iansmitchell Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Wow... Now to do all the same modifications. Except I'm going to keep the tuners, go for a graphie nut, and replace the bridge pup with a mean 90 for flexibility, even if it's not 335-accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Dylan Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 BillyBob.. I got the TRC on eBay... There's a seller who makes replacement TRCs for Epiphones there.. I can't remember the name off the top of my head' date=' but if you search "truss rod cover" I think they'll show up.. They're engraved instead of screen printed.. The TRC that came with the Dot was a little deformed, like someone tightened one of the screws too much.. Besides, I never liked the name "Dot" on the TRC.[/quote']Thanks for that. You've inspired me! I've already ordered some of those knobs & a cream switch tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 I'm glad my humble little project could stir up so much inspiration! iansmichell, go nucking futs, man.. I thought about putting Mean 90s in the Dot too, after seeing how happy some of the other forum members were with that mod.. But I thought it would be a little redundant, since I already have a Casino for the hollow/P-90 thing... If I pick up a Dot Studio, though, I'm definitely going for the Mean 90s... Let your imagination be your guide! BillyBob... You should change out the whole switch if you haven't already.. It will junk out on you eventually... Then again, if you're going to change the switch, you might as well change everything else while you got everything fished out.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcwillow777 Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 JC' date=' when I originally got the Dot, there was no question in my mind that I was gonna put a Bigsby on, I figured; "It's just a $200 beater", but I didn't expect her to come out as nice as she did.. All my friends who've seen/played her are telling me I should leave well enough alone.. I've never felt the urge to have a tremolo of any kind before, so I don't know how much I'll use it... Some people say a Bigsby improves the over-all tone... What do you think about that? Did you put the '59s in your Dot as well? [/quote'] I'm really not sure if the Bigsby added that much to the tone or sustain, but what I do really like about it is that the feel of the strings are a lot looser. Bending strings is soooo much easier. I use the Bigsby more for chordal stuff, and it works great. I put a roller bridge on too, and the Bigsby really doesn't throw my guitar any further out of tune than just bending strings. But, once you put the Bigsby on the holes are there, for better or for worse. And if you're not sure and take it off, those holes sure wouldn't do anything for the looks of the guitar. One of the main reasons I have held off on my Sherry is because of the gold hardware. I'm not a big fan of gold, so I might change it to nickel or chrome. Yeah I put Vintage 59s in it. I love them. The neck picjup isn't muddy at all, but very warm sounding. The bridge pickup has got some good brightness, but not too bright like some pickups I've tried. For me they are are perfect. Nice job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 That's exactly my opinion of them too... I couldn't get the mud out of the stock neck pup no matter how low I set it... The GFS has great clarity and presence without having to crank it down too far... The clarity doesn't go away until you roll off the treble about halfway... And the bridge doesn't sound like an icepick to my eardrum, even with the tone knob dimed... Bright, but not harsh... They're like the perfect balance between warmth and clarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daneman Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 I agree totally,I don't have them in a dot..I have a set in my 92 Epiphone LP standard,and a set in my 07 EE G-400. I've had them in the LP since last sept,and I liked them so much that I put a set in my G-400 in february. Some people might want hotter pickups in these guitars,but I find the clarity more than makes up for the lack of hotness...great tones even overdriven!! They aren't as loud as the pickups in my 2 Gibson flying Vs,but I think they have every bit of the quality tone. I can turn up my amp...but you can't turn down the suckiness level on a bad pickup. To me the GFS vintage 59s truly are great for rock or blues or darn near anything I want to play!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant7629 Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 That looks fantastic. I shall tell you now that my cherry Dot will be getting a bone nut and some black knobs. Hope you don't mind...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Dylan Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 BillyBob... You should change out the whole switch if you haven't already.. It will junk out on you eventually... Then again' date=' if you're going to change the switch, you might as well change everything else while you got everything fished out..[/quote']Yeah, I will do that... eventually, but the switch tip is only $1.50, so what the hell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 8, 2008 Author Share Posted June 8, 2008 That looks fantastic. I shall tell you now that my cherry Dot will be getting a bone nut and some black knobs. Hope you don't mind...! What the deuce!? If everybody starts making the same mods to their Dots' date=' that will detract from the special uniqueness of mine! Can't you people be original?? I mean really.... Start thinking for yourselves, you bunch of easily-led automatons! You Brits have been copying every good thing that came out of America since the 18th century! First we get democracy, then you guys get democracy! We invent the railroad, then all of a sudden you guys have to have a railroad... (Like you needed a faster way to get to Scotland??) Then we invent rock and roll and you guys copy it and call it the "British Invasion"! (Catchy catch-phrase, "Trevor"...) I guess that Skiffle thing wasn't catching on, huh? And don't even get me started on the Statue of Liberty!! You know what? Fine... Fine... You go and get your bone nut and your black knobs... But it will be a hollow victory my Anglo friend!! Just remember, if we didn't give you guys SPAM (the potted meat, not the aggressive internet advertising..) during WWII, the