier this afternoon (brilliant packaging!) and now this terrific video, Mick. Another bright day in quarantine thanks to all of you. Cheers!

Great video and great upgrade. I did this so often and can feel everybody's pain working through F-Holes. I still have a Gretsch standing in the corner that needs an operation the 3rd time....and it's still standing. Btw. aquarium air hose works very well for the pots. Not as fidley as the string method. Try to avoid using a normal drill bit wich get's sucked in. Take a reamer oder a step drill bit and there will be no chipping etc.

The effect of changing pickups is always nil. They're very easy to manufacture, just coil and magnet. By altering the coil-to-magnet ratios, with extra coil and a weaker magnet, the manufacturer can mellow the tone. This same effect can be accomplished by using tone control or EQ. Vintage-style pickups are different. Using a vintage-style pickup with lower output, or wiring out-of-phase, or wiring in parallel (instead of in series), or moving a pickup further from the string, produces a thinner sound that cannot be replicated with EQ. However, any of these effects can be achieved by simply turning down the volume control on the guitar.

The way to put the pots back in is to use plastic of rubber tubing - hardware stores carry a range of gauges. Find stuff that fits snuggly around the control posts on the pots. Put the tubing in through the pot hole and out through the f-hole. Fit snugly of post on pot, pull the tubing back through the pot hole and the pot will be pulled straight into place. - the tubing is sold by the foot and from a roll. That roll puts a natural curve in the tube that helps to direct it in and out of the body

Those original pickups weren't that bad sounding. But the Lollar's seem louder, clearer and brighter - all in a good way. Now I need me some P90's!

Mick, your summary matched my impressions exactly: much brighter (especially the neck pickup) but also much greater range with the tone knobs. I really liked the original neck pickup for jazz sounds but these new ones look to be so much more versatile. Glad you put yourself through that - you may enjoy playing the Casino even more since you sweated through upgrade yourself!

The new pickups sounds fantastic. You could have made things easier/better by: Slipping the wire harness through the bridge pickup hole, before screwing the bridge PU in. Using a conical drill bit (like a reamer) to ream out the pot holes (You could have split the whole sound board with a standard drill bit.) To use plastic tubing to get the pots in place. But it was a good video. I bought a set of Lollars for my own Casino.

Mick is everyone of us that has attempted this ballache of a job

I just love the way you play! Precise, soulful, melodic and powerful.

"if i don't get it done today it'll be another 3 months" -- he suffers for his work and our pleasure. salute Saint Mickolas!

Kudos to you Mick for trying arguably the most difficult guitar to pickup swap -and while on camera! Your so called “grumpy” was still rated PG. I’d have been long down the road of TVMA. My 8 yo was impressed at your attitude vs what he’s heard from me doing the same on my Eastman hollow body. Great playing as usual. Thanks for the fun!

The sound difference is monstrous! That went from modern epi to vintage epi real quick!

That's a BIG improvement, such a sweet tone with the Lollars, makes my Casino Coupe jealous!

IMO every guitar player should take on a project guitar to the end, no matter how maddening. Get a Squier, Epi, Harley B, whatever and put more $ in it than the guitar is worth. I learned so much by getting into the guts and having to McGyver stuff together.

Just did the same job on my Epiphone 335 a couple of days ago. And went through the same issues. A massive pain in the rear, but in the end it was so well worth it! Great video!

Great improvement in sound. It’s all those dynamics I love in a good guitar ! Love these blogs - it’s just what irs like for most of us when nothing quite fits! Can’t say I’d have been brave enough to tackle a hollow body!

One of the best things I ever bought for expanding holes like this is a hand reamer. So much safer! I'm only down the road Mick, hit me up if you ever need to do something like this again.

This made me feel better about my wiring mod struggles.

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! I have been waiting for this video for a LONG time!!!!! This is one of my favorite guitars!!

I bought a used Casino Coupe about five years ago, probably a bit less. I installed a set of Lollar underwound P90s along with all USA pots and switches. It’s fairly feedback resistant. Guitar on 10 and amp on 5. I used my B15 with its D130 and a ‘64 Princeton and it didn’t want to FB. Microphonics we’re not an issue either. A magic pickup set. Later a modified frequensator was installed and new gears. It’s my best playing guitar and sounding guitar.

