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hoobiepatrol

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Alright now, since I can actually post in this new forum, I'd like to talk about the Epi I'm thinking about adding to my meager guitar collection.

 

I actually fell in love with a regular Dot in Natural that I got acquianted with at GC the other week, but I just can't afford $400 right now. However, I've been thinking about the studio, which I played for awhile and enjoyed quite a bit as well. Truth be told, the only reason I loved the Dot was because of the gorgeous natural finish, and the only reason I'm hesitant about the Studio is that I'm really not crazy about the dull brown (satin feels awfully nice on the neck, though).

 

Anyway, my question is basically whether it would be within the realm of reason to possibly refinish the body of the guitar somewhere down the road. I know somebody here had fantastic results sanding down the poly on their dot and refinishing with nitro, but I'm not sure about how the satin finish works...it looks and feels like it's just a sealer, so if i tried to sand it down would I be sanding away the wood/veneer? Or could I put a layer of gloss over the satin as it is after a little fine sanding? Obviously I'm not a skilled woodworker, and I don't think I want to actually change the color, I just think the brown would look a lot sharper with a little sheen to it. Thanks in advance if anyone has any thoguhts/ideas.

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You said you fell in love with the regular Dot natural and that's what you want. If you can't afford it right now then wait until you can. It's not that expensive and if you have enough for a Studio then you are almost there. Finance or borrow the difference if you have to have it right now. Why mess around. By the time "somewhere down the road" comes around you would have been able to afford the Dot so set your sights on what you love and forget about putting a bag over an ugly girl's head.

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OK, "fell in love with" was a bit strong. Let me clarify.

 

The finish was really the only spectacular thing about the Dot for me. If I was basing my decision purely on cosmetics, and I were going to scrimp and save, I might as well go on and get the Sheraton, a guitar I've been jonsing for since the first time I played one years ago. This was the decision I came to walking out the door that day, after I couldn't talk the clerk down to a price I could handle.

 

Also, after eight years of playing, I've never owned a semi-hollow, which was the motivation for my excursion in the first place. If I have the dot for a couple of years and find that I'm pulling out my SG or LP or strat more often, then that's going to give me a better idea of whether it's worth it to spend the extra money on the Sherry when I'm out of college and can feasibly afford it. No big investment here.

 

And finally, I will enjoy upgrading all of the parts for the studio over the coming months. I've always had a stronger bond with the guitars that I've put a lot of sweat (and cash) into. I was bitten by the mod bug long ago.

 

I appreciate your feedback, and I know what you guys are saying, but believe me, I've put a lot of thought into this.

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[-( I have to agree with the others. If you really want the Natural Dot save up for it. If you get the Studio you will always be thinking, I wished I would have gotten the the Natural Dot, even if you like the Studio. We've all been there and settled at one point and time. You will thank your self for saving a little longer and getting what you really want. [-(
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And finally, I will enjoy upgrading all of the parts for the studio over the coming months. I've always had a stronger bond with the guitars that I've put a lot of sweat (and cash) into. I was bitten by the mod bug long ago.

 

 

If you like putting some work into your guitars, check this out....

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Epiphone-Dot-Archtop-Electric-Guitar-Cherry_W0QQitemZ230216084124QQihZ013QQcategoryZ33037QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Daneman succesfully repaired a G400 in the same condition recently..

 

And it's a natural, not cherry... I think that's a typo.

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Although I leave my Dot Studio at my parents house and keep other guitars at my home to play, the guitar itself is basically sound and very easily modified into a very nice instrument. I also prefer sunburst guitars, and this one is ebony, but you'd fall in love with this one with the first chord. I'm thinking I may send the ES-137 there, and get my Dot Studio back here. Really, it's that good. Let your soul be your guide, the brain doesn't understand music.

 

<a href="http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/garyelcrrt/mine2/?action=view&current=98b97093.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a393/garyelcrrt/mine2/98b97093.jpg" border="0" alt="Baby (showing off)"></a>

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OK' date=' "fell in love with" was a bit strong. Let me clarify.

