Unlike the previous John Lennon Casino models, the Inspired by John Lennon Casino does not feature Lennon's original serial number, but does include his self-portrait sketch on the reverse of the headstock. Like the previous John Lennon Casino models, two versions of the Inspired by John Lennon Casino were offered: The 1965, based on Lennon's Epiphone E230TD Casino as it was shipped from the Kalamazoo, Michigan factory, and the Revolution, based on the guitar following Lennon's modifications, as seen in the 1968 'Revolution' short film and prominently featured in The Beatles' 1970 'Let It Be' film.
While the original were assembled in the United States from parts made in Japan, the Inspired by John Lennon models were produced entirely in Indonesia, and offered at a much lower price. Following the completion of the limited edition John Lennon Casino models, Epiphone launched the Inspired by John Lennon Casino models.
The 1965 E230TD Epiphone Casino that John acquired had a double-cutaway semi-hollow f-hole body, P-90 pickups, vintage tuners with small buttons, trapeze tailpiece and originally a sunburst finish. The Epiphone Inspired by John Lennon Casino is a hollowbody electric archtop guitar. Perhaps for the same reason, Lennon and Harrison followed suit and got their own, albeit identical, Epiphone Casinos in 1965. 1965 Epiphone E230TD Casino (Image credit: The Beatles/YouTube) Unlike his bandmate Harrison, who adopted an ever-evolving arsenal of electric guitars during the Beatles’ latter days, John Lennon remained mostly faithful to his 1965 Epiphone E230TD Casino thinline hollowbody ever since he first acquired it in early 1966.
