tonedeva Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm considering buying a 1990-91 ? sheraton. Says made in USA. It has mini humbuckers and inside the guitar it has a Gibson/kalamazoo sticker. The guitar is perfect..better than any epiphone I've seen or played. Can someone out there help me with identifying this guitar and it's origin? Someone said this is pre-elitist so....??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchCassidy Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 sounds like an elitist? except then I wouldn't know why it would say made in USA. Are you sure about that? I don't think epi's made guitars here in the last couple decades, but of course I say this with no backing knowledge and only what I suspect. But yeah, the sheri's with mini hums are elitists. They have the head without the "cut off" corners as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonedeva Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 The sticker on back of head stock says assembled in USA. Another person said this is one of those guitars that were made before the move to japan and is kind of an oddity. Hence it's hefty price. Whats a Sheraton II Elite go for from the 90's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm not an expert, but there was a Sheraton model in the 90s that was made in Japan, but assembled in the USA. At least one person around here owns one. I've even seen people refer to theirs as being as recent as 2005, but, again, I'm no expert. Reviews from 2006 put it at about $1200. If it's a 1962 reissue, as I've seen, that also explains the Kalamazoo label, since Gibson moved to Nashville in the 80s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonedeva Posted November 30, 2008 Author Share Posted November 30, 2008 Thanks for input. Do you read serial numbers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AS90 Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Its the same as an Elitist but it has nitro and they were assembled in the USA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Thanks for input. Do you read serial numbers? guitar dater project is a very handy website, it gives info by the sereal #'s breakdown. Also, if you can get Nelsons(one of the forum users) attention on this subject, he's the most knowledgable one i've seen in regards to Epis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm considering buying a 1990-91 ? sheraton. Says made in USA. It has mini humbuckers and inside the guitar it has a Gibson/kalamazoo sticker. The guitar is perfect..better than any epiphone I've seen or played. Can someone out there help me with identifying this guitar and it's origin? Someone said this is pre-elitist so....??? Good idea. Very nice guitars. Probably built in Japan and finished (hardware etc.) in the USA. Mine said "Assembled" rather than "Made", as in "some assembly required" (attaching the metal parts and electronics). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I too purchased a Sheraton USA a couple years agon when they were being discontinued. The guitar was built in Japan and assembled in the U.S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I'm considering buying a 1990-91 ? sheraton. Says made in USA. It has mini humbuckers and inside the guitar it has a Gibson/kalamazoo sticker. The guitar is perfect..better than any epiphone I've seen or played. Can someone out there help me with identifying this guitar and it's origin? Someone said this is pre-elitist so....??? Everything here depends upon the the serial number and is "made in the USA" actually stamped into the back of the headstock or is it a sticker that says "assembled in the USA" In 1993/1994 Gibson made a very limited run (250 of each) of some models like the Riviera, Sheraton and Emperors in Nashville and Bozeman. These were pretty good guitars (I own two of the Rivieras) but in my opinion the mini humbuckers used were less than stellar. Otherwise, they were at the level of the Kalamazoo-made guitars. Incredibly these guitars haven't attained a high premium considering their rarity and custom shop quality. The Sheraton is probably in the range of $2250 but rarely do they come up for sale. In 1999 or so Gibson contracted with Terada in Japan to build the bodies for a line of guitars they then assembled here, probably meaning they added USA electronics and possibly even finishing them here. These Sheratons were part of a John Lee Hooker signature model run and it lasted until about 2005 or so. About 2006 the over-runs started showing up at places like Musician's Friend without any of the JL Hooker signature stuff for as low as $900 which is incredible because these are equal to the Elitist line and have the advantage of a nitro-cellulose finish(an absolute must-have for me personally). These now go for around $1200 on E Bay and are fantastic guitars and can usually be found at any given time on E Bay. The John Lennon Casinos were similarly made in Japan and assembled here. The question is, which one do you have? If you have "Made In The USA" stamped into the back of the headstock it's a limited Nashville run. If it's "Assembled in The USA" on a sticker it's a Japanese/assembled in the USA model. Both are pretty damn good guitars but the "Made In" certainly is a far better bet as a future collectible. Nelson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Nelson. I'll check my two "Made in USA" guitars tomorrow". And I will copy your response into my "Sheraton" database. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonedeva Posted December 1, 2008 Author Share Posted December 1, 2008 It has the sticker. Again the guitar seems a cut above any modern day Sheraton I've tried. I haven't bought the guitar yet. I wanted to be sure I'm not overpaying for some guitar that has been mis-represented. Knowingly or not.I want to thank everyone who has responded to my quetions. This is my first experience with a forum and I must say it has been great. Thanks again!! I'm still interested in any info anybody has on this subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bdee Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 I have an older Sheraton. A hand me down. Always heard it was made in Kalamazoo MI. Pre-Gibson. Any ideas what years I'm shooting for? It's in storage, or I'd have the serial number. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 Epiphone began importing in 1970. They used up many, many leftover blue labels (from Kalamazoo) at that time, so don’t rely on the label. Post some pics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinTheHood Posted December 18, 2019 Share Posted December 18, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Bdee said: I have an older Sheraton. A hand me down. Always heard it was made in Kalamazoo MI. Pre-Gibson. Any ideas what years I'm shooting for? It's in storage, or I'd have the serial number. There are no pre Gibson Sheratons, only pre import sheratons. Gibson bought Epiphone in 1957, and the Sheraton began production in 1958. It may have been produced in Kalamazoo though, but we would need to see the guitar and serial. Edited December 18, 2019 by RobinTheHood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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