History of the Epiphone guitar
Epiphone is one of the oldest musical instrument manufacturers in the United States. In its beginnings, this family business was dedicated to the manufacture of mandolins under the name of “The House of Stathopoulo” and over the years added to its catalog the most popular instruments of the moment. It was in 1924 when the name Epiphone was born, and five years later, the company went from making banjos to creating guitars for jazz and blues musicians.
The company's early years were not very good. The Epiphone guitar was not very popular and this was due to reasons beyond the company's control. However, after the Great Depression, the company released the model for which they would become known: the Epiphone Masterbilt acoustic guitar. After launching the first electric guitar (Rickenbacker brand) in 1935, they created one of the world's first electric guitar amplifiers, as well as inventing a pedal to experiment with tone and volume.
Unfortunately, Epiphone suffered severe financial problems during World War II, and the founding family opted to sell it to a wind instrument distributor. That didn't work out as it should have and Gibson finally acquired the company in 1957. The 60's saw the production of the most emblematic instrument in the history of this company: the Epiphone Casino guitar, which accompanied John Lennon during his last albums with the Beatles.
Evolution of the Epiphone guitar
Epiphone guitars have undergone many changes since 1929. They started producing the archtop type with a completely hollow body and then came the solid body ones.
Epiphone Masterbilt Guitar
This guitar has the iconic Epiphone hollow body shape. It doesn't have a circular opening, but two F-shaped openings in the style of the violin and other fretted string instruments. It also features a floating bridge that attaches to the bottom of the hoops. Currently, the brand has reinvented models of the Epiphone Masterbilt in its catalog, so that lovers of this iconic model can have access to it.
Epiphone Van Eps
It was an avant-garde guitar of the company, but it did not gain popularity during the period. Due to low sales, it was soon discontinued. It was a request of the famous jazz musician George Van Eps who asked the company Epiphone to manufacture a guitar with seven strings.
Epiphone Zephyr
It was another one of Epiphone's iconic models. However, it was soon discontinued due to reduced sales as a result of the various wars of the time. Its main feature was that it had a humbucker microphone for the neck. It also had two potentiometers to control volume and tone on the microphone.
Crestwood
It was the first solid body electric guitar manufactured by the company when it was completely under the control of Gibson Industry. Its main features are a body with Slim Taper design, almost entirely mahogany wood and rosewood neck, tune or matic bridge, tremotone tremolo, two Epiphone mini humbucker microphones and four controls for volume and tone.
The Professional
This guitar is great, but at its launch it was not appreciated. It became part of the guitars that are only requested by professional guitarists or collectors. It has a hollow body with the two F-holes that are characteristic of the brand and of jazz and blues guitars of the era. It also has a system called “Tonexpressor” that deals with five mini stick switches and five fade switches, which are a marvel of technological innovation for their time.
It also has a switch to add more reverb and activate the sustain. It has two mini humbucker microphones and two knob potentiometers to control volume and tone, as well as three knob potentiometers for tremolo effects.
Like these, there have been other Epiphone's that are special and each with very particular characteristics. But the models that have prevailed are really few and the old ones can only be purchased by reservation through the company's website.
Epiphone Guitarists
As with other major brands, Epiphone has had guitarists who prefer its sound. Want to know who Epiphone's loyal musicians were?
Bob Marley
For many years, this guitarist had a preference for the Epiphone Les Paul Special.
Noel Gallagher
A member of the band Oasis, he was a heavy user of Epiphone guitars. This guitarist, singer and composer used mainly hollow body guitars.
Davil Rawlings
He is a country and blues guitarist who almost exclusively plays 1935 Epiphone Archtop guitars.
Nick Valensi
Singer and guitarist of the band The Strokes. He loves these guitars so much that the company has released a signature model in his honor.
Slash
The famous Guns N' Roses guitarist is another ambassador for Epiphone guitars. The company has launched several Slash signature models.
These are just a few examples, because we also find John Lennon and other musicians who are partial to Epiphone.
Epiphone guitar types
To date, the Epiphone brand has a large stock of guitars that are highly appreciated. These include the following:
Epiphone Archtop Guitar
These are hollow body guitars that are technically classified as acoustic or electro-acoustic. But in the real world they are classified as hollow body electric guitars.
