Jump to content
Gibson Brands Forums

Epiphone Sheraton

Silenced Fred

By Silenced Fred
in The Gibson Lounge

Recommended Posts

Silenced Fred

Silenced Fred

Posted
Posted

Considering getting one. My questions are what, if any problems are there with them? And also, current manufacture: China or Korea? I know the older ones are made by Samick, but where are the new ones made? I will probably buy used, I have lots of respect for Samick instruments

 

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hector Arcadius

Hector Arcadius

Posted
Posted

Hey Nathan,

 

I'm under the impression that the high-end models of Epiphone are still made in Korea, although not sure about the plant. I think that only low-medium priced models are made in the new factory in China. I would bet that Samick is still the Korean manufacturer, but don't take this for granted. On the Epi forum you will find many Shery users and lots of feedback on the guitar.

 

good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Cruznolfart

Cruznolfart

Posted
Posted

Nathan, it would be well worth your while to peruse some of the Sheraton threads in Epi forum. There's a lot of knowledge in that group that doesn't get over here. The current Sherries are Chinese. As for problems with the older, Korean versions, like my John Lee Hooker Sig., there are some who've changed out the pups, pots and caps, as well as some who've put higher quality tuners on theirs. Mine is 12 years old, bone stock and sounds very nice. The vol pots have gotten a little noisy but all they need is a squirt of contact cleaner.

 

It's a very versatile instrument although also pretty hefty, in spite of it's semi-hollowness. I've never regretted the acquisition of my own and use it fairly regularly. You'll find one like mine, a limited run of 50, in the trading post on the Epi forum right now. Good luck, compadre, hope a good one finds you.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
NeoConMan

NeoConMan

Posted
Posted

Okay, now it's time to hear from the resident Epi-is-sh!t guy about the Sheraton....

 

[biggrin]

 

I too have seen some of the older Korean guitars that functioned very well after some electronics work.

Here's something to consider about the Korean made stuff - an aspect of wood quality most people overlook.

It's plywood.

And so is an ES-335 by Gibson.

 

So, how much does the pedigree of the wood really matter if it's thin strips bonded to more thin strips with glue?

Still, I say skip all the Chinese sh!t.

 

If you're buying used, don't worry so much about the age of the guitar.

With good care (most Sheratons are adult-owned) they will last a lifetime - almost as long as a 335.

And since they probably don't have a nitro finish, it's probably a bit more durable in resisting scratches.

 

Look for excellent condition first, price second, and if you're gonna be on Ebay look for 100% feedback.

 

I've had great luck on Ebay, I can give you a few basic do's and don'ts if you're going that way.

 

 

Good choice, and good luck.

 

:-

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Riffster

Riffster

Posted
Posted

Don't worry about where an Epi is made, their quality control is so all over the place that you have to look at those guitars on a single basis. Does not matter if it is Korea or China.

 

I have a Korean casino that has sloppy craftsmanship, I got it new onliine because it had a factory bigsby but the fit and finish is less than ideal. On the other hand I have seen a few Casinos locally that are now made in China that have better attention to detail.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
EVOL!

EVOL!

Posted
Posted

I have an early 90s Sheraton, made in Korea. Great guitar. Is it an ES335? No. Is it the next best thing on a budget? Yes. Over the years I have swapped out the stock pickups for a pair of Gibson 57s (stock pickups were microphonic), put Sperzel Trim-Lok tuners on it, and added a Bigsby. This guitar was my main axe for 5 years and has been a reliable 2nd one since. When I need to kick myself out of a creative rut I bring the SG home and I play Sheraton at rehearsals. It is Les Paul heavy due to the solid core, but a wide strap takes care of that.

 

My advice if you want a Sheraton

 

- Look for a used one. There are tons out there and you'll save yourself some serious $$$.

- Play a lot of them. It is one of Epiphone's higher end guitar, but you'll still run into a few that are junk.

- Watch out for microphonic pickups. I think this is the most common issue out side of spotty quality control.

- Upgrading pickups and tuners is not a bad thing. I did my upgrades over time so the cost was spread out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tulsaslim

tulsaslim

Posted
Posted

Take a good look at the pickups. Later Sheratons have full-size humbuckers. The 'originals' (i.e. Kalamazoo) models and (from what I've heard) some of the Korean-made 90's-era Sheratons had the correct mini humbuckers.

