Howdy from Missouri Ozarks.

[Lindell Baker]

Newbie here. A beginner guitar player. Been doing Justin Sandercoe's Beginner Song Course app. Been at it on daily basis for a little over a year now. Im in no big hurry. Trying to get the basics down pretty well so progress has been slow but steady. Got about 20 chords down fairly well. Working on F bar chord and B major. Can do about 50-60 clean chord changes/min on basic chords except F bar chord and B.

Been thinking about getting an ES 335 type guitar. Debating between a Gibson and a Sheraton II Pro. Given my beginner status leaning toward the Sheraton. I can afford either but not sure at this point that I would get much more out of a Gibson. Guess I would rather invest in something that I wont outgrow in a few years but thinking I could upgrade the Sheraton or trade up to a Gibson down the road. Guess Im looking for advise. What would you do if you were in my place, get the Sheraton II Pro or the Gibson ES 335. Not sure that's a fair question. I know its a personal thing but interested in view of those with more experience.

Looks like most retailers are out of stock on the Sheraton II Pro models except for a few Ebony models. Think I would rather wait for a Wine Red or Sunburst but wonder how long my wait will be. Guess the backlog is a COVID related thing and assume production will resume soon. Waiting a month or two not a biggie but not sure I want to wait 6 mths. Anyone hear any rumors as to how long before the Sheratons will be available again? I contacted a few online retailers but have yet to get any response.

 

[grinwer]

Hi! Justin is a good teacher. I'm there too. )
I would choose Epi.

 

[soulman969]

Welcome Lindell.

I believe you'll find a Sheraton II Pro to be fairly comparable to many Gibson semi-hollow body models. I've owned an older Sheraton and currently own an Epi ES339 and a Casino.

Having compared both my ES339 and a '56 Gold Top with my jam buddy's Gibson version of those same guitar even he agrees there's so little difference it's tough to justify the difference in cost. Epiphone simply offers better value.

My understanding is that production is resuming on many models this month so it's possible inventories will rise again soon. I doubt the wait will be as long as six months.

As for your progress as a picker I might suggest learning some alternative ways to play those F and B chords. They can be real buggers as bar chords until you get used to them but there are some "shorthand" alternatives as well.

 

[Davis Sharp]

Welcome to Epi-Talk. I don't think you will "outgrow" a Sheraton. It's affordable, but not a cheap, entry-level guitar. Besides, many of the cheap, entry-level guitars are really good.

 

[Lindell Baker]

Welcome Lindell.

I believe you'll find a Sheraton II Pro to be fairly comparable to many Gibson semi-hollow body models. I've owned an older Sheraton and currently own an Epi ES339 and a Casino.

Having compared both my ES339 and a '56 Gold Top with my jam buddy's Gibson version of those same guitar even he agrees there's so little difference it's tough to justify the difference in cost. Epiphone simply offers better value.

My understanding is that production is resuming on many models this month so it's possible inventories will rise again soon. I doubt the wait will be as long as six months.

As for your progress as a picker I might suggest learning some alternative ways to play those F and B chords. They can be real buggers as bar chords until you get used to them but there are some "shorthand" alternatives as well.

Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated. Your comments seem to align with my take on things. While the Gibson might be a
superior guitar by most standards not sure its worth 4 or 5 times the price of a Sheraton. Guess I will just have to cool my jets and wait it out. Don't really "need" another guitar at this point but the wait wont be easy.

I've been doing just what you suggest regarding F and B chords. Been working on what Justin Sandercoe calls "old school F" which
is pretty much the same as bar chord F except the bar is on first and second strings only and 6th isn't played. Haven't messed with alternatives for B yet.

 

[Lindell Baker]

Hi! Justin is a good teacher. I'm there too. )
I would choose Epi.

Thanks for you comments. A little reassurance from those with more experience makes my decision easier. Do you teach guitar?

 

[grinwer]

Thanks for you comments. A little reassurance from those with more experience makes my decision easier. Do you teach guitar?

I am also taking a course, I am studying. )) After a long break in playing the guitar, I repeat theory and practice. I think he has a good school.
I would take an Epi ES-339.

 

[Lindell Baker]

I am also taking a course, I am studying. )) After a long break in playing the guitar, I repeat theory and practice. I think he has a good school.
I would take an Epi ES-339.

Know what you mean about repeating. Hard to absorb everything first time thru. I have repeated many if not most to the Justin modules. Hoping that spending a little extra time on the basics will pay off down the road. Seems to me can't hurt to build upon a good foundation rather than rush thru the basics. Im in no rush. At this point its about the journey not the destination.

 

[soulman969]

While the Gibson might be a superior guitar by most standards not sure its worth 4 or 5 times the price of a Sheraton.

In both my opinion and my experience no, they're not.

My unprovable theory is that Gibson's sales and market share are shrinking but not it's costs and overhead so with those models like their hollow and semi-hollow bodies and upper end Les Paul's they'll charge as much as the traffic will bear.

Prices on Epiphones have been climbing as well but they still offer high value and their quality has made them one of the top import lines. Blindfolded I seriously doubt you could tell one from the other when playing them Epi's are that good.

