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Epi Dot - Thoughts?


uncle fester

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Hi all...  listening to some Marcus King has got me wanting a hollowbody. 

Would like a gibby 335, but wanting to jump now instead of saving forever and a day - was looking at the epi dots.  I'm going to go see what I can play, but it's that vs. maybe a gretsch something or other.  Epi dot's look like I could get one used for for $300, could go up to $600. 

Hoping for a cool hollow body to play bluesy, med- rock bluesy stuff on, any recommendations.  Should I be concerned with feedback on either? Thanks to all for any input.

Edited by billroy
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hey Bill,

So you probably know this, but These are not fully hollow, they are semi hollow, there's a block running down the center.  If you wanted a full hollow body i that size, look at Rivieras or Casinos

if you are looking second hand, keep the feelers out for a used Sheraton Pro II.  A step up from the Dot, and usually quite nice to have and hold.  I've had two, a 90s one that had the "older" standard of epi pickups/and hardware which was sub par) and the newer Sheraton Pro II.  I picked mine up in 2015.  It's a great guitar.  plays real good sounds nice.  I sold the mid 90s one sometime ago.  I like the Pro II way better.   used I think they are between 400/500..  new they're about 800 w/case

if you're looking for a "true" full size hollow body, then you can look at Broadways, or if you can find them used, an Emperor Regent.  (I still have my Regent, had it for about 10 years now.  Nice jazz box for low dollars)

 

feed back is not too bad with a semi hollow, the block helps.  The older Sherry's the pickups did tend to feed back more so than the newer pro buckers,  they are quite a bit more resistant IME.  A full hollow body, feed back at volumes is something you have to learn to live with and control..

 

 

 

Edited by kidblast
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Thanks Ray - I'm not married to full hollow body... want slimmer than my acoustic, but not so rock star as my sg.   Will keep an eye out for the Sheraton Pro II appreciate the lead 🙂

PS - I know this is an epi forum, but just in case my scratcher hits, any recommendations on a hollow / semi hollow body gibby?  Same thing, good ol bluesy playing with maybe a little detour down rock a billy lane on occasion...

Edited by billroy
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there were also some 335s that were made a few years ago.  I'm not sure what the diff with them and the Dot is.

If you can find a good used DOT,  and I bet you can, you'll probably like it and be in to it for short dough. 

The Sheraton is going to be a bit more expensive, and probably most of that would be due to cosmetics.  If you're able to find a recent one, you'll get the Pro Bucker pickups and the hardware will be vastly improved to the older MIK ones.

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I have an epi dot studio, two sheratons and two gretsch.

The dot studio is excellent for the money, fat neck flawless finish, needed a good setup. Best sounding epi buckers I have. 

First Sheraton is Korean, fast slim neck as normal with most Sheratons, again flawless finish, its 16 years old nearly and the gold hasn't tarnished to bad. Pickups are a let down and I always finish playing and want to change them but haven't yet. But in terms of playability it set the standard by which all others much match. I couldn't bring myself to sell it.

Second Sheraton is a Union Jack special with mini hb's and frequensator tailpeice made in China, slim neck. Sounds amazing but I just cant bond with its playability, this was mainly a looks purchase anyway.

First gretsch is a 5422 double cut full hollow Korean made, slightly thicker than a '335' body, feel, sound, everything way above my epiphones.

Second gretsch is a 5622 double cut semi,  Korean made, about same body thickness as '335' type.  This. This is it, one guitar for life? This one. Medium neck,  versatile pickups, cover a lot of sounds, finish details above the epi. 

I love my epiphone semis, I will buy more and I hate the fact epiphone seems to have recently become a platform for various les paul models, when they have so much more to offer. If you are simply looking for instant relief try the dot studio, leaving you more to save for a Gibson.

But ultimately I urge you to try a Gretsch. 

 

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Thank you all - GAS is funny thing, it can strike in many ways :).  My intent was to get a decent hollow body / semi hollow body player for as little $$s as possible, which lead me to the Epi Dot.  Brad1 thx for the shout out - keeps me confident in this path, but geeze for just a little more I can get the up scaled appointments of the Sheraton pro Ii - that would be nice.  and Mr 4356 builds a good argument for the Gretsch.  I believe it's a 5622 I've had my eye on at GC...  

There's an Epi Dot less than an hour from here for $300...  was hoping to stay at $200, but maybe can get him down to $250 :0  But then there's that GC with those Gretsch.

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Nothing will sound like a gretch, I've often gas'd for one myself.  The newer imports seemed to have cleaned up a lot.  When they first started out with the Asian builds, I tried more than a few and they were really hit or miss .  Lately they seem more like direct hits.

