Hey folks, let us know what you think of these guitars! And follow the links below to check out some music! Listen: open.spotify.com/artist/6RLQFre2Qp5T454mFR5Ol4 Download: jackfossett.bandcamp.com

Killer tones as always man. Both sound incredible but the fact the Epiphone holds its own against the Gibson makes it the more appealing guitar for the price.

Thank you Jack for showcasing these 2 guitars in particular, as one I currently have and the other is one of two, the ES-355 being the second, that I'm now seriously looking at. I've been a Gibson performer since the early 80's...V's and then LP's. Each of these are known for being...Classic. But secretly...I've always been drawn to the tones of early Rush. 6 months ago...I picked up my first semi-hollow, a 2019 Epi ES-335 Pro. It was magical. The tones sung from it's interior and the sustain is just as impressive. The guitar brings out tones that you always knew were there...but that LP's tend to blend in with their overall sound. This guitar is truly a joy to play. What it also did, was to spark the search for the perfect ES-335, for me anyway. Oddly enough...my next acquisition was the Firefly FF338 Spalted Maple. To anyone who has had curiosity about the quality and play-ability of these...I can say, there is not a better guitar on the market in this price range. Aside from the electronics, which are not bad...this guitar rivals the Epi ES-335 at less than half the price. I have a set of Gibson 57 Classic PAF's to waiting to go in...but as of yet...I'm still exploring the Firefly's tones. Last month, I purchased the 2020 Sheraton II Pro in black...and I cannot put this guitar down. From someone who perhaps thought all 335's were created equal...the Sheraton is superior to any of my previous guitars. Quite simply...it's the one that you can't wait to come home to. I love all of my 335's, each different, but special in their own way. I'm proud of them all. The question now is, one that you refer to so well here...does my current need justify the Gibson. I'm almost afraid to play the 334 as I might have to buy it. It's not a buyers remorse thing that I'll have to deal with...I just may not pickup anything else afterwards..!! lol. Thanks again...Dred

Great video and playing. Both sound amazing. Fantastic editing too!

That Gibson is absolutely beautiful, and the Epiphone is certainly nothing to sneeze at. I always wonder about a live situation. Would the difference in tone even be noticed when in a mix? Would anyone in the audience shake their head and think...These guys would sound so much better if the guitarist was playing a Gibson. Interesting story for you Jack. I played at a big 3 day outdoor country concert years ago...We were one of the local back up bands to the Nashville headliner bands. I had to walk up onstage and play my old beaten up strat through a "provided" amp. I was kind of lost without my trusty fender tube amp and floor pedals. I remember thinking " Oh Man I suck"! Nothing was the same! The stage was too big. I wasn't getting the same familiar monitor mix I was used to. I felt alone on the stage. I couldn't hear the bass and just felt isolated from the other members sounds with a cranked amp. All I could hear was my screaming guitar. Some of the players from the States were having a beer watching us, as I butchered THEIR song which made it worse! The crowd still cheered and in my mental state I thought they were just being kind to the local boys. Another local band which I knew came up. The guitar player had a Tele. It sounded fantastic! I was just humiliated. I had always thought we were as good as them, but had never played on the same stage. After their first set their guitarist Dave came up to me with a beer...Holy S**t dude your guitar...makes me want to buy a strat" I was dumbfounded. He said my guitar just SANG! After talking for a while we figured it out. He was going through same thing I was. A local player doing the bar circuit playing for the first time in an open air setting and being out of his element. A guy from one of the Nashville bands was walking around chit chatting with us Canadians and said to me in his thick southern drawl something along the lines of..."That ole girl got some serious quack my man" referring to my old strat. I went from wanting the stage to open up and swallow me to feeling elated! I learned to just play and not think about it. It just goes to show that its all about perception. We make a big deal about subtleties in an instrument and in reality if you play like you mean it, youll get by. Great vid as always Jack!

