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Left Handed Sheraton Refinish Vs Convert Elitist?


hithere

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Hey guys will try to keep this as short as possible.

 

My current lineup of guitars

 

American Standard Strat

American Standard Tele

Gibson Firebird

Epiphone Sheraton II (believe a 2008 Korean model)

 

I have too many sunburst guitars and would like to refinish my Sheraton/replace all the electronics and pickups to Gibson 57s. To me as the guitar is stock, it simply can't hold a candle to my other guitars, which I know are more expensive. If I were right handed I would be looking for an Elitist Sheraton/Casino to fill my hollow body void. I actually think the history of these guitars is more interesting than the Gibson 335, though I don't jive with mine as it is right now.

 

Many luthiers and forumites seem to shun the idea and the pain of refinishing one of these, added to the saddle cost of replacing the electronics by a tech, but one must remember I am left handed so I am limited with choice when I want something specific.

 

Besides refinishing this, is there any opinion on getting a Natural right handed Sheraton/Casino and getting it totally converted, knobs and all? I would hate to get rid of this guitar only to still be chasing something similar.

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Your first priority should be deciding whether you want a Sheraton or a Casino, as they are radically different guitars. If your current Sheri is a left-handed model, upgrading the pickups to Gibson '57 Classics or an equivalent will get you very close to "335 tone land." If you're then happy with the tone, it would be worth deciding whether the expense of having it refinished is worthwhile. I wouldn't recommend doing the refin first, because you still might not be happy with the sound.

 

Converting a right-handed model will leave telltale marks where the old knobs used to be unless you opt for an opaque finish of some sort.

 

You could also use a right-handed model Elitist and just change the bridge and nut, and learn to use the knobs in their original positions. I can think of one well-known left-handed player who did exactly that with a Casino and claimed it as his all-time favorite electric guitar. You may know of him --- fella named McCartney.

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Hello fellow lefty and welcome to the forum.

 

It's not going to be easy to find a left-handed Epiphone electric with a natural finish. Looking at the completed items on Ebay, I see that a rare lefty natural Sheraton II sold for $800 and two Joe Pass Emperor II's for around $500. As far as converting a righty goes, I once saw a 70's Gibson ES-335 that had been converted to lefty but had not been refinished and the righty tone/volume holes had not been plugged; I thought the guitar looked ugly. Someone selling on Reverb converted a righty Dot, plugged the holes and painted it white and doing that could be an option for you if you just want a finish other than sunburst. If you only want a factory lefty Epi electric in natural, you're going to have to be patient and check Ebay and Reverb.com often. As Parabar mentioned, Sir Paul plays a righty guitar left-handed and that is an option if you want a natural Casino or a 50th Anniversary 1962 Sheraton.

 

casino_paul.jpg

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Hey everyone. Thanks for the replies. I know about good old Paul's classic guitar, but I use tone controls pretty regularly, and it can be annoying when you are unintentionally rolling them down.

 

I dig both the Sheraton/Casino. I know they are very different guitars, just don't have the means for both right now and would prefer either one that I could bond with, both the color and guitar/pickups itself.

 

As I said, and not to knock the Epi Standard fans out there, I have a friend who has a modified Dot with upgraded electronics and pickups, and it is killer, yet I simply don't feel that way about my 2008 Sheraton II off the shelf, perhaps a good setup and upgrade could change my feelings about it. Regardless I read that it is generally accepted that the Elite/Elitist line is generally a better piece of wood.

 

If I go down that route, even in a natural finish, then we are talking about having to plug holes, drill new ones. Either way we are talking a good chunk of change, many luthiers don't seem too excited to work on the Sheraton II finish, 500 dollars more for a 600 dollar guitar... perhaps would be better spent towards an Elitist in a color I like with a conversion.

 

I think both the Casino/Sheraton are the coolest guitars, and I am leaning towards having one that is closer to my American Standard Fenders and Gibson Firebird (again no knock on Epi Standard fans, you also have to remember I don't have the chance to try multiple models in the store to find a good one).

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  • 5 weeks later...

NICE TO SEE ANOTHER LEFTY SHERATON OWNER. I HAVE A 2006 COMPLETLY REDONE EXCEPT THE FINISH. I TRIED 57'S WITH A PLUS UP UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I SWITCHED TO BURSTBUCKER 1 & 2 .ABSOLUTLY LOVE IT NOW. ALL ELECTRONICS ARE CHANGED GIBSON AUDIO TPER POTS WITH HAVILAND OIL AND PAPER CAPS. TUNERS ARE GIBSON DELUXE . BUT THE BIGGEST AND BEST CHANGE WAS THE BRIDGE AND TAIL PIECE . I INSTALLED A BABICZ FULL CONTACT HARDWARE SETUP ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU DO ANYTHING TO YOURS DO A FULL CONTACT HARDWARE SET,WELL WORTH THE MONEY . IT JUST CAME ALIVE WITH THE TONE OF A 335 . I TRIED TO ATTACH A PHOTO BUT THEY ARE TO BIG.

GOOD LUCK HOPE THIS HELPED

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