Beatles would have sung [u']ALL[/u] their songs in GERMAN! And now for something completely different...... Of course I don't mind.. Rather flattering, actually... But I've been talking to Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, and they said I should collect a royalty for the use of my "intellectual property"... I take PayPal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansmitchell Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 What the deuce!? If everybody starts making the same mods to their Dots' date=' that will detract from the special uniqueness of mine! Can't you people be original?? I mean really.... Start thinking for yourselves, you bunch of easily-led automatons! You Brits have been copying every good thing that came out of America since the 18th century! First we get democracy, then you guys get democracy! We invent the railroad, then all of a sudden you guys have to have a railroad... (Like you needed a faster way to get to Scotland??) Then we invent rock and roll and you guys copy it and call it the "British Invasion"! (Catchy catch-phrase, "Trevor"...) I guess that Skiffle thing wasn't catching on, huh? And don't even get me started on the Statue of Liberty!! You know what? Fine... Fine... You go and get your bone nut and your black knobs... But it will be a hollow victory my Anglo friend!! Just remember, if we didn't give you guys SPAM (the potted meat, not the aggressive internet advertising..) during WWII, the Beatles would have sung [u']ALL[/u] their songs in GERMAN! And now for something completely different...... Of course I don't mind.. Rather flattering, actually... But I've been talking to Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, and they said I should collect a royalty for the use of my "intellectual property"... I take PayPal. Hahaha. Van halen's in a legal suite with charvel over the paintjob on his frankenstrat. Yet endorsing a fender version that's pre-oxidised, beat up, and the like. He says in one interview he made the frankenstrat because he wanted a guitar that was HIS guitar. He said in a fender ad he couldn't tell the difference between his and the acid-wash replicas. Difference? Charvel charges 600 and EVH gets zip. Fender charges 10,000 and EVH gets something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 Only in America... Aint it grand? Better change your avatar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carverman Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 GFS has been berry' date=' berry good to me so far... Especially in the pickup department.. This is the second set of pups I've bought from them.. They were [u']way[/u] better than I was expecting.. Same with the Vintage '59s... As soon as I hit that first chord, a huge grin came over my face.. I was actually giddy! I've never played a Gibby 335 with the '57 Classics, so I can't make any comparisons, but I don't care.. These pickups sound so good, it's like sex! Hard to believe they only cost about $80 for the pair.. Oh, CB... I've had the pups in for almost 2 weeks now, so the new has worn off a bit.. I was just waiting for the pickguard to come in before taking pics... I'm still jazzed every time I plug that guitar in.. Before that, the Dot was my least favorite guitar.. Now, I can't put it down! I installed a set of "naked" (without covers) vintage 59s on my custom spotlight special and they sound great...pretty close to the Gibby Classic 57s. I was originally going to spring for some SDs SH2/SH4, but decided to give them a try as the price was right. I'm also using the GFS roller bridge on mine with the chrome o-oring hipshot knobs, but I just recently received a set of chrome pearl tops (tophat shape) . They will look fabulous on the new 3 inch thick semi-hollow acoustic LP with the LR Baggs piezo t-o-m and ctrl-x preamp where I can blend the piezo with the vintage 59 humbuckers. I'm in the process of building assembling right now, I'll have some pics of it posted to photobucket soon..it's a one of a kind, with my solid walnut tone block in the center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lpdeluxe Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Last week I got a blond Sheraton II for a church electric (looks more trad than my LP Deluxe) and I've been thinking about changing to keystone tuners. On another guitar I put them on, the tuner knobs were a press fit in the case due to their width. Any problems? I have a set of SDs on order, so that'll come next. I've already changed from amber hat knobs to gold speedos (I'm not trying to replicate anything, just get a functional and attractive axe). I'll be following the tale of the Bigsby with interest, as that's in the future plans. Let us know how it turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 I installed a set of "naked" (without covers) vintage 59s on my custom spotlight special and they sound great...pretty close to the Gibby Classic 57s. I was originally going to spring for some SDs SH2/SH4' date=' but decided to give them a try as the price was right. I'm also using the GFS roller bridge on mine with the chrome o-oring hipshot knobs, but I just recently received a set of chrome pearl tops (tophat shape) . They will look fabulous on the new 3 inch thick semi-hollow acoustic LP with the LR Baggs piezo t-o-m and ctrl-x preamp where I can blend the piezo with the vintage 59 humbuckers. I'm in the process of building assembling right now, I'll have some pics of it posted to photobucket soon..it's a one of a kind, with my solid walnut tone block in the center. [/quote'] I still haven't seen any completed pics of the Spotlight Special, Dan... Did you ever post any? I'd like to see 'em! I'll be following the tale of the Bigsby with interest' date=' as that's in the future plans. Let us know how it turns out. [/quote'] It might be a while before I put a Bigsby on... I think I'm gonna leave her as she is for a while... Get to know her a little better before moving on to that mod... But I'll be sure to post pics if/when it happens. I don't blame you for replacing those knobs.. I hate the amber ones! They put those knobs on everything... Whether they look good or not.