I have the Epiphone Sheraton II. I only play for my own enjoyment so I don't need to spend the $ for the extra Gibson quality. I learned something about quality in my teens, when a neighbor who was a professional flute player came by our house, and played on one of our plastic recorders and made it sound great! The recorder was junk, but the player was so good he made it sound great. So a great player, playing an Epiphone, will still sound great, even if it might be a bit better if it were on a Gibson.

Gibson Les Paul and Epiphone Sheraton, I love them both, I did have a 335 but didn't like it as much as the Sheraton.

Nice vids, Jack, appreciated! I have a Sheraton II, changed pups to Gibson ‘57, the rest is stock. Sounds awesome! Then changed strings with flats .011 now it rolls smooth on jazz avenue. Soon will make a vid with. Have fun!

And btw. I almost forgot to thank you Jack for very good review as you helped me to decide which one to pick up😎 and even though I was willing to accept that sound of Sherry you presented in the end mine sounds even better so I'm fully satisfied and that's what's going on afterward👍

I Jack Thanks for the great comparison. So easy to make ones mind up on what to look for. I have the 2016 (latest version) of the Sheraton II Pro (China). I believe my Sherry has different pickups to yours. I also own a Gibson Les Paul Standard 2007 Honeyburst. I have compared the sound and output of both and I actually prefer my Sheraton. The new pickups they have put in the Epiphone (Coil Tapping) are excellent, in my opinion there is absolutely no good reason to change them. They offer hot clear tones that we've come to expect from this style of instrument. Wish I had the Gibson 335 to make a better comparison but hey ho my pockets aren't deep enough these days. For ANY money the Sheraton II Pro is a fantastic guitar or I prefer to say instrument. By the way, I have been a Pro (fully pro) for 48 years. I use my Sherry on gigs and in the studio. I'm not ashamed to turn up anywhere with it. Always have my Paul, Strat on hand also but my favourite is my Eppi, the neck is sublime! Hope this helps anyone thinking about the Epiphone and maybe thinking about possible negatives. The World Needs More Guitarists! Love.

I had a ‘78 Gibson 335 with the coil split. It was great guitar no doubt. I also have an Epiphone (White sparkle with gold flake binding -only because you didn’t mention it in the limited edition in a prior video - Casino VS P93. Not not a criticism, just an FYI.) Riviera P93. When down sizing because of a move I kept the P93, it was the blending of the 3rd pickup that did it. That and it looks so cool. Just stumbled upon your channel and really enjoyed your reviews. I am now a subscriber.

That Sheraton rocked that Gibson out of the water. Both great guitars but it sounded like the blue one was the budget option.

Mi friend, your judgment is sincerely. Definitely I think the same. Thank you for this video

Thanks for the review. I am in Tanzania East Africa. A friend of mine will sell to me his Sheraton II for $350 from the US, he will also include the case. It will be my second electric. We have issues of electric supply so I want this to play even without an amp. I am saving to get that money, will skip meals for long to pay for. Have a nice day

dude, you drew me in with the first few notes. You're a great guitarist

I've got a chinese stratocaster, not a known brand, it's no so good quality wise, but I love it, and for me it's all I need. Plus doesn't matter if you have a fender or an epiphone or any other brand, if you know how to play and the sound makes you happy, you are okay, great video man!

The Gibson sounds warmer to my ears. However, I can only afford an Epiphone at this stage and it still seems like a great looking and great sounding instrument. Thanks for the awesome, in-depth review