You do realize of course that it's a hollow-body which means you have direct access through the pickup holes!

Mick you’re a much more patient and determined man than I am for taking on this project yourself!

I almost had a shit fit just reconnecting an input jack that had fallen inside a semi-hollow guitar. You not only completing the task, but not setting the bloody thing on fire and chucking it across an open lot is stupendous. After all the work at least the results were worth the “colossal ball ache”, lol. Per usual Lollar pickups are fantastic....as are you my friend. All my love and hope you’re well.

Having rewired 3 335s through the F Hole, I feel your pain. "F Hole" took on a whole new meaning LOL. Your finished product sounds amazing. The thing that jump out the most was clarity and definition!

oh good - i'm not the only person who takes power tools to their guitars with somewhat reckless abandon :P nicely done Mick!

Hey Mick, I love the joy and enthusiasm coming across even during the intro!

I just swapped Fralin Noiseless P90s with my 330 original 67 pups. I’m soooo happy with them. No microphonic-ness, no hum. Really really love it. Went from being a cool couch guitar to something worth playing into an amp. Keeping the originals for if I sell. But really worth it.

Worth every moment. These videos NEVER go too long! Love it.

Glad you've struggled through this mod, as it's the same as has been on my list of things to do. However...having performed pup and pot replacement before on semi/hollow... have decided to send the Casino to Lollar to avoid reliving the frustrations 🤣👍😎 Thanks again for this video. The mods definitely awaken the beast👍😎 👍😎❤🖖 Love brother

I love my Korean peerless casino. Amazing with a little bit of overdrive. Almost plays itself.

Defo fun to document the process - spot on, Mick. Thanks for sticking with it when it was getting a bit challenging in the middle there. Lovely sounds as ever - well played. The whole video looks beautiful as always, too. Hope you enjoyed a little glass of red to reward yourself when you got home.

The new pickups sound noticeably better. After playing it for some time it will sound even better because you will enjoy playing it more and figure out all the subtle nuances of the new pickups. Once you feel at home with it. Good video. I really enjoyed watching you change the wiring. I did that years ago with a 335. It's no fun. Thanks.

Looks better without a pick guard in my opinion.

Terrific vlog. Really love how the guitar turned out. Wasn't bad to start with but now it sounds fantastic.

I switched Lollar P90s & 50s wiring rig + bone nut into my Casino and the difference was well worth it. That said, the originals it came with were pretty nice . . .

My jack socket fell into my epiphone dot yesterday, and you've convinced me to take it in to a shop to get it fixed.

The more you cranked the gain, the more the Lollars came into their own. Great spank and articulation of notes. That said I have to say that I like the original pups. They growl when you keep them on the edge just as you said. It certainly wasn’t a waste to install the upgrade, but after listening I wonder if wax potting the originals would make an interesting experiment.

This is not a comparison. It’s a slaughter.

I'm so glad that you got around to this. I'm the lucky owner of a cherry red 1966 Casino and I've been looking forward to hearing some Casino sounds on the show.

I did the same pickup change out to a Casino a few years ago. I was chuckling through this. Although successful, I will never I will do it again!!!

I have an "Inspired by John Lennon" Casino. Basically, it has similar upgrades stock (Gibson US wiring & pickups). Possibly my favourite guitar; and yes - it has serious competition.

The Lollars sound unbelievably good. God, I love P-90s. [ Edit to add: I wonder whether a Casino Coupe's smaller body would have somewhat less of that howling feedback at volume. ]

I picked up an Epiphone Casino Coupe a couple years ago and promptly put Lollar pickups in it, replaced the wiring harness, changed the knobs and switch tips to black. I have b/w/b pick guard material to cut still. I also put a graphtec nut, hipshot locking tuners with ebony buttons and Gotoh bridge on it. I’m thinking about selling a package deal with the knobs, switch tip and black pick guard. I really like this guitar. The only other hollow body that I still gas for now is a D’Angelico. Even after the upgrades, it ranks very high on the bang-for-buck list.