Semi hollow body
These are the types of Epiphone guitars with semi-hollow body and some of the most popular today. Their best-selling model is the Wildkat, which incorporates the Bigsby tremolo system.
Solid body
They are Epiphone's best sellers and have flagship and signature models that are great and impossible to describe in a single article. The most popular of these is the Epiphone Standard.
The best Epiphone guitars for beginners:
- Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack VS
- Epiphone Slash AFD LP Performance Pack
- Epiphone Les Paul Classic Worn
The best Epiphone guitars for intermediate guitarists:
The best Epiphone guitars for advanced guitarists:
Epiphone guitars: which are the best for beginner guitarists?
Epiphone student guitars are the most popular guitars on the market. The reason for this is that they are considered a prelude to the Gibson. But beyond that, they are of more than acceptable quality.
Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack VS
It is one of the most complete packs for beginners.
Wood and microphones of poor quality, very basic amplifier, sound somewhat plastic.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: maple, pau ferro.
- Scale: 628 mm
- Country of manufacture: China.
- Weight: 3.7 kg guitar, 2.8 kg amplifier.
This Epiphone pack is striking because the weight of the guitar is equal to that of a high-end Gibson. The same is true for the scale, a standard for both brands. So, we wonder… what is the difference that separates them by thousands of euros in price? We reveal it to you below.
Woods
The Epiphone Les Paul Player guitar is made of maple wood, a very common material in the manufacture of these instruments because its hardness is very good and has excellent acoustic characteristics. However, the maple of this Epiphone has a number of knots and cracks that are imperfections in the wood.
These types of details are significant because they reduce the stability of the material and make it a poor quality wood because it has been cured or supplemented with polymers to fix its details. Imperfections of this type reduce the strength and acoustic quality. The wood loses stability and its commercial value is much lower.
On the other hand, in the fingerboard we find pau ferro, classified as a hard wood, little oiled and low cost. However, its acoustic performance is good, although it cannot be compared to rosewood (dalbergia latifolia).
Design
This pack comes with a guitar with a Gibson-inspired body, a 10W power amp, a digital guitar tuner, strap, picks, jack cable and case. The guitar has a tobacco-colored finish and a glossy polyurethane cover. The amp is basic, with a 6″ speaker and controls for volume, overdrive, bass, midrange and brightness. On the other hand, the hardware on the guitar is chrome with cast tuning keys of a good quality and the bridge is the typical Epiphone Tune-O-Matic.
Ergonomics
Almost all Epiphone guitars have a 628 mm scale, which is smaller than that used on an Ibanez, Fender and Squier guitar. This scale makes it a small and comfortable guitar, with a very pleasant feel and the string action is dynamic (by “dynamic” we mean the ease of phrasing and bending). They are widely used by guitarists who have blues influences and are looking for ease of string stretching.
The phrases are very smooth over the entire length of the guitar and the capo chords are the most comfortable to play among all guitar brands. While we recognize that we love Fender guitars, we also accept that the feel of Epiphone guitars is much gentler. However, we are dealing with a 3.7 kg guitar, so it is quite heavy for a beginner.
Sound
The imperfections of the wood directly influence the sound of this Les Paul guitar. We found instability in the vibrations and this is not present in high-end guitars. Likewise, the quality of the microphones is a factor that reduces the sound quality. It features two 700T and 650T humbuckers, the typical Epiphone configuration. The overall sound is a bit plastic, not rounded and the highs have more presence. We find the vibrations to be disproportionate and at times it can sound out of tune.
The amplifier doesn't do much to improve the sound either, because its speaker quality is basic. Also, with the few EQ options on its three tone knobs, not much can be done. The overdrive is what we like the least and we think it is more stable in Squier amps. However, many prefer this starter pack because they like its characteristic Epiphone sound.
Conclusion
This instrument has the same design features as the higher ranges. However, the difference in the quality of its components is significant and is what ultimately determines its price and sound. If you want to get started in the world of the legendary Epiphone, this pack is ideal. If you are a guitar teacher, you can find in it a great ally for your classes. But don't expect excellent sound quality. Where to buy it? Find the best price at Thomann.
