I'm not Worthy... the VI

parker_knoll · Nov 15, 2020

Are you interested in a year 2000 blonde Westerly SFV? Cheap price. It's not mine. That period is great IMO

rbrcbr · Nov 15, 2020

bobouz said:
If you ever see one of these available, they’re well worth checking out. It’s a John Lee Hooker Sheraton from it’s initial year, 2000 (not to be confused with a Korean JLH model that preceded it). The nitro-finished bodies were made by Terada in Japan, then sent to Gibson in Nashville for installation of pickups & hardware. Construction is a notch above the well regarded Epi Elitist Sheraton, which was fully made by Terada in Japan. Neck playability is superb, and overall imho, this model is as good as it gets beyond scoring an original (and very expensive!) Kalamazoo Sheraton.

Damn, this makes me miss mine. I nabbed one off the GC site for $300 with the brown leather/pink lined hardshell case a couple years back that was tagged as a regular korean sheraton II, best deal I ever got. Ended up having to sell it to pay some bills, made my money back and plenty more, but damn I miss that guitar. I told the guy I sold it to let me know if he ever got rid of it to let me know first - reached out to him recently and it turns out he traded it off to a collector for an MIJ Riviera. So bummed. A blonde one popped up on Reverb this past week for a decent price but I couldn't swing it. These are great guitars, played nice and sounded great but just a bit heavy. I'll get into another eventually, hopefully. But yes, seconded - if you can get your hands on one of these, they're absolutely worth it.

bobouz · Nov 15, 2020

rbrcbr said:
Damn, this makes me miss mine. I nabbed one off the GC site for $300 with the brown leather/pink lined hardshell case a couple years back that was tagged as a regular korean sheraton II, best deal I ever got.

Yes, for a while it felt like I was making a living off of GC goof ups! Picked up my JLH a number of years ago for $1299 with the brown case (currently housing a Gibson ES-330L), which was well below the typical asking price, even then.

But like you, I too came across a screaming GC deal, and it was on a 2005 McCartney ‘64 Texan - made by Terada in Japan for McCartney’s Adopt-A-Minefield fundraiser (and like the JLH, a cut above their own Elitist line). GC must have mistook it for the “inspired by” model made in China & Indonesia. Price was $299. Unfortunately, these days it seems like GC is more likely to overprice their used instruments! Here’s a couple of pics of the McCartney Texan:

Guildadelphia · Nov 29, 2020

For what it's worth, I just saw that Gibson/Epi is doing another reissue the 60's Riviera w/ Mini Hums and Frequensator tailpiece.
MIC, but still looks like a nice guitar at a reasonable price (around 699.99 out the door w/o case).

Mark WW · Nov 30, 2020

Guildadelphia said:
For what it's worth, I just saw that Gibson/Epi is doing another reissue the 60's Riviera w/ Mini Hums and Frequensator tailpiece.
MIC, but still looks like a nice guitar at a reasonable price (around 699.99 out the door w/o case).

I had one of those (not the current but an earlier made I think in Korea) and it was a very nice guitar but the neck was horribly thin. Some folks like them skinny necks so...

Actually Sweetwater has these in stock now.

Guildadelphia · Dec 12, 2020

I recall the previous MIC reissue Epi did of the Riviera a few years ago (part of a limited series of Anniversary reissues) had a pretty standard nut width (1.689") but was pretty thin and flat in profile (front to back). If you didn't mind the thin neck profile, it was a very nice guitar that came standard with real made in the USA Gibson mini-buckers, USA electronics and a vintage accurate battleship grey hardshell case. The example I played (off the rack at a local GC) played and sounded great. The long discontinued Epi "Elitist" Series Riviera reissues are topnotch but hard to find and tend to be pricey. Made in Japan by Terada (who make the Gretsch Pro Series guitars) the Elitist Rivieras smoked most Gibsons in the QC department and are superb, top shelf instruments in every area. There was also an Epi Elitist Riviera 12 string but they are as rare as hen's teeth but reputed to be some of the best electric 12's ever made.

Mark WW · Dec 12, 2020

My sales guy at Sweetwater measured the neck thickness at the first fret and it came in at .890" with a 1-11/16" width at the nut. The neck carve is described as a Classic C.

If the above is true I will be ordering as soon as in stock.

GGJaguar · Dec 12, 2020

But the inlays are facing the wrong way.

Mark WW · Dec 12, 2020

Funny I noticed the same thing. Here is my early 2000's Korean made version...

GGJaguar · Dec 12, 2020

Yup. I can overlook the "not pointy enough" horns, the less than accurate headstock inlay, and the too-short TRC, but my OCD kicks in hard with the inlay direction. If they were oriented correctly, I'd order one in a heartbeat.

Mark WW · Dec 13, 2020

Most reissues or concept reissues miss the mark on something or other. Is the neck on your skinny? I would hope if that is the case they totally miss the mark on this reissue.

bobouz · Dec 13, 2020

Guess we all have certain lines in the sand. It really bugs me when the maker squares off the ends of Epi’s lovely cloud inlay on the headstock. My McCartney ‘64 Texan by Terada (above) has it right, but Terada’s very own Elitist Texan has it wrong - go figure!

F30 · Dec 13, 2020

This turned into the "how Cool are these Epi's" thread ....

musicofanatic · Dec 14, 2020

Wulfthar said:
I am looking for one of them but they are very rare...I was able to track one AIUSA (that is a JLH produced after he died without his signature) but the seller refused to ship it outside the US, that was a real bummer for me.

P.S. Everytime I see a Sheraton I realise how much input Guild received from Epiphone before it was bought by Gibson.

Hi-I have a MIJ/AIUSA blonde Sheraton for sale. Please message me (or email musicofanatic55*AT*gmail*DOT*com) if you have any interest. Thanks!

Default · Dec 14, 2020

musicofanatic said:
Hi-I have a MIJ/AIUSA blonde Sheraton for sale. Please message me (or email musicofanatic55*AT*gmail*DOT*com) if you have any interest. Thanks!

Why don't you post the particulars in FS/FT, with pics? We love pics.

musicofanatic · Dec 15, 2020

Default said:
Why don't you post the particulars in FS/FT, with pics? We love pics.

Is it permitted to post non-Guild guitars for sale?

bobouz · Dec 15, 2020

musicofanatic said:
Is it permitted to post non-Guild guitars for sale?

I’ve seen other brands listed in the past - should be okay. I’d also enjoy seeing pics of your natural AIUSA Sheraton, just to compare it to my own sunburst!

musicofanatic · Dec 15, 2020

For now...

GGJaguar · Dec 15, 2020

musicofanatic said:

Nice! Can't go wrong with that one!

fronobulax · Dec 15, 2020

musicofanatic said:
Is it permitted to post non-Guild guitars for sale?

Absolutely.

I'm not Worthy... the VI

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