Epiphone Sheraton II

This is the first hollow body electric I've bought, and being left handed I felt incredibly constricted with my choice. I felt that by paying considerably more than an epi dot I would be getting one of the more high brow epiphones. It came with a decent standard hard case, manufactured in Korea etc etc, I was pleased that it came in a vintage sunburst finish rather than the darker finish that had been circulated earlier, I think due to the case I'll giv it an 8

I play mostly indie and new wave, and I run it through a 70's solid state ac30, it sounds great I can nail pretty much every sound I want, and get it sounding decent on a budget. I used to play it through a Marshall avt, which I wouldn't recommend, as the bass notes sound too muddy and aren't pleasant when playing with other musicians. This guitar excells at beating out some bluesy bends and beats anything I've played before, aswell as fuctionig well as a rhythm guitar

As you'd expect due to the mass production of this model there are some flaws such as loose tuning pegs and loose strap pegs but these can all be tightened. At first I thought the action was too high, expecting it to be as low as a strat or a tele, but I soon realised this is what gives the sheraton it's depth and rich tone other than that it was in perfect condition.

I think this guitar has a decent level of reliabity, and it has a better level of durability than some of epiphones other models. I'd take a back up though, as sometimes you can't be too sure with the Sheraton.

I've never had a problem with it, but due to size of the Gibson company I'd expect there customer support to be very lackluster, and to have to use an independant

I think what makes this guitar good is how it suits musicians who want something considerably better than an entry level guitar, but can't pay for the big names. I'd buy it again, I can see myself playing it for a long time too. However i do wish that the built quality was of a higher level than an epiphone lp 100

I bought mine used for $450 with hardshell case. It was a beautiful earthtone brown burst. I researched the serial # and found it was manufactured in mid '90s. I spent ALOT of time playing it when I first got it. It was VERY comfortable to play sitting down. However, when standing with a guitar strap, I found it top heavy and the headstock tipped downward. I had to keep adjusting it while playing and that's EXTREMELY annoying.

Shortly after I bought it, I had occasion to sit with a Gibson 335 standard. The comparison was inevitable: there was no comparison! The Gibson practically played itself in my hands. It was a very fine instrument and clearly the Sheraton, although a very nice guitar and a good deal for the dollar, is NOT in the same category.

I coaxed some very nice tones out of this guitar in live setting. It was more prone to feedback than my LP-style solid body guitar, which is expected, but it was controllable. I would have liked very much to pop a couple of gibson '57 classics in it for comparision to the original pickups, but in the end, I decided to sell the guitar outright. I had other priorities. It hurt to see it go and I felt like I owed it an explanation ("It's me, not you.."), but all things considered, it was the right decision for me. I got what I paid for it so I guess they hold their value. Plus I got free play time on a new guitar! I still want a 335 style, but I think I'll hold out for a Gibson 335 Standard.

Overall, I'd say the Sheraton II is good value for the money if you buy it used. I couldn't see spending $800+ Canadian for new one. That's what they're listed for nowadays....

My Epi. Sheraton II: 2006 Made in Korea,Ebony Finish, Semihollow Body, Maple Center. Block, f-holes, Laminated Maple Top, Sides, Back, Multi. Ply Set Neck Maple and Rosewood I believe, Rosewood Fingerboard. Abalone and Mother O' Pearl inlays and Binding all around. Gold hardware: Grover Tuners, Tune-O-Matic style bridge, Stop bar tailpiece. Three way switch, Dual Alnico Epi Classic Humbuckers.

I like to play Blues, Alt/Indie Rock, some Funk, and Rock n' Roll. I think this guitar suits my needs to cover and blend these tone territories. My setup is pretty simple: My Sheraton II into a BOSS Tuner pedal into my Mesa Boogie Express 5:50 2x12 all tube combo, and occasionally I'll use a BOSS CE-2 Chorus pedal the effects loop. Okay as for the sounds I get on the neck pickup: full, warm, mellow at times when rolling back tone knobs, great sustain overdriven, and sweet resonant clean tones. As for the bridge pickup: seems not as full as neck pickup,(could be the height adjustment) it gets trebly but not too harsh, good rock sounds, but still has a nice sustain and harmonics for screaming leads. In my opinion, the Sheraton II sounds are pretty versatile, although I don't think it would suit best for styles with really high gain, it might produce too much feedback. I like the sound of this guitar in stock form, but like every guitar I've owned, I may do a few mods. to it, just to add more personality that suits me. But I'm in no rush to overhaul it.

