Used Vintage 1965 Epiphone Sheraton

Sonic Evaluation

After playing this Sheraton for a little bit, I'm feeling gobsmacked, flabbergasted, and a little dazed by its greatness. It definitely makes my list of favorite vintage guitars of all time, that's for sure! It comes from a time when Epiphone was Gibson's "tester line." If a shop wanted to become a Gibson dealer, they had to become an Epiphone dealer first and prove they could sell through their inventory. Once they had sold enough Epiphones, they could begin carrying Gibsons. The Epiphones from this time period are highly sought-after by collectors and players alike, as they were built in the same plant by the same people with the same materials as Gibson. So, this guitar is essentially an ES-335 with mini-hums!

And my oh my, what a glorious combination. Mini-humbuckers still sound meaty like humbuckers, but with all the fat trimmed off. They're sculpted and muscular, with world-beating punching power and jaw-dropping articulation in the attack. They also have an open quality to them, and they're very touch-sensitive--you can really alter the way this guitar sounds with how you attack and squeeze the note, which makes for a very expressive, dynamic playing experience. It feels like this guitar is an extension of your hand!

The bridge pickup is a desert island sound for me: robust enough to make chords feel full and robust but tight and focused, with superb bite, snarl, chime, and sparkle. The neck pickup is also one of my favorite sounds. It's fatter and has a broader midrange punch, extended low-end, and sweet, sunny trebles, but it's still remarkably clear with no tubbiness or mud.

If you're looking for a spectacular vintage semi-hollow, I think this one will leave you as gobsmacked, flabbergasted, and dazed as me!

Condition Report

This '65 Sheraton is in fantastic shape! It has typical vintage wear, including some truly beautiful checking. It's also all original except for the frets, which measure .101 inches wide by .045 inches high. Both pickups have an output of around 6.9k, and they sound amazing. It plays well in its current state, but it is on the verge of needing a neck reset. However, it feels fantastic as-is. It comes with a non-original hardshell case, too.