Steve112 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I have a friend that owns an '07 Gibson Les Paul Classic. He never has really played it and he asked me to try it out as it's been sitting for a couple of yrs. The fretboard was very dry and action was too high. As well, the output jack was loose. So I took it to my tech for a complete setup. He's done all three of my guitars and does a consistently good setup. Turns out the LP's nut had been cut too low on the 5th and 6th string slots, from the factory. As a result the action and relief had to be set too high to compensate for the buzz. At least the frets were level. After repairing the nut and conditioning the fretboard, the LP was then completely re-setup and now plays well. Now the surprise........ I have a '14 Dot that my tech has also set up for me and it did require fret leveling and nut filing. It too now plays beautifully. So I did a side by side playability shootout. Much to my surprise, the Dot easily is the better playing guitar. Whereas the LP's action is on the high side of factory spec, the Dot is on the low side of factory spec. The relief is lower on the Dot as well. The Dot neck is simply easier to finger the various chord voicings and feels smoother than the LP. The intonation and tuning ease and stability on both is very good so no difference there. I personally like the ergonomics of the Dot when sitting, the LP sits a little awkwardly in my lap but plays great while standing. So.....when I got the LP back I'd expected it to blow the doors off the Dot, it did not! In fact it was just the opposite. I'll be returning my buddy's LP with the absolute certainty that I'm enjoying the better playing guitar of the two!!!! I say this after 50+yrs. of playing and gigging on hundreds of guitars. Many of which were and are a heck of a lot more expensive, and considered pro-level instruments!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffery Smith Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I wish I knew a good setup guy in New Orleans. Fortunately all of my Epiphones have come from the factory set up fairly well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted October 26, 2015 Share Posted October 26, 2015 doesn't surprise me at all Steve........I have guitars from every mfgr.(an exaggeration) and country imaginable, and some of the best players (after "out of the box light setup") are Epis, and Mexican Fenders. Korean Guilds rock too !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peskypesky Posted October 27, 2015 Share Posted October 27, 2015 No surprise from me. My 2014 Dot is a winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyphre Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Out of all the guitars I own or have owned, my Dot (Korean/Samick 2001) is easily my favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Out of all the guitars I own or have owned, my Dot (Korean/Samick 2001) is easily my favorite. Same with my 2012 Qingdao Dot with respect to the electrics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spamonkis Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 Ruby, my MIC Casino, has a unique natural resonance that gives it a spectacular tone, better than any other Casino I have ever played. It played decent from the factory, but after a good fret job (Taking off a lot of metal from the frets over the body), a Tusq nut, a Bigsby tailpiece and a Gotoh bridge, the guitar is pure magic. It would absolutely humiliate a Gibson 330. Guitars are individuals. Life is too short to date plain women or play average guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted October 28, 2015 Share Posted October 28, 2015 I'm not surprised at all. I really like my Dot, although it's highly modded. If I had to do it over again, however: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-limited-edition-es-335-pro-electric-guitar?rNtt=epi%20dot%20pro&index=8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old mark Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I have 3 Epiphone arch tops now and a 4th on the way...Get one you really like and have a good tech go over the frets and set it up, and you will keep it for life. There are a lot of people who look down on Epiphones, but I own and have played some of the BIG NAME guitars since 1964 and I mostly play my Epiphones these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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