Epiphone DOT "Pickups"

[J4T5]

Anyone thinking about changing their Epi DOT Pickups should try adjusting the height on their stock PUs.

I was amazed at how nice the stock units sound if tweeked. I used a Gibson ES 335 w/ 57' classics through a Blackface Vibrolux for comparison.

After doing some adjusting on the stock units in the Epi DOT I was absolutely amazed how great they respond to some minor adjustment.

I actually found that I like the stock units tone and dynamics in this particular Epi Dot better than the ES 335 pickups in the Gibson.

And I really like the tone of the Stock 57's in the Gibson.

 

Worth a try on your DOT if you haven't already.

[brad1]

I agree. I've had my 2007 Epi Dot since 2008 and have never even thought about switching out the pups.

Sounds great to me!

[Brian Cecil]

Anyone thinking about changing their Epi DOT Pickups should try adjusting the height on their stock PUs.

I was amazed at how nice the stock units sound if tweeked.

I did the same trick with my Sheraton a few years ago, with the same result. The Sherry has a generally darker tone to it than my Gibson 335 does, but there's no muddiness.

[Thomse]

Me to,.I wouldn't think about changing any of my pick ups in my Epiphones . I think Epiphone has come a long way with there pick ups.

[milod]

I have two recent Dots.

 

No need at all to change the pups. I've considered some of the Gretsch-style pups but never got around to it. There's no need for anything in the same class of HBs as noted above.

 

I s'pose a case can be made for p90s or old-style "Gretsch" pups - but no need at all to replace 'em with anything similar in concept.

 

m

[Thomse]

I have two recent Dots.

 

No need at all to change the pups. I've considered some of the Gretsch-style pups but never got around to it. There's no need for anything in the same class of HBs as noted above.

 

I s'pose a case can be made for p90s or old-style "Gretsch" pups - but no need at all to replace 'em with anything similar in concept.

 

m

Right on Sir. Love the P90 sound

[Thomse]

I have two recent Dots.

 

No need at all to change the pups. I've considered some of the Gretsch-style pups but never got around to it. There's no need for anything in the same class of HBs as noted above.

 

I s'pose a case can be made for p90s or old-style "Gretsch" pups - but no need at all to replace 'em with anything similar in concept.

 

m

Right on Sir. Love the P90 sound

[vkh]

This is good to hear as a Dot is on my "bucket list". As I recently bought an IBJL casino and an EJ200CE I'll have to wait and save up a bit. I gotta admit, that Pelham Blue one at Sweetwater is gorgeous! Oops, I just checked, the one at Sweetwater is a 355. What's the difference?

[milod]

The diff?

 

Bling mostly. And the Bigsby 'stedda a stopbar tailpiece.

 

Personally I don't like any whammy. My cherry Dot has more bling as it is than I'm particularly comfortable with.

 

But it's on sale with a heckuva deal, it appears.

 

m

[J4T5]

Pretty much what milod said. The Pelham blue is super nice but I think the Cherry finish on the DOT is just about as good as it gets. I love the cream binding too with the Cherry.

You can't go wrong with an Epi DOT - in any color - it got to be the best bang for the buck - hands down.

I sold both of my 335's and one was a Cherry. The Epi just feels better to me.

[cheese]

I did it. I decided to change the Harness from my 335 Dot CH. During that process I also spontaneously decided to change the pups. Components used: JK Bookshelf Guitar Wiring Harness for Epiphone Dot 335 Paktron '50 Volume Kit; BurstBucker #1 (Neck) & #2(Bridge).

 

For me it was a very interesting an challenging time - but finally it paid out very well: looks good (new knobs), very smooth controls and the sound of the Gibson BurstBuckers is just nice for my stile of playing (Jazzy as well as Blues).

[slk]

I can't see changing them out either. I just got a Dot Deluxe and the sound is awesome. It sounds every bit as good as my gibsons.

[J4T5]

Adjusting the height and poll pieces can really change the dynamics. And you can always put them back the way they were. Make sure to use the correct fit screw driver on those pole pieces. If you don't have one that fits well it's worth buying one. Nothing worst than scratching the pickup cover because of a sloppy fitting screw driver. The pickups in my DOT are great after some adjustment. Still can't believe the great price of an Epi DOT.

[kidblast]

about 15 years ago,, changing the pickups was a foregone conclusion..

 

today -- not so much... they've come a long way!

[milod]

kidblast nailed it.

 

No need.

 

m

[EPI67]

What heights are you running your Dot's at? My bridge pickup is at 1/16th and my neck, 3/32nds.

[Stefan Schmidt]

I recently bought an Epiphone Dot, made at the Quingdao Plant. A very well made guitar, not only in regard to the price point, but in general - and a pleasure to play. I like the neck profile a lot.

What surprised me most were the pickups - they are actually pretty good. I used to have two gibson SG models in the past, one with the 490 R and T, the other with a Classic 57 (neck) and a Dirty Fingers (bridge). At that time I compared them both to an Korean 2002 Epi SG which belonged to a friend. And to be honest - I liked the guitar, but the pickups sounded muddy and liveless to me compared to the Gibsons.

But - as some users wrote before - those newer Epiphone Humbuckers are really nice sounding units. They are way better than the old ones in the Korean models.

After reading the comments here, I also tried some adjustment. As I said, l liked the sound right away,  but wished it would be just a little more  'crispy', 'open' or 'lively'.

Lowering the pickups in their frame and adjusting the height of the pole-pieces to each string individually really did it - I did not know this could make such a big difference! 

I also agree, there's no need to change PUs in this fine guitar. Swapping PUs might be a good idea in some cases, but in general it is overrated; at least that's my point of view. As long as you've got a decent amp, even intermediate pickups on a budget guitar can sound quite good. And the Epi Humbuckers are much better than intermediate.

The Dot sounds different from an ES 335, I'd say a bit more on the darker or more smokey side, which suits at least my style of playing, since I prefer bluesy and jazzy clean sounds with only some crunch added occasionally. Works great with a Twin Reverb for example. It doesn't sound 'worse' or 'inferior' compared to a Gibson - just different.