ant7629 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Hi all I am posting this to get people's opinion on the Epiphone Dot. I know when compared to the 335, there will be obvious diferences but it would be nice to hear professional opinions... I love the 335 and always have done. I have had two Sheratons, which were bought because I thought they were a cheaper alternative. I have recently ordered a new Casino, but I know this is a very different guitar. I initially dismissed the Dot as a cheap copy and didn't pursue it when it was released, but after reading some of the posts on here, they sound quite promising. What are the pickups like? I replaced the pickups on one of my Sheratons with SDs and they didn't make much difference. Woudl the Dot stock pickups require replacing? Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwhi2001 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 No shortage of opinions here! I don't own a Dot but the pups are the same as on LP standards, G400 and others, and I've had those and experimented with them. My own view is that the neck pup is ok for most styles. I've swapped them for others and found not a huge difference, especially with a good amp. I understand from other folks here that some Dots have the same spec pup at neck and bridge, others have the slightly hotter version at the bridge. I find the hotter version to be a bit harsh and would probably change it. When I finally get round to getting a Dot I expect to swap the bridge but leave the neck alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricach Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 This will hardly be a professional opinion since I've only been obsessing about guitars for a couple years now, but my Dot is still my favorite of my guitars. The previous owner replaced the neck pup with a Seymour Duncan '59, so I can't tell you how nice the original neck pup was. But the combination of the pickups are fantastic. My Dot looks, plays and feels like a million bucks in my hands, I wouldn't hesitate to get another if anything happened to this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Love the dot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 The Dot is a very good guitar at a very reasonable price. I have a VS Sheraton and a Cherry Dot. The neck on my Dot is different than the neck on my Sherry. The Sherry neck is a little wider and very thin, which I really like. The neck on my Dot is a little narrower and a little thicker, but still a comfortable play for me. I changed the pickups, electronics and wiring in both. I personally don't like the stock pickups in Epis, with the exception of the P-90s in my '56 GT. I put GFS Vintage 59s in both my Dot and my Sherry and they now sound great. I could tell a big differnce. The neck pickups were too muddy, the bridge pickups were okay, but not great. Others here like the sound of the Dot with the stock pickups, but I didn't. The stock pickups in both of these were the same, I don't remember off hand what they were cause it's been a while since it replaced them. The tuners worked great, but I put in a set of Grover Vintage Green Keystones, just for aesthetics. I also put a 335 style pick guard on it, a Bigbsby and black speed knobs. It is definitely one of my favorite guitars to play and look at. Out of the box you could probably play as is for a while, but I think you will eventually want to change the pickups. But without a doubt the Dot is one of Epi's best values for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I've always believed the Dot to be the best guitar you can buy for under $400. Whereas the stock pickups are 'ok' upgrading them will make a big difference. Basically, if you take a $400 Dot & put $2-300 worth of improvements into it, you'll have a much better guitar than what anybody else will have for that price. They are well-built, good, solid guitars that sound good & play great. I've got 2 'regular' dots & 2 elitist dots and really love all 4 of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biff Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have to agree with the others, apart from the pickups the Dot is really good for the money. I have GFS Mean 90 humbucker sized, P90 style pickups on mine and they have been good for me. Should a cheap, used Dot Studio some day mystically appear at my doorstep I'd surely try the GFS Vintage '59s in that. The electronics is passable but the 3-way switch of mine needed some bending and polishing to work well, so it might be a good idea to buy a complete wiring harness and change everything with the pickups. The neck on the Dot is indeed a bit thick but I like it a lot, especially since I polished it with a ScotchBrite-like pad to a faster satin finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlagJones Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 What are the major differences between the Dot, Casino and Sheraton? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 What are the major differences between the Dot' date=' Casino and Sheraton?[/quote'] Just the basics: Dot and Sheraton - the Sheraton has more bling, neck binding, fret and headboard inlays, and gold hardware. Both are semi-hollowbodies and have bumbuckers. My Sherry has a thinner neck, but from what others here have said all do not. The Casino is a full hollowbody, has P-90 pickups and has less access to the higher frets because of where the neck meets the body. I don't have a Casino, so I can't comment on the neck in comparison to the profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Dylan Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Well, it is a cheap 335 copy. It's $400 rather than $1,800, but it's a hell of a lot of guitar for $400. The hardware isn't the best in the world, but it's OK, and I am genuinely impressed by the build quality for the money. Fit & finish (on mine, anyway) are very good, and the neck is the perfect shape & size and just... fits. If only it had a Gibson style headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabeza Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I think Dots are great. It was my intro to semi-hollows and I've been a convert ever since. I also have a Korean Casino and Sheraton II. For me, they each have their own character and sound. After playing the Dot stock for a few months, I found I wasn't too crazy about the pickups. I had a GFS Dream 90 put into the neck and a Dream 180 for the bridge. This setup works really well, though I'm thinking of trying a new configuration, either some Mean 90's or maybe '59's. If you don't mind possible upgrades, the Dot is a great value among semi-hollows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have to agree. At $430 Canadian (plus taxes), it has to be one of the best deals Epiphone offers. Fit and finish is typically excellent and the only real glitch I experienced on the one I had was a flaky solder connection on the switch... easily remedied. I popped a pair of Gibson 490R/498T pickups in mine and that really brought out the tone... I've since traded up to an Elitist but nonetheless the Dot was a great guitar in its own right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcooper830 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I love the DOTs!! I have 3 of 'em!! My stock black one sounds almost as good as a Gibson! My