Just wanted to add a note about the Sheraton II Not the pro version. There is a factory out there overseas that made one of the sweetest most beautiful sounding guitars in the entire world. I’m not going to mention which factory or country it because I might need another guitar in the future and I don’t want to have everybody’s buying them up. My friend and I decided to find out the best Sheraton II So we searched the world over checking out all the different ones. And we found one magic one that was consistent. He has one and I have one and it is just a jewel. It sounds better than all the other ones. Does it sound better than a Gibson 335. I have not a clue because I have never played one That was plugged into an amplifier. I have picked them up in the shops and listen to them acoustically. So I cannot compare them truly against the Sheraton. It is easy to tell what factory most of them came from by looking up the serial number. I wish he had mentioned where the Sheraton was made. It was an excellent comparison. For my ears I thought the Gibson sounded better than the sheraton in this demonstration. But then again I don’t know where that Sheraton was made. Having said all that you have to be very careful because the sound I am looking for may not be the sound other people are looking for. But I tell you what I sure like the sound of this gibson he played in this demonstration a whole lot. Mine sounds like this link but mine actually sounds a little better kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y62bed2q2bCWcps.html Mine has a beautiful beautiful rich warm sound that sounds like angels singing in the beautiful choir from heaven. it makes you want to lean back and prop your feet up and close your eyes and feel like you’re being surronded with a warm blanket on a cool day. It is hard to describe how wonderful mine sounds. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced this but you may have had a guitar in the past it sounded so wonderful and somehow you let it get away from you and you could never get it back again. That’s the way this one sounds that I have I think I have the magic one. However my friend has one just like mine from the same country and same factory. Sometimes after my friend and I Grill out steaks with our girlfriends. We come in and bring out the Sheraton’s and the girls close their eyes in dreamy happiness and rest to the beautiful peaceful sounds these Sheratons make. So I’m telling you right now that all Sheratons do not sound the same. Some have that elusive wonderful touch of magic. But I have to tell you personally I like the warm clean sounds from the neck humbucker. I do not like crunch or loud grateing noises. Mine does have a really nice break up for blues but I don’t like to get anywhere near Head banger crunchy metal sounds. If you’re looking for that this may not be the one for you.

Nice music! I enjoyed a lot. I own a Epi Sheraton, I love it

Cool vid Jack. I've a friend with the Korean Sheraton w/ nibs on the fret board... Amazing instrument... I see on your 345 silver hardware... and I'm guessing factory mono'd? Even in the '60's the 335 was 6 hundred (which may as well been 6 million for me) so getting an Epi that looked like Clapton's for less than 4 all in brand new was a dream come true. After playing of and on for 50 odd years I've only just recently learned how to "really" tune a guitar... Nice playing as always... you really made the two sound identical. Have a great day, mate

My son just bought a Sheraton 2 and its a great guitar its a Korean model I checked out the neck and the binding and the binding and the pickups sound great it has Grover tuners and stays in tune good. I can't find anything to bitch about when it comes to the quality of the instrument. I didn't want to hand it back to him I'm gonna get one for myself

Just got a Sheraton II and I’m in love.

I own both a Gibson and an Epiphone. I love them both. They are different instruments and provide a different experience- both awesome. But, the value Epiphone provides is huge and undeniable.

Wow job well done with the comparison🎸👏🏾

I'm just starting to learn how to play guitar. I could have purchased a Gibson but I chose to purchase Epiphones because after listening to them on KZfaq, I realized that Epiphone still makes very good products. I prefer buying new products instead of used. I usually but from Sweetwater. My Salesman Ray Gonzalez is excellent. He really knows his guitars. I have also paid the additional expense of having some of the guitars set up. Gibson makes great products. Epiphone is a Gibson company, which is also the reason I chose to buy them. Epiphone as a company has actually been around longer than Gibson. I am very happy with all the Epiphones I've purchased 😀

For what it’s worth I just bought a 2005 Korean made Sheraton II. So I’m pretty excited.

I got an Epiphone Sheraton 2 pro and I have to say that it's the closest to the Gibson than most other moderate priced semi hollow's I've played. Epiphone is a great guitar brand no matter what anyone want's to say, they make some quality guitar's. I have a number of Epi's and that is by choice not because of cost for the most case. I also own Gibson's and love them too.