Gibson's have become somewhat of niche market now with many being sold be the high end dealers like Wildwood, Dave's Guitar, Sweetwater, Music Zoo, and others. Epiphones are the staple of the online dealers like GC, MF, AMS, etc.

 

[soulman969]

I've been doing just what you suggest regarding F and B chords. Been working on what Justin Sandercoe calls "old school F" which is pretty much the same as bar chord F except the bar is on first and second strings only and 6th isn't played. Haven't messed with alternatives for B yet.

Having learned pretty much the hard way which is to say self-taught I found myself copying from others a whole lot.

With so many current models now using a fingerboard radius of 9.5" or 12" and some even flatter bar chords are more difficult to play than on the "old school" 7.25" radius necks.

Another solution for an F if you can manage it is using your thumb to cover the low F note on the 6th string. If I don't need that note I play it as you do using the index finger to cover the 2nd and 1st strings and mute the 6th string.

For the B major bar chord I use my pinky to cover strings 2,3,4 and my index finger for the B on the 5th string. Otherwise I'll use alternative open voicings or just a B chord triad inversion without the root note on the bottom.

Once you begin playing an electric in ensemble with others you find yourself playing three or four note chords a whole lot and full bar chords become less used.

 

[Jeffytune]

Found a sunburst brand new on reverb for 699.00 with free shipping from zZsound in New Jersey.

https://reverb.com/item/5431688-epi...9.mEDR1UzwJ1U0__jQXTORegNlMI6VWk2rUF4HsqcDkAE


They are an Epiphone dealer and it is brand new so you will have the warranty.
Sadly at this time, no red ones are available new anywhere and only one sapphire blue I could find, but it is in Korea and the shipping and price are just too much.

I would get this guitar and with the money you save, buy a really nice tube amp, like a Fender Deluxe reverb amp.

 

[Otto99]

Welcome! I admittedly know bupkis about guitars, although they tell me I have two fairly nice ones, but if these guys say a Sheraton is a good guitar, you can take that to the bank.

 

[Steven Westberg]

Newbie here. A beginner guitar player. Been doing Justin Sandercoe's Beginner Song Course app. Been at it on daily basis for a little over a year now. Im in no big hurry. Trying to get the basics down pretty well so progress has been slow but steady. Got about 20 chords down fairly well. Working on F bar chord and B major. Can do about 50-60 clean chord changes/min on basic chords except F bar chord and B.

Been thinking about getting an ES 335 type guitar. Debating between a Gibson and a Sheraton II Pro. Given my beginner status leaning toward the Sheraton. I can afford either but not sure at this point that I would get much more out of a Gibson. Guess I would rather invest in something that I wont outgrow in a few years but thinking I could upgrade the Sheraton or trade up to a Gibson down the road. Guess Im looking for advise. What would you do if you were in my place, get the Sheraton II Pro or the Gibson ES 335. Not sure that's a fair question. I know its a personal thing but interested in view of those with more experience.

Looks like most retailers are out of stock on the Sheraton II Pro models except for a few Ebony models. Think I would rather wait for a Wine Red or Sunburst but wonder how long my wait will be. Guess the backlog is a COVID related thing and assume production will resume soon. Waiting a month or two not a biggie but not sure I want to wait 6 mths. Anyone hear any rumors as to how long before the Sheratons will be available again? I contacted a few online retailers but have yet to get any response.

Where you been? We have been waiting for you to show up! Welcome Brother. If your just starting to play, I always tell new players, “practice 40 hours a week” or “40 hours on each song”. It’s sounds excessive but when the song gets old you are probably playing it really well. Usually.

 

[Steven Westberg]

Newbie here. A beginner guitar player. Been doing Justin Sandercoe's Beginner Song Course app. Been at it on daily basis for a little over a year now. Im in no big hurry. Trying to get the basics down pretty well so progress has been slow but steady. Got about 20 chords down fairly well. Working on F bar chord and B major. Can do about 50-60 clean chord changes/min on basic chords except F bar chord and B.

Been thinking about getting an ES 335 type guitar. Debating between a Gibson and a Sheraton II Pro. Given my beginner status leaning toward the Sheraton. I can afford either but not sure at this point that I would get much more out of a Gibson. Guess I would rather invest in something that I wont outgrow in a few years but thinking I could upgrade the Sheraton or trade up to a Gibson down the road. Guess Im looking for advise. What would you do if you were in my place, get the Sheraton II Pro or the Gibson ES 335. Not sure that's a fair question. I know its a personal thing but interested in view of those with more experience.

Looks like most retailers are out of stock on the Sheraton II Pro models except for a few Ebony models. Think I would rather wait for a Wine Red or Sunburst but wonder how long my wait will be. Guess the backlog is a COVID related thing and assume production will resume soon. Waiting a month or two not a biggie but not sure I want to wait 6 mths. Anyone hear any rumors as to how long before the Sheratons will be available again? I contacted a few online retailers but have yet to get any response.

John Lennon played an Epiphone Casino. A similar guitar to the Sheraton. They are both fine guitars. John sanded all the sunburst off of it, right down to plain wood. He preferred the sound he said.