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkwire Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 That is one sweet Dot! It's amazing how much of a difference the little touches make. The only thing I would have added is the position indicators under the knobs. At 0.90/each from Stew-Mac, why not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeladdie Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Well, since I've been GASsing for a cherry red ES335 for as long as I can remember, and since I STILL can't afford one, looks like my next project will be a Lerxst Dot Archtop!! Thanx for providing an inexpensive alternative! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssgfowler Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 It's not an Epiphone, but I put a set of GFS Premium Alnico P/Us in a cheap MIM Strat, a Callaham bridge block, and Wilkinson EZ-LOK tuners (also from GFS) and turned a ok $399.00 guitar into a really nice sounding Strat. GFS sells good stuff at great prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloyDZeD Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Man, now you're making me want to make my Super Dot into a poor man's early 60's ES-335. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Sammich Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 Hello Everyone, I've been doing some research lately on Dot Modification and I ran into this thread. This thread is very nice. I have an Epiphone Dot, i think its the one made in Korea. Anyway, I bought it about two years ago. It was my FIRST guitar to have bought. It is also my only guitar. I have been thinking alot lately about getting a Fender Jazzmaster, one of those new ones, or a jaguar, but I'm a poor college kid. So after all that thought on buying a new guitar, i thought about what i could do to make my current guitar better. Y'know? My dot has a problem where the bridge pickup goes in and out of working. I don't know if its because of the pick up itself, or the knobs (which look really funny, i don't know why. They're super crooked.) or something inside that guitar that can't be helped. If someone could shed some light on that, that would be awesome. I've been thinking about changing the pickups too. I hear alot about those '57 classic humbuckers from gibson. I really don't know much about guitar mechanics, and i'd like to make my guitar sound better. it sounds a bit muddy. Although that might be cause of my amp. I have a tiny Kustom Amp. I wish i had a ac15/30 or twin reverb tube amp, but i just don't have the money. Does anyone have general advice that could lead off of this thread on what i could do to take advantage of my guitar? sounds like the Dot was a good idea considering everything everyone's been talking about transforming it into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 The stock pickups on the Dot are most likely the source of your mud... At least the neck pickup is.. Mine was muddy as hell.. The cut-out is most likely due to the switch... Epiphone uses cheap toggles in their guitars.. They all die sooner or later (usually sooner).. Like I mentioned earlier in the thread, you can't go wrong with a set of GFS Vintage '59s from Guitar Fetish.. They're a low-cost, high-quality alternative.. Costs $37.99 per pickup! Get yourself a good Switchcraft switch and you might as well change the pots while you got everything out... Then you're golden.. Oh, a new jack would be a good idea too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 9, 2008 Author Share Posted June 9, 2008 The only thing I would have added is the position indicators under the knobs. At 0.90/each from Stew-Mac' date=' why not?[/quote'] I got those on the way... Twang's getting some for me... Right Twang?? It's not an Epiphone' date=' but I put a set of GFS Premium Alnico P/Us in a cheap MIM Strat, a Callaham bridge block, and Wilkinson EZ-LOK tuners (also from GFS) and turned a ok $399.00 guitar into a really nice sounding Strat. GFS sells good stuff at great prices. [/quote'] You can say that again! After all the mods, my Dot still cost less than a new one "off the shelf"... After 2 sets of pups, 2 sets of tuners and various other bits of hardware and electronics, I'm a GFS believer... Well' date=' since I've been GASsing for a cherry red ES335 for as long as I can remember, and since I STILL can't afford one, looks like my next project will be a Lerxst Dot Archtop!! Thanx for providing an inexpensive alternative! [/quote'] That was the motivation for me... Always wanted the ES-335, but I knew I wouldn't have a the scratch for a long time to come, so you just make the best of what you got... Actually, if I could stop buying "affordable" guitars, I'd probably have more than enough for a 335 by now... But I'd rather have a bunch of good guitars to mod out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Dylan Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 I'd rather have a bunch of good guitars to mod out! And it's fun! There's a great feeling of satisfaction after you've finished working on a guitar' date=' not just because it's exactly the way [i']you[/i] want it, but also because you did it all yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansmitchell Posted June 9, 2008 Share Posted June 9, 2008 That was the motivation for me... Always wanted the ES-335' date=' but I knew I wouldn't have a the scratch for a long time to come, so you just make the best of what you got... Actually, if I could stop buying "affordable" guitars, I'd probably have more than enough for a 335 by now... But I'd rather have a [b']bunch[/b] of good guitars to mod out! Amen to a bunch of cheaper, similar quality guitars, with superior upgrades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Sammich Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 yeah my jack is always going loose. i'm scared it'll pop out some day. what are pots? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted June 10, 2008 Author Share Posted June 10, 2008 Yeah, I don't think I'd know what to do if I owned a guitar that didn't need something changed! I have a couple that come close though... My Casino only really needed a new bridge.. I'm afraid to change the pups, they just sound great, and everything else works fine.. And I haven't felt the need to do anything to my Agile AL-3100 yet... The stock pickups actually sound good! The bridge pickup is a little too bright, but not terribly so.. I may swap it out eventually, but I'm still playing with the hight.. Master Sammich... Pots are the volume and tone controls.. It's short for "potentiometer". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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