Unlike any of the semi-hollowbodies in the Gibson line, the Sheraton's headstock featured Epiphone's traditional fancy vine (or "tree of life") inlay on its headstock, while its fretboard featured a block and triangle (or "V") inlay of mother-of-pearl and abalone, as well as binding on the fretboard's surface, inset slightly from the outer edges.ฤก958 Epiphone Sheraton introduction specs: Distinguishing characteristics of the Sheraton included its multiple body binding (like that of its top of the line Gibson cousin, the ES-355) its Frequensator tail piece and its headstock and fretboard inlays. The Sheraton was fitted with a set glued-in neck, in accordance with Gibson's standard practice. It featured the same double rounded horns, and had similarly placed electronics. Gibson used the same body for the Sheraton as it was using for its new ES-335, ES-345, and ES-355 models. Epiphone guitars were made by Gibson up until 1970, when production moved to Japan, and major design changes began to occur. This was followed by the introduction of a twin-pickup, double-cut thinline semi-hollowbody, the Sheraton. They reworked Epiphone's old Century archtop into a thinline electric fitted with a single P-90. In 1958, Gibson began to expand upon its Epiphone line of semi-hollow guitars. The company was bought out by their main rival, Gibson in 1957.
In 1951, a four-month-long strike forced a relocation of Epiphone from New York to Philadelphia. Control of the company went to his brothers, Orphie and Frixo. Under the ownership of Epaminondas ("Epi") Stathopoulo, Epiphone was a leading manufacturer of hollow-body and archtop guitars.