 

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2 hours ago, billroy said:

Thank you all - GAS is funny thing, it can strike in many ways :).  My intent was to get a decent hollow body / semi hollow body player for as little $$s as possible, which lead me to the Epi Dot.  Brad1 thx for the shout out - keeps me confident in this path, but geeze for just a little more I can get the up scaled appointments of the Sheraton pro Ii - that would be nice.  and Mr 4356 builds a good argument for the Gretsch.  I believe it's a 5622 I've had my eye on at GC...  

There's an Epi Dot less than an hour from here for $300...  was hoping to stay at $200, but maybe can get him down to $250 :0  But then there's that GC with those Gretsch.

 

Both.

Gretsch first. 

 

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I don't know about the Epi Dots but, think of the guys that play this type of guitar: Marcus King, Freddie King, Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon, Otis Rush, and so many others. Do you dig these guys? Then, maybe a 335 type guitar is for you! As far as feedback goes, it shouldn't be a problem with a guitar that has a block. Good luck in your quest!

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I was starting to think I was on the Gretsch forum there for a minute.  And I second the thought that the 5622 is a forever favorite.

But, a $200 Dot would make me suspecious. Don't go too cheap and end up with problems that only show up in the middle of a gig. $300 is a good deal. Just make sure everything works and you are getting the tones you're looking for.  Good luck !!!

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I have had a few Epi's that i have moved on, kept a couple. My favourite is my mik blonde Dot. When first bought had bad string buzz and ok pick ups. A steep learning curve in Luthiery had me fitting a Tusq nut and  a Gotoh bridge, i did a fret level and profile, 50's style wiring (not needed but had to fiddle with it) and not really needed Stew Mac golden age pups. You would not get this guitar off me with a crowbar. I also have a Casino i have persevered with and will happily say goodbye to it. I just cant get a full hollow set up like i can a thru-neck or solid. Other Epi's i moved were a Riviera, John Lee Hooker type that was brilliant as it was from the bloke i bought it from and really was worth hanging onto.  Also had  a Sheraton 2, never really gelled with it, the neck is a different construction to the the Dot and just didn't have the feel of the Dot. All of these Epi's were MIK. Whatever Epi you buy, if it still has the crappy wire secured bridge that all my Epi's had, remove and replace with something like a Gotoh. I cant speak with any experience of the made in China Epis, so i don't know if they are still saddled with a crappy bridge.

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6 hours ago, Eternal Learner said:

I have had a few Epi's that i have moved on, kept a couple. My favourite is my mik blonde Dot. When first bought had bad string buzz and ok pick ups. A steep learning curve in Luthiery had me fitting a Tusq nut and  a Gotoh bridge, i did a fret level and profile, 50's style wiring (not needed but had to fiddle with it) and not really needed Stew Mac golden age pups. You would not get this guitar off me with a crowbar. I also have a Casino i have persevered with and will happily say goodbye to it. I just cant get a full hollow set up like i can a thru-neck or solid. Other Epi's i moved were a Riviera, John Lee Hooker type that was brilliant as it was from the bloke i bought it from and really was worth hanging onto.  Also had  a Sheraton 2, never really gelled with it, the neck is a different construction to the the Dot and just didn't have the feel of the Dot. All of these Epi's were MIK. Whatever Epi you buy, if it still has the crappy wire secured bridge that all my Epi's had, remove and replace with something like a Gotoh. I cant speak with any experience of the made in China Epis, so i don't know if they are still saddled with a crappy bridge.

the newer sheratons are 10x the MIKs from about 15 years ago were.  the hardware on the late 90s MIK Sherry I had was horrendous.

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17 hours ago, G Mac said:

I don't know about the Epi Dots but, think of the guys that play this type of guitar: Marcus King, Freddie King, Larry Carlton, Jay Graydon, Otis Rush, and so many others. Do you dig these guys? Then, maybe a 335 type guitar is for you! As far as feedback goes, it shouldn't be a problem with a guitar that has a block. Good luck in your quest!

It was Marcus King that got me here, but Freddie King rocks as well...  all the King boy's rock actually - Albert King (but he plays a flying V...  which is just plain cool).  

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I always say that there are two types of Flying V fans; the ones who like metal and the ones who like Albert King (and Lonnie Mack). I fall squarely into the King group. I once had an Epiphone '59 Korina V and I sorely regret parting with it! What a sound they have! And you're right...all the Kings are spectacular! I don't know how I forgot to put B.B. in with those others!

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