I got this guitar in a trade, so when I tried it out it there wasn't a factory setup. I was surprised how well it was set up with low action to it's smooth rosewood frets with well detailed inlays. The neck bindings could be a bit smoother at the edges, but playing it over and over I think will naturally erode them. It does have some oxidizing goin on the gold hardware, which I like it's aging look. The input jack loosens, but I just retighten it. The 3 way switch makes a little noise sometimes but doesn't bother me. The finish and detail of this guitar is excellent! The Grover Tuners are smooth and stay in tune really well. The strap buttons are bigger than my old Gibson SG's, and they work fine with my movement. This guitar feels well-built, and seems like it will age nicely.

I have not gigged with this guitar yet, but I think it will last and become my "workhorse" down the road.

Never dealt with em.

I've been playing almost 15 years now and throughout I've owned a few guitars (Gibson, Fender, BC Rich, Charvel), and this guitar's sound and vibe suits me. I love that I found this guitar, it really inspires me-

Guitar was built Unsung Korea in April 2009 - Vintage Sunburst finish; comes with 3 piece maple neck, 2 PAF styled humbuckers, laminated maple body, 3 way PU selector switch, 2 tone and 2 volume for each pick up, gold hardware and grover tuners, stunning pearl/abalone inlay and double bound body.

The finish of my guitar is absolutely stunning, I may have gotten lucky but as many others have since commented, it's the sweetest looking Epiphone Sheraton II due to the incredible flame maple figuring on both the top and back of the body. The finish is poly and is extremely durable.

The neck is not too fat and not too thin ... I love the feel of the Sheraton II neck - it is extremely fast and comfortable to play. After a set up the guitar stays in tune beautifully. Solid features all round and a ten from me as it's what I wanted.

This guitar has excellent acoustic projection even before it is plugged in. The pick ups are not great but ok and while they are fine for now I will be replacing them with something hotter in the bridge and perhaps a PAF 57 in the neck.

There is nothing to dislike about this guitar sound wise ... once you get some upgraded PU's and replace the pots et al this guitar will equal any Gibson 335. I tried quite a few Gibsons side by side with the Sheraton - pound for pound the Sheraton is the equal of the Gibson with the only factor being that pickups. The fit and finish of the Epiphone was generally superior, but for small items, like the Gibson has a bone nut while the Epi has a plastic one - easily fixed.

Apart from these little things the Sheraton is a class act ... I played the Sherry through an AC30 for about 3 hours and this guitar just ripped - I nailed country, rockabilly, blues, rock and jazz riffs all day long; what can't this guitar do? Side by side with the Gbison 335 the feel of both guitars was about the same ... the Epiphone is a perfect platform for upgrades and once done you won't look back.

I'll also be adding a Bigsby to mine ... soundwise it will be a 10 when upgraded but out of the box it's a 7. I give it a 10 because it WILL sound a 10 with new PU's.

This is where I was really impressed ... the Sheraton I selected is just stunning. The bound body, the vine inlay headstock, gold hardware which I usually hate on any guitars - looks wonderful on this guitar. The neck is 3 piece maple with two skunk stripes ... the frets all smoothed off - inlay is perfect on the fret markers. Of all the guitars I played the Sheraton II was the best for fit and finish, better than the Gibsons I played and $2000 cheaper.

You gotta ask yourself ... is a Gibson $2000 better than this? No! Once upgraded this guitar is THE guitar.

I have not gigged it yet but it feels very solid and sturdy to me ... the finish is pretty bullet proof if I can draw that bow. The reports are that the hardware tarnishes pretty quick and that suits me just fine as I like that aged look. Overall this guitar will last.

Stunning guitar ... buy one!