Epiphone Slash AFD LP Performance Pack
Good construction materials, excellent value for money.
The screws give easily, it is an instrument for beginners.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: mahogany, tulipwood, flamed maple, maple.
- Scale: 628 mm
- Country of manufacture: Indonesia.
- Weight: 3.6 kg.
This Epiphone from the Slash series often receives negative reviews associated with the country of origin. But the truth is that if we blindfold ourselves and listen to it side by side with an American version, we will hardly notice the difference.
Wood:
The body of this Epiphone electric guitar is made entirely of okoume, a light, soft wood with really good vibrations. Another uncommon wood used is tulipwood, classified as semi-hard and tends to bend when it encounters a lot of resistance. It is the one you will find on the fingerboard, but thanks to the web rod in the neck, the risk of deformation is reduced.
We also find AAA flamed maple on the top, a very aesthetic wood with good acoustic properties. Although it is not really a top but a very thin veneer and complemented with a thicker sheet of common maple. But, in all fairness, does anyone expect an 8mm flame maple top on such a cheap guitar? This maple veneer is very thin and doesn't affect the sound and acoustic contribution of the wood, but doesn't offer the same quality of a AAA class flamed maple top.
Design:
The Epiphone Slash follows the style of all other solid body Epiphone's and features a traditional 628 mm scale. The microphone layout features two humbuckers: one for the bridge and one for the neck. One welcome detail is that the designers have incorporated a Shadow tuner that is hidden in the bridge microphone. This tuner works very well and works with a 2032 lithium battery hidden in the back of the guitar.
The color of the guitar is also reminiscent of Slash, because it is the characteristic flamed amber on the top with red on the bottom, the design that is generally associated with the Guns N' Roses guitarist.The hardware is chrome with a Tune-O-Matic bridge, but it is not very stable. It comes with a 15-watt amplifier with two channels, a three-knob EQ, overdrive switch and a headphone output.
Ergonomics
This guitar weighs 3.6 kg and has a traditional 628 mm scale. However, it feels more comfortable than other Epiphone guitars due to the tulipwood fretboard that provides flexibility and softness in the grip. The woods not only contribute to the sound quality, but also to the ergonomics of the musical instrument. It is also influenced by the fact that the weight is very well distributed. The neck has good flexibility, is light and compensates for the heaviness of the body.
The feel on common chords is very good and on capos is perfect for a beginner guitarist. In addition, everything improves when we approach the frets from five onwards, where bending is impressively easy. We are sure that beginner guitarists will appreciate the feel of this guitar.
Sound
We know that there are haters of the brand who try to destroy the sound of this guitar through their opinions. However, at culturasonora we defend it. First of all, there are two potentiometers, one of 500 K for volume and the other of 250 K for tone. We also have a three-way selector that in the first position activates the bridge mic, in the second position both humbuckers and in the third position activates only the neck mic. Is it two potentiometers short of being like Slash's? Yes, but let's remember that it is a guitar for beginners.
Moreover, this absence of potentiometers doesn't affect performance. Just by moving the tone potentiometer you can feel the difference, because it is sensitive. This is because it is a linear pot that reacts with each change in knob position. The same goes for the selector, as each of the humbuckers has an extra large ceramic core. These micros react to both pot and selector changes.
The sound is rich in treble as a result of the light flamed maple veneer. It also has good response to mid and low frequencies. Its two Ceramic Plus humbucker pickups add some versatility.
The amplifier is of very good quality, although we do not recommend using it at full volume because you will destroy it in a short time. Each of the potentiometers in the amplifier do a good job and respond to their respective frequencies. We also noticed that the overdrive doesn't saturate as in most competing amps.
Conclusion:
The Epiphone Slash AFD LP Performance guitar is an excellent choice for beginners who want a comfortable, great-sounding guitar. We recommend it for student guitarists who want an electric guitar pack with good value for money. Interested? Find the best price at thomann.
Epiphone Les Paul Classic Worn
Soft cue, excellent construction and sound quality.
Not very versatile sound, characteristic of the rock/blues of the eighties. It is almost impossible to get the beautiful turquoise version.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: mahogany, smooth maple, alder, rosewood.
