Epiphone has built a reputation for offering affordable versions of classic guitar designs from its parent company Gibson. The Sheraton II Pro is Epiphone’s take on the iconic ES-335 semi-hollow body shape, long revered for its blend of warm, resonant tones and feedback resistance. This guitar aims to deliver that vibe in a nicely spec’d and smartly-priced package.
Design and Build Quality
The Epiphone Sheraton II Pro boasts a classic double-cutaway body design inspired by the iconic Gibson ES-335. Its laminated maple construction with a “Sixties” body depth provides good acoustic projection and resonance, while minimizing body resonance for improved sustain.
The set mahogany neck features a comfortable ’60s C-shaped profile that should feel familiar to many players. The Indian laurel fretboard has trapezoid inlays and hosts 22 medium-jumbo frets for smooth playability up and down the 24.75″ scale length.
Hardware appointments are in keeping with the Sheraton’s premium vibe. A LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stop Bar tailpiece provide reliable intonation, while the Grover 18:1 tuning machines ensure precise tuning stability. The Graphtech Nubone nut is another quality touch.
Available in classic finishes like Vintage Sunburst and Pelham Blue, the Sheraton II Pro demonstrates Epiphone’s ability to capture the essence of iconic Gibson designs at an exceptional value. Its all-laminated maple construction won’t resonate like a high-end semi-hollow, but delivers solid sustain and bell-like chime. The set mahogany neck and laurel fretboard provide a familiar playing feel for an inspiring experience at this attractive price point.
Pickups and Electronics
At the heart of the Sheraton II Pro’s tone are a pair of Epiphone’s acclaimed ProBucker humbuckers. The ProBucker 2 in the neck position and ProBucker 3 in the bridge are Epiphone’s revered PAF-style humbucker recreations, designed to capture the nuanced vintage tones of Gibson’s legendary BurstBucker pickups.
This guitar’s electronics layout provides an array of sonic options. Each ProBucker has a dedicated volume control that can be rolled back for single-coil-like tones through coil-splitting. The traditional 3-way selector switch allows picking between the warm, woody neck pickup, the bright, articulate bridge, or combining both in parallel for a fuller sound.
The independent tone controls let you dial in as much or as little high-end presence as desired. While rolling the tones all the way off results in a somewhat dark, muddy response as on vintage hollowbodies, many players will appreciate having that classic thump on tap.
Small tweaks like tightening down a loose tone knob show attention to detail. And while the stock 250K pots offer a respectable tone range, electronics connoisseurs may opt to upgrade to higher value pots down the line for increased clarity. The recessed jack provides a secure cable connection without excessive strain on the guitar’s body.
With its great-sounding ProBucker pickups and versatile wiring scheme, the Epiphone Sheraton II Pro serves up an impressive array of vintage-Voiced tones suitable for rock, blues, jazz and more. Premium electric specifics at a player’s price.
Tonal Characteristics
The semi-hollow Sheraton II Pro captures that elusive in-between character you’d expect – meaty enough for thick rhythms with great note definition, but still capable of producing ringing, vocal-like lead tones.
The ProBuckers excel at classic rock, blues and even heavier styles with their warm yet articulate output. Thanks to the semi-hollow design, you get a nice resonance and responsiveness without being overly feedback-prone.
Playability and Feel
The rounded C-shaped neck is very comfortable for most hand sizes and techniques. At around 8 lbs, the Sheraton II Pro carries some heft but feels balanced and shouldn’t cause fatigue during long sessions.
While the setup out of the box was good for the price, some tweaks may be needed to get the action exactly where you want it.
Value for Money
With a street price typically between $500-$600, the Sheraton II Pro represents excellent value considering its specs and adherence to a classic design.
It competes extremely well with guitars like the PRS SE Semi-Hollow and Ibanez Artcore series at a similar price point. This is a well-equipped option for intermediate level players and gigging musicians on a budget.
Popular Modifications and Upgrades
Many players look to upgrade the pickups on Epiphone semi-hollows like the Sheraton II Pro first, going with popular aftermarket options like Seymour Duncans or even swapping in Gibson Burstbuckers. Others may swap out the plastic parts for more premium components. The guitar’s design lends itself well to modding.
Suitable Genres and Applications
With its semi-hollow design, the Sheraton II Pro is right at home outputting warm jazz tones, articulate blues rhythms and crunchy overdriven leads for rock and classic heavy tones.
It handles most genres very capably while retaining tonal character – just be mindful of feedback at high volumes. You can hear its voice on tracks by legends like BB King, Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour.
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros:
- Great value for money for its specs and adherence to iconic semi-hollow design
- ProBucker pickups nail that classic warm yet articulate humbucker tone
- Solid playability from the comfortable neck and moderate weight
- Nice semi-hollow tones with good resonance and sustain
Cons:
- May require some setup tweaks out of the box
- Limited wooding choices and appointments compared to high-end semi-hollows
- Pickups good for the price but aftermarket upgrades are common
Final Thoughts
Epiphone has expertly captured the magic of the classic ES-335 in the Sheraton II Pro at an extremely attractive price point. The guitar delivers great semi-hollow tones and iconic looks while offering superb playability and stage-worthiness. Players on a budget yearning for that revered semi-hollow character need look no further.
Upgrades like new pickups can elevate this guitar even further. But even straight out of the box, the Sheraton II Pro represents terrific bang for your buck as a workhorse gigging instrument that evokes that classic tone. Aspiring players and working musicians in need of diverse tones would be wise to check out this affordable semi-hollow gem.
