Vintage 1969 Epiphone Sheraton Signed by John Lee Hooker Refinished Blue 1960's

Description

This listing is for a really unique guitar with a great back story. This guitar is an Epiphone Sheraton that was made by Gibson in 1969 and is signed by John Lee Hooker. The guitar was sent to Gibson's custom shop in the late 1980's or early 1990's and was factory refinished blue. At that time a Gibson custom shop decal was added to the guitar. This guitar was previously in a well known collection of signed and celebrity owned guitars. The following story about this guitar was told to the person who bought the parts of the collection from the widow of the collector.
T
he Story
John Lee Hooker was one the collector's favorite artists and he always wanted to buy John Lee Hookers original Sheraton. The collector made a deal to purchase the original Sheraton and they made plans to meet when he was playing a concert nearby. To show John Lee Hooker his appreciation, the collector sent this guitar to the Gibson factory to be painted blue so he could present it to John Lee Hooker as a gift. Eventually they met and the collector purchased John Lee Hookers guitar.  He then proceeded to give John Lee Hooker this blue Epiphone to which John replied "I won't play no blue guitar". He did not accept the guitar but he signed it for the collector who ended up keeping it.
About the guitar.
The serial number on the guitar dates it to 1969. The serial number is visible on the headstock but you have to get the guitar in the right angle to see the number. There is also BNG stamp on the headstock. The pickups are the original patent sticker pickups. At one time, before the refin, the guitar had full size humbuckers. The pickguard is original but has been cut for the full size humbuckers. The tuners are original gold patent pending Grover's. The bridge is not original.
The guitar has been professionally set up and plays great and is really nice instrument. The signature matches other examples of John Lee Hookers signature but I am a guitar player and collector and not a signature expert. That said, I know the people involved in this story well and have no reason to doubt any of the back story of this guitar.
Please look at the pictures and email with questions. The guitar comes with a non original case and will be expertly packed for safe shipping. I am happy to ship internationally but will not falsify customs documents.
Thanks for looking,,