- Scale: 628,65
- Country of manufacture: China.
- Weight: 3.63 kg.
The Epiphone Les Paul Classic Worn guitar comes in a very simple but striking, yet elegant deep black color. It offers a characteristic sound and quality with the Epiphone stamp.
Woods
The woods in this guitar are solid, something standard in all Epiphone guitars. Everything changes when we notice that half of the body is mahogany and the other half is alder. Mahogany has a very stable acoustic performance, but in this guitar we find it combined with alder, which presents a sensitive response towards the mids and highs.
In addition, it integrates maple in the top, which gives it greater acoustic qualities. The neck is also made of mahogany, a wood that has proven to be ideal for this use. The fretboard is typical rosewood, the best wood for this part of the guitar.
Design:
It has a satin black finish that gives it an extremely elegant appearance. However, the Studio series has a turquoise model that looks fantastic, but is very hard to come by.
The scale is 628.65 mm and not the typical 628 mm. It has 22 medium jumbo frets and the microphone configuration is HH: two humbuckers, one on the neck and one on the bridge. In addition, it doesn't have a vibrato bridge, but a locked Tune-O-Matic.
Ergonomics
This is where the extra 628.65mm scale starts to mean something. We find it to be much smoother than other Epiphone models. The fingering on phrases is gentler and the same goes for chords. This difference is more pronounced when bendings are performed, as it acquires an ease that is almost impossible for the competition to match. The significant weight of 3.63 kg vanishes when we feel the touch of this great instrument.
Sound
As we have seen so far, this is a guitar for beginners with mixed woods. The mahogany is balanced, but with a certain tendency towards the bass. The alder contributes to enhance the mids and highs, while the maple top also reinforces the treble frequencies. This allows Epiphone users to get their hands on a guitar made for blues rock.
The sustain has something different, because it is felt more, while the reverb is perceived through the vibrations of the body. But it doesn't stop there, because this guitar features two vintage custom alnico humbuckers that emulate the sound of the eighties. The mic selector does an amazing job because you can feel how the sound really changes.
This should be enough to know that this is no ordinary guitar, it stands out from the rest of the entry-level selection. In addition, it has two potentiometers for volume and two for tones that turn out to be enough to make the most of everything this guitar has to offer.
Conclusion
We can't say that this is a versatile guitar, because it was actually conceived for 80's rock and blues. The Epiphone Les Paul Classic Worn electric guitar is a distinctive signature of the Epiphone brand and we recommend it for all blues rock lovers. It is also an interesting option for intermediate guitarists who want to buy an Epiphone guitar at a low price. Check out thomann's best price on the following link.
Our recommendation?
All three options we've presented are well within the beginner range and each one should be considered on a budget. If you're a beginner looking for an inexpensive guitar, then the Epiphone Les Paul Player is a good choice. But if your budget allows, take a look at the Epiphone Slash AFD LP or, preferably, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio EB.
Epiphone Guitar: the best options for intermediate guitarists
The Epiphone models for mid-level musicians are the closest to the mid-range Gibson, something that you can check in this review.
Epiphone Les Paul Classic Honeyburst
Excellent quality woods, great sound and two push pull potentiometers that do a great job.
Poor bolting at the upper anchorage for the strap.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: Mahogany, AAA flamed maple, pau ferro.
- Scale: 628,65
- Country of manufacture: China.
- Weight: 3.8 kg.
Although this guitar is a cheap version of the Gibson Les Paul Standard, the truth is that it is an instrument that doesn't differ much from the “original”. The quality control on this guitar is very high and the woods, sound and technology tell us that it is wonderful.
Woods
The body and neck of this Epiphone Les Paul Standard guitar are made entirely of AAA mahogany. This wood has no knots and no imperfections because it has undergone very rigorous quality controls. On top of the mahogany body we have a flamed maple top which, unlike the Epiphone Slash, is thicker and doesn't have a maple top. This is why its performance is higher.
The fingerboard is made of pau ferro wood, a tree of Brazilian origin that has characteristics similar to those of the Indian rosewood.. The difference is that it offers a little more strength for a little less cost. All of these woods are AAA grade and just by looking at the edge of the flamed maple, you can see how thick it is. The same goes for detailing the pau ferro of the fingerboard, which has a very even surface.
