Excellent video for such a great guitar. I also have the Epiphone J45 IBG, but you changed the pickguard? Since that guitar does not come with a tabby pickguard which I think is spectacular, another thing, I would like to know if this guitar has the same weight as the original Gibson, because it seems a little heavy to me and I have tried other guitars with solid woods and they are not so heavy.

Just curious, what’s your wiring diagram look like?

Great playing and honest review and informative…thank you.

Love your smooth and sweet playing tone!

What a fantastic review. Your playing is amazing! I have this exact guitar ( but with the Red Tortoise pickguard). I absolutely love it! Great build quality and a joy to play 😀👍🏻 I have just subscribed to your channel 👍🏻👍🏻

Thank you, very useful video and an honest take.

Is this the cheapest amp with a send and return? Probably. That's important, because this amp is so limited in effects. It does not have 10 band EQ like the Katana. Also, the new Spark may not have a send and return as well.

Thanks for the bluesy review, i am currently looking for some T Style with a bit wormer bridge sound then the std tele sound. Will test this one out soon. Or maybee the asat tribute classic hollow? Not shure yet

Eastman is somehow something special. Tested at least 20 Gibson in the past few years, now i own sb59v...great manufacturer

Love my T486, it can rock like hell on a hot amp channel too

Great review and playing Leonard! 👍🏻👏🏻🙌🏻

Always great reviews and playing, thanks Leonard!

Really sounds sweet. Thank you !

I'd maybe love one of those Epiphone 355's in a Ebony Black. I have a Vintage Sunburst Sheraton Pro II and it's similar but more brighter, but one of those 355 would be more Gibson maybe with a closer duplicate similarity. I like the 150th anniversy Sheraton too, more single coil humbuckers. Generally my favourites are Stratocasters, mostly my Fender Player Series and the Silver Sky SE. I do like these style guitars for cleaner sounds, but their yet versatile. I prefer my Epiphone Classic Les Paul just for a bridge that feels more beefier and more dark or aggressive I guess, I think the Les Paul mids are more balanced like mid clean range, where as the 335 is more airy, brighter since there's the semi hollow sound holes. I'm content for the looks, playability, quality, tone of value I don't genuinely desire to have anything better, especially when you can dial your tone with presets, EQ, how amps and pedals and anything, not just the player adds so much. I always prefer rosewood, but with the tele and strats I like both with maple too.

Excellent video and analysis. I recently bought the 355 and love it.

I bought a Riviera reissue (you reviewed one some time ago) for just under € 600 new. There's something about mini hums on a semi. As you've pointed out, I can use it on songs that want single-coils without feeling too far off sound wise. And, of course, it covers humbucker needs very well. And you don't have to reach for your amps controls. Volume and tone pots do the job. So, as much as I like the 355, I understand your choice very well.

I just traded some gear about two days ago including my premier dc Dangelico at GC and got one of these and it’s an amazing feeling and sounding guitar. I was very torn between this and the prs se piezo ii hollow body guitar. I’m really posting here to make sure I made the right decision this was the only Eastman I ever played and I compared heavily against my Dangelico, the prs and the Eastman just seemed better and felt more comfortable. Does anyone think I made the right decision in my trade?

Good stuff, both very handsome instruments. Epiphone has been putting out some impressive guitars the past few years, the Sheraton sounds great in your very capable hands ✌️

I would have been tempted to hang on to that one ALTHO I'm actually keen on finding an Epi Riviera with the mini-buckers, preferably a Made in Korea version!

What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend ❤😊

Both guitars are beautiful, but the Sheraton is a stunner. I agree--you made the right choice going with a reissue of an original Epiphone model. I fell in love with mini-humbuckers years ago when I had a late '60's Wilshire 12-string equipped with them. I wish I still had that guitar. I do have a 150th Anniversary Crestwood Custom which has the Gibson mini-humbuckers and the Tremotone vibrato. It sounds great. Like yours, it stays in tune when used as intended. Great playing as always!

Congrats on the new guitar! The 355 brings back memories of my love for Chuck Berry, so that's the one I'd lasso-- if I had any money LOL! Enjoy the new Epi-- she sure is purdy :D

Nice phrasing friend, I just picked one of these up today.. very nice substantial guitar especially for 400.00.. but like most at this price point some simple upgrades and it's awesome.

Keep that rocket!

Excellent playing as always, Leonard. That's a great sounding guitar. Thanks for the video.

Looks like you play better when you like what’s in your hands.

