Epiphone Sheraton?

[Blackhorse]

Starting to look ahead to the end of the year, when hopefully I will have a few quid, and my guitar collection is missing an archtop since my old Hondo 335-copy got damaged. The Sheraton looks beautiful, and I've heard good things about Epiphone archtops in general.

I liked my old Hondo for sentimental reasons, it was my first guitar, bought around 1990. But it really wasn't that good. I've also played a Shine archtop that was decent, but not great. I now mostly play a strat, but I'd like to have an archtop for a contrast.

I play mostly blues/blues rock through a Fender Blues Jr, if that helps. The Hondo sounded very thin through that amp, but sounded much better through my old JCM800, and most other amps I used it with. Although, come to think of it, it sounded pretty crap through a couple of different Fender amps. My strat, on the other hand, sounds much better through the Blues Jr. So I want something that will sound great with the Blues Jr.

So these are my questions for the forum; has anyone here played one (Sheraton)? Particularly through a Fender valve amp? Just how good are they? Are they worth the extra couple of hundred over a Dot? And what other options are there for around €300-€600?

I recently bought a Martin acoustic, so this is really just looking ahead to my next purchase, won't be happening anytime soon

Thanks

[12bar]

So these are my questions for the forum; has anyone here played one (Sheraton)? Particularly through a Fender valve amp?

Yes and yes. It was my dream guitar (John Lee Hooker!) and I simply love it. Finish, tone, just great.
There are alternatives, even from Epiphone. Just try them (and buy a Sheraton in the end ).
There are several discussions here and on the old forum, just use the forum search.

[VikingBlues]

Not tried one myself but everything I've heard suggests the Sheraton / Fender amp should be a good mix. But ... needs a test for your own ears of course.

The Shraton appears to have a pretty similar spec to my Hagstrom - and that sort of guitar is a good contrast to a strat - gives you a chance to play in a different way - tonally and stylistically. I think the YouTube test below (with a Fender Champ) shows off the quality tones of some clean playing rather nicely - i could imagine these sorts of sounds coming from one of your recordings Blackhorse.
lpgM-WuBhWk

I'd suggest if you're keen on trying out some epi's to give a casino a try if you can (if you steer clear of the Lennon inspired it should be a similar price bracket I think) - quite a different sound with P90s v Humbuckers. As they said in this months UK Guitarist magazine reviewing the Grosh Electrajet when praising its pickups - "P-90 style single-coils still remain niche, and seem more popular Stateside than they are here". Just if you like the single coil sounds of a strat you might find the P90 a contrast but one that's more to your taste. Why on earth they are 'niche' I can't guess. VB now gets off his P90 soapbox.

[2WheelsOfBlues]

Yes and Yes and now the 2e = no.

I have a Shareton II and i had a Fender G-dec 30, sound is great.
Now i have the Line 6 spider jam 75 with the Line 6 XT Live pod and the sound is still great.
The fender and the line 6 are mod. amps.

eehh picture...

Epiphoe Sheraton II




I had her and didn't not let her go for a minit

The Sheraton is playing very nice and the sound is very nice.

I can say scip all and take her first, you will never want a nother again

[Blackhorse]

Hi Gerd,

Have you played a Dot? Is there a big difference? I've heard the neck on the Sheraton is a little smaller, I have small hands so small is good. The Sheraton certainly looks better. My local music shops are very small, they might have one or the other in one of them, but I doubt I'll get a chance to A/B them unless I go into Dublin. I'm sure I'll do that eventually.

NIce link VB, it sounds great through the Champ! I think I prefer humbuckers toP90s, but if I get a chance to try a Casino I will.

2Wheels - I'm so jealous! That is exactly what I caught my eye online, the Sheraton II in a natural finish, tortoise-shell pickguard (at least that's what it looks like). It's a truly beautiful guitar.

I could buy a Dot in a couple of months (Cherry red, mmmm) or save up a little longer for a Sheraton II (natural finish - wow!)
The impression I get is that the Dot is a very good guitar for very little money,but the Sheraton is an excellent guitar for a very reasonable price.

*sigh* I guess I'll be saving up enough for a Sheraton, before heading into Dublin to try them both (and a Casino if possible).

Hmmmm, if I don't buy food or beer for a while, maybe I could get it sooner...

[2WheelsOfBlues]

Well what can i say... it a beautifull one..

HBL has a dot, so maybe he can tell more if it's make any help...

But at the end......go for the Sheraton II

You know if you feel attracted by a guitar and buy yet another for whatever reasons, you always have something to mmmhh why these and not to wait a bit longer for the another ...

[12bar]

Hi Gerd,

Have you played a Dot? Is there a big difference? I've heard the neck on the Sheraton is a little smaller, I have small hands so small is good.

In a shop, yes, but I didn't really play it. I have small fingers, too, and I needed some time to adjust my bends to the different neck (strat before).

NIce link VB, it sounds great through the Champ! I think I prefer humbuckers toP90s, but if I get a chance to try a Casino I will.

I have a Fender Champ, too (600, the cheap tube amp). To be honest, I think it sounds a tick better with the strat. But it's great with the Sherry, too.

Here are some more infos from the old board:

http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2712
http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2456
http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2379
http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2292
http://12bar.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2281


Read them all, then go and get yourself a Sheraton!

[tytlblues]

For what it is worth, I have an epi dot deluxe, sunburst with gold hardware, and love it. My dot sounds better than my Ibanez full hollow body, which I have 13 gauge strings on! But what I really like about the epi is the vintage style 50's neck. It is very thick, and feels like a baseball bat. Did not like it at first, but you can really get your hands around it for bends.

