Epiphone Sheraton E212V Arch Top Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1961)

Epiphone  Sheraton E212V Arch Top Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar  (1961)
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Item # 9864
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Epiphone Sheraton E212V Model Arch Top Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1961), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 31872, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, laminated mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original blond hard shell case.

This very deluxe looking Sheraton was the top of the line thinline semi-hollow guitar in the 1960's Kalamazoo-made Epiphone catalog. The rather costly (over $500.00) model was the equivalent to the Gibson ES 355TD but built in much smaller numbers. The main differences are the proprietary Epiphone mini-humbucking pickups fitted instead of Gibson's standard PAF's and use of the somewhat more elaborate traditional New York Epiphone inlay patterns.

The rosewood fingerboard has not only edge binding an interior 3-ply inset just under the E strings. The inlay is the split pearl block with "V" abalone centerpiece inherited from the 1940's Emperor. The headstock is triple-bound with the "tree of life" pattern in pearl used on top-line Epiphones since the mid-30's, with a very thick pearl logo. This guitar has the earlier wider headstock shape, supplanted later by a much slimmer peghead design.

The body has a beautifully shaded dark brown sunburst finish. The top is bound in 6-ply celluloid and the back is 3-ply; the tortoise celluloid pickguard is 5-ply bound with an E epsilon logo. All hardware is gold-plated including the original Grover Rotomatic tuners and "no-wire" ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge. The knobs are the typical "capped' gold 1960's Gibson style. This Sheraton is equipped with a gold-plated Epiphone Tremotone tailpiece as a factory fitting.

The Sheraton was made only in limited numbers in the early 60's; with all of 21 sunburst examples shipped in 1961 making this a rather rare guitar. With the typical 1960-62 pattern a wide and fairly flat-feeling neck this is a very comfortable player, with the powerful but somewhat brighter tone typical of the PAF Mini-Humbucking pickups. This is a lovely guitar and easily the nicest early Sheraton we have had.
 
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

This is a beautiful original guitar showing only some very light play wear. The only alteration is an older refret with somewhat taller wire typical of the 1970s and 80s. The finish has some light checking and small dings and dents but overall is very well preserved. The gold plating and metallic Epiphone E emblems have some wear and corrosion but nothing too severe; this is most noticeable on the trem arm, bridge ends and rear pickup cover. All hardware is original and complete with the only alteration being the refret. This is a great playing and sounding first-generation Sheraton, complete in the original early-pattern blue plush lined case. Excellent Condition.