J4T5 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Well I just picked up an Epi Dot and want to do a couple things. Probably black reflector knobs and maybe 57' Classics. I received my WildKat but ended up going up to Guitar Center and was pleasantly surprised at how nice the Epi Dot was so I sold the WildKat - short honeymoon on that one. Here the Epi Dot stock: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Those knobs HAVE to go. That and changing the nut to a TUSQ nut are the only mods I wanted to do. I love to play it! It is one of my favorite guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 There you go ...That's the knobs or a Cherry Dot Thanks for the pic! Looks much better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Natural Dot that after about ten months got: Black knobs, SD Classic p/u's, new CTS pots, switches, all new wiring, etc. About two years later I added the Bigsby. This baby isn't going anywhere: Dots are great stock for the money, but what a modding platform! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 That looks really great. The Black Bigsby is a cool touch works well with the Black pickguard. I used a couple allen head screws in the Old stop tail holes just to fill them on a freind of mines Dot. Nice mods - looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 That looks really great. The Black Bigsby is a cool touch works well with the Black pickguard. I used a couple allen head screws in the Old stop tail holes just to fill them on a freind of mines Dot. Nice mods - looks great! Thanks for the compliments. I'm pretty happy with it. I'll have to check into the allen head screws. The old stop bar holes don't "bother" me too much, but I've been kind of looking for something other than the "custom made" badge to cover them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 You can get them in stainless steel and they blend pretty nicely with the other hardware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joevacc Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 I always thought that on a natural guitar it would be easy to make some flat-ish maple 'buttons' that screw in. Whether you put anything there or not, that guitar looks fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyphre Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 This is what I'd do to a red Dot, externally... Bigsby, Classic 57's, black reflector knobs, 335-style pickguard. You can get a bigsby without a tension bar and then add a Towner Down Tension Bar where the tailpiece was. They look great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 I was up at Guitar Center yesterday and hanging on the wall next to the Epi Dot was an Epi Pro335. At the same price as a Dot you get bound neck and block inlay with the Pro. The pickups were labeled as Pro Alnico. Now you have a choice at the same price - I really like the Dot but it is interesting that there are 2 so close to eachother at the same price..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starpeve Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Cyphre , you beat me to it ! I was just gunna say the same thing , except I was racking what's left of my brain trying to remember the name of the tension bar . BTW , gorgeous guitar . I just picked up a Casino , and the natural finish was no small part of the attraction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 I found a pic of the tension bar set up on a 335: It actually looks pretty good the only thing is I would have made it a bit thicker not such a thin rod but it looks pretty good anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I keep rereading this and thinking... Gee, would I have done some of this stuff back when I was into modding guitars some 45 years ago? I dunno. I actually dumped my nice orange Gretsch right at 40 years ago largely because I disliked the Bigsby even after I disabled it. The one mod I'd consider doing to a Gib/Epi type twin pup design likely would be to add a master volume. Never did it, though, for several reasons. I guess in ways I'd consider doing my old trick - idea stolen in the mid '60s from folksy/bluesy "Spider John Koerner" - but currently I don't see an advantage to do so with what and how I'm doing stuff now. For what it's worth, I have two relatively current Dots, one sunburst the other cherry. The "mods" have been only in putting on "my" strings. Each to his or her own, I guess. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burchster Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Not a dot but heres my 335 pro with a smaller pickguard and witch hat knobs. Also my sherry 2 with new pickguard, imperial tuning buttons and gold top hat knobs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Nice set of guitars. How's the 335 pro pickups compared to the Sherry's pickups? The 335 pro at my local Guitar Center have these clear protective covers that are labeled different than the Dot. I think the Dot has "Alnico Classic and Alnico Classic Plus" and the 335 Pro says "Epiphone Alnico Classic™ PRO 4-wire and the Sherry II's are both Alnico Classics I'm actually surprised at how good these pickups are stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J4T5 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 I keep rereading this and thinking... Gee, would I have done some of this stuff back when I was into modding guitars some 45 years ago? I dunno. I actually dumped my nice orange Gretsch right at 40 years ago largely because I disliked the Bigsby even after I disabled it. The one mod I'd consider doing to a Gib/Epi type twin pup design likely would be to add a master volume. Never did it, though, for several reasons. I guess in ways I'd consider doing my old trick - idea stolen in the mid '60s from folksy/bluesy "Spider John Koerner" - but currently I don't see an advantage to do so with what and how I'm doing stuff now. For what it's worth, I have two relatively current Dots, one sunburst the other cherry. The "mods" have been only in putting on "my" strings. Each to his or her own, I guess. I'm not putting a Bigsby on mine because it sounds great the way it is and I probably won't use one much anyway. But it is nice to see the options for those who choose to add one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 I mostly haven't done mods other than string types of things to my guitars since the mid 1970s. It just didn't seem worth it with what I was doing at the time - nor does it now. I'm pretty impressed with the overall quality of recent Dots too. Yeah, I know some guys want this or that change. A whammy for example. I'd personally prefer a master volume. Others wanna change the pups for this or that. I can actually kinda understand that 'cuz I've considered p90s on my sunburst. But one way or another, the fact that the instrument is overall so popular comes down to the fact that regardless of factory, slight variations in the body, or electronics, the basic Epi production is a great value for price tag. If it weren't, we'd likely not hear nearly so much from folks who enjoy modding their instruments. One seldom hears as much modding for "boards with pickups" as for the Dot, regardless that it's actually more difficult with the thin semi-hollow. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burchster Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Nice set of guitars. How's the 335 pro pickups compared to the Sherry's pickups? The 335 pro at my local Guitar Center have these clear protective covers that are labeled different than the Dot. I think the Dot has "Alnico Classic and Alnico Classic Plus" and the 335 Pro says "Epiphone Alnico Classic™ PRO 4-wire and the Sherry II's are both Alnico Classics I'm actually surprised at how good these pickups are stock. I would say the 335 pro has a little bit hotter pickups than the Sherry. I tend only to use my Sherrys for clean and use the pro for distortion. The coik tapping on the pro is also awesome for a good single coil blues sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Thought about getting a Dot or (more likely, for me) a Sheraton, and put TV Jones Filtertrons in it! I already have a AIUSA Sheraton, that I LOVE! "Someday!" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDTRFB Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 Here's my ES-335 Pro. This is the first guitar I have ever modded. My others are all stock. So I had a little fun. It didn't hurt that I had some gift cards to use. Changes include: Grover tuners (this one comes with Wilkinson vintage style) Bone nut Blank truss rod cover Gotoh bridge Gold tophat reflector knobs Cream switch tip Black screws on the pick-up rings Schaller strap locks No more pickguard (I actually have a small pickguard and Gibson-style bracket ordered) BEFORE MODS: DURING MODS with original bridge. The grain is just fantastic: AFTER MODS: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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