I love all my guitars, I have too many and definitely play my epiphones more than my gibsons, But for me personally when I play my 345 (2014 59 reissue) I get that “oh this is why the Gibson is that price.”. It’s the little things that add together.. it’s also my once in a lifetime guitar. I don’t get that with my other gibsons (lp studio faded & sg classic), just the 345. That’s nothing against any of the Epiphones or squiers etc. They’re truly brilliant guitars for the money. I’ve never really played the Eli dots though.

A good and useful review. I can't hear much difference between thse two guitars. They both look good and sound good.

Another great video, Jack. As a total noob, I “knew” that Gibsons were the real deal, and Epiphones were the cheap imitation. As I’ve progressed (a little bit) I’ve come to appreciate that Epiphone makes great instruments. And it’s much more about the archer than the arrow. My favorite guitars are my Epiphone Les Paul Junior ($100), my Gibson Les Paul Junior ($900), and my Epiphone ESS-339 Pro ($200). But damn. Even through the tiny speakers on my iPad, that Gibson 335 has a certain clarity that cannot be denied. Thanks for another great video. 👍

Gracias por subir el Video.. Las Sheraton son magnificas, y ha un precio muy competitivo.. sinceramente Calidad Precio me quedo con Epiphone son muy similares..en cuanto a el Look me parece mas bonita la Sheraton.. un saludo

I have an Epiphone Les Paul that sounds great and plays great. Recently got a Gibson Les Paul, which only made me appreciate Epiphone even more. I was going to buy an ES-335, but then decided to go with Sheraton. That's what brought me to this video!

I have an '88 Sheraton II, with the Epiphone by Gibson headstock. I bought it new for short money by today's standards. It always played well, but I couldn't stand the bridge pick up, it just sounded thin, a no guts sort of sound. After complaining to myself about it for a number of years, I had a set of Seymour Duncan Hot Jazz pick ups put in, with push pull volume pots to split the coils, and one of the tone pots was set up to reverse the phasing of the pickups. It became my go to guitar overnight. I never thought it played or sounded as "good" as a Gibby, but for what I had in to it, it was just fine. It was interesting to watch your video, and listening with headphones, I was surprised at how well the Epi held it's own against a guitar that was probably 5 times the cost. I have to tell you, the pick ups in the new one are much better than the ones that came in mine. You have a nice touch on the guitar, and it was pleasant listening to you. Thanks for a great video!

First, I'd like to thank you Jack for your many great vids. You and the boys at Andertons are very inspiring, and share a lot of great advice. I'm just getting back into playing after 25 years away, and am pretty much a beginner again. I didn't want to buy a cheap guitar and not feel inspired to play, so my first one back was a Gretsch G5220G, which I love. While I may play like crap, I do listen to an enormous amount of music. I feel like the ES-345 may be a little bit brighter and crisper, but like others have said, would anyone even notice in a band setting, esp. with a great amp. Having said that, I'm picking up a Sheraton II Pro on Thursday! More than enough guitar for me, particularly at my current skill level. I wanted a semi-hollow for just strumming around the house without an amp. I'll worry about any subtle differences when I'm rich and playing stadiums (yeah, right!), and even then would probably use the Epiphone just to be contrary... lol

Totally agree with your statements. Then the Gibson started singing. Won by a bit. I did hear betterness. And I'm all underdogs here even got a Sunn Mustang that's made of lead or remorse it's so heavy. I wouldn't swap it for a lot of Fenders. Sustains forever. I like to treat em as individual identities whatever the name even the same model.

Best review Ive looked at, understand everything you say about obvious differences but (there's always a but) I really hear no difference which to me is everything, I will never buy a Gibson unless I win the lottery have played a 335 but was a long time ago when playing live so I'm going with the Sheraton. Thanks again Dude your the best.

That's a great exercise Jack. At times hard to differentiate between the two and sometimes a little more obvious. With today's quality controls I have often thought that the principle differences are in the final sound! Yes, some of the componetry will vary in quality but at the time of comparison it's mainly in the final sound.

