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John Lee Hooker Sheraton Limited Edition models


Figaro

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I've found information on three different limited edition John Lee Hooker Sheraton Models that Epiphone has made.

 

One was a run of only 50, made in Korea. They were all sunburst color and had a brass engraved truss rod cover. They have a JL Hooker signed label in the body. They came with a nice vintage brown case with shroud, a picture of JL Hooker and his current CD. These were only sold at Mars Music stores.

 

Another model was a run of 220, made in Korea. These were black color with a white pearloid pickguard and truss rod cover. These had a JL Hooker signed label in the body. These also had "Boogieman" inlayed in the fretboard at the 12th fret. I think these were also only sold at Mars Music stores.

 

The most well-known run was made from Japanese parts but was assembled in the U.S. and also had U.S. parts (pots and pickups). Some had a frequensator tailpiece and some had a stop tailpiece. They listed for $2999 and were finally blown out at stores for around $1000. I think these also have a nitroceulose finish instead of poly. I'm not sure how many of these were made.

 

If anyone can add to this Limited Edition JL Hooker Sheraton information, like the year they were made, current values, etc... please do so. Thanks!

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I too am curious about these, having recently acquired one of the "no name" assembled in USA Sheratons, assumed to be a JLH produced after his passing, so sold without the endorsement info. Those, I gather, were the ones blown out for $1000 (I paid more, like 50% more [blush] ). I still think it was worth it, as it had what I wanted for features, and they just don't make 'em anymore.

 

My understanding was that JLH's had minihumbuckers, and 60's features like flared headstock, mahogany neck, etc. If you take a look on GBase, search for Hooker Sheratons, two pop up, 1999-2001, virtually identical, black, with chamfered headstock, and full size humbuckers. At least one has a discernable "boogieman" 12th fret marker. So I too am mystified, and from what I've heard Gibson doesn't have much to say about it. Those two (Korean?) are going for $1900, I think when new the Japanese/US JLH's retailed for $2600. To state the all-too-obvious, they're worth whatever someone pays for them. But if anyone has more history and insight specifically on JLH (and AI USA) Sheratons, I'm curious to know more.

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You are correct about the USA/Japan JLH Sheraton models having mini humbuckers. The Korean JLH Sheraton models have regular humbuckers.

 

I found out that the sunburst 1 of 50 model was sold in 1998 to commemerate the 50th anniversary of the 1948 release of JLH's first record, "Boom Boom".

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I too am curious about these' date=' having recently acquired one of the "no name" assembled in USA Sheratons, assumed to be a JLH produced after his passing, so sold without the endorsement info. Those, I gather, were the ones blown out for $1000 (I paid more, like 50% more :- ). I still think it was worth it, as it had what I wanted for features, and they just don't make 'em anymore.

 

My understanding was that JLH's had minihumbuckers, and 60's features like flared headstock, mahogany neck, etc. If you take a look on GBase, search for Hooker Sheratons, two pop up, 1999-2001, virtually identical, black, with chamfered headstock, and full size humbuckers. At least one has a discernable "boogieman" 12th fret marker. So I too am mystified, and from what I've heard Gibson doesn't have much to say about it. Those two (Korean?) are going for $1900, I think when new the Japanese/US JLH's retailed for $2600. To state the all-too-obvious, they're worth whatever someone pays for them. But if anyone has more history and insight specifically on JLH (and AI USA) Sheratons, I'm curious to know more.[/quote']

 

I have two of those (assembled in USA) Sheratons. Mini-humbuckers, no emblem of JLH, one of them with a frequensator and one with the stop bridge. I think they were supposed to have a bone nut and nitro finish (like Charlie Brown's), but mine both have a plastic nut, and neither smells like nitrocellulose. I think they are Frankenstein models made with whatever they had left over after making the JLH model. They went for a price between a Korean Sheraton and an Elitist Sheraton.

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Mine's definitely nitro, some checking on the headstock, and it has the nitro feel. The nut looks like corian. Jeffrey Smith, you can help answer a question for me, some sources (non official) claim that these guitars should have 3-ply tops, mine is definitely 5-ply, thin veneers for top, middle, and bottom layers, two thicker layers between those, visible on the edges of the f-holes. Could you check yours to confirm? You also have a white sticker label serial number on a blue Kalamazoo label? Thanks if you can help!

 

I wouldn't say Frankenstein, mine at least is everything an Elitist is, and the tone is superb. Those minis are really growing on me. Every time I play it my buyer's remorse diminishes[biggrin]

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  • 4 months later...

Not a whole lot of new info here but...