Design
The design of the Epiphone Les Paul Standard reminiscent of Gibson's most distinctive models. It is finished in tobacco and honey color, with a polyurethane cover that reveals the flamed maple top. We also find that the scale is 628.65, the same scale used on American Gibson Les Pauls.
For the configuration of the microphones, the designers opted for two probucker type series 2 and 3 for the master and the bridge, both with a silver-plated cover. The fingerboard is inlaid with trapezoid-shaped inlays made of mother-of-pearl material and all hardware is nickel-plated. However, the top strap mount is unstable and leaves much to be desired. Otherwise, the tuning keys are precision grover and the bridge is a LockTone Tune-o-matic/Stopbar that performs very well.
It has four potentiometers that do a great job. Two are for volume and have Push Pull settings, while two others are linear for tone settings.
Ergonomics
The ergonomics of the Epiphone Les Paul Classic Honeyburst electric guitar represent a serious problem for lovers of the original brands, as its weight and feel are no different from those of the “original” Gibson Les Pauls. And this is due to the shape of the bridge, a 1960's SlimTaper with a slim profile that gives it an undeniable ease for both phrases and capo chords. As you move down from fret five we find that everything gets better for our fingers. Dear Readers, this guitar is as comfortable as any original Gibson.
Sound
The excellent sound of the Epiphone Les Paul Classic Honeyburst is also a big problem for fans of the big names. The mic selector works great and gives it a versatility that few Epiphone Les Pauls have. On the other hand, the volume potentiometers are Push Pull, which indicates that they have the ability to vary the intensity of the volume and make it nasal, with more punch and more sustain.
In addition to all this, the tone pots do a great job. These create nuances between the low, mid and high frequencies that we can't find in the lower range Epiphone and neither in the North American Gibson. If you want to play rock, metal, blues, jazz, pop ballads or some soul, this Epiphone Les Paul Standard is for you. Its sound is very dynamic and striking.
Conclusion
The Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Pro is a guitar that we love, we recommend it for any level of learning and musical proficiency, because it has an excellent price/performance ratio that equals it in many ways with any Gibson guitar. Find the best prices at thomann.
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 50`s HCS
It incorporates a new wood configuration and maintains the versatility of the Push/Pull potentiometers.
The top is laminated maple and not solid, the neck is rubberized and not reinforced.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: solid mahogany, laminated maple, rosewood.
- Scale: 628,65 mm.
- Country of manufacture: China.
- Weight: 4.35 kg.
The Epiphone Les Paul 50's is a guitar that combines build quality and technology. We will see in detail what the Chinese manufacturer has done to make this Epiphone an excellent guitar for intermediate and advanced players.
Wood:
It is typical for this company to use mahogany wood for the body of their guitars, but it is not common for the weight to be 4.35 kg. This indicates that the wood is of the highest quality we can find, even in Gibson guitars. The only thing that leaves much to be desired is the laminated maple top. We are not saying that it has a bad quality, because the laminated detail is not perceived in the sound. However, in lower priced guitars, Epiphone has used solid maple, which is better.
The mast is another novelty, and we do not understand why it is glued on mahogany. Some guitars have the neck reinforced with two types of wood and are quite expensive, but in this one there are no reinforcements and the gluing on of the neck is not justified. Finally, the fretboard is of typical rosewood, something common in mid and high-end electric guitars.
Design:
The body of this guitar is traditional Les Paul and features a beautiful finish. All hardware is gold-plated with medium jumbo frets. As for the bridge, it is an excellent quality Locktune and the tuning keys are precision Grover Rotomatic. Throughout the neck we find beautiful mother-of-pearl inlays indicating some frets.
The microphones are two ProBucker series humbuckers, complemented by a three-way selector and four potentiometers, two for volume and two for tone. The volume potentiometers are push pull to change the microphones from humbucker to single. The finish is polyester, better quality compared to polyurethane.
Ergonomics:
This is a very heavy guitar, as heavy as a traditional Gibson. It comes with a SlimTaper “D” type slim profile mast, and it has an impressive feel. We really like this neck because the phrasing is dynamic and responsive. On this Epiphone Custom guitar, the neck profile contributes a lot to improve the vibrations and it is what benefits the rock and heavy metal sound.
