Epiphone 'Dot' Semi- Acoustic guitar... Opinions?

Big-G

Hi good folk...

So as some will have noticed in my recent thread about the Vox amps, whilst trying out a few guitars through the AC15, I tried an Epi 'Dot' Semi. I really loved the tone, and have always loved these kinds of guitars in the looks department, but I want to know anyones opinions on things like reliability, and any other such issues, etc?

For those unsure of which model I refer to, here's a link to the manufacturers page.... http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Dot.aspx (Mods please delete if this is not allowed?)

They seem to be very well priced, and decent guitars, but just want to know peoples experiences?

Cheers
G!

nick

I had one, in vintage sunburst. Had no issues with it and thought it was a really great instrument. Only sold it as I didn't use it all that often.

vic

These seem to be pretty decent guitars. I have no first hand experience with Epiphones but I notice they are equipt with alnico pups which is great. Can just add that Tokai also make these. Contact Lance (TokaiSA) on this forum for an opinion, etc.

I can imagine that your AC15 will respond very well to this type of guitar

Warren

Quite nice instruments, although I would advise you to find one that you really like as I've found the quality to be somewhat uneven.

If you do find a goodie, a pickup upgrade is almost certainly in order, as stock Epi pups are quite lackluster!

ActionArnie

Yeh the one I have is a lovely player ('97 Korean vintage burst I think its called?), but I also agree that the stock pickups are not great. Unfortunately I don't play it often as the aforementioned pupgrade was only partially done and a (not very good to my ear) SD SH-6 installed at the bridge.

What made the difference for me with this guitar was I got a pro to do a full setup, fret dressing etc. on it and it made a MASSIVE difference to how it played - still the best playing guitar I own. Hopefully one day I'll have the dosh to upgrade everything.

ZarK

If you find a good example and you're willing to spend the extra $$$ on pup upgrades (I'd probably do electronics as well), they can sound very good. Love the look of the blonde... Quality in my experience is either a hit or a miss on the dots - as with the LP's - I generally prefer the older Korean-made examples. No point in having a really nice amp and then using a sub-standard guitar to produce the tone...

Big-G

Thanks for the replies folks! Much to take into consideration here.

The one used instore for my AC15 test was lovely sounding, and I'd doubt that it would require the pup upgrade, unless I found it had a lot of noise/hiss/hum after a while using it? It didn't seem to give any significant noise, but I guess the environments this is used in will effect that side of things more so? Nothing worse sounding to me than the sound of lights 'buszzng' through pickups!

I tend to be much more of a neck pickup guy rather than a bridge pup guy, and I loved the tone this (and my current favourite guitar - PRS SE Semi-hollow) produced on their neck pups, but also found the bridge pup to still be reasonably usable, which I guess is to be attributed to the hollowed body. Just doen't seem as twangy and brittle as the bridge pups on solid bodies. Thats a good thing in my eye!

Anyways, I think I'll need to go try it out next to the LP I'm currently loaning? See how it compares?

Thanks again
G!

AlanRatcliffe

Aye, but you're bass biased. ?

Big-G

So I went again today to try out the Epi 'Dot', and have to say that while I liked how it played, the sound was more muddy that I remember from last week, but then I did play a lot more guitars last week so that could have clouded my view?

So, looks like unless I pick one up used, its uneconomical to buy one, as I'd have to fork out a good R2k or so to upgrade the pups! Not an option at present, otherwise I'd already be the proud new owner of the PRS SE Semi!

So, back to the drawing board we go....

Cheers
G!

Warren

Big G wrote: So I went again today to try out the Epi 'Dot', and have to say that while I liked how it played, the sound was more muddy that I remember from last week, but then I did play a lot more guitars last week so that could have clouded my view?

So, looks like unless I pick one up used, its uneconomical to buy one, as I'd have to fork out a good R2k or so to upgrade the pups! Not an option at present, otherwise I'd already be the proud new owner of the PRS SE Semi!

So, back to the drawing board we go....

Cheers
G!

You could spend about R1k on a set of Toneriders, which would be perfect as a pup-grade over the stock Epi pups.

IceCreamMan

i have an ibanez equivalent of the dot .....artcore or something like that .... i like it ,,,never will be my go to cos it is bulky but a damn fine instrument it is ...i use it primailry for noodling in the garden and mucking aorund with ..sounds good thru all my amps and looks cool too

i guess every collection should have one of these kind of guitars

BVG

It was rated as the top budget guitar in 2009 and was 4th again in 2012... ?

There was a very nice one on gumtree a few months back for a good price... but didn't have the money then

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-20-best-budget-electric-guitars-in-the-world-today-529461/17

I think this is a rather nice article btw. ?

Big-G

Joe Moore wrote: The issue of more feedback than a 'normal' guitar hasn't been mentioned yet ?
That could be a good thing ......for your Gary Moore impersonations ?

If you haven't seen this , here's a second hand one in CPT :

http://capetown.olx.co.za/epiphone-dot-for-sale-iid-412051655

The feedback issue has been a concern of mine with 'other' copies in the past, but with this only being a semi hollow, rather than a full hollow, its not so bad.

With regard to the one listed, I hadn't seen that, but at the price listed, its actually not that good a buy, since a new one can be had for R3600!

I'll keep on looking though.... If I find a cheaper one somewhere that plays well, perhaps I'll partake? At the moment though, I think I'm more interested in the LTD's I've spotted (in another thread)

Cheers
G!

eric-vaxxine

My tuppenceworth.

I once bought a blonde Epi 'dot' from a music shop via ebay.
I sent it back the next day.

It choked notes on certain frets, hardware was cheap, pick-up
selector switch was temperamental and it was really headstock
heavy.

A year later I traded my 1973 Les Paul Deluxe for a Blonde
1997 Gibson ES335 Dot re-issue. It plays exactly as the craftsmen
who made it intended.