I have the EPI 335 Pro in Cherry red. Looks great for the money, after set up it plays great. The coil split is a little weak which I can live with. My major disappointment is the timers! If I keep it I will buy new tuners. from Stewmac.

the Gibson is so dreamy sounding…love the Epiphone. Great discussion on mindset on guitar selection

Hi Jack, I have a Sheraton II and I play it in church band. As for your comparison it was really too close to call on the neck and middle settings. And when you did the bridge setting with distortion ( it sounded like the Cult) I thought the Epi sounded warmer and more aggressive. Thanks for the video.

Wife bought me a 59 Reissue Custom Shop ES335 for my 60th. Could never bond with it, always seemed like a chore to play and it never stayed in tune. I sold it to a good friend minus the cost of a new nut, and he loves it. Bought a Epi Sheraton and I am more than happy. Funny how guitar things go sometimes.

I have an old Sheraton. It’s a fantastic guitar that I will probably hold onto forever. One thing I dislike about it is the neck, which feels huge to me. But this is also the case for the lowest tier ES-335s. The only time I liked an ES neck was a vintage ES-340 that I played in a store, but this was wayyy too expensive. Sheraton great for the money!

You are awesome! Thx for your insights! Subbed! 👍🏻

Jack, also would you do an Orville ( Japanese Gibson) VS Gibson. I bought an Orville SG years ago. I wanted it so I could do mods on it and really not devalue it that much.

From this video I found the Gibson cleaner,crisper and you could pick out the notes more however was not sure if that made it better, just different .

Awesome video, fantastic comparison; the MHS pickups seem to have way more "life" to them, they seem more dynamic and are far more responsive from a tactile perspective. ymmv.

Sweet all around!

Mr. 335 himself, Larry Carlton, now performs live with his signature Sire H7. So if you can find a Sheraton that you love, there is absolutely no reason why it shouldn't/couldn't be your main guitar. I found a blond 2010 with a one piece C shaped neck that is a real keeper! I am also looking for a later one with the 5 piece D shaped neck, so I'll be owning two of these soon. I am not nuts about the coil splitting on the Pros, but that's just me. I can understand wanting the versatility that setup gives you. The Sheratons from the Epiphone factory in China come stock with great pickups and electronics. There's no need to upgrade anymore, other than personal preference..

I think Epiphone packs a lot fo tone! I'm already waiting for the hollow body shoot out between an Epi Casino and an Gibson Es 330!!!

Thanks for your great channel. I own a few Epiphone acoustic models, also a Riviera P 93 , They are really great guitars and affordable ,I have never owned a GIBSON ,so I cant comment on that but I guess if an EPIPHONE was good enough for the BEATLES i am happy to support them.In SOUTH AFRICA , GIBSONS are about 10 x the price of an EPIPHONE.

I tried several Sheratons before finally getting a Casino. I didn't like the very thin neck on the Sheraton. (... and I find gold hardware tacky...) How does the neck on the Gibson compare?

I am considering buying a Sheraton II Pro. I think the Gibson has much more clarity of sound and it would be interesting if the Sheraton was using the exact same pick-ups as the ES-345. This would show how much difference the pick-ups actually make and how close/apart the two guitars are from each other in sound regarding build materials.

I don't mind if Gibson or Phone. I have a fender am tele. And now waiting for that Sheraton ii epi. Had a Les Paul and sold it bc couldn't be in tune no matter what.

Nice video, nice player. I like Epiphone sounds.

A very good Review , thanks ... And about the Sound , the best Sound is to Expensive ! So why not Epiphone ? Budget friendly and still a good Sound , will become the most Friends ! 🎶 Because not everyone needs a Ferrari , and still being very Happy !

I have a Epi Dot and think its amazing for the money but still want a Gibson as already have a LP and SG and bit step up from the Epi version. You won't go wrong with an Epi though.

