Over the course of the 70s, the Japanese output improved dramatically, and in many ways these early 70s models are a low point for the brand. These new Epiphones were based on existing Matsumoku guitars, sharing body shapes, and hardware, but the Epiphone line was somewhat upgraded, with inlaid logos and a 2x2 peghead configuration. The Matsumoku factory had been producing guitars for export for some time, but the 1820 bass (alongside a number of guitar models and the 5120 electric acoustic bass) were the first Epiphone models to be made there. The current Casinos are good entry-level and intermediate instruments and are still one of Epiphones best-selling guitar models.By the end of the 1960s, a decision had been made to move Epiphone guitar production from the USA (at the Kalamazoo plant where Gibson guitars were made), to Matsumoto in Japan, creating a line of guitars and basses significantly less expensive than the USA-built models (actually less than half the price). These guitars, although still adequate instruments, are not to the same standard as the real Casinos produced in the 1960s. Beyond 1969, Casino manufacture was moved to Japan, and later Korea and China. Original Kalamazoo-built Casinos are highly collectable, and much-loved as professional-grade instruments. Vintage Epiphone Casino sale prices can be pretty high. John Lennon, in particular was often pictured with his Casino, most notably in his Apple rooftop performance of 1969. It's legendary status was cemented in the mid-1960s by the patronage of members of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks and many more. The vast majority were dual-pickup instruments, however some early examples were fitted with just one P90 pickup. It was first produced in 1961, at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant it was based on the Gibson ES-330TD, which was also built there. The Epiphone Casino is an absolutely iconic model, perhaps the best-known Epiphone model ever shipped.

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