The guitar is the same age as me

That NY pickup has a great snap to its tone and yet sounds full

Happy new guitar day Leonard, I’d have picked the Sheraton too, great video/ playing love the channel, take care ✌️🧷🎸

That'd be such a difficult choice for me, you have no idea. Fortunately, Epiphone spared me the angst by once again not serving the left handed guitar community on these special models. I'm thankful for my MIK Sheraton II. Everyone says the buckers sound too muddy. I always tell them, I only play Blues so this is like a built in gift for me. :) Congrats on the new guitar Len. It's certainly a looker and oh man, you make it sound oh so sweet. That backing track is very nice too. Do you sell those? Thanks from Chicago, cheers sir.

Glad you were able to treat yourself to a new guitar. Had an original Crestwood back in the day, sold it and of course have regretted it ever since. If they came out with a Crestwood reissue now, I’d be sorely tempted. Enjoy!

The Epiphone 339 was the first semihollw I owned

I bought the Epiphone 339 when they first came out and it's always has a home with me

Great choice.

Solid choice, and good reasoning. Sheratons came in many different shapes and sizes over the years and I've never heard bad things about them, even the "lower spec" far-eastern bog-standard ones.

Thanks for the fantastic review. You rock!

I love this channel. Very inspiring, not only good reviews but also great playing. Thank you.

In the most positive of ways I’m very happy for you and a bit jealous, in the most positive of ways. Congrats. I would have chosen the Sheraton as well, for all the reasons you stated, and for all the logic you offered. As it happens, there are some huge bills due very soon and the financial breathing room from the gigs last year at this time, simply doesn’t exist this year, and will likely not exist until 2025 when I can better sort out the “not enough gigs” problem, which is a problem more than just money. Anyway… An awesome guitar. You’ve put it on my radar in my orbit of a VERY few guitars I’d buy without question, right NOW, if and when I can get over this financial hump. Well, enjoy the heck out of this guitar for yourself and on behalf of all the folks who want it but can’t quite pull the trigger right now.

Should think about adding shorts to tiktok

Wise choice. I got my 150th Sheraton finally, and it had been set-up before I got it. I only needed to make some small adjustments on the bridge. I didn't have the rattle fortunately. I have also been a big fan of the Sheraton since I first saw one in a glass case in the music store I took my first guitar lessons in 1964. Later on, I met Duke Robillard when I lived in Boston, and he owned a 1964 Sheraton, as well as some other vintage original Epis, both pre and Kalamazoo era models. The Sheraton has a uniqueness, as well as the other original Epis have, and back in the 60's, I can remember a whole bunch of blues and rock players with original Epiphones. Otis Rush, Howlin' Wolf, Keith Richards, Johnny Winter, to name a few. Anyway, I enjoy your reviews, because of your no BS evaluations, and that you know how to play them.

I played and loved my 2004 Sheraton from new - until I played a Gretsch G5622 last year. I don't know what the pickups were in that Sheraton, but the Broad'Trons in the Gretsch just sang to me in a way that the Sheraton never did. While you can get the Gretsch with a Bigsby (G5622T), I've never seen the call for a trem (even my Strats are locked down and hardtailed).

my 65th birthday is frighteningly close and requires a guitar to celebrate - these 2 are high on the list, thanks

Your playing is always 6 out of 5 stars. - You should make Blues teaching videos.

Glad you hung on to the Sheraton. I always loved the look of John Lee Hooker's one with the frequensator tailpeice - and the sounds he could get from it. I had an old Korean-made Sheraton that I loved but had to sell. Missed it until I got an Eastman T386 three years ago. Your reissue sounds superb.

Sound reasoning and fantastic playing!

I am saddened to learn that you decided to part ways with your ES-355 because I enjoyed watching your videos play it. I have the Ebony version and also did not like the matte VOS finish so I polished and buffed it to a mirror-like gloss finish. Before that, I also sent it to my luthier for fret dress and pro-set up. Having done all that work, made me love it more. I don’t sell my guitars. I once did in 1984 and I regretted it.

Hey I’ll be over in a bit to check that sweet guitar out in a minute 😬! You make that puppy sing!! Still going to Steve? Great video!

Great insight into how you assessed which guitar was the one to keep. Too often the decision process to purchase a guitar isn't well thought through the way you articulated. I plead guilty to that! Fantastic video! 👍

Thank You for all the videos! I've learned a degrees worth! Best Regards and Best Wishes!

Demos so good I forget I'm watching a review!