Epiphone Sheraton

The Epiphone Sheraton is a thinline semi-hollow body electric guitar. Though the Sheraton and all its variations were introduced under the ownership of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, Epiphone is the exclusive manufacturer.

History
Under the ownership of Epaminondas ("Epi") Stathopoulo, Epiphone was a leading manufacturer of hollow-body and archtop guitars. Epi Stathopoulos died in 1943. Control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo. In 1951, a four-month-long strike forced a relocation of Epiphone from New York to Philadelphia. The company was bought out by their main rival, Gibson in 1957. In 1958, Gibson began to expand upon its Epiphone line of semi-hollow guitars. They reworked Epiphone's old Century archtop into a thinline electric fitted with a single P-90. This was followed by the introduction of a twin-pickup, double-cut thinline semi-hollowbody, the Sheraton. The original Gibson-made Epiphone Sheratons were up until 1970, when production moved to Japan, and major design changes began to occur.

Design evolution
Gibson used the same body for the Sheraton as it was using for its new ES-335, ES-345, and ES-355 models. It featured the same double rounded horns, and had similarly placed electronics. The Sheraton was fitted with a set glued-in neck, in accordance with Gibson's standard practice. Distinguishing characteristics of the Sheraton included its multiple body binding (like that of its top of the line Gibson cousin, the ES-355); its Frequensator tail piece; and its headstock and fretboard inlays. Unlike any of the semi-hollowbodies in the Gibson line, the Sheraton's headstock featured Epiphone's traditional fancy vine (or "tree of life") inlay on its headstock, while its fretboard featured a block and triangle (or "V") inlay of mother-of-pearl and abalone, as well as binding on the fretboard's surface, inset slightly from the outer edges.

1958 Epiphone Sheraton introduction specs: Thin body, double cutaway, semi-hollow with solid maple block down center; 2 Epiphone "New York" (single coil) pickups; 2 volume and 2 tone controls with white 'carousel' knobs, and a pickup selector switch; tune-o-matic bridge with no retainer wire; gold plated metal parts; Frequensator tailpiece or Bigsby vibrato; bound tortoise-shell pickguard; Epiphone 'E' tuners; multiple bound top and back; single bound rosewood fingerboard; abalone/pearl block "V" fingerboard inlays, neck joins body at 19th fret, 5-piece neck (from remaining Epiphone-built inventory) has a "V" chunky back shape; tree of life pearl peghead design; sunburst or natural finish. 1961 Sheraton specs: Parts begin to change to Gibson-made parts. The pickups are changed from the New York single coils to mini-humbuckers, knobs become gold gibson bonnet knobs, tuners become Grovers. Serial number now pressed into the back of the peghead between the D and G tuners, in addition to being on the blue Epiphone label in the bass "f" hole. The new Epiphone "Trem-o-tone" adjustable vibrato tailpiece is introduced. 1962 Sheraton specs: Production changes from NY-made Epi necks to Gibson-made mahogany necks. Cherry red finish introduced (this will remain the rarest Sheraton finish throughout Gibson's production period of the 1960s). "Epiphone" script inlay on headstock becomes more streamlined in appearance. 1963 Sheraton specs: Peghead shape becomes more elongated. Binding on fretboard moves to outer edges (no longer inset). 1965 Sheraton specs: Sunburst finish becomes more two-tone (tobacco to amber). Late 60's to 1970: Neck width narrows to 1 9/16", as on many Gibson-made guitars of the era.

Sheraton production totals (data from 1961 to 1970 only): Cherry - 53 Cherry w/vibrato - 20 Natural - 59 Natural w/vibrato - 49 Sunburst - 243 Sunburst w/vibrato - 197

In 1970, production ceased in U.S., and began in Japan. Mini-humbucking pickups were discontinued on the Sheraton, changing to standard full-sized humbuckers; serial numbering system changes. Body and headstock shapes began to evolve, as they will continue to do throughout the 1980s and into the 2000s, as production also shifted from Japan to Korea. Korean build manufactured up until at least 2012 however serial numbers changed to an all number type after 2008. To tell if it's Korean built, it will have the following prefix: I=Saein, S=Samick, U=Unsung, and R or P=Peerless and if all number type serial number will be identified (Unsung for example) as '21' as the 5th & 6th numbers.