Wow! Much bigger change than I expected. Great clarity and less mud in the new pickups . Excellent!

Great to see some love for Epiphone! Top work fellas! 👍👍👍

Tonal upgrades on lonely studio days! Good stuff Mick!!

Nice going Mick - loved the bit with the drill! But seriously, well done for finishing with everything working and sounding great, and here is NOTHING wrong with being grumpy in difficult circumstances.

What an AMAZING value. This is really cool! Something that just about anyone should be able to do budget wise. I’ve always had an itch for a hollow body, and I’m in the exact same camp as you, Mick! That kind of edge-of-feedback overdriven sound is just awesome. Now I’m leaning more toward an actual hollow body rather than a semi-hollow.

Since this is fully hollow, you could have pulled everything in/out through the bridge pickup hole :) Not something you can do with a 335!

I feel guilty for smiling at your frustration and that is because I'd have been twenty times worse. My old Dad used to say, "if you can't fit it, hit it". Id say, if you can't fit it, lob over the other side of the room and forget it. The results were worth it though mick. I applaud you good sir. You should have your puppy as a guest on the show.

What a great success! The OG pickups had a tin sound to them. The up graded pickups had much more clarify and presence.

13:28 This is the serious musician's content I come to see. I picked up a Hofner Verythin cheap and stuck in new pickups and hardware, it's my goto guitar over my US Strat & PRS. The hollow & semi-hollow guitars are so handy to just pickup and play.

Hi Dan, this is a request to ask you to think about using your amazing interviewing skills. Tom Petty’s guitar sounds, and songs - always drove his band, right? ... What were his guitar SOUNDS ? Pete Campbell, and Bentmonch ?Tench, both played amazing counterpoint around Tom, and each other. So the interplay between Pete and Tom, G/G is hard to pull apart. Tom’s sound was awe--, and Pete’s sound was Waddy W. awe-- . They knew each other in school ! ! ! Add to that the support and very same history with “Beni” Tench, his SKILLS, and sensibilities ... you’re back to the lovely counterpoint. And...this was mostly by Feel. So here’s my challenge to You and Dan: Try to get Bentmont Tench, and Pete Campbell in the same electrical service (?), room (?), and figure out what made The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers SOUND ?

The drill part of the episode was just horrifying.

Mick, it was like looking in the mirror when you when you were doing that modding!! You are right, soldering is an art form and SSS is the da Vinci of the prewired harness world! Brilliant candid vid 👍

Dude this was exactly the kind of video I was looking for thank you so much. Feels like I want such a niche, neurotic modification and your mild aggravation and patience tells me it's as bad as I'm expecting it to be. Also thanks for the great demo comparisons.

Great ep. Time to throw away the pickguard and install a Bigsby B7!

"Pull it all out through the f-hole" Rarely something you want to hear, in any context

Just got done putting new pickups in my sg myself. First time opening an electronics cavity, lifting out pickups, using a wire stripper, soldering iron, etc. Have to say watching you have an honestly not fun experience actually helped a lot lol. After spending god knows how long trying to remove solder without tinning the tip and being almost 100% certain I blew the pot out, accidentally burning 4 small parts of the cavity, nearly ruining the braided wire with the stripper, and having the bridge and middle position shorted on first try... they now work and sound great lol. From one guy who lives for trial and error but can’t stand the error part to another, thanks 😆👍

Great job! I thought often about moddding my Casino with better pickups and wiring...now I got another proof why I never did it...it‘s really a painful job, but the outcome was for sure worth it!

Suddenly I want a Casino...

You know what, sounds unbelievable after the changes, but it still sounded great before! You really do get your moneys worth with that guitar.

Kudos for taking that wiring project on Mick! I laughed the whole way through because I recently changed pots in 2 of my hollowbodies and literally swore my way through both of them. Such a pain. Definitely worth the improvement on the Casino

Thanks for the commitment and effort. It was informative, stressful to watch, educational, emotional, and smh entertaining. All in the name of tone! 🤘🏼i do many mods and repairs but others I gladly pay my guitar shop to do. Thanks for sharing your experience.