Watch It First
If the Vintage Sunburst Casino is the classic Beatles look, the Natural finish Casino is the sophisticated, understated version. Clean, woody, elegant. The natural finish shows off the maple grain beautifully and gives the guitar a more timeless, less retro-specific aesthetic. Its the same great instrument underneath just dressed differently – and for some players the Natural is actually the more versatile looking option.
Same Epiphone Pro P90 pickups, same true hollowbody construction, same great playability. Different finish, different personality. If you want to understand the hollowbody vs semi-hollow distinction, the Casino is the definitive hollowbody example.
Why the Natural Finish Works
There’s something about a natural finish guitar that just looks honest. You can see what the guitar is made of. The maple laminate on the Casino has a nice grain pattern and the Natural finish enhances rather than hides it. On stage it reads as clean and professional. In a rehearsal room it looks like a working musician’s instrument. Both are good things.
The cream binding contrasts beautifully against the natural top, and the mini trapezoid inlays add just enough visual interest without being showy. The classic sloped dove wing headstock rounds off an aesthetic that is genuinely timeless.
Specs
- Type: True hollowbody electric
- Body and top: Maple laminated
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fretboard: Indian Laurel, 22 frets, mini trapezoid inlays
- Scale: 628mm
- Nut width: 43mm, GraphTech NuBone
- Pickups: 2x Epiphone Pro P-90 Alnico V
- Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic
- Color: Natural
- Price: £555
The P90 Experience
The Alnico V P90s in the Casino Natural are the same Epiphone Pro units as in the Vintage Sunburst version – bright, biting, expressive. They respond to playing dynamics in a way that humbuckers simply don’t. Gentle playing and they purr. Dig in and they growl. For blues, indie rock, vintage rock and roll, and jazz these pickups are just brilliant.
The hollowbody construction amplifies the P90 character – that natural resonance and air in the body adds depth and complexity to every note. Compared to a P90 in a solid body, the Casino’s P90s have a livelier, more three-dimensional quality. Its genuinely addictive. Check out these jazz pedals to get the most out of those clean tones.
Natural vs Vintage Sunburst – Which to Choose
Functionally they’re identical guitars. The choice comes down purely to aesthetics and personal preference. The Vintage Sunburst (£519) is slightly cheaper and has a more classic, period-correct look. The Natural (£555) has a cleaner, more modern-classic aesthetic that some players find more versatile.
If you’re trying to nail a specific vintage look for a covers band, the VS makes sense. If you want something that works across more visual contexts or you just prefer natural wood aesthetics, the Natural is the one. Both sound identical so don’t overthink it – pick whichever one you’ll be more excited to pick up every day.
Final Verdict
The Epiphone Casino Natural is a beautiful, characterful hollowbody guitar with some of the best P90 pickups available at this price point. The Natural finish makes it one of the most elegant looking production guitars in this class. For blues, indie, jazz and classic rock, it delivers a tone and feel that no semi-hollow or solid body can truly replicate. The Ibanez AG95QA is a great alternative if you want humbuckers, but for P90 hollowbody tone, the Casino is the definitive choice at this price.
