Semi Hollow Axe - buying from UK?

seachto7

Hi all,

Just thinking about branching into semi hollow guitar territory. Don't want to spend a fortune, so was looking at the epi sheraton II maybe, but from all reviews it seems a nut, pickup, and tuner change is needed to make it half decent. Tuning problems are the last things I want....
I know there are a few on adverts, so might consider it yet.
I was also humming and hawing about the hagstrom viking.

But looking through some old threads, it seems most UK shops I can find on ebay are only delivering to the UK. I was looking at 2nd hand Tokais and none seem to ship to Ireland from the UK

Anyone got any good recommendations for online shops I could get in touch with for used gear in the UK? (I will cover Dublin/Cork in my travels...)

Miklos

I had a Sheraton many moons ago, never found anything wrong with the tuners. I did have a bone nut put on it. Pickups are a matter of preference, you might find you like the stockers just fine.

Here's one on Adverts that looks half decent. Better off buying an older one second hand.

seachto7

advice seems to be to get a korean one if I can......?

Ravelleman

seachto7 wrote: »

advice seems to be to get a korean one if I can......?

I'd always go for Korean guitars over Chinese ones where possible. I think the Samick models from the early to mid 90s are meant to be the best.

I can't see there being any tuning problems caused by the tuners themselves - they're Grovers, which are certainly a very solid and very common option on a lot of guitars.

As for pickups, NickWray is right - it's just preference. Sheratons are good semis and if you want to upgrade parts over time you'll end up with an excellent guitar for a relatively small outlay.

That being said, I did play one recently that was incredibly heavy for a semi. So watch out for that.

Why do you only want to buy from the UK though?

seachto7

no reason, in that the UK would maybe offer a bigger selection of used guitars.
I won't rule out Ireland, but the money I am thinking of (around 500), I am probably limited to a certain amount/type in Ireland?

Maybe looking into the 2nd hand market might offer up some more options?

The ones on adverts seem to be Chinese ones (Sheraton II). Not saying they are bad at all. These could all well and truly be fine, but a mate has a korean one, and it's grand. I would be more concerned with tuning problems as pickup ones. Pickups can always be replaced!!

Ravelleman

seachto7 wrote: »

The ones on adverts seem to be Chinese ones (Sheraton II). Not saying they are bad at all. These could all well and truly be fine, but a mate has a korean one, and it's grand. I would be more concerned with tuning problems as pickup ones. Pickups can always be replaced!!

The II of Sheraton II doesn't refer to place of manufacture. It just means that it has a stop bar bridge instead of the Frequensator tailpiece of the older models from the 50s and 60s. Somewhere down the line, in the 70s I reckon, they also switched from mini-humbuckers to regular humbuckers.

seachto7

Ravelleman wrote: »

The II of Sheraton II doesn't refer to place of manufacture. It just means that it has a stop bar bridge instead of the Frequensator tailpiece of the older models from the 50s and 60s. Somewhere down the line, in the 70s I reckon, they also switched from mini-humbuckers to regular humbuckers.

ah I see, I commented on the ad posted earlier to see where twas made. It looks like it could be same as the one here (a Korean one)....

Ravelleman

Ravelleman wrote: »

I'd always go for Korean guitars over Chinese ones where possible. I think the Samick models from the early to mid 90s are meant to be the best.

Actually, it might be the Peerless models. I can't remember.

Miklos

One thing I'll say about the Sheraton, they are lovely guitars, but they're not that hollow.
They have a big plank of wood running through the middle. A Casino is fully hollow.

Miklos

One thing I'll say about the Sheraton, they are lovely guitars, but they're not that hollow.
They have a big plank of wood running through the middle. A Casino is fully hollow.

seachto7

Would be semi hollow I'd be looking for. I just cranked up a rat distortion pedal through an epi sheraton, and noticed some slight feedback issues, but I wouldn't be going into metal territory with it ever......
nice tone of the semi hollows.....

Miklos

Oh yeh, forgot you were looking for semi-hollow!