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- Korean has a 5-piece laminated (length wise) neck, which are a little more 'beefy' than the original Chinese necks, which adopt a solid neck build, with scarf joints for the headstock, and heal.
- The body shapes are slightly different and the head-stocks on the Chinese versions, are slightly (circa 1/4"-1/2") smaller .
- Very early Chinese versions were not as nicely made as the Korean versions but the more recent Chinese versions have noticeably improved in quality.
- The Epiphone Sheraton II Pro (Chinese) has pro-bucker /ups, Graphtech® NuBone XL™ nut, and coil-splitting activated by volume push-pull pots
- I think that the latest Chinese Sheratons may have gone back to the 5 piece laminated neck
- All new Epiphone's are backed by a lifetime limited warranty against defective materials/workmanship
- A slightly annoying feature of all Sheraton II's is that the abalone pearl marker inlays stop at the 15th fret.
Ultimately, there are good & not so good examples of both Korean & Chinese Epi Sheratons, so I recommend you try both before buying to determine if you have a preference.Generally speaking, the more desirable Sheratons are the Korean versions eg made in the famous Samick factory (but there were other respected factories too). At the moment this probably doesn't equate to any significant used price differentials even for older Sheraton II's (eg 1986-89), but some of these older Korean Epi's are beginning to creep up and command a bit more.
An interesting variation to look out for is the headstock wording. At one time, Epiphone wanted to capitalise on the Gibson brand name and the headstocks say "Epiphone by Gibson" with an Epiphone 'E' on the truss-rod cover.
But they then changed it (either late 1988 or early 1989) to just Epiphone, and showed the Gibson name on the truss rod cover (although I think the newer Chinese versions just show the Epiphone 'E'):
Some folk are prepared to pay a bit more for the first version, as these are rarer, but it doesn't mean the overall quality of the guitar is any different.
My own Sheraton in natural finish is 1989. It was made in the Samick factory and has the 5-piece laminated neck, with the 'Epiphone' (2nd one above) headstock and Gibson on the truss rod cover. I replaced the stock p/ups with Seymour Duncan SH1 '59'er pick-ups.
If I was buying a Sheraton II today, I think I'd be tempted by the new 'Pro' version - it has a better nut, the pro-bucker p/ups are pretty decent sounding & the coil tapping gives extra tonal versatility. £59 new but here's a pre-owned one on EBay starting at £399:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Epiphone-Sheraton-II-Pro-VS-Electric-Guitar-/152427712262?hash=item237d664f06:g:aGIAAOSwA3dYmayt
And here's a brand new Ebony one from Richtone Music for £499:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epiphone-Sheraton-II-Pro-Ebony-/272460143817?hash=item3f6fe3dcc9:g:04oAAOSwxcRW9BMg
If you're looking for an earlier Korean made Sherton with the 'Epiphone by Gibson' headstock, here's a 1987 Korean one going buy it now for £495 (but I'm sure it could be got a bit cheaper):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-EPIPHONE-BY-GIBSON-SHERATON-II-NATURAL-1987-MADE-IN-KOREA-/222399174902?hash=item33c80618f6:g:53sAAOSwSHZWgA8Z
Regarding upgraded electrics: you can't fit full size CTS pots through a Sheraton's F holes, but that's not the end of the world.
I think they're great value, snazzy even.
No problem @markj . I think I may have found the Sheraton you're looking at (from diesel guitars in Bath serial number: I 06020114 - £399 or best offer?). Around August 2010 I paid £300 for my immaculate 1989 Samick Sheraton II, natural finish, with case. Assuming its in good condition I think £399 for a Korean made Sheraton with a case is not a bad price, especially from a guitar shop, but perhaps a little at the top end considering it is a very late Korean made Sheraton II - in fact 2006 was the last year these were made in Korea (Chinese production started in 2008 I believe). I'd suggest perhaps offering anything between £325-£350 to start and going from there.
interesting observation - yes, just like certain Gibsons (eg Les Paul Custom, SG Standard etc) the Korean Sheratons have nibs - I hadn't realised that the Chinese Sheratons don't have these, but this makes perfect sense as it would help to save on manufacturing costs.
Its a great guitar, it's well made, finished well and really solid.
The new humbuckers it comes with are quite good and the coil split sounds are very nice.
Quite a chunky neck on it though.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/andy1839/IMG_3556_zpslbjtox5f.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/andy1839/IMG_3557_zpswqxzysph.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g55/andy1839/IMG_3558_zpsweqoqzox.jpg
Great value.
I think they're great guitars.
Purely from a 'collector' perspective the older Korean made Sheratons are likely to be more desirable, and may command a premium and be more saleable in the future. When CBS took over Fender in '65 I don't think anyone at that time could have predicted just how pre CBS Fender desirability and prices exploded 50 years on! Not to anything like the same extent of course, but its quite reasonable to see that as time marches on, the Korean/Chinese Sheraton values could differentiate significantly more. Nothing to do with 'butt-hurt' MIK owners, but just how older instruments tend to be regarded in general. Consider that we're seeing now old and frankly what were regarded as rubbish beginner guitars (eg that used to be sold in Woolworths etc for £20) now being collected and going for £200 or more today!
I had a similar one from around that time, bought new in '89 or maybe 1990. It had the same poor photocopy tort pickguard with the stencilled/printed E. Notice how svelte the f-holes are on this one, mine was the same. Later ones are wider/cruder and not nearly so elegant looking in comparison.
I had a Dot apparently from the same Samick factory but 10 years later - a much lighter and livelier guitar but the build quality wasn't up to the earlier Sheraton - mainly the frets.
Thanks Andy - yeah, re the Seymour Duncan SH1 '59 p/ups, Richard from Electrohill (very good guy) did an excellent job of putting these in for me including soldering the replacement p/up covers in place.