Old-new-old-GD: Epi Sheraton

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:21 pm

I did a swap with NickD absolutely ages ago with my old Ibanez for an Epi archtop because I'd wanted a semi-hollow since forever. It's seen a bit of the world (read: well loved, in a good way) but it's a damn nice guitar, and all it needed was some motivation on my part to get it sorted.

I got the high E bridge saddle repaired (some tech up in Richmond very kindly helped me out), slapped on a fresh set of .10s, and ordered new pickup rings and a wiring loom (I'm lazy when it comes to soldering, and can't be arsed with it unless I really need to). I'm not sure about what replacement pickups to go for yet...vintage output PAF-style hambakers should do the trick since I'm not into high output metal shredding. I'm aiming for some mellow warmth and sparkle that still sounds full and clear when I do detuned stoner HEAVY BORIS TONEZ. I'll need a set of .11s for anything lower than half step detuning though.

So far the tuning stability's spot on, the neck is really comfy and it feels nice and balanced, unlike certain other two-hambaker models I've owned in the past *cough* Gibson SGs *cough* The flatter fretboard radius, hardtail and Gibson scale length certainly feel different, but that's because I've grown used to 7.25" fretboards and 25.5" scale length on .10 gauge strings with JM/mustang trems. It's going to be nice to have a bit more sustain and be able to do 2+ semitone bends without the notes choking out!

It's a different type of sound and 'feel' to my Fender offsets really. Also: SEMI-HOLLOW MOJO.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:36 pm

Pics or it didn't happen

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Sun Apr 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Excellent - pics needed. It was a nice guitar, I just never quite gelled with it, but I enjoyed the restoration.

It was strung with 11s when you got it by the way.

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 1:11 pm

I may actually put on a set of .11s next time then; it was comfortable enough with the original set on.

This is how it looks now: I took off the pickup rings and removed the wiring.

The wiring loom is going to be the kicker. I did a 'dry run' with fitting the pots and jack, but they'll need to come out again for fitting the pickups. The pickup selector can be fitted separately though, thanks to a neat little connector. Which is handy.

What I learned today is that one way of getting the pots and jack fitted is by posting a wire (I used some lengths that I was saving for a future pedal build project) down into the body through each hole, wrapping the other end around the pot shaft/jack socket and pulling them up and out. Apparently, the circuitry of some semi-hollows enters the body through a hole in the pickup rout, but in this case it's too small so everything has to go through the F-hole. Hence the mini alpha pots!

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:27 pm

This'll be the last update for a few weeks, because the new pickups will have to wait until I'm back from holiday. Still, there's just those and the control knobs to put back on, and it's fully up and running. The pickguard's not *quite* what I wanted, but finding one with the right dimensions is tricky. Still, she's looking well on her way to being in full working order now:

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Wed Apr 30, 2014 2:14 am

Glad to hear/see things are progressing, they're big guitars that George would never feel comfortable with but hang really nicely and can sound so good if the hambacker part of the equation proves to be a winner.

Albeit an entirely different kind of guitar, if I sell maybe two three more guitars I might get a similar-shaped, featherweight Casino and turned it into a ES-330.

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dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Fri May 09, 2014 11:33 am

Don't get the deal with epiphones penchant for white plastic... Do like an epiphone semi...

mine

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Fri May 09, 2014 12:04 pm

dezb1 wrote:Don't get the deal with epiphones penchant for white plastic... Do like an epiphone semi...

Concretebadger's came to me with black pickup rings and nut, but the white pickup rings were what I had available, so on they went. I quite liked them TBH.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Fri May 09, 2014 12:51 pm

NickD wrote:
dezb1 wrote:Don't get the deal with epiphones penchant for white plastic... Do like an epiphone semi...
Concretebadger's came to me with black pickup rings and nut, but the white pickup rings were what I had available, so on they went. I quite liked them TBH.

I meant the standard epiphone white scratch plate, always thought it was cheap looking... Why i ditched mine.