 

If you're really lucky you can find a used 'elitist' Sheraton, with mini hums, made in Japan at the Terada plant, which will be a few steps up from the regular production models quality-wise. You don't see too many of those out there, though. People tend to hold on to them.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
EVOL!

EVOL!

Posted
Posted
Take a good look at the pickups. Later Sheratons have full-size humbuckers. The 'originals' (i.e. Kalamazoo) models and (from what I've heard) some of the Korean-made 90's-era Sheratons had the correct mini humbuckers.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the Riviera, not the Sheraton, originally had mini humbuckers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted

One of these, if you can find one (used...they're no longer made). Assembled In USA Sheraton II

(Stop bar tailpiece), mini-humbuckers, Nitro finish, and awesome construction and finish detail.

Bodies and necks were made in Terada factory, in Japan (Where the Elitist were made), shipped here,

for finishing and assembly. Identical, to Kalamazoo specs, and were offered in both Sheraton (I) with

frequensator tailpiece, and Sheraton II (like mine)...in Sunburst and Natural finishes. All electronics

(pickups, pots, switch) and metal parts are USA. Plays as well, or better, than any guitar I own, and

sounds amazing!! Mine is bone stock, except for the tuning buttons..which I changed to "Imperial" buttons.

The tuners themselves, are stock.

 

Cheers, and good hunting!

 

DSC_0235.jpg

DSC_0237.jpg

DSC_0238.jpg

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites
charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted
Correct me if I am wrong' date=' but I thought the Riviera, not the Sheraton, originally had mini humbuckers. [/quote']

 

Original Sheratons (USA) had first...two single coil "New York" pickups. Later, they were changed to

Mini-humbuckers. Full sized humbuckers didn't appear on Sheratons (or Riviera's for that matter),

until after 1970, when production was moved to Asia (Japan, first...the Korea, and now China).

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tulsaslim

tulsaslim

Posted
Posted

Sweet, CB. I put Imperial tuners on all my Epi dots. If you've got to live with that headstock you may as well have tuners in the same style.

When I was in the Hollywood GC a couple of years ago I must've played 30 or 40 guitars, including all the Gibson Custom Shop models back in the 'special' room and, much to my surprise, an Epi Sheraton II was the best-playing guitar I played there.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted
Sweet' date=' CB. I put Imperial tuners on all my Epi dots. If you've got to live with that headstock you may as well have tuners in the same style.

When I was in the Hollywood GC a couple of years ago I must've played 30 or 40 guitars, including all the Gibson Custom Shop models back in the 'special' room and, much to my surprise, an Epi Sheraton II was the best-playing guitar I played there.[/quote']

 

 

Hi, Slim...thanks...and, good to hear from you, again. Yeah, I have a good friend, that has a black 'Samick"

made Sheraton II, that's just great! He's been using it, as his main guitar, for several years, now...and

wouldn't part with it! Definitely, a LOT of great guitar, for the money!

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites
tulsaslim

tulsaslim

Posted
Posted
That looks SWEET CB! I'd love to get my hands on one of those.

 

The Epi that I really lust over is a nice Casino. An elitist or a Lennon Revolution Casino would be so great to have.

 

Tulsaslim.. I LOVE that back room at the GC in Hollywood.

 

 

Yeah, they had about a hundred grand worth of guitars I would like to own.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted

Also, Sheratons have (besides more "bling"), a generally thinner neck, than most Dots. So, depending

on your preferences, or needs, that may be worth considering, as well? As to Korean, vs Chinese?

Well, that quality, will be dictated by Gibson, now. With Samick, they controlled the quality, for the most

part. With Qingdao, Gibson does. It was the primary reason, the Gibson opened the Qingdao factory...

So, they could control (totally) the quality, and spec issues. Chinese guitars, will be as good as Gibson

will allow them to be. As with any mass produced item, there will be some, that slip through the cracks,

but that happens, even at Gibson! ;>)

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites
charlie brown

charlie brown

Posted
Posted
That looks SWEET CB! I'd love to get my hands on one of those.

 

The Epi that I really lust over is a nice Casino. An elitist or a Lennon Revolution Casino would be so great to have.

 

Tulsaslim.. I LOVE that back room at the GC in Hollywood.

 

 

Thanks, Dub...yeah, I used to visit that Hollywood CG back room,, quite often. Always found

something to lust for, but either couldn't afford...or justify! LOL!

 

CB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...