For an intermediate guitarist, the weight of the guitar will not be inconvenient, because the feel will make you forget about it.
Sound
The Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro is versatile because with it you can perform rock, blues, heavy, ballads and soul songs. The sound is very good and users have reported that it improves over time. This Epiphone is made for British rock. Likewise, the sound is heavy and reminiscent of bands like Black Label Society and Zakk Wylde's touch.
The sustain brings a lot to soul, bebop jazz and blues rock. The microphone configuration is very good, the response of both probuckers is excellent and full-bodied. Switching from humbucker to single with the help of the push/pull potentiometers provides a high quality nasal sound ideal for funk.
Conclusion:
The Epiphone Les Paul Custom 50's electric guitar is very versatile with excellent performance. Except for the details of the laminated woods and the unwarranted gluing on of the neck, this electric guitar is top notch. We recommend it for all levels of learning, because every guitarist deserves an instrument with this wonderful value for money.
Epiphone SG Standard '61 Vintage Cherry
Excellent ergonomics, its sound is clean and unique.
Common woods.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: mahogany, pau ferro.
- Scale: 628,65 mm.
- Country of manufacture: Indonesia – China.
- Weight: 3.2 kg.
The sound of the Epiphone SG Standard '61 Vintage Cherry is unique. This guitar may look the same as other models, but it integrates a significant variation that separates it from the rest. Let's take a closer look:
Wood:
The body and neck of this guitar are made of mahogany from India. The neck is glued-on, as on the Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro, and the fingerboard is Brazilian pau ferro, the same woods used on other models on this list.
Design:
The body design is SG type with double cutaway, one of the most popular shapes since 1961. It wears the cherry color popularized by Angus Young, guitarist of AC/DC. It integrates two dual coil microphones that can be switched to a single coil with the help of push pull potentiometers. It also features a three-way selector that can work in conjunction with pot push pulls .
Ergonomics:
The Epiphone SG Standard '61 Vintage Cherry guitar is lighter than other models of the brand. The double cutaway subtracts parts from the wood, but it is also thinner than any Epiphone. This weight difference makes it easier to carry and is one of the reasons Angus Young carried it with him at all times.
The feel is soft in part thanks to the Slim Taper neck with “D” profile. This allows a more comfortable ride across its 22 frets than on competing guitars. The microphone configuration is alnico IV Classic Pro humbuckers, linked to push pull for greater sonic possibilities. The hardware is chrome with medium jumbo frets and the tuning keys are precision Wilkinson Vintage Classic.
Sound:
The differences in the weight and design of this guitar produce an important sonic variation. The distorted sounds are different from other Epiphone's, but the clean sounds are truly unique. The sustain is more full-bodied and changes with the help of the three-way selector and push pull potentiometers.
This model comes in six different clean colors, and this makes it a very versatile guitar. While in her sisters we only find rock, heavy and blues sounds, in this one we also find funk, disco, soul and jazz. It also has a greater reverb than other Epiphone's as a result of its smaller body, as well as the possibilities provided by the microphones. Acid jazz and classic jazz also find a place in the sound of this guitar.
Conclusion:
At culturasonora, we are always looking for versatile instruments with a good value for the money. The Epiphone SG Standard '61 Vintage Cherry guitar offers both. We recommend it for guitarists who do not limit themselves to a particular style, but seek to experiment and master all possible musical forms. Find the best price at thomann.
Our recommendation:
Among the options for intermediate players we find the most popular guitars from Epiphone. They are excellent and have features that may seem identical, but when we look at them in detail we notice that their differences go beyond aesthetics. If you're looking for something more rocking, the Les Paul Custom Pro is for you. But if you want to buy a versatile and dynamic Epiphone guitar, the ideal choice is the Epiphone SG Standard '61 Vintage Cherry.
The best Epiphone guitar for advanced players
Epiphone is a brand known for its affordable guitars, but this is not due to the poor quality of its components. When we come across an instrument that is nowhere near a thousand euros, we may be skeptical and hesitate to classify it as advanced level. But with Epiphone it is wrong to fall into this prejudice and we will show why.
