Elanso

While in earlier years, John Lennon’s guitar of choice was usually a Rickenbacker, from 1966 onwards he was made more use of his Epiphone Casino - featured in this addition of the John Lennon’s guitars series - than any other guitar. See previous entries in the series here:

• Part One: Gallotone Champion Acoustic John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Two: Hofner Club 40 Electric John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Three: 1958 Rickenbacker 325 Capri John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Four: 1962 Gibson J-160E John Lennon acoustic/electric.
• Part Five: 1964 Gibson J-160E John Lennon acoustic/electric.
• Part Six: 1964 Rickenbacker 325 Jetglo John Lennon Electric.
• Part Seven: 1964 Rickenbacker 325-12 Jetglo John Lennon Electric 12-string.
• Part Eight: 1964 Jose Ramirez A-1 John Lennon Classical Guitar.
• Part Nine: 1964 Rickenbacker 325 Fireglo John Lennon Electric.
• Part Ten: 1964 Framus 12-string Hootenanny John Lennon Acoustic.
• Part Eleven: 1965 Gretsch 6120 Hollow-Bodied John Lennon Electric.
• Part Twelve: 1965 Russian Acoustic John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Thirteen: 1961 Fender Stratocaster John Lennon Electric Guitar.

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When The Beatles began work on a new album, Revolver, in April 1966, John Lennon brought a new guitar to the studio. He had purchased a sunburst 1965 Epiphone Casino (model E230TD) earlier in the year and soon fell in love with its sound. This was a fully hollow-bodied guitar with two f-holes and a perfectly good stock tailpiece.

John used the Casino throughout the Revolver sessions and played it live in various 1966 Beatles shows, including at Shea Stadium. It became his main guitar and it stayed that way.

In 1967, when George Harrison and Paul McCartney spray-painted their guitars, John chose to keep the sunburst look intact, remove the pick guard, and paint the back of the guitar in grey and white. In 1968 he had the Casino sanded down professionally, giving it a natural finish and a better tone. He later replaced the tuning pegs with gold Grover pegs. The Epiphone Casino was featured in The Beatles music video Revolution, in the rooftop “Get Back” concert, the Live Peace in Toronto show.

This guitar remains in the hands of the Lennon estate and has been featured at the Lennon Museum in Japan.

History source: thecanteen.com

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