Epiphone Sheraton Pups and Wiring Concerns

[Dredful Cantata]

Hello Forum. Newbie here. I just got a 1998 Epiphone Sheraton (Samick factory, with serial number stamped on back of headstock: S9806... btw, no serial number on the paper inside the upper f hole; just the word "Sheraton".) It's quite nice - and feels and plays quite well (could use some very minor fret smoothing from 13 on up). I know it's had tuners upgraded, but I don't know about the rest - I suspect nothing has been done to wiring or pups. Unfortunately, the switch arm snapped off during shipping - no other damage. So, ordered a new Switchcraft one (short, gold). Not sure I want to install it just yet as there could be a rewiring in my future.

 

Goals for this guitar - everything from clean jazz (Wes Montgomery) to classic blues (B.B. King) to classic rock (Stones/Keith Richards) and beyond. I do lead and rhythm.

 

I've been reading through the old posts to see if this has been covered already and I haven't found enough answers to my situations. (btw, this is my first semi-hollow - been a Strat guy for decades now. Had an LP once, though.)

 

Problem 1: Breakup. The pickups tend to drive the amp hard. Every chord/pair of notes breaks up quite significantly unless I have the amp gain at <1 (with amp volumes then turned way up). I've tried lowering the pickups and that only makes the output less - when I turn up the amp volume/master, the guitar still breaks up the amp. Single notes sound great, although a little muddy (I'm not expecting the clear bell tones like a Strat, but some clarity.) This is true for any selector switch setting (there is a little nub I can move on the broken selector switch). I am using a variety of different modeling amps (Fender Mustang GT-100, Fender Cyber Twin, and Fender SCXD) and pretty much the same performance across them all. I cannot really get a clean tone with chords with this guitar unless at low volume. My Strat has a hard time breaking up at all.

 

Problem 2: Feedback. These pickups feedback quite a bit (maybe normal?). If I point them at the amp from about 2 feet away or closer, it will be uncontrollable. Turning guitar stops that, of course. Being a single coil player, this has not happened to me before (I don't remember my LP doing that either). It is mostly the bridge. Is this normal? I don't hear a ton of noise (pretty quiet, like a humbucker should do, but not perfectly silent). I don't notice any microphonics.

 

Problem 3: Muddy. I've got NYXL 11-56s strings on it (the ones "optimized for D tuning" with non-wound 3rd). It's tuned to standard. The bottom end sounds GREAT. The top is a bit muddy on either or both pickups. I've started to experiment by lowering the pickups, tilting them, raising the pole pieces. There's so much to tweak, I'm wondering if this is the right direction - or are there some fundamental issues with either the pots or the pickups?

 

I've haven't taken anything apart yet. So, I don't know if this has 300 or 250 ohm pots, mini-pots, if the wiring is generally crap, if the pickups are to blame.

 

Is there a way to tell about the resistance of the pups without taking the harness out? I'm now assuming they are cheap ceramic pups, maybe overwound (13K+)?

 

Is there a way to tell about the resistance of the pots without removing everything?

 

I have the new switch coming, which is easy enough to get out and replace. But now I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet and do everything all at once and be done with it.

 

What would you do? What should I do first and see where that gets me?

 

Thanks for reading and in advance for your comments/ideas/answers!

[Matt4356]

First congratulations on the Sheraton, for me and most they are epiphones best.

However I agree with the 'muddy' pick ups on the older models, I have a Korean 04 it feels and plays beautifully, with a rich unplugged sound but when plugged in its left lacking. I constantly think of changing pickups and wiring but so far haven't got round to it, it's not that bad just doesn't do itself justice and my Gretschs dont need anything so they tend to get the majority of plug in play.

My plan has always been to go for a traditional PAF set and replace wiring.

 

On the matter of feedback, it's a semi hollow, they are more prone to it, stand further away and you will learn to control it. If your 2 feet away from your amp you will be amazed how different it sounds further away.

[kidblast]

I had a 98 just like yours. I agree.. Pickups were one of the weak links.. Feedback, and mud,, add to it the gold platting wore down in like 2 days, (well not really but fast) and the hardware and rest of the electronics were nothing like what we'd get with a PRO II from more recent times.

 

if it was me, and I wasn't into it for a lot of cash, would probably replace all the wiring, and pickups as well as put better machine heads on it.

 

I would however keep in mind, a new Sherry Pro II is still had for around $699. Not sure how you want to deal with the ROI on this one.

[Yorgle]

I'd try changing out the tone capacitor before spending $$$ on pickups. For whatever reason, 99% of guitars have either .22 or .47 uF tone caps regardless of pickups. I've found that you can use much lower value caps to really brighten things up and give your tone pot more effect. I've got a 6800 pF in my Wildkat and I love it.

[Dredful Cantata]

Thanks all!

 

I wrote Epiphone Customer Service and they responded with:

 

This model came with 500k pots, .022uF capacitors, and Epiphone Alnico Classic humbuckers which use Alnico V magnets. I have attached information on the model for your viewing. [The info sheet is for a Sheraton II.]

 

So, unless wiring is crap, maybe it is the caps?

 

Or are these Epi classic humbuckers “garbage”? Has anyone ever swapped magnets and had good results (maybe going to Alnico II)?

 

Is it normal for this guitar/pups to drive an amp hard?

[Parabar]

What kind of amp are you using? I have a couple of late-90's Epiphones with stock humbuckers and also a couple of semi-hollow guitars made by Samick (who made the Sheratons in that era), and have not experienced the unwanted breakup and muddiness you describe.