stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hello, new to this forum, but figured I'd post this and get some feedback. First off, I bought an Epi Dot last year in January, in Cherry finish, and I love it. However, not too long ago it fell face first into the floor, and the neck has a fine crack in it It still plays okay, and stays in tune, however I don't think repairing is an option. Anyways, I ordered myself a new Dot in Natural finish, and got it today. It has a tuner installed that is crooked, and no longer features the sticker on the back of the headstock that reads "100% setup and inspected in the USA" like my old Dot. I've also, in a side by side comparison, realized that the headstock is differently shaped, and the body size is most definitely smaller on the new Natural Dot with the crooked tuner, versus my year-old Cherry finish Dot. My questions are - is it typical to have size variations in Dot bodies like this? Are Dots no longer inspected in the US (maybe why the crooked tuner found it's way to me, to have to send back to the store)? I'm really disappointed in this latest experience with Epiphone, and I definitely prefer the bigger body of my Cherry Dot. Thanks for your time! ~stone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 First off - where did you get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Here's some pics to show what I mean: First, the horribly crooked tuner (this Dot was brand new out of the factory sealed box): Next, a compare of the size of the Dots in the same Epiphone case made for the Dot: Old Cherry Dot (big enough to fit snugly in the case) - 16" at it's widest point. New Natural Dot (notice the gaps on the sides of the body against the case, not present with the Cherry): 15 1/2" at it's widest point. Old Cherry's headstock (a narrower headstock): New Natural's headstock (wider at the sides of "Epiphone"): I guess I'm just really worried that I cracked the neck on a Dot that I won't be able to get another of. Did I just get lucky and get a big fat body on my Dot, rather than the norm? Is this size variance normal? Thanks for any insight you can provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 First off - where did you get it? The Woodwind & Brasswind in South Bend, IN. Same place I bought the Cherry from, both new and in the same configuration in the same exact style of box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabar Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 There have been some variations in headstock and body shape over the years. Your red one is the less curvy style which was common among the first Dots (and Casinos and Lucilles) to come out of China --- it's actually closer to a Sheraton body shape. The natural one is truer to the original shape, but I wouldn't accept that crooked tuner. I say return it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 There have been some variations in headstock and body shape over the years. Your red one is the less curvy style which was common among the first Dots (and Casinos and Lucilles) to come out of China --- it's actually closer to a Sheraton body shape. The natural one is truer to the original shape' date=' but I wouldn't accept that crooked tuner. I say return it.[/quote'] Yeah, I've already sent an email to the shop, to get a return authorization. Thanks for the info! I really wasn't sure what was going on in regards to body shape when I first pulled it out of the box . I was like - this is driving me crazy, is this smaller or what? Maybe I should take another look at a Sheraton... Thanks again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 The Woodwind & Brasswind in South Bend' date=' IN. Same place I bought the Cherry from, both new and in the same configuration in the same exact style of box.[/quote'] That's the same company as Music123, so it should be genuine. Send it back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 There is absolutely no excuse for the tuner. It is a disgrace that Epiphone would ship a guitar like that, and a retailer would send that out to a customer... It actually makes me angry to see Epiphone sully their reputation like this... It seems that for a few years we got used to good quality, fairly priced product from Epiphone. Now Gibbyphone is giving us a stark option: buy a $2000 ES-335, or this load of crap... Stone, I would send that back in a heartbeat. I wouldn't bother ordering a Sheraton sight unseen either. The new Chinese Sheratons I have seen recently are far from impressive. If I were you, I'd consider a couple of options...either look around for a used Korean Sheraton, or just go and browse your local music stores and see what you find. I went shopping for a Sheraton and came back with a Hagstrom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron G Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Goes to show you how much "Genuine Epiphone" means. Have you seen these? XV-900 (Click) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm wondering if the screw holding it in place sheared off and caused the tuner to twist. But I've seen similar problems. I bought a resophonic made in Korea. When it arrived, the string placement on the bridge had two sets of three. The bridge had three strings evenly-placed, followed by a 1/2 inch gap, and three more evenly-placed strings. That was my first reso, so I thought it must be normal. I tried to play it for about 2 months before taking it to a luthier. He assured me that the strings are supposed to be grouped in one set of 6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgrmatt Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Stonecutter2, Does it look like it has been hit on the side with the crooked tuner? Good Gosh!!! I knew that the QC had slipped a bit but I didn't think or didn't want to think it was this bad. mgm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 There is absolutely no excuse for the tuner. It is a disgrace that Epiphone would ship a guitar like that' date=' and a retailer would send that out to a customer... It actually makes me angry to see Epiphone sully their reputation like this...[img']http://www.smileyhut.com/angry/cursing.gif[/img] It seems that for a few years we got used to good quality, fairly priced product from Epiphone. Now Gibbyphone is giving us a stark option: buy a $2000 ES-335, or this load of crap... Stone, I would send that back in a heartbeat. I wouldn't bother ordering a Sheraton sight unseen either. The new Chinese Sheratons I have seen recently are far from impressive. If I were you, I'd consider a couple of options...either look around for a used Korean Sheraton, or just go and browse your local music stores and see what you find. I went shopping for a Sheraton and came back with a Hagstrom. I've sent an email to Gibson service, to give them a chance to provide their side of the story. Yes, mistakes happen, but this is something so absolutely obviously crappy that I'm really pretty surprised as well. I'll be interested to hear their response. Thanks for the opinions on the Sheraton, and I think you're right. I won't be ordering one sight unseen. I'm not sure what to think of the Dot itself right now, considering how different the body style feels to me, and what effect that might make on the sound I've enjoyed out of my Cherry Dot for some time now. I'll probably give Woodwind & Brasswind