Made in korea. laminated top, to epiphone humbucker pickups, It has grover gold tuners that came stock. Holds perfect tune. 3 way switch. archtop guitar. I bought the VS and it looks amazing. like a million bucks...I love the inlay on the headstock!

Well this is my first arch top guitar i did alot of looking around before i bought this one i almost bought a Dot, But then i got an amazing deal on this sherton that i could not pass up. I use only tube amps no solid state amps , 1 vintage 1 new fender. I love this Guitar i had know idea what i was missing I TOTALLY DIG THIS ARCHTOP HUMBUCKER MONSTER!
Its a great Rock Guitar Great blues guitar great jazz guitar what the hell its all you need it even sounds desent unpugged and you can play through and amp clean and do the singer songwriter thing if need be. its my go to guitar now...My get up in the morning before work and play come home after a long day and write a song on...Ive Been reborn I see the light!
Its all about my SHERATON NOW! and this is not my first day of owning if ive had its for 6 months and were still in love...Thats saying alot when these days theres so many guitars to choose from its hard to bond with a guitar...THis sheraton sounds amazing

THis one has no flaws and its a factory second...it looks perfect sounds even better than it looks...

One Word( strap loks when you play live).....yes this is a professional grade instrument only thing i plan on changing is the 3 way switch..

Ive Been playing and singing a hundred years back when johnny rotten was king..I own bunch of guitars and some may say im a gear junkie and they would be right...I dig this epi and it is staying in the family for sure.

You know the features. My story is as follows: I'm a full time musician and make a living with a guitar in my hand. My first guitar was an Epiphone, so I've always had a soft spot for 'em. I've had a few since, but none that I've been satisfied with. (I also own several american strats and teles, Gibsons, and some high end Martins.) I've wanted a 335 forever, but just never found one that I thought played quite as well as the price tag said it should. I've also browsed the Epi hollow bodies over the last few years, and had pretty much written them off until I found this particular Sheraton II. I assume it is the newest model, since it's made in China, but it plays MUCH better than the ones I've tried in the past. Sounds similar.

My buddy was lookin' for a guitar at a local shop and I was just along for the ride, checkin' out some microphones and such. He asked me to play it for him and see if it was worth-a-count while he played a tele, because it looked so cool.

A Deluxe reverb and 30 minutes in the booth, and I was ready to take it home. It's not the best guitar in the world, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's superb for the money. I ended up paying $700 otd with tax and the matching hardshell case.

I'd rate this a 6 for features because it really doesn't have anything past the basics, however it does come equipt with nice Gotoh tuners that work very smoothly, and a pretty nice vintage sunburst finish for a foriegn made instrument, so I'll give it an 8.

The tone is not bad at all. Not made in USA quality, but it's close. I've found the bridge pickup to be thin sounding in comparison to the neck, no matter how they're adjusted. It's not so bad that it's unusable, and there are still a lot of sweet sounds to be had, they just aren't '57 classics.

Freddy King tones are easily dialed in on the bridge with my BiValve juiced up a bit, and with a switch to the neck and a couple of knob turns you can nail the Jazz sound. And of course, B.B. is just right there, anytime. The Sheraton into a vintage Princeton is absolutely amazing for Wes Montgomery type licks, and into anything with a shade of Marshall you can get early Clapton easily. The sustain is impressive with or without gain, and as you'd expect, you get that great woody tone from the semi-hollow body.

I give it an 8 here too, because it's seriously close to a new 335, but a step or two away, overall.

Best Epiphone I've ever played, and it certainly rivals many, (and shames some), of the Gibsons I've had and tried. The fret work is very good, and the setup was nearly spot on. All I did was install some heavier strings and raise the action just a bit. Intonation was on from the get-go, and the neck is just right. No buzzes or dead spots and the inlay is sweet.

The finish is also good for what it is. Again, it's not a U.S. made, solid wood instrument, but it has no real blems or corners that were cut, and the vintage burst looks great with the gold hardware, and pickguard with the kewl Epi "E" symbol. The knobs work well and smoothly and the headstock inlay is a little much for me, but looks very nick with the classy outline and old school logo. The nut looks and feels like a piece of crap, plain and simple. I will likely have this replaced soon.

