My personal ranking of top 5 vintage 1958-1970 Epis for rock
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 4:40 pm
So, this is based on a combination of a lot of factors: coolness, features, tone, playability, rarity, beauty...
And also, I am talking about use for rock-based applications in particular. So, you might love a Broadway for jazz or something, but I am biased towards guitars for rock applications.
Here's my ranking:
1. Blonde Sheraton (pre-1965, with wide nut)
Maybe it is "cheating" to put the blonde Sheratons specifically in their own category, but I think they deserve it. There were only 119 blondes shipped between 1959 and 1969, and about half of those were pre-1965. Obviously there is an extremely limited universe of existing guitars. I think a pre-1965 blonde Sheraton is, by far, the top of the vintage Kalamazoo-made Epi electrics.
My own personal preference would be around '62 - '64, with Gibson-made neck and the early mini humbuckers.
2. All other Sheratons (sunburst, cherry) (pre-1965, with wide nut)
3. Riviera (pre-1965, with wide nut)
Every bit as good an instrument as a Sheraton, just a little plainer looking. Incredible guitars. Underrated.
4. Crestwood Custom (1961-1963, with wide nut and early mini humbuckers)
In my opinion, this version of the Crestwood is probably the most underrated rock guitar of all time. I have owned several early and mid 60s SG Standards, including some really good ones, and I would take a '62 Crestwood Custom over any SG.
5, Wilshire (up to mid 1963 body style, with wide nut, P-90s, and stop tailpiece)
I like the late-1963+ body style Wilshires as well, but this earlier configuration is just a total classic, in my opinion.
And also, I am talking about use for rock-based applications in particular. So, you might love a Broadway for jazz or something, but I am biased towards guitars for rock applications.
Here's my ranking:
1. Blonde Sheraton (pre-1965, with wide nut)
Maybe it is "cheating" to put the blonde Sheratons specifically in their own category, but I think they deserve it. There were only 119 blondes shipped between 1959 and 1969, and about half of those were pre-1965. Obviously there is an extremely limited universe of existing guitars. I think a pre-1965 blonde Sheraton is, by far, the top of the vintage Kalamazoo-made Epi electrics.
My own personal preference would be around '62 - '64, with Gibson-made neck and the early mini humbuckers.
2. All other Sheratons (sunburst, cherry) (pre-1965, with wide nut)
3. Riviera (pre-1965, with wide nut)
Every bit as good an instrument as a Sheraton, just a little plainer looking. Incredible guitars. Underrated.
4. Crestwood Custom (1961-1963, with wide nut and early mini humbuckers)
In my opinion, this version of the Crestwood is probably the most underrated rock guitar of all time. I have owned several early and mid 60s SG Standards, including some really good ones, and I would take a '62 Crestwood Custom over any SG.
5, Wilshire (up to mid 1963 body style, with wide nut, P-90s, and stop tailpiece)
I like the late-1963+ body style Wilshires as well, but this earlier configuration is just a total classic, in my opinion.