a chance to make it right. However, if I get one that's actually assembled correctly, if it doesn't seem right, I won't hesitate to send that one back and just keep looking. I am no longer quite the fan of Epiphone that I was yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Stonecutter2' date=' Does it look like it has been hit on the side with the crooked tuner? Good Gosh!!! I knew that the QC had slipped a bit but I didn't think or didn't want to think it was this bad. mgm[/quote'] There is no obvious damage to the box that the guitar came in (the Epiphone box) that would explain the weird tuner. Also no other damage to that side of the guitar (doesn't appear to have been dropped or anything). That is why I'm of the opinion this is a failure of quality control. When I first pulled it out of the foam bag, I was expecting a pristine guitar - but was sorely disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 I'm wondering if the screw holding it in place sheared off and caused the tuner to twist. But I've seen similar problems. I bought a resophonic made in Korea. When it arrived' date=' the string placement on the bridge had two sets of three. The bridge had three strings evenly-placed, followed by a 1/2 inch gap, and three more evenly-placed strings. That was my first reso, so I thought it must be normal. I tried to play it for about 2 months before taking it to a luthier. He assured me that the strings are supposed to be grouped in one set of 6.[/quote'] The tuner is very securely held onto the headstock. I'm pretty sure it was literally screwed in crooked (though there appears to be a correct pilot hole drilled into the headstock). Here are some alternate views. An attempt to make it wiggle is futile, it's attached firmly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 19, 2009 Author Share Posted March 19, 2009 Goes to show you how much "Genuine Epiphone" means. Have you seen these? XV-900 (Click) THAT looks interesting...thanks for the link! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphs1978 Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 THAT looks interesting...thanks for the link! YEEEEEEEEEESS another one thinking outside the Gibson/Epiphone box... i love it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWANG Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 you can see the tuner has been struck hard and it ripped the screw hole crooked. unscrew it. put it back where it was with a toothpick and you probably couldn't even see where it had torn too. TWANG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest icantbuyafender Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 this is exactly why Im sick in the gut awaiting my epiphone wishire ltd reissue...(MF says april) ive seen shires with misdrilled holes, bodies that were dinged prior to being finished causing dimples , uneven binding on the neck, botched inlays... what happened to the brandf which we show loyalty?? i hope my wilshire comes to me in one piece... seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdy27 Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Must have been the Packager getting ready to end his shift! Just chucked it into the case.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo.schumi Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 hi stonecutter, i am sure that twang is ringht. the set up was correct but afterwards the head a rather strong hit .... easy to repair. i have got a very good set up chinese epi from the new epi gibson factory.... the basic guitar is really fine - i mean body and neck. unamplified you can hear what the instrument is able to provide. i think just an update of the electrics and some hardware elements will make appear the sonal potentials of the epi. i changed the nut, the stop tail, the bridge and it sounds much better... the picks will follow soon and the chinese epi will be a super instrument. so reconsider your stand point. jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Goes to show you how much "Genuine Epiphone" means. Have you seen these? XV-900 (Click) I bought a Xaviere XV 560. The tailpiece was not installed perpendicular to the neck-axis. The binding half-scraped and the PU-switch half-dead. Very sloppy. Allthough the XV played and sounded ok, I've never seen this poor workmanship on an Epiphone. Guess in the end you just get what you pay for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I bought a Xaviere XV 560. The tailpiece was not installed perpendicular to the neck-axis. The binding half-scraped and the PU-switch half-dead. Very sloppy. Allthough the XV played and sounded ok' date=' I've never seen this poor workmanship on an Epiphone. Guess in the end you just get what you pay for. [/quote'] That's why I advised him to get out there and look in his local stores. The only guitar I would buy sight unseen these days is a Fender - they really seem to have got their s**t together, even if their prices have gone through the roof. With other brands, and Epi especially, it looks like QC is all over the place. When I went to buy my semi I intended, with all sincerity, to buy a Sheraton. However, because I was appalled with the examples I saw, I checked out some other guitars, and tried some quite impressive instruments. These included: Washburn HB35 Greg Bennett Royale: Even the Ibanez Artcore AS93 wasn't too bad...(although cheaper Artcores are crap) And then there's the Hagstrom I fell in love with, bought, and talk about too much: There's quite a lot out there in 335-land, in the price bracket Stone is talking about. Epi can only expect our brand loyalty (demonstrated through unseen on-line purchases), if they maintain a consistent (and high) quality of product... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchCassidy Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 Wow, way to not even try epiphone. That tuner is disgraceful. And the fact that there's even a QC sticker on it is pretty bad. If I do another semi hollow (which I doubt I will) it will be one of those from guitarfetish. Or an old epi off craigslist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 I find it very peculiar how the hole where the tuner-screw's supposed to go is clearly visible in the pic. Hard to believe "assembly" would have missed that...let alone this guitar passing the eyes of QC, US-distributor and the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecutter2 Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 I find it very peculiar how the hole where the tuner-screw's supposed to go is clearly visible in the pic.Hard to believe "assembly" would have missed that...let alone this guitar passing the eyes of QC' date=' US-distributor and the shop. [/quote'] Me too. Someone along the way must've made the decision to just push it forward, and I was the "lucky" one who got it. Maybe somebody was behind on their production quota, and the shop never cracked open the box. However the chain of events occurred, I took pics of the serial # and the lightly scratched truss rod cover, as well as the headstock, so if Epiphone (I guess Gibson) ever gets back to me, I can let them try and track down how this all played out. Calling the shop today to get them to take this thing back and ship me something acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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