The Epiphone Sheraton An Upscale Version Of A Gibson Classic
(Gibson | Posted 2007-03-02)
In 1957, Gibson purchased the Epiphone Company, which up until that time had been one of its strongest rivals – particularly in the area of hollowbody archtop guitars. Prompted by a stern memo from Ted McCarty to hurry up and introduce some new Epiphone models at the upcoming NAMM show in 1958, Gibson introduced a completely new line of Epiphones, highlighted by the now-legendary Sheraton.
The Gibson ES-335, and its sibling the Epiphone Sheraton, were the world's first commercial semi-hollowbody electric guitars. Both released in 1958, they are neither hollow nor solid. Instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of the body while the sides are hollow and adorned with violin-style “f” holes.
Its origins may lie in the one of the world's first solid-body electrics - Les Paul's experimental "The Log," which was simply a block of wood with a neck, electronics, and the sides of an Epiphone archtop guitar attached. The concept behind this revolutionary design was to combine the tone of an acoustic (hollow) with the power and sustain of a solid-body electric hence the name “semi-hollow.”
The ES-335 and other semi-hollowbody guitars have a distinctive, "woody" sound that is mellower than solid-bodies while still retaining high sustain with low feedback characteristics. Due to their sonic flexibility, they have found popularity in nearly all genres of popular music including jazz, blues, and rock.
Now, almost 50 years later, Epiphone offers a wide-range of semi-hollow body guitars based upon the legendary ES-335 design and our initial offering of the Sheraton way back in 1958.
Visit your authorized Epiphone dealer today and get your hands on an original semi-hollow body guitar.
“Faded” Dot Studio - MSRP $415
Ever since its introduction in 2004, the Epiphone Dot Studio has been the automatic choice of semi-acoustic aficionados. Since that time, Epiphone has unveiled two new “worn-in” finishes, lending a vintage quality to these affordable classics. Available in Worn Brown and Worn Cherry, the new “Faded” Dot Studios have all the features you’d demand from a market leader. The comfortable semi-solid body combines with intuitive control layout, while the set maple neck promises to soak up the trials of life on the road. Tonally, the new Epiphone Dot Studios are supplied with Alnico Classic pickups and a hot item in the bridge position for even more sonic diversity, while such dues-paying hardware as Grover Rotomatic tuners and a tune-o-matic bridge ensure that this guitar is a perfect choice as a live or studio guitar. It might look like a museum piece – but it doesn’t play like one.
Dot Studio - MSRP $499
Epiphone’s DOT Studio brings new looks, new functionality and new affordability to Epi’s wide array of semi-hollowbody electric guitars. Available in any color (as long as it’s BLACK) this model has its own distinctive flair with high-gloss finish, black hardware and a simplified electronics layout featuring just a single tone and single volume control.
Sheraton-Il - MSRP $999
Although Gibson’s ES-335 garnered more publicity from its 1958 debut, the Sheraton offered the same revolutionary body style but with a more stylish look, highlighted by its Emperor-style V-block fingerboard inlays and vine inlay on the peghead.
The Sheraton was an immediate hit, the unique voice of its mini-humbuckers soon made it the instrument of choice for many professional artists of the time, including blues legend John Lee Hooker. Today Epiphone continues the Sheraton legacy by offering two versions of this classic guitar icon – the Epiphone Sheraton-II and the Epiphone Elitist Sheraton-II.
Nick Valensi Riviera P-94 - MSRP $1,165
Nick Valensi, guitarist for The Strokers, has previously collaborated with Epiphone to create a signature Riviera as part of the Elitist Series. Now, the coolest signature model in the world has just got even more affordable with the launch of the Nick Valensi Riviera P94. True to the Riviera’s roots this is a stunning semi-hollow design that combines a lightweight mass with a heavyweight performance. Laminate maple is used for the body and top with a slim mahogany neck and a fast-flowing fretboard allowing the kind of finger acrobatics that lit up tracks like “The Modern Age.” A tune-o-matic bridge and Frequensator tailpiece combine style with security, while professional Grover tuners ensure that everything stays at the right pitch. But it’s not until you fire the Nick Valensi Riviera P94 through an amp that you realize how hot this guitar really is. With a Gibson P-94T pickup at the bridge and a P-94R at the neck, the high-output yet responsive tones of this model have your back covered whether you’re rocking out or sitting back.
B. B. King Lucille - MSRP $1,165
Designed by the reigning “King of the Blues” himself B. B. King, the Lucille is similar to the ES-335 semi-hollowbody guitar but without “f” holes. The result is a guitar with a very unique voice that is less prone to feedback at high volume levels. It also features a TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece, two Humbucking pickups, six position Vari-Tone switch and stereo outputs. To top it off, here name is elegantly inlaid in mother-of-pearl on the headstock.
Elitist Sheraton - MSRP $2,460 including hard case
Our top-of-the-line semi-hollow archtop, the Elitist Sheraton is the “Cadillac” of the thin-lines. Patterned after the original 1958 Sheraton, it features exquisite appointments like the mother-of-pearl with abalone inlays, gold Grover machine heads with stepped buttons and multi-binding on the body, headstock and neck. But this guitar is not just something to look at. The Elitist Sheraton comes with the original type USA-made mini-humbuckers and rivals it’s cousin the famous 335 in tonal qualities and playability. Made in Japan with the very best of materials and meticulous attention to detail, there is no better semi-hollow than this Guitar Player magazine “Editors Pick” award winner.