Natural one has a beautiful warm tone.......... STOCK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colimodio Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 The Dot Marker...which one...Gibby 335..with Mickey mouse ears (bows) and horns , or a toned down-bows (less Mickey mousy) . Or do you mean an Epi Dot. AKA "One of the Best Guitars in the World for Your Money"...yes. My Epi Dot is Great!!! Get one before China declares war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Bob Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Wanted a 'semi': bought the Dot. Kept it standard for a while, but it was my first up-grade: Grovers, Gibson-type hardware and SD 59's. Love it. Old Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesstringer Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I've owned three dots and have never had any issues with any of them nor did I feel the need to change the pups. I opted to play a sheraton now as the neck is slimmer and more to my liking as others have already said. Good value for the quality of the guitar as is the case with all epis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemorino Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I have a 2002 Korean sunburst Dot, and I play it every day. It's as solid as a rock, feels great, sounds fab through my Vox Valvetronix, with a Tubescreamer through anything, or through a PodXT for recording. I'm just about to send it in for a set-up and a Bigsby (and am contemplating a pickup swap; not really necessary as the stock ones are just fine in my view). Never had a problem with the electronics. For just over 300 GBP about five years ago, it was a steal. You can order them now from GAK in Brighton for £315 with a case. Crazy price! I may have to get one as I love the looks of the cherry version... I've just got a Casino with a Bigsby which I think I may be in love with to the point of senselessness (one of the edition that came out in 2006 - had to order it from Germany as you can't get them in the UK anymore except for stupid prices. Mine cost GBP470 with an Epi hard case - a bargain!). I've got a handful of other nice guitars - a Japanese Squier strat I bought in the 80s (for £200 - and that felt pretty cheap even then) and one of those wonderful Peavey Rockingham Gretsch-alikes from a few years ago - and an uber-gorgeous Campbell American Nelsonic Transitone - the Bill Nelson Signature model - only 100 of these made! This was an expensive instrument but it is fabulous. However, the Dot is my go-to guitar - I still love it so much; my first guitar since the strat and just having an instrument I really liked made me get back into guitar playing - it made me want to practise and play so much better. I'm looking forward to getting it fixed up a bit; it still gives me something even the Casino doesn't. I have to say of all the babies, the Epis are my favourites. I don't tinker with them too much apart from action and intonation, and I've been really happy with the stock p/ups in the Dot; your amp makes so much difference anyway. Highly recommended - as stated by others, it's a lot of guitar for the money! Let us know how you get on. All the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 To throw in my .02 worth... I think the Dot is a good guitar that can be turned into a great guitar with the appropriate upgrades... I hate the stock pickups.. I'm one of those who got the same pickup in both positions... In the neck position, it sounds muddy, even when lowered all the way down flush with the pickup ring... and the bridge just sounds boring... I'm going to replace them with GFS Vitage '59s.. I replaced the awful black plastic nut with a bone nut... Now it stays in tune... Even the Grover tuners couldn't help that.. I replaced the bridge.. the stock bridges on Epis tend to buzz and rattle... I put a roller bridge on mine in anticipation of installing a Bigsby... The rest of the changes are cosmetic.. Black chrome-top knobs to give it a more vintage vibe... (The amber knobs that come with it are butt-ugly on a cherry finish...) I got a 335 style pickguard on the way.. I replaced the truss rod cover.. (I just don't like the name "Dot" there...) I replaced the tuners with green keystones.. The Grovers that come on it are fine, but like JCWillow, I like the look of keystones better.. When I swap out the pickups, I'm gonna replace the pots, switch and jack... Might as well do it while I got all the guts fished out... Then, I just need to get me a Bigsby, and I'm done! All in all though, I like the playability and feel of my Dot.. Some say the neck is too clubby, but I don't feel that way about mine.. I think the neck profile may vary from factory to factory... I also have a Casino which is my absolute favorite guitar... I love that thing more than what could be considered.........natural. But I also like to have the semi-hollow/humbucker sound as a part of my palette... I think a 335 (style) semi-hollow is something every well-rounded guitar player should have .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemorino Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I also have a Casino which is my absolute favorite guitar... I love that thing more than what could be considered.........natural. LOL!!! Think I'm getting that way myself. Might have to put this on a t-shirt...Lerxst, I'll give ya a percentage of the proceeds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Boys, my brother put a set of these tuners on his Dot & I'm tellin' ya they are beautiful! They really compliment that rather bizarre Epi Dot headstock. Believe it or not, they go together great. Got 'em from GFS. Imperial tuners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layboomo Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 Nah ...DOT's suck..NOT.......no offense, but thats a stupid question! Of course they are one of the best deals going...GREAT PRICE...GREAT GUITAR...What's not to like? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickblues1 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 One of the few purchases you will make and won't regret... The Dot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I've had my blond Dot for a few months now and couldn't be happier with it. The fit & finish is excellent and this thing can get just about any sound you want out of it. No regrets here, you can't beat the bang for the buck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schtang Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 I played about 7 dots and could not find one I liked. The necks were way too fat for me and 4 out of the 7 I played had broken volume knobs (shops should have fix these before putting them out on the floor). All tended to have fret problems and buzzing, not to mention all had cosmetic blemishes. So I decide to up grade, play 3 Sheraton II and all 3 were excellent, so I came home with this - beautiful 60s slim neck, no buzz, good frets, knobs that worked and lovely flame top and back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 LOL!!! Think I'm getting that way myself. Might have to put this on a t-shirt...Lerxst' date=' I'll give ya a percentage of the proceeds! [/quote'] Heheh... Glad you got a chuckle outta that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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