NickD · Post by **NickD** » Fri May 09, 2014 4:04 pm

Oh, I see - this one didn't have a scratchplate on at all. I see what you mean, I can't see a white one looking good.

HeartfeltDawn · Post by **HeartfeltDawn** » Sat May 17, 2014 4:31 pm

Concretebadger wrote: What I learned today is that one way of getting the pots and jack fitted is by posting a wire (I used some lengths that I was saving for a future pedal build project) down into the body through each hole, wrapping the other end around the pot shaft/jack socket and pulling them up and out. Apparently, the circuitry of some semi-hollows enters the body through a hole in the pickup rout, but in this case it's too small so everything has to go through the F-hole. Hence the mini alpha pots!

It's one of the quirks of the Sheratons that the F-holes are so small. When I had my Sheraton rewired back in 2005, my tech didn't check, wired up the harness, and then ended up swearing as he realised there was no way of getting the normal size pots in there.

Totally get where you're coming from about going to a Gibson scale length and fretboard radius. I've only played Gibson-style instruments and going to a vintage radius Fender is impossible for me.

dezb1 · Post by **dezb1** » Sat May 17, 2014 4:50 pm

They must be a different size from the Riviera as I put normal sized pots in mine...

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat May 17, 2014 6:53 pm

starting to think I need a hollowbody or semi in my life. fucking love the shape of those, and the way they feel and play.

HeartfeltDawn · Post by **HeartfeltDawn** » Tue May 20, 2014 4:43 pm

dezb1 wrote:They must be a different size from the Riviera as I put normal sized pots in mine...

The modern Sheratons have bigger F-holes.

http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/F ... on-II.aspx

A 1996 Korean built Sheraton has visibly smaller F holes.

http://www.backbeatmusicatlive.co.uk/so ... aton---114

A 1995 Riviera. Looks much bigger.

http://www.garydewitt.com/riviera.htm

Post by **Hurb** » Tue May 20, 2014 8:15 pm

Glad to see there is new life being breathed into this old friend!

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:37 pm

I have one of these Korean Sheratons, great guitars. I put a Bigsby on mine & a SD 59 in the neck.

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 3:19 am

Nice work with all of the nickel/chrome and the Towner tension bar, that looks perfect!

Johno · Post by **Johno** » Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:10 am

ultratwin wrote:Nice work with all of the nickel/chrome and the Towner tension bar, that looks perfect!

Cheers Ultra, the Towner is a simple fix although I'm not sure the guitar needed more tension but I think it looks better than those custom made screw hole covers.

I had to get a new cover for the neck pup as the SD 59 has different pole positions than the original Epi pup, then wax the pup in.

The gold has worn off lovely on any remaining hardwear, you can only see its faded remains around the edges.

Also had to move the end pin as the original was slightly offset, no one wants a wonky Bigsby. Its stays in tune very well. I may get a larger spring to stiffen it up a little.

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Mon Dec 01, 2014 7:52 pm

Quick bump to say I finally ordered some pups for it. Budget dictated something cheap, so after having good experiences with a set of Toneriders in a strat I used to own I decided on a set of AC2s. Both them and the AC4 sets seem to get good reviews, but the discussions about the differences between alnico 2 and 4 were starting to sound a bit

for my liking so I decided it wasn't a major issue. Plus the AC2s were in stock for fifty quid on amazon, while the AC4s weren't. I'll keep you all posted about how they sound when they arrive.

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Fri Dec 05, 2014 5:57 pm

Double poast to show off how my soldering skills don't totally suck (although my phone's camera definitely does suck):

I'm pretty impressed with the Tonerider pups, even if one of the pickup covers that I had in my box of bits doesn't match the polepieces (they tend to wobble around inside the cavities without covers on). I don't have much experience with playing double-coils but they sound nice and balanced...better than I'd expect a fifty quid set to sound, at least. Feeling pretty chuffed with myself atm.