pilgrimfoot Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Hi Everybody, Just looking for help determining if I bought a fake Sheraton II. I understand that the Epiphone Sheraton II is not the most logical guitar to fake, but I've heard that it happens. Details: - got it from Craigslist for $450 - great shape - it has serial number and "made in Korea" on back of neck - there is NO sticker inside (does that make it likely to be fake?) - I checked "Guitar Dater" and the serial number comes up with No matches Are there any good ways to tell if its fake or real? [Right, here are some pics, thanks Sledge 57...] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledge57 Posted February 10, 2009 Share Posted February 10, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilgrimfoot Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks, I've added some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcelo1281734115 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I thought the Korean guitar would have a letter or two followed by 8 numbers. Usually, the first 2 numbers are the year, the second 2 numbers are the month and the remaining 4 numbers is the guitar series number that was built that month. By your numbering, they could only have made up to 999 guitars in May of 1992, which sounds too low a number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axegrinder1281734111 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Hmm. Definitely looks very suss . Headstock looks wrong , "epiphone" inlay - wrong angle , back should be black , 'made in korea' should be removable sticker , "gotoh" style tuners should be Grovers [ possibly replacements] , but the s/no and lack of lable are most concerning . Best bet is to take it to a dealer or epi service specialist ,as , photos don't quite tell enough . Anyhow I hope it works out for you . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EpiSheriMan Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 "gotoh" style tuners should be Grovers [ possibly replacements] No,...tuners are standard early korean model tuners and are 100% correct. Grover style were only on later Chinese models... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Looks to be an early Samick (Korean) Sheraton. S###### Certainly has the right bridge, and pickguard logo, as well as the smaller (narrower) "f" holes. Guitar Dater is not always accurate! The logo is a strange angle, but not unhead of! Most are angled slightly upward, toward the small (last) "e"...but, even on Google (images) you'll see them like this, and even straight across. And at different places in reference to the top, as well...some are closer, other more centered. (I.E. they all over the place...inconsitent). And, not all Korean Sheraton's have Grovers or removable "made in Korea" stickers. That's mosly the later, and/or Chinese versions. I'd venture to say it's "legit!" And, by the photos, in great condition. Congratulations! And....HNGD! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthewk Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Looks good to me - I have a 97 Samick Sheraton and it differs in only a couple of things - the pickguard E is a foil adhesive, the logo is the older-style script logo, the nut is black and the pickguard is darker tort. Yours looks like a transition between the "Epiphone by Gibson" logo to the later Epiphone with Gibson TRC. Otherwise it looks identical, f holes are narrow, body is the same shape, vintage burst is the same, hardware is the same, neck construction is the same (and very time consuming to fake), inlays are the same, frets and binding are the same. Looks like you bought a good quality instrument which has been well looked after - congratulations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matthewk Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 oops, double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchCassidy Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a '93 Sheraton. Our guitars are completely identical except for yours is tobacco burst and mine is natural. The epiphone logo on mine is completely straight like yours, it's not a removable made in korea sticker, pickguard "e" is painted on, etc. Yours is a 1992. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yew Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 If it plays nice, sounds nice, and has a nice finish, then it doesnt matter if its fake, because a good guitar is a good guitar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caulkhead Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Looks like a great guitar to me - if it was a fake it would likely be a fake of a more modern Sheraton and the serial number would definitely come up as the fakers steal these numbers from actual epiphone guitars. How does it play and sound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilgrimfoot Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Wow, so much great info from you all, I really appreciate it. The guitar sounds pretty good, and feels pretty good. I'm new to this style of guitar, and relatively new to electric guitars in general. But I think it lacks a little warmth that I hear in a borrowed Sheraton (not a Sheraton II) and even in dots that I've played. Of course I need to get it set up how I like, and then we'll see. My biggest concern was the lack of a sticker inside - the visual oddities added to my fear (slightly different "Epi" logo, lack of black on back of head, and the weird way the serial number is done). And I suppose when buying the guitar from a dude in a parking lot (via Craigslist) there is always that fear (nothing against you - dude in parking lot, if you're reading). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluelake07 Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Yours looks like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/1994-GIBSON-EPIPHONE-SHERATON-WITH-HARDSHELL-CASE_W0QQitemZ180326706892QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MST Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 If it plays nice' date=' sounds nice, and has a nice finish, then it doesnt matter if its fake, because a good guitar is a good guitar...[/quote'] Dare I say it...resale value? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Rock Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 If it plays nice' date=' sounds nice, and has a nice finish, then it doesnt matter if its fake, because a good guitar is a good guitar...[/quote'] I agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubstar Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 it doesn't even look remotely like a fake... "Hmm. Definitely looks very suss . Headstock looks wrong , "epiphone" inlay - wrong angle , back should be black , 'made in korea' should be removable sticker , "gotoh" style tuners should be Grovers [ possibly replacements] , but the s/no and lack of lable are most concerning . Best bet is to take it to a dealer or epi service specialist ,as , photos don't quite tell enough . Anyhow I hope it works out for you .' my joe pass has an almost identical headstock and printed (not a sticker) MIK: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchCassidy Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 oh, I forgot to mention- on my sheraton that is the same style as yours, there is no sticker inside the f hole either. I really like the olds ones, like we have, and the the way the "epiphone" logo is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 mine has the stamped serial no. and stamped or inked made in korea.. black letters for mine. *natural finish* and yours has dark wood on the neck.. while mine is light.. that's the only difference I see. Did the black and burst models have stained necks? mine had original tuners just like those. those seem reasonable changes, .. I've just never seen the neck on a black or burst sheri! TWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pilgrimfoot Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Yours looks like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/1994-GIBSON-EPIPHONE-SHERATON-WITH-HARDSHELL-CASE_W0QQitemZ180326706892QQihZ008QQcategoryZ33037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewIte Wow, that is exactly like mine except mine has a tortoise shell pick guard. Seeing that made me feel better because the serial number and made-in are the same as mine. Thanks! I'm new to this forum but this seriously rocks, everybody is cool, and helpful. Thanks all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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