Great video! I could hardly tell these guitars apart. The ES 345 sounds more smooth and the Sheraton 2 sounds slightly more crunchy on the neck, but the bridge is near identical to me through a keyboard speaker. I bet that they sound different in the room. I am a Gibson LP Tribute and G&L L2000 Tribute(Indonesian made) owner. Both of these have a very thin finish or stain on the neck. I tried a Sheraton 2 Pro at GC today. It had great weight, sound, and it looks so cool. The only downside was the neck. Something about it makes my hand feel like it's very far away from the wood. How do the necks feel on your Gibson semi-hollows? Do they have different finish/lacquer options? Does it take more pressure to fret a string on the Sheraton II or ES 345/335?

I own Epis (including a 15 year old Sheraton II) and a Gibson LP Standard goldtop with P90s. And your take is spot on. My Epi Sheraton is a beautiful guitar that sounds great stock and it inspired me to play for almost two decades. I've also had the Broadway and the Swingster for years and they are both great guitars as well. And last year I got the new Epi LP Special to keep in open tuning and use for slide. All that said, the Gibson LP has a feel to it that just feels different (and better) than my Epis. The Epis are great guitars while the Gibson's are exceptional guitars. P.S. - Did you turn the tailpiece around on yours? Mine doesn't wraparound.

Cool video my sheraton approooovvvveeedddd

Thanks Jack, I'm getting back into playing again and I'm ordering an Epiphone Sheraton Pro II. I know you did not review that exact model but I feel much better now at spending the $700 to get back into playing even though the wife is giving me a load of grief! .. You play great BTW!

In my opinion, the Gibson sounds richer and more gesticulated in tone. This is really evident in the bridge pickup. There is, on the whole, more "twang" in the tone. I think the Gibson will cut through better in solo piece. But the Epiphone sounds ok. Maybe you can compensate a lot for the settings on the amplifier.

Hey Jack, I am just watching this video for second time, and I wondered if you are interested in Lacquer VS Poly finish debate type of thing. I am happy with my Epiphone upgrade for Riviera P93 with Tyson Tone PUs, all sound great when it's plugged in, but when it's unplugged, the plasticky sound I hear is so annoying. So I just ordered custom wooden pickguard to reduce that plastic sound as much as possible. I will see how it goes, but... maybe I am getting super nerdy now... ha like somebody said - 'Everything matters everything' So it would be great to see the video if you are interested in comparing guitars unplugged. Personally I feel really great playing on my Japanese Fender guitars even though they are polyurethane finishs, but only semi hollow one bothers me. Please let me know your thoughts!

Is the Gibson a custom? I've not seen one in that specific color anywhere else.

The epiphone semi hollow and hollow body’s I have had were 2 piece maple necks. They are more snappy and bright but lack the dimension and warmth of Gibson mahogany. These two guitars sound good but quite different to me.

I tried a Sheraton in a music shop recently. I was impressed with the feel and construction. Here, I thought the Gibson just sounded better. It has a tighter and brighter timbre. I suppose you should get something extra for all that extra money.

Jack, I am new to guitar, in your opinion, what is the best or if not "the best" one of the best no mistake can't go wrong great-sounding Epi -style models on the market as I am looking for a really great sounding yet "affordable' guitar that can last a long time even if I have to swap out parts?

I wish epiphone would just go back to making the Wilshire, Crestwood and Coronet for solid bodies and the Casino, Sheraton and Riviera for semi hollow. Not to mention the Emperor for fully hollow guitar. That would be a great line of guitars.

watching this brought back fond memories of my Epiphone Dot "Dorothy"

I’m a Gibson solid body owner (1976 Midnight Special) looking to buy a semi hollow body and I find your comparison fair and impartial. Having said that I wish you had included the price point for both guitars in your review. The Gibson may well be the superior in the fine details but that’s probably why it costs more. Imho the Epiphone had superior tone. At one point I closed my eyes and tried to guess which guitar you were playing and was surprised to see the Epiphone in your hands and not the Gibson.

The Gibson has more clarity and string separation and a more open sound. The epi has a darker sound but seems a great value guitar.

Hey Jack how do you get it epi to sound so good?

I played the es335 Epiphone and liked it but it was missing something...then I played to epiphone 335 figured and the magic was there. What a night and day difference for some odd reason. I believe the pickups on the figured are the proprietary ones... not the same as the non-figured. Again night and day difference. They are much clearer and sparkle...

i bought the Epi Sheraton II Pro recently - all black finish - and i gotta say when i plugged it in i was blown away ❕ i normally play acoustic steel string but have a few gretsch electromatic models also to compare with ; and i have nothing but super positive vibes on my Epi Sheraton - closest i'll ever get to owning a Gibson ES-335 ❕🎸🍀 only 'cause i'm totally done with buying $4_6K acoustic guitars that might/or may not sound jack frost 'marginally' better over a well chosen $1_2K guitar ❕😉 ps. i'm done with being a guitar snobb too , Jack speaks the truth here ❕😛 🐸

Great video Jack! How would you compare the Epiphone Casino to the Gibson es 330?

For me, the Epi is hitting things a little too hard. But I'm looking, and those Epi pickups look a fair bit higher than the Gibson's. A little pickup and pole height adjustment and you'd never tell the difference. That said, in a recording, you'd never know anyway.

Please can you tell me if this one was made in the Unsung Korean factory or the Indonesian or Chinese factory. It makes a HUGE difference. Please do you know.

I think the Sheraton is the best Epiphone that they ship, d I have to be honest - I prefer the sound of the Sheraton to the Gibson in this comparison, the Sheraton has a little more depth to it.

I thought that played individually the Gibson did sound slightly better but I assume the same settings on the amp? I bought a new Sheraton 2 Pro almost a year ago and am very happy with it. The only comment is I find the bridge pickup a bit too sharp, I have to turn the tone pot down slightly, is this normal? I wonder how the action compares on both guitars?

As much as I would like to have an es335, I own a Sheraton II Pro and am very happy with. Pretty much my go to guitar and have gotton many compliments.

I own one sheraton myself, pretty good value Guitar. Got mine Brand new for $300 at guitar center Summer sale 6 years ago.

the es 335 pro from epi and the gibson 335 pls

100% agree with your assessments here. I think the people who say Epiphone is as good as Gibson are trying to validate their purchase and not feel bad about it being ‘lesser.’ Gibson has rolled out a few stinkers and Epiphone has some great models. I own both lines and both have plusses and minuses. However, I still think the axiom of ‘you get what you pay for’ holds true, no matter what you buy.

I bought a Sheraton ii many years ago, and I could never get it to intone and tune correctly. Have you experienced anything like this with Epiphone?

If you can hear a difference between these two guitars you have better ears than me, and I can hear a wristwatch running in the next room. I've had all the name brand guitars and currently own a Rickenbacker V63, so I'm not confined by a budget but have come to the conclusion that the only difference in MANY cases between guitars like Gibson and Epiphone is in your head! Strat and Squire models are a great example. Many of the Fender Squire guitars sound EXACTLY like an American Standard Strat, and I've owned a black and white American Strat bought new in the late 80's.

Both guitars sound great! I've had some pretty mediocre Gibsons in the past. What I have now is a 2011 Memphis-made ES-345 reissue, (a "regular" reissue, NOT historic '59 or '64). Mine has two output jacks on the rim. I found it at a very reduced (but still steep) price in 2013. It is almost impossible to improve on it...the look, the comfort, the tone and timbre, the consistency across the neck and pickup settings. The Varitone is a joy too. But dang, that Epi is keeping up with its rich cousin! About the only thing I don't care for on this millenium's ES-345 is the laser-cut inlays - they don't look as good as the less-sharply cut originals. They're also spaced too close together. But that's something I can easily let slide given how great my 345 is.

You are absolutely right!!! Like Tommy Emmanuel in a video witch I can't find anymore!!! once said: it is not your gear it is YOU!!!!