 

I purchased Boogieman #196/220 (one of the Ebony Sheraton II's w/ full humbuckers, white pearloid guard/cover, 12th fret inlay) from Mars Music, brand new, for no more than $400 including a case. I recall the 5-ply top being advertised as maple/birch/maple/birch/maple, or some kind of maple/birch combo. Supposedly made in Korea at a Samick factory. No idea on the finish but the guitar looks swamp green under a black-light... try it out, it looks mint!

 

#196 is my main guitar which I play through a Fender Blues Junior N.O.S. (Tweed Cab/Jensen Speaker). It is a freakishly great sounding combo. For extra overdrive I use a Blackstar HT Boost pedal. I'm not one to brag but it's pretty sick. Everyone I play with compliments the tones.

 

I eventually had to replace the tuners and I also replaced the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan Seth Lover SH-55 Humbucker, which puts the Epiphone bridge pup to shame. I had replaced the original neck pickup with an SH-59, but later put the original neck pup back in because it has such a great warm/muddy tone that either contrasts or blends very well with the SH-55. The SH-59 had too much attack and brightness for the neck position, in my opinion.

 

I recently played a modern Epiphone Sheraton II through a Fender BJ N.O.S. and I must say that the new models don't hold a candle to the limited edition Boogieman. I don't know what the differences are between them but they seem to be significant.

 

As of today, gbase.com is selling #46/220 for $1899. Can't find any others online right now.

 

If anyone else has more details on this limited run, please share.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 years later...

Just resurrecting this old thread to add a bit of new information:

 

I have an AIUSA-JLH Sheraton, sunburst with frequensator.

 

I believe it to be from 2000, the first year of production because:

 

It has a unique blue label:

-with John Lee Hooker's signature

-with a small photo of an elderly JLH

-says "Model: John Lee Hooker Signature 1964 Sheraton"

-also "This Limited Edition instrument is hereby guaranteed....."

-and a stamped serial number: JLH 009X

 

The pickguard has "The Boogie Man" running vertically between the pickups in gold.

The two-hole TRC (just like CB's above) has "John Lee Hooker" in gold.

 

JLH passed away in 2001.

What I recently discovered is that the 2001 Epi catalog

shows this exact model with a plain pickguard,

a TRC with an eloganted E,

does not mention a signed label,

and refers to numbering similar to the Lennon AIUSA Casino

which includes JLH's original serial# (stamped), plus a hand written number.

 

I do not know how many of these were made prior to his passing,

and there probably was a transition period with some overlap,

but it was most likely a pretty short run with the original label.

So far the highest number I've encountered is JLH 0318,

which at one time was being sold by Elderly Instruments.

 

At any rate, I feel very fortunate to have acquired this instrument,

as overall, the build quality from the Terada/Gibson combined effort is superb.

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Just resurrecting this old thread to add a bit of new information:

 

I have an AIUSA-JLH Sheraton, sunburst with frequensator.

 

I believe it to be from 2000, the first year of production because:

 

It has a unique blue label:

-with John Lee Hooker's signature

-with a small photo of an elderly JLH

-says "Model: John Lee Hooker Signature 1964 Sheraton"

-also "This Limited Edition instrument is hereby guaranteed....."

-and a stamped serial number: JLH 009X

 

The pickguard has "The Boogie Man" running vertically between the pickups in gold.

The two-hole TRC (just like CB's above) has "John Lee Hooker" in gold.

 

JLH passed away in 2001.

What I recently discovered is that the 2001 Epi catalog

shows this exact model with a plain pickguard,

a TRC with an eloganted E,

does not mention a signed label,

and refers to numbering similar to the Lennon AIUSA Casino

which includes JLH's original serial# (stamped), plus a hand written number.

 

I do not know how many of these were made prior to his passing,

and there probably was a transition period with some overlap,

but it was most likely a pretty short run with the original label.

So far the highest number I've encountered is JLH 0318,

which at one time was being sold by Elderly Instruments.

 

At any rate, I feel very fortunate to have acquired this instrument,

as overall, the build quality from the Terada/Gibson combined effort is superb.

 

AMEN! [thumbup][biggrin]

 

CB

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What's the neck profile like on these guitars? Is it similar to the elitist range I.e quite flat and wide or is it a fuller profile. I have 2 elitists and I love them apart from the flat neck profile.

The neck on my AIUSA-JLH is 1-11/16" at the nut.

The fretwork is in the Gibson style with binding nubs,

rather than having the fret extend over the binding.

 

I would say it has a somewhat wide & flat profile,

more of a 'D' rather than 'C' shape,

which for me feels very comfortable & fast.

 

How that would compare to your Elitists, I'm not sure.

The only Elitist I have is the Casino, 1-10/16" nut,

with a significantly smallish profile overall.

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