 

The finish was really the only spectacular thing about the Dot for me. If I was basing my decision purely on cosmetics, and I were going to scrimp and save, I might as well go on and get the Sheraton, a guitar I've been jonsing for since the first time I played one years ago. This was the decision I came to walking out the door that day, after I couldn't talk the clerk down to a price I could handle.

 

Also, after eight years of playing, I've never owned a semi-hollow, which was the motivation for my excursion in the first place. If I have the dot for a couple of years and find that I'm pulling out my SG or LP or strat more often, then that's going to give me a better idea of whether it's worth it to spend the extra money on the Sherry when I'm out of college and can feasibly afford it. No big investment here.

 

And finally, I will enjoy upgrading all of the parts for the studio over the coming months. I've always had a stronger bond with the guitars that I've put a lot of sweat (and cash) into. I was bitten by the mod bug long ago.

 

I appreciate your feedback, and I know what you guys are saying, but believe me, I've put a lot of thought into this.[/quote']

 

This Dot Studio (almost unrecognizable with its various modifications) is now one of the finest playing guitars I own. Let your soul be your guide, the brain doesn't understand music.

 

98b97093.jpg

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That looks SWEET' date=' Gary! Did you refinish 'er yourself?

 

[/quote']

 

OEM finish, I only added the pickguard, (and Sperzel tuners, intonated nut, Phatcats, CTS pots, switchcraft jack and Tonepros bridge/stoptail added by Gary Brawer in San Francisco who also plekked the neck down into limbo territory. I asked him to "...see how good of a guitar you can make out of Epiphone's cheapest archtop." It, my Riviera and LP all got the same treatment - though with different pickup options - and they are the reasons my mid-level Gibsons sit in their cases. The Gibsons only needed properly set up to play as well as the Epi's (and there's a strange thing to say), but the OEM tone isn't what I wanted, so I don't play them as often. Except for the SG, Junior. It absolutely rules.

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I looked at the dot on ebay,guys and I'm sure my G-400 project had more gluing area than this.Did have a good experience with this seller tho.

I'm not sure if I would try this one,would need better clamps and such than I have.Just my opinion however.

Spud could probably do it before his morning coffee.That guy's scarey good at this stuff!

Hey Debaser!Are you on here yet? Maybe new id? There's one guy on here that reminds me a bit of you.O:)

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I bought the satin VS Dot Studio a year ago. Thought I might like it. I was wrong...it's my favorite of all time. And that's quite a statement if you've seen all the guitars I've tried and sold over the past 15 years. Ordered from Sweetwater with hardshell epi case for $300. Took out of box and tuned. Action was super low. I did just replace the tuners with some from GFS.

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If you really want the Sheraton II save for it. IMHO i believe the Sheraton is way better than the dots. The Neck on the Sheraton II is so comfortable that your fingers breeze over the fretboard, all the dots I played had uncomfortable necks like baseball bats. Sit tight and save for that Sheraton II, don't regret your purchase in a couple of months if you buy the dot. Now Everyone this is just my opinion, I believe that the Sheraton II and Casino are the best guitars epiphone make, I personally would not buy any other Epiphone. To generalise I think epi semi-hollows and hollows are far far superior to their solid bodies.

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Tried the Dot Studio, Schtang? The neck on my EE Dot Studio is very much more thin, thinner, thinerer? than other Dots. It is closer to a Fender medium "C" than it is to the usual Louisville Slugger (Brought to you by Gibson) -- that's a joke, Gibson. I have no knowledge of any past, present or future plans by Gibson or any other entity to sell, buy, cede or acquire by any other means any company by that name.

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OEM finish' date=' I only added the pickguard, (and Sperzel tuners, intonated nut, Phatcats, CTS pots, switchcraft jack and Tonepros bridge/stoptail added by Gary Brawer in San Francisco who also plekked the neck down into limbo territory. I asked him to "...see how good of a guitar you can make out of Epiphone's cheapest archtop." It, my Riviera and LP all got the same treatment - though with different pickup options - and they are the reasons my mid-level Gibsons sit in their cases. The Gibsons only needed properly set up to play as well as the Epi's (and there's a strange thing to say), but the OEM tone isn't what [b'][/b]I wanted, so I don't play them as often. Except for the SG, Junior. It absolutely rules.

 

I don't think I've ever seen a Dot Studio with a gloss finish before... But I never really paid much attention to Dot Studios much at all before I came to this forum...

 

A lower end guitar is exactly the kind of guitar you'd want to have plek'd... If I pay $2,500 for a Gibson, it BETTER not need a plek job...

 

I just wish I could find someone who does it for less than $200!

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I looked at the dot on ebay' date='guys and I'm sure my G-400 project had more gluing area than this [/quote']

 

Yeah, I took another look at that break after I posted that msg... It does look a little dubious...

 

I might buy one of those broken Epis and try my hand at fixing it, just for the experience... If it's cheap enough and doesn't look too tricky. How much did you end up paying for that G400?

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Sounds like HoobiePatrol has his mind made up already, but I will say I have had both Dots and Sheratons, and they are both great as models go. I currently own one Sheraton that I really connect with. That is not based on its model, so much as its individual quirks and qualities. (And to think I bought this without playing it first!)

 

SO the point is, if you played one that felt right, go with that one. Seems obvious, but there it is.

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I don't think I've ever seen a Dot Studio with a gloss finish before... But I never really paid much attention to Dot Studios much at all before I came to this forum...

 

A lower end guitar is exactly the kind of guitar you'd want to have plek'd... If I pay $2' date='500 for a Gibson, it BETTER not need a plek job...

 

I just wish I could find someone who does it for less than $200!

 

[/quote']

 

Gloss finishes were unpopular just before the first "faded" colors. The Dot Studio was pretty much the test bed for that. As I recall, there was an ebony (mine), white (I'd like to have one - with maybe some GFS Nashvilles) and Aqua? Turquoise? I'm your basic color blind and I've never paid much attention to the names of colors that all look alike anyway.

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I've been wondering if you couldn't just turtle wax it and power buff it a few times,seems to me it'd get rid of the sticky feel as well as gloss it up.

It won't be the same as a shiny finish, but I've done this to make satin finsh stuff more comfortable.

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So' date=' uh, I guess this means nobody has any ideas about glossing up a satin finish?

 

I can only imagine how differently this thread would have ended up if I had never mentioned that damn blonde Dot...[/quote']

 

If you want to gloss it up, there's nothing to stop you from spraying on some clear-coat... Just depends on if you wanna take the time, and do the work... You'll basically have to strip it of hardware and mask off the areas where you don't want clear-coat to go, spray a couple of coats at a time, letting it dry overnight each time, and do some wet-sanding and buffing at the end of it all. It'll just take some time and patience, but there's no reason you can't do it.

 

Daneman.... Turtlewax won't do much to make a satin finish any glossier.. At least that's what I've read, anyway...

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So' date=' uh, I guess this means nobody has any ideas about glossing up a satin finish?

 

I can only imagine how differently this thread would have ended up if I had never mentioned that damn blonde Dot...[/quote']Being a painter by trade my head says to rough up the surface a bit with some fine steel wool maybe, So the new gloss will "stick" better and then spray a nice clear gloss on it. Make damn sure you clean off all the dust from the roughing up process before you start clear coating though or you'll end up with "fish eyes" all over the place. That is the method I use on woodwork in someones home, but I'm not sure how that would work on a guitar.

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Lerxst,I know its won't give you the same shine as a clearcoat will.But buffing (the wax kinda acts like a lube for the buffer)will smooth it up and make it shinier.And less tacky feeling to your hands.I've had satin finished guitars where the back of the neck has worn "shiney" from use.My Old G&L Guitar has no clear coat.Although I have to admit I haven't played around with one of these "faded" guitars yet.

Just seemed like it might be worth a try as opposed to something much more involved.

 

However If you want the real hard gloss finish yeah you'd have ta clearcoat!

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Lerxst' date='I know its won't give you the same shine as a clearcoat will.But buffing (the wax kinda acts like a lube for the buffer)will smooth it up and make it shinier.And less tacky feeling to your hands. Just seemed like it might be worth a try as opposed to something much more involved.[/quote']

 

Oh yeah... Even carnuba wax would help there... I wouldn't have said anything except for a vague recollection of something I read that said Turtle Wax shouldn't be used on guitars... I don't think it's bad for the finish, per se, but.... I'll have to go back and re-read it...

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