bakesalee Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Hey there, I'm new. I just received my first non-Fender guitar, an Epiphone Dot, and it's very nice. I have some questions though (apparently no manual was included) a) What pickups are on depending on the position of the 3-way selector switch (pointed at the ground, middle, pointed to the ceiling) B) Info needed on the tone and volume knobs. My Fender guitar only has 1-tone, and 1-volume (Fender Mustang). What does having 2 tone pots do? Is it 1-tone pot per pickup or what? Same question with the volume. Give me some guidance! c) What are these stock pickups equivalant to? I mean are they humbuckers or single coils? They obviously have the shape of humbuckers, but I'm just trying to get a tutorial on my new guitar here. d) My initial impression was that the guitar sounded best with the 3-way switch pointing to the ground. I felt it was almost muddy on the other positions. If not muddy, than definitely too bassy (and I acknowledge this could be dependant on my amp, and it's settings). Maybe I'm just used to a more "jangly, trebely" Fender sound? Am I assuming correctly that the 3-way switch pointing to the ground is the neck pickup? d) Might I reduce "muddiness" if I lower the height of the pickup to be more flush with the pickup housing (frame or whatever it's called)? e) Is there a science to raising the height of the pickups (not an Epiphone specific question, I realize)? Like as it all about "whatever sounds good to you" or is there an actual science involved where some sort of meter by a professional could gauge some sort of "signal to noise" benefit ratio of obtaining a sweet spot. Thanks to whoever has the time to address the questions on my new guitar. It's absolutely beautiful. I've always wanted a non-Fender guitar just as an alternative, but this is quite nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trewblue Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Welcome! hope some of this can help. With the switch in the up position the neck pu is on by itself. the top forward knob controls the volume and the knob behind it controls its tone. With the switch in the down position the bridge pu is on by itself. the bottom forward knob controls its volume and the knob behind it controls its tone. With the switch in the middle position both pu's are on. The pu's are Humbuckers not single coils. You can adjust the pu heights for tone. there's a "how to" section on the forum loaded with tons of info. I'm sure there will be lots of advise from others. Good luck and enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakesalee Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 Thanks you two. Isn't it odd I found the best (less bassy, more treble) tone with the switch in the down position? I would always associate this tone with a neck pickup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 The Dot is possibly the best all-around guitar around, and the Epi version is probably the best bang for the buck if you like the neck at all - which I do. Your concept of "good" tone will change over time and with the style you're playing. Try the middle pickup position to get both, and do a bit of blending with the volume and tone knobs - as shown on the Epi manual - to find some interesting stuff while your amp is in a neutral "tone" position for eq. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakesalee Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 I put the switch on the middle position and decided to let the tone take over me. I ended up writing the missing link to one of my best songs, and a completely new song. This is saying something, because I don't write new songs that often. They have to sound truly unique and create a sonic landscape. I love this guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I put the switch on the middle position and decided to let the tone take over me. I ended up writing the missing link to one of my best songs, and a completely new song. This is saying something, because I don't write new songs that often. They have to sound truly unique and create a sonic landscape. I love this guitar. Sweet. That's what it's all about isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Welcome to the forums BS, there's a great bunch of dudes inhabiting these parts, I hope you like it. Grats on the Dot, and so pleased to see you like it so much, enjoy and HNGD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyGibson Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Welcome. Everyone has already addressed your questions. Now, all we need are pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkuss Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Welcome! Love Epiphone Dots. I have owned 3 in the past but have always found on any 335 shaped guitar (dot, casino, sheraton, riviera etc) that the neck pick up is the muddier, bassy one and that the bridge is the more trebly biting pick up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 IMX all 335 type guitars take some time to optimise tone-wise And can appear muddy from both pickups They will not have the bite of S/C's, so it can be good to have a S/C guitar or more in one's collection My favourite settings at the moment are.... Neck...vol 10, tone 10 for a pleasant bell-like clean sound from a low gain mid tone set tube amp Bridge...vol 10, tone 0-3 with an OD pedal and adjusted amp gain for a rich sustain for solos and power chord play.... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigneil Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 HNGD Pics? Welcome to to the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakesalee Posted June 13, 2011 Author Share Posted June 13, 2011 double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Welcome. A Dot is a great guitar. You can get a lot of different sounds out of it. Did you change the strings? The stock strings are not very good. Might I suggest DR Pure Blues 10-46. Also, what amp are you using? The stock Epi pickups can sound pretty good with a decent tube amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Dots are the bomb! I was shopping around for a Dot, and wound up with this Jay Turser JT133 that is every bit as good as the Dot, and I "fell-right-in" as far as playability. I haven't had a guitar in quite some time that "fit me" like this 335 copy does, it does everything my Les Paul did (had to sell it, damned economy) and then some. