any Korean built Epiphone ES-335 fans here?

[rollypolly]

I've come across some Korean made es-335s and they're supposed to be a notch above the others. Not sure they're any better than the latest Inspired by Gibson es-335s though and they sell for almost the same price used.

Any fans here? I know Peerless made some of them too.

[DanR]

I have a Korean made (Peerless factory) Epiphone Sorrento with P-90 pickups and its a great guitar.

[rollypolly]

Awesome. The Peerless made Épis do look good, maybe better than the others. But I’m buying sight unseen on reverb since they’re all around 20 years old. I’ve tried a few newer ones at my local shop and they’re okay. One seemed better than the others.

[TiffanyGuitar]

I have had two MIK old Sheratons. Nice guitars. Only sold them when I found a GREAT 335. Probably should have kept one of them but no looking back!!

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by TiffanyGuitar

I have had two MIK old Sheratons. Nice guitars. Only sold them when I found a GREAT 335. Probably should have kept one of them but no looking back!!

I had a Korean Sheraton II also - around 1993 or 1994. It was a super guitar, and I actually bought it because I could not justify spending the extra money on a 335 Dot. I bought the Sheraton and a Peavey Classic 30 instead.

I’d love to have both of them back - I sold the Sheraton to a friend, who refuses to let it go.

[davidd]

Originally Posted by rollypolly

I've come across some Korean made es-335s and they're supposed to be a notch above the others. Not sure they're any better than the latest Inspired by Gibson es-335s though and they sell for almost the same price used.

Any fans here? I know Peerless made some of them too.

I actually think some of the Made in China Epis are just as good if not better than the Korean. A lot of this stuff is internet hype IMO.

[RussL30]

I have a 92 Samick factory Korean Sheraton loaded with SD Antiquities. I know the Sheraton is a little bit different construction wise from a 335 but it's such a great guitar and satisfies my 335 itch. I absolutely love the neck and it sounds great too. If other MIK models are of similar quality, I think they're fantastic guitars.

[rmp]

I had a MIK Sheraton back in the mid 90s like the one in the post above.

Pickups were a bit on the dark side, and to my ears they were muddy sounding, not well defined and prone to feedback, machine heads were iffy, just not a fantastic experience all around

I sold it, and moved on.

In 2015 I tried again with a new Sheraton Pro II, which had much better pickups, and better hardware all around.

that one was the keeper.

and cuz pictures are fun..

[brad4d8]

I've got a mid-90s Samick Korean Howard Roberts Custom, very well built and playing instrument, so I imagine a 335 would be as well. Can't speak to Chinese made ones.

[rollypolly]

Thanks for the responses! I ended up pulling the trigger on an early 2000s es-335 made in the Peerless factory. I’d been watching it on reverb since it’s a good looking natural finish model. Has Grover’s from the factory and it’s a tad heavy, but it seems like a very well made instrument. I had an early 2000s Ibanez AS73 and they seem pretty equal in all aspects. The es-335 seems to be begging for a better neck pup. I’m thinking a Bootstrap HB shape p90.

[boombox]

Originally Posted by David Eastwood

I had a Korean Sheraton II also - around 1993 or 1994. It was a super guitar, and I actually bought it because I could not justify spending the extra money on a 335 Dot. I bought the Sheraton and a Peavey Classic 30 instead.

I’d love to have both of them back - I sold the Sheraton to a friend, who refuses to let it go.

Now how weird is that? In early 1996, I too couldn't justify a Gibson 335, so bought a Korean Sheraton II, along with a Peavey Classic 30, which was probably the best amp I have ever used. I sold the amp a few years ago to help fund my Guild 512. I still have my Epi though- not played it in 10 years, but I keep it "just in case", as I doubt I could ever find a similar quality electric for the money.