I'm rating this a 9. However, this is only in comparison to other Epiphone and Gibson guitars. I'd have to say 7-8 if you bring out some American Fenders for direct scrutiny.

I've not had it toooo long, but I suspect the electronics will need replacement before anything.

Overall, this is a GREAT guitar for the price. Get's you right there with the 335 crowd for half the price. The nut and electronics are the weak points here, but with a little bone or coriander and a set of '57 classics, I'm sure it'd be nearly indistiguishable from the "real deal".

Mine is built in the mid 90's which are reportedly of a very good construction quality (which i can affirm)

It's a standard semi-hollow body Epiphone Sheraton II with 2 humbuckers.
As it's a very versatile instrument in my opinion, it gets a 9 for features.

I like the full, round sound of this semi-hollow body guitar. Acoustically it sounds like an es-335. When amplified, the stock pickups give the guitar away as a copy - they sound veiled, although well balanced. But i miss the articulation. Also the distortion coming from them is not very pleasant - not enough bite and highs. I'mplanning to change them either to Gibson classic 57's or SD Antiquity's - haven't decided yet. That should make it quite indistinguishable from an es-335. Non the less, this Epi is very versatile and fits well for many styles - rock'n roll, rock, blues, heavy stuff and even jazz.
For what it is now, i give the sound an 8.

I bought it used a year ago. Previous owner had set it up very well. No issues.
The finish is good. Don't know if it's normal or it is just my guitar, but the block inlays on the neck are surrounded by a broader frame of glue stains than i usually see on such necks. But i'm not sure if they came like that from the factory and it's nothing that is very apparent.
A volume pot is a bit loose - but that's probably a question of age and use.
The overall finish is beautiful. When it comes to looks - this is the most beautiful guitar i've seen. With its vintage sunburst (which is in a different color than the Gibsons and the new production Sheratons - it is darker, a bit more on the red/brown side) and the well designed pickguard form it is visually a very balanced design (although a bit on the fancy side - maybe to fancy for some tastes).
The action took me some while to get used to, because my primary axe is a strat - so the neck is quite a bit thicker and wider. Once you get used to it, it plays well, although, i still prefer the neck of my strat.

i give this an 8 because as a semi-hollow guitar it will never be as durable as solid bodies. Other than the aforementioned little flaws - everything seems to be fine on this guitar - even after the 10+ years of use.

no idea. but i think i'll never have to find out.

I'm very pleased with this instrument. Visually it's just stunning - great for shows. Soundwise ithink it has no reason to hide from a real es-335 (provided you upgrade the pickups). For this price (450 euros used) i think this is the best way to get good es-335 sound and looks (to my taste the looks are even better!)
I would buy it again if it would be stolen - it's so versatile and fun to play. I would recommend to look for the used ones - especialy from the 90's - beginning to mid. The wood is drier and the instruments will sound more balanced (provided they have been properly handled by the owner) and they have the most beautiful finish. I've heard that the pickups on the newer ones are improved - but they don't come close to proper PAF copies, so you probably will have to change them anyway.
I relaly like it for many reasons - so it gets a 9.

This is a 2007/08 Made in "Korea" Epiphone Sheraton II. I've been around guitars about 36 years, sometimes playing a lot and sometimes not at all. I've always wanted an ES-335. Well finally I bit the bullet and decided to at least take a look at them even though I knew they are fairly expensive. Plan "B" was to also look at some of the knock off's like the Sheraton II because I've owned Asian made guitars in the past and they are built quite nicely. Long story short, after playing and getting the feel of the ES-335 in comparison to the Sheraton II, and the fact that there was about a 3k difference in price, the Sheraton II WON hands down. It played better, looked much better and the detailing blew away the full fledged Gibson. although Epi is now back to being a subsidiary of Gibson. The finish work on the Epi was unbelievable and even the smallest detail in the binding etc. was incredible. Now for the not so good part. The overall "plugged in" sound. The Gibson of course had better tone range and especially clarity and could get dirty very nicely whereaqs the pups and pots on the Sheraton II left a lot to be desired. This is probably where the Epi is saving the manufacturing cost. On the hardware. The bridge on the Epi was fine as well as the tailpiece. I was concerned with the machine heads because the guitar easi;y went out of tune quickly but after a set up, now it's just fine. I did make some mods though after contacting Gibson directly. After doing my research I decide to change the pups to Gibson Burstbuckers # 2 & # 3. I also bought matching pots rated at 500 ohms or better. I changed out the nut to a bone nut. Now? Let's just say that this guitar should now be called an Epi-TUDE !! The enhancements that were made gave me exactly what I was looking for and then some!! This guitar SCREAMS when you want it too and MELLOWS to rival ANY hollow body out there. The tone range is now absolutely unbelievable. Sustain? HA...Don't even go there !!! I think it actually holds sustain even better than my '64 SG Custom !!

