A couple years ago I was looking at Ibanez 2355's, Gretsch, Harmony, Epi, and a few others. I wound up with an ES 135 instead.
No worries ^ I had a Gretsch semi hollow for a long time. 17 years or so. Loved it. And then I grew fond for a 335, but just didn’t want to put out the big bucks for the Gibson not owning a thin body semi hollow before. First world language here, but I “settled” on a early 2000’s MIK epiphone sheraton. What a sweet heart. Absolutely beautiful fit and finish. Electronics are even great to my standard. If I had to give you two complaints or suffer punishment, I would rummage up the following: - wish it had a 17 degree headstock - the fret board could be darker. real rosewood and real abalone. All for a second coat of $800 Canadian, 650 US. That’s outstanding. In the upcoming years we will see market mark ups.
For the price, the real mother of pearl and abalone blows me away. I have $2500 Gibson’s that don’t use real MOP... let alone abalone...
This was its Predecessor. Also a great guitar! The sound on this beast was really hard to beat. So much meat and potatoes compared to the warm high sound of the Sheraton. Just had great hoof and was not muddy at all. The sheraton sounds similar time the SG’s. Different, but similar. You did not get that with the Gretsch. There was little cross over. It had its own sound. Think the cult fire woman/she sells. You didn’t even have to search for that sound. That was its sound. Miss that guitar. But.. I am also happy with the Sheraton. Life goes on. I am not a seller. Hate selling. Bit everyone once in a while I love one along to fund a purchase.
I've owned a few 335 style guitars, Epi's, Gibson's, Ibanez, and MIJ 80's clones. My current and the nicest I've played is an Epiphone Dot with upgraded pickups and electronics.
It's a 2012 N-225, not technically semi-hollow, but open-chambered. It has a P90/Dirtyfingers combo with a coil split on the Dirtyfingers. The pin striping was done by Rick Harris by hand, he's done Rev. Willy's guitars. It's all maple. Unique sounds.
Pics Bid, love the pics, and that N225 of yours is one of my favorite guitars of anyones' on the interwebs.
Kerry, I hear you on the Epi Dots. I had one and a friend had a Dot Deluxe that I fixed electronics on, plus glued the head stock back on after he decapitated it.
Col Mustard speaks highly of EPI 339's too. I also had an EPi 175, and considered a Joe Pass. Love the looks of them.
Centerpiece of my studio kit, given to me by my lovely wife: I put top hat reflectors on it because I'd never seen one without top hats. Here is red guitar day at the studio in 2009. Bob
Lovely to the max, Bob Womack, tell the missus extra good sweet things for making this happen for you.
i do not. I was on Vancouver Island for about 30 years, now up in Penticton area. Where about a are they located?