Epiphone Sheraton-II Pro VS
It's the most sophisticated and pure jazz and blues sound you'll find at this price range.
It is not appropriate for tapping.
Technical Characteristics:
- Wood: maple, pau ferro.
- Scale: 628.65 mm
- Country of manufacture: China.
- Weight: 4.35 kg.
This Epiphone guitar reflects the quality and configuration of its woods by producing unique sounds. This is precisely what we love about this model, so let's take a look:
Wood
The Epiphone Sheraton II Pro guitar is made almost entirely of maple, as the body, top and neck are made of this wood. The top and neck are made of five-ply laminated maple and hot glued to prevent any traces of glue that might damage the aesthetics. This material gives it an impressive stability that compares to the most expensive competing jazz guitars. The fingerboard is made of pau ferro wood, which provides the extra strength needed to stabilize the neck.
Design:
The designers chose to replicate the legendary Sheraton, in the shape of the Jazz Collection Thinline. In addition, it has square inlays with central triangles made of mother-of-pearl that embellish the look of this guitar. On the body you can see the two typical “F” shaped fretwork, something traditional in jazz guitars.
For the electronics, two wonderful “Probucker” series humbuckers with coil-splitting technology were incorporated, while the hardware is made of stainless steel with gold finish. It features 22 frets to enjoy the purest jazz. It integrates four push-pull potentiometers that do a great job (two for volume and two tone pots) and a locked Tune-o-Matic bridge with gold finish. Finally, the guitar is finished in tobacco color with a polyester cover.
Ergonomics:
The Epiphone Sheraton II Pro guitar has the usual scale for mid and high-end Epiphone guitars. The height of the strings is 5 mm and is a little higher than in the rest of its sisters. This difference gives it a firm feel that is very common in jazz guitars. We also note that there is a slight forward lean on the neck that is also present in four other guitars belonging to this series.
You can tell that the feel is smooth, very similar to a Takamine acoustic guitar. This is great for those looking for a guitar that is a transition between acoustic and electric. It is also important to emphasize that this model is not appropriate to develop the tapping technique. Therefore, if you are looking for your first guitar you must have a clear idea on what your musical horizon will be.
Sound:
The sound is round, compact, precise and of impressive quality. In each of the selector positions and even with the changes produced by the push pull potentiometers, this guitar has a punch that we love. The sustain is really good and at times reminiscent of an acoustic guitar. The same goes for the reverb, which is rich in nuances and enhances excellent harmonics.
Generally speaking, to find another guitar with this sound quality, you would need to invest a lot more money in competing models. For these reasons, we believe it is unnecessary to get carried away by brand prejudices.
Conclusion:
The Epiphone Sheraton II Pro is an excellent guitar, with a powerful volume and full sound that exudes stability. It is a great instrument, like few others on the market, and that is why we recommend it for those who want a high quality classic jazz and blues instrument. The best thing about it? It's very cheap for an instrument of this quality. Find the best price at thomann.
We also recommend you check out our CulturaSonora page. There you will find guides on how to recognize an original Gibson and many others. For example, the excellent electric basses Fender Precision Bass, Fender Jazz Bass and Takamine guitars.
Technical Characteristics of Epiphone Guitars
MODELS | Weight | Woods | Scale | Country of manufacture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack VS | 3,7 kg | Maple, pau ferro | 628 mm | China |
| Epiphone Slash AFD LP Performance Pack | 3,6 kg | mahogany, tulipwood, flamed maple, arc | 628 mm | Indonesia |
| Epiphone LP Studio EB | 3,6 kg | Mahogany, smooth maple, alder, rosewood | 628,65 mm | China |
| Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Pro HB | 3. 8 kg | Mahogany, flamed maple AAA, pau ferro | 628,65 mm | China |
| Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro AWH | 4.35 kg | Solid mahogany, laminated maple, rosewood | 628,65 mm | China |
| Epiphone SG G-400 PRO CH | 3. 2 kg. | Mahogany, pau ferro | 628,65 mm | China |
| Epiphone Sheraton-II Pro VS | 4.35 kg | Maple, pau ferro | 628,65 mm | China |