I play anything from simple Blues shuffles to Hendrix and most anything in between and this guitar can now deliver any of it. I typically use a 50 watt Marshall and there again, I can get the cleanest "cleans" to the "dirtiest" dirties in a heartbeat. Sounds are rich and full and encompassing and it seeems like every note, particualrly with chords is very punchy and clear as heck.

Factory set up was ok I guess. i played it out of the box for a good 6 months before any mods and even a set up. I wanted to be sure of exactly what I wanted done and did my homework before wasting time and money. From what I can see, I can't fnd any flaws anywhere but then again, this is a Korean made guitar and not the newer Chinese made parts which I've read were pretty bad. Don't forget though that the final assembly as I hear it told is actually made here in the U.S. by Gibson.The Korean components then are meticulous except for the pups and pots and nut.

I don't see any reason why this guitar won't last a lifetime or 2. One of the things I really love about the guitar's finish is that whatever they use on the neck is absolutely fantastic. Normally, especially with the new "laquered" guitars, the necks get gummy and binding and need constant attention as the laquer is still "curing". Not so with the Epi. You can play it for hours and never does the neck feel dirty or gummed up. The only thing that I'm not sure about, and only time will tell, is if the finish on the bridge and tailpiece will hold up or fade or flake. It has a gold finish but even if it did "wear" in looks that wouldn't concern me. Gig without a backup? Most certainly. This guitar is solid in feel and build and again, I found it rather impressive next to the ES-335's in this respect.

Never had to use it except for asking hardware questions to Gibson directly and they were very helpful.

Like I mentioned, I've been around guitars for quite some time and can normally spot quality when I see it. I tend to like the finishing touches on the higher end guitars and to me, tonal range is very important. I also own a Yamaha Accoustic which introduced me to lower cost, but higher quality workmanship of guitars made in Asia. My other guitar is a Gibson Les Paul Double Cutaway Plain Top along with the '64 SG Custom that I have. This Epi-Tude is now my main player and if it were stolen or something? I would totally replace it with the mods that I made because it's such a pure joy to play.

I Have a (what i believe is) a 2007 lefty Epiphone Sheraton II, Vintage Sunburst..I changed the stock pickups to Seymour Duncan SH-1 on the neck and SH-4 JB on the bridge, also got a 335 assembly kit from Mojo Musical Supply to replace all the electronics (pots, switches, etc) and got Gibson gold speed knobs to top it off. the grover tuners that it came with were fine and so was the nut (Im not sure if its bone but definitely not plastic)so no changes there...

First off, don't assume that i made these mods because i didn't like how the guitar sounded or played. I was already happy playing the stock guitar at numerous gigs and got nice compliments from a lot of people on the looks and sound of it...These mods were more about my curiosity if this guitar could be (significantly) better than it already is, and if it's worth spending that extra $300...well, the answer is YES!! In my opinion the guitar now sounds and looks BETTER than an ES-335, which i don't even consider buying anymore even now that i have the funds for it...warm, mellow, and distinct on the neck, and trebly but full on the bridge. endless sustain and a wide range of tonal possibilities, maybe the assembly kit with the gibson pots and vitamin t capacitors had a hand on that..my rating is after the mod. I still would say the pre-mod guitar was worth a 9, and 1 point difference does not seem SIGNIFICANT, but like i said the stock guitar sounded great already..I'm just surprised how much better it is now and im glad i did it....