[ElMano]

So these are my questions for the forum; has anyone here played one (Sheraton)? Particularly through a Fender valve amp? Just how good are they? Are they worth the extra couple of hundred over a Dot? And what other options are there for around €300-€600?
Quote:
I have a Johnson Grooveyard JS 500 and i love it. I made this choice because i want to own a 335 type but spend not to much. I had it for about 3 years now and i love it more and more for its sound, looks and playability. Thinking of upgrade the machine-heads fore Grovers, witch has the same size as this ones.
http://www.amazon.com/Johnson-JS-500-NA ... B0033YY7JK

[Blindboy]

I have played both the Dot and the Sheraton, (in a guitar store, unplugged) and I own a Casino. I have seen people playing Dots at open mic jams with excellent results. They sound great through a tube amp. All three Epiphone guitars are good quality and play very well, sound great, and look good. The Casino is a rather different animal, though. It is fully hollow, which makes it lighter (good for gigging all night), but you have to watch the feedback. By the same token, it is possible to get controlled feedback, and some lovely sustain at stage volume. The P-90 sound is different... That is a plus for me. I have been trying for years to NOT sound like all the other blues players out there, and the Casino helps that a lot.
In case you couldn't tell, I REALLY love my Casino. That being said, I do plan to eventually get a 335 style guitar... Probably an Epiphone...

[weelie]

i have a chinese dot. I think new ones are made in indonesia. Used to be korean. Might make a difference in quality?! Same for sheratons?!

In a store here, i tried a sheraton felt cluncky, dot felt better, but the neck is big. Also tried hagstrom (is it longer scale?) sounded brighter than the gibson dot they had. Epi dot sounded muted (like wet wood) compared to gibson.

[12bar]

Got mine from Ebay, an older model, well build. Maybe a used one is a good idea?

[HalfBlindLefty]

My Dot :) well she sounds sweet, it's not a Sheraton ore a Casino and has quite a chunky neck.
She makes me change my way of playing opposed to the thin neck-ed Tokai

I guess I leave the rest of the talking to Dottie

This is about one of my first recordings with the Dot and one of my favorites. A blues to be
6391749

This is somewhat newer (Will you ever be)
10178032

Here the Cybertwin's timbre is set to acoustic scoop. Many rivers
8208310

Here the dot is in Aly's blues, a collab with Aly from jsguitarforum
7189520

[oldskoolchop]

Have you tried an Ibanez Artcore AS? I really like mine better than the Epi's I have played and even a few Gretsch's. I will say I did like the Sheraton's better than the Dot's.

[Blackhorse]

Hey thanks for all the info, especially HBL for the soundclips. The Dot sounds great in your hands! The Sheraton is prettier imo (sorry!) but if the sound is almost the same, do I want to spend an extra €200 on prettiness? Hmmm, maybe

the Artcore is definitely on my radar, oldskoolchop. If I get a chance to play one in the shop I will give it a try, see how it compares in sound and feel. This is just speculation really, I won't be able to afford another guit for a couple of months (maybe 3?) but I'm fairly certain it will be an archtop. I'll go into Dublin with €500 in my pocket and see what I come back with


Sounds like a great day out to me!

[oldskoolchop]

Hey thanks for all the info, especially HBL for the soundclips. The Dot sounds great in your hands! The Sheraton is prettier imo (sorry!) but if the sound is almost the same, do I want to spend an extra €200 on prettiness? Hmmm, maybe

the Artcore is definitely on my radar, oldskoolchop. If I get a chance to play one in the shop I will give it a try, see how it compares in sound and feel. This is just speculation really, I won't be able to afford another guit for a couple of months (maybe 3?) but I'm fairly certain it will be an archtop. I'll go into Dublin with €500 in my pocket and see what I come back with


Sounds like a great day out to me!

one thing in the diff between Ibanez and Epi, Epi's do have better (although not great) pups than I's. But as I change all my pups out to Seymour's that did not matter to me.

[Blackhorse]

one thing in the diff between Ibanez and Epi, Epi's do have better (although not great) pups than I's. But as I change all my pups out to Seymour's that did not matter to me.

I was thinking of swapping out the pickups of whatever I end up with for better Gibson pups, but the idea of trying to work through f-holes makes me queasy

[HalfBlindLefty]

I was thinking of swapping out the pickups of whatever I end up with for better Gibson pups, but the idea of trying to work through f-holes makes me queasy

I know a couple of tricks to make life a lot easier when swapping pickups and pot's through F-holes. If you are planning that, just pm me and we'll open a topic :)

BTW, The Sheraton is the Better guitar, hands down. So it's not $200 for prettiness only.

[antigua72]

first let me say Hi to everybody
and thanks to "Gerd" for managing this fine site

I former was logged in as sleeping sheraton ( my sherry was lying in its case under my bed for years)...

then let me say Hi to Ireland...
When I read this post I just had to answer...

I own a sheraton since 1985 ....never loved it that much...but with a Blues Jr. I got me 2 years ago , I really felt in love with her once again.

What I want to say : there´s no guitar like an other ,don´t know if the actual epis are like mine, as well as everybody´s taste is different either , but the Blues Jr. works very fine with my one. although I am a honest Fan of the Vox AC4....

[oldskoolchop]

I was thinking of swapping out the pickups of whatever I end up with for better Gibson pups, but the idea of trying to work through f-holes makes me queasy

I know a couple of tricks to make life a lot easier when swapping pickups and pot's through F-holes. If you are planning that, just pm me and we'll open a topic :)

BTW, The Sheraton is the Better guitar, hands down. So it's not $200 for prettiness only.

I am a few months out, spending all the money I had on the guitar leaving none for pups, but I would be interested in that topic, i plan on changing mine in the next 3-6 mo.