Ophelia! - Epiphone Sheraton II | 2010 | Natural

Some guitars arrive looking like they’ve spent the last twenty years touring questionable pubs and sleeping in the back of a Transit van.

Ophelia looks like she owns the pubs. And possibly the van. Along with several acres of land and a small but deeply intimidating collection of antique furniture.

Meet Ophelia, our magnificent 2010 Epiphone Sheraton II, finished in Natural and sporting enough gold hardware and mother-of-pearl to make a Victorian aristocrat feel inadequately accessorised.

Built in June 2010, Ophelia is a beautiful example of Epiphone’s enduring semi-hollow design, taking inspiration from the legendary ES-335 family while adding considerably more decorative flair. Her laminated maple body features a centre block running through the middle, combining the warmth and resonance of a semi-hollow instrument with improved resistance to unwanted feedback.

And then there’s that neck.

A comfortable set neck meets a rosewood fingerboard adorned with spectacular split-block pearl-and-abalone inlays, framed by elegant binding that continues around the body and headstock. They’re the sort of details that make you stop playing for a moment just to admire what you’re holding.

At the top sits Epiphone’s wonderfully elaborate Sheraton headstock, complete with its distinctive floral inlay and six gold Grover machine heads. Subtlety was clearly not invited to the design meeting, and frankly, we’re delighted.

Her two humbuckers offer everything from mellow, rounded cleans to wonderfully rich blues tones and a bit of grit when encouraged. With individual volume and tone controls for each pickup and a three-way selector, there’s plenty of scope to explore different sounds without having to persuade her to be something she isn’t.

The gold Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece complete the arrangement, providing a familiar, reliable setup, while her tortoiseshell-style pickguard carries the unmistakable Epiphone emblem.

And despite looking as though she should be reclining in a drawing room with a glass of something expensive, Ophelia is very much a working instrument.

She’s comfortable, versatile and equally at home with jazz, blues, indie, classic rock or anything else that benefits from a little warmth and character.

As you’d expect from a previously loved guitar, there are some light signs of use and some pitting to the gold hardware, but she’s an exceptionally handsome instrument and has received the attention she deserves in our workshop, including our standard fret levelling, crowning, polishing and professional setup.

Ophelia doesn’t need to shout to command attention.

She simply enters the room and waits for everybody else to realise they’ve been underdressed.

Could you offer Ophelia her forever home?

The Stray Chord

Rescue • Restore • Rehome