Action,fit and finish were fine and playable out of the box...only needed to do sone fine tuning on my part....finish was flawless, cannot find any blems anywhere...

I've had this guitar for less than a year now, still looks new..but then i take good care of it. i have not needed to use a backup with this guitar..even with the old electronics installed..

so far i have not yet the need to call epiphone/gibson

Been playing for 22 yrs, i have worked at music stores, played and owned LOTS of guitars over the years, righty or lefty guitars i've tried them, all...this guitar is something special to me and i have grown attached to it, i try cycling through all my guitars for gigs whenever i can, but for the important ones i take this one. simply put it just brings the best out of me. one of the best value guitars out there, and sfter the mods, it can go against any 3k guitar out there any day...i highly recommend this guitar with or WITHOUT mods.

All of the other reviews are right on target. Mine is a 2007 model.

I play all different types of music. Mainly in the style of the White Stripes, Pink Floyd (Barrett and Gimlmour), the Beatles, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, RHCP, Zeppelin, the Doors, the Who, Cream, Hendrix, Weezer, and so on. You get the picture. It works for all of them and more.

If you play anything from jazz to rock to blues and back, this is awesome. It does it all. If you are a funk player, maybe you should look elsewhere. It is not a bad funk guitar, but it's not the best for funk.

I plug it into: EHX MicroSynth> Digitech Whammy> Digitech Space Station> Seymour Duncan Tweak Fuzz> Vox Clyde McCoy Wah> Boss DS-1>EHX Small Stone> Digitech TurboFlange> Digitech DigiDelay> Ernie Ball Volume> Vox AC-15.

This guitar is very quiet. This is as long as you don't on super high gain. Yes, it is semi-hollow, but at such levels of distortion its no good. This is NOT a metal guitar. It barely does RATM. But, for what I play it is great.

The tone is incredible. It's very rich and full. A lot of overtones come out of it. Its got a fat and warm tone. It is very distinctive, so you will stand out in a mix. It can carry a large range of tones, whether you like more bass, treble, or mid. As for the pickups, they are also great. The neck pickup is pristine and sings. The bridge pikcup is slightly muddy, but there is no reason to spend the time or money replacing them, they are great. If you want a classic semi hollow tone, but with a little more uniqueness, look no further.

It has great action low, but not low enough so it buzzes. The pickups were positioned precisely, just the right tone for anyone. The routing was fine, I couldn't find a single factory flaw.The tuners are Grovers also, which in my book is a huge plus.

The guitar itself is beautiful. I have it in natural, and let me tell you first hand, it is one of the most great looking guitars ever. The inlays are like no other, a great design with great materials. The binding was also of that caliber, and the hardware accents it well.

The guitar is a live machine. I have played around 35 shows with no problems using only this guitar. The strap buttons were nice and strong and held the strap well, but just for the extra security I ut in the DiMarzio locking strap.

The hardware sometimes gets dirty of foggy but its nothing that is uncleanable. the hardware is also very durable and I haven't seen any signs of wear within my year of owning it.

I doubt the clear coat will ever wear off and anyway, the guitar is natural. Well mine is, but the finish on the others seem nice.

If I had to gig for my life, this guitar would not let me down. It can probably go through hell and back. I have gigged with no backups and had no problems.

I have never needed to use them and probably never will.

I have been playing for maybe 4 years or so, I have all the gear listed above, along with a Strat, a Washburn Idol, and a Washburn Acoustic.

If it were stolen I would buy it again. Maybe if it were stolen I would buy the Elitist, which has better tone, but not better looks. I love everything about mine. My favorite feature is the fact that it is semi hollow.

I would compare it to the Hagstrom Viking. This is a very close competitor. But, Hagstroms aren't as readily available. Hags also don't compare looks wise. The tonal capabilities are almost equal though.

Truly this is a great guitar for anyone looking for a guitar with beauty and tone. It also is a great conversation starter and is great to take with you to jams.