Foreign Manufacturers:

Matsumoku, Japan 1979 - 1986.

The Elite / Elitist Sheraton, Terada Japan 2002 - 2008.

The standard Korean Sheraton, made in Korea from 1997 - 2006

The standard Chinese Sheraton made in China from 2008 - present

Sheraton II
The Epiphone Sheraton II was later introduced and featured only one major difference. The Frequensator tail piece was now replaced by a fixed stop bar. The Sheraton II became much more popular than the original. Epiphone's high end guitars, the elitist line, includes a Sheraton. Unlike the "regular" line Sheraton with its full-size Gibson-style humbuckers, it features the New York mini humbuckers of the original Sheraton (later used on several Gibsons, but originally an Epiphone-specific transducer). Currently original Sheratons are rare, but Sheraton II's are still in production and are readily available. The most recently manufactured Sheratons were John Lee Hooker signature models. Recently the vintage sunburst finish that many Sheratons are made in has changed colour from a black on deep red colour (shown right) to a black on orange-yellow colour.

Endorsement
Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has owned several Sheratons, including an early model featuring mini humbuckers and a frequensator with a customized Union Jack paint work. Following this, Epiphone produced the Noel Gallagher Supernova (which was actually a variant of the similar Epiphone Riviera, rather than the Sheraton) and was made available to the public with a Union Jack, Manchester City blue, Cherry Red or Black Ebony finish. In 2014, Epiphone produced a Union Jack Ltd Edition Sheraton (limited to 1000). Though this is not an official signature guitar, it is much closer to Gallagher's Union Jack Sheraton, although with two noticeable differences. The blue of the Union Jack is darker than on Gallagher's guitar, and only features the Union Jack paintwork on the front, opposed to the whole of the body. Brian Aubert, frontman for the Silversun Pickups, has a modified Sheraton with silver hardware. Furthermore, the Epiphone Sheraton 2 has been used by Kings of Leon lead guitarist Matthew Followill. Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend plays a Sheraton II almost exclusively. Also, Ted Leo of Ted Leo & The Pharmacists used one for many years. Most notably, the Sheraton and Sheraton II were the main guitars used by blues legend John Lee Hooker. Epiphone introduced a signature John Lee Hooker Sheraton and Sheraton II in 2000, the year before his death.

Notable Sheraton players

 * Matthew Followill of Kings of Leon has multiple sheratons in different finishes.
 * John Lee Hooker mainly used a Sheraton.
 * Drake Levin of Paul Revere and The Raiders used a cherry red Sheraton.
 * Ted Leo used a Sheraton for many years.
 * Ezra Koenig plays a natural Epiphone Sheraton (no pickguard).
 * Noel Gallagher played a Sunburst Sheraton and a Union Jack painted Sheraton. Epiphone released two "Supernova" guitars based on Noel's preference for the Sheraton body.
 * Brian Aubert plays a modified Sheraton.
 * Matthew Followill has used a Sheraton II guitar.
 * Tom Delonge plays an ebony Sheraton II in the "I Miss You" music video by Blink 182.
 * Aaron Dessner of the National plays a Sheraton.
 * Randy Randall of No Age plays a Sheraton.
 * Ben Nichols of Lucero has played a natural Sheraton II for many years.
 * Gem Archer of Oasis plays a cherry Sheraton.
 * Dino "Zero" of Stolen Car plays an ebony Sheraton.
 * Graham Day of The Prisoners plays a Sheraton.
 * Jens Lekman plays a sunburst Sheraton II.
 * Scott Thurston of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
 * Shimon Moore (ex-frontman) of Sick Puppies plays an ebony Epiphone Sheraton II.
 * Shane Theriot uses Sheraton II, current Hall and Oates guitarist.
 * Heath Fogg of Alabama Shakes plays a Sheraton II.
 * Mike Graff of Course of Empire played a black Sheraton II with gold hardware and bigsby before it was stolen in 2000.