What year and what color do they call the Gibson? Seems like a unique finish

Night and day to my ears. 345 is much sweeter.

The bridges on those Epiphones are not good. The saddles tend to be slack and they have that wire which can end up rattling. If you change the bridge it fixes tuning issues. Then you can swap out the pickups, especially if it's an older Epi because the newer ones have better pickups. That's all you need to do so it's not a huge cost to improve. There is a lot of nonsense about pots and wiring. If they work and if everything is the correct value you can leave it but Gibson went through a stage of putting lower value pots in that dulled the sound. As for the video comparison, I actually liked the tone of the Sheraton better. I would take the Sheraton and improve it in the ways I mentioned to save a ton of money.

No doubt that Gibson it's a big point better than Epiphone, but not at all as much as the difference of the price

Look, I pretty much agree with everything Mr. Fossett has stated here concerning the comparison between the Epiphone Sheraton II and the Gibson ES 345. But here's something I want the viewers to think about: Gibson bought Epiphone in the '50s or '60s. To this very day Gibson still owns Epiphone. The reason Gibson guitars sound noticeably better than Epiphone guitars is purely a calculated decision by those who run or own Gibson. The average Gibson guitar costs five to six times the price of the most expensive Epiphone guitar. If Epiphone guitars sounded as good as Gibsons guitars, then professional and amateur guitarists would not go out and buy Gibson guitars, especially the high-end ones! Thus, long before any Epiphone rolls out on the assembly line, those at Gibson instructs those at Epiphone, "[h]ere is how we want the guitar design. Here are the parts that must be used on each instrument. Keep in mind you must follow the specifications exactly, no using your own independent judgment."

Marginally different to my old ears but not better by any means. At a fifth of the price of the Gibson, I'll take the Epiphone; in fact I just ordered one. Thanks Jack Fossett.

Sheraton claims to have a 1 11/16 nut but it always felt narrower to me.

Let me add my 2 cents. I think it really depends which piece of Sheraton you get. For sure, there might be not so well made and sounded Sheraton guitars but on the other hand if you're lucky enough and get good one I can guarantee to you it may sound better then many ES335 and I'm not the only one who claims that. I got my Sheraton 2 Pro month ago and I can tell you it plays and sound f*****g awesome! And no, I's not because of budget as I do spare 3-4k for Gibson. I just find that my Sherry sounds better. I also own Fender Strat American Pro but that's different story as it's suitable for different type of playing but love it too!

A big reason for Gibson Semis keeping the quality up, is because of the Memphis facility being dedicated to the production of semis and not being part of the big run of solidbodies. FWIW

Thanks, I prefer the more chimey and les thumpy sound of your blue Gibson. I ear more dynamic under the pick attack too. I just buy a 2020 Epi es335 inspired by Gibson. They made a real upgrade on hardware and pickups quality. Very sweet instrument. I waiting for a special run of Sheraton with mini-humbucker. Hope it will be for 2022 !!!

Does Gibson sell a Varitone decal to stick on the new "ES345"?

In my experience, I can always convince myself that an Epiphone feels great until I pick up a mid-tier Gibson. Lower-tier Gibsons (Tributes, Specials, etc.) tend to be very underwhelming, but there is a definite feeling of the "real deal" with a mid-and-up Gibson. It makes me play better knowing the only limit is what my skill level is at the moment.

I've played both many times. And I would say that the sheriton comes closer to sounding and playing like the real thing than most Asian made guitars to their American counterparts. The sheriton sounds better than most guitars period and the tone is absolutely beautiful. With that said the Gibson 335 to me sounds very slightly sweeter... maybe it's slightly warmer or fuller sounding... but it just has a little more responsiveness.... just sounds and feels more natural. But... I don't think it sounds significantly better to justify the price difference unless that is your dream guitar and you have cash to burn.

Gibson more articulate and bright, Epiphone darker tone and a little less articulate. Both great. Depends on your tonal preference. Nice video, thanks