smips65

It's a total crapshot- My local Costco has those, by the dozens, and whipped around in the warehouse by kids driving forklifts. It's a low level budget entry instrument for parents that want to indulge their children, cheaper than a piano, and much easier to dispose of. I'm not knocking them, but realize what they are, is all I'm saying.

HNGD to you then, Welcome here, and please go to the Introduction thread, and tell us about yourself. http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=8024&p=15

Very very nice, but you really need a third.... sunburst hollow Brian and I are starting a new Epi club..... Sunstroke boys Sunbeam guys or If your like me, sun-tanned bottems "R" us. http://forums.epiphone.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=15375

Welcome to the club, I'll compete with joe cooper now, we have 5 ZepReg owners here. thank heavens. The Mahogany body with the maple neck isn't new, but for a fuller bodied axe like these, yes you will certainly get some different tones out of it. Unlike the 175 with it's maple body and mahogany neck, your ZP will never sound like that, so just a warning, no matter the pup. They weren't designed to compete with those, just an instrument marching in it's own drumbeat. Like em or love em, they are hard to beat.

Sir, you are correct.

There are some differences as has been stated. The necks are significantly different. It really comes down to what feels more comfortable to you. With that said, the acoustics that you have as compared to the Lester, which neck feels better to you? This could help with your choice. The Sheri has a three piece neck, and is generally thinner, than the one piece neck on a dot. If your planning on changing the electronics anyway, then discussing the differences between the two is mute. A Casino is a full hollowbody with P-90 pups, and wouldn't require much modding. Others here could chime in, but in my experience the neck on a Casino is similar to the Sheri. The fuller bodied archtops I mentioned would be enjoyable plugged or unplugged, if you have no amp, or don't know yet what your looking for. However, they usually have a thicker chunkier neck. So in the end, since electronics are not an issue, playability and comfort is the key concern here. Since you have a solidbody electric, and a couple of acoustics... your hands should be able to guide you in the right direction. If you like the Les Paul Studio better, then a Sheri might be the one If you like the thicker wider neck on the acoustics, then the Dot might be a better fit.

I'll second this thought... Plow, you mentioned in the beggining that your looking for an archtop, are you set on the skinnier models, such as the dot sheri, casino? There is also the Joe Pass, Broadway, ES-175 reissue, and of course others with fuller bodies, that most certainly play well unplugged.... As Brain suggested, there are gems to be found on the local Craigslist.

Mr. Cooper, do please keep us up to date on the home building, and other mod results. "By the lake" is a givaway also....

Mine is an Indonesian made, but I seriously have yet to touch an ES-175 reissue epi, or authentic Gibby that touches it. I had even considered trading it in on a Sig Steve Howe 175, and found it wanting. But that's me, I guess. I still have the stock p'up in it, and since I play 25% plugged, it hasn't been a serious concern just yet. BrianH and I were discussing small mods on the acoustic forum here, I am fashioning an Ebony and Rosewood bridge for mine, I really detest the metal bridge. So far, unplugged, it quiets the guitar more than I like, but plugged, it's much warmer, if that's possible, but my ears tell me so.... With respect to amps, and jazz, my personal opinion, can't go wrong with a Roland Jazz Chorus. Old school advice given to me long ago, big bottem guitar, needs a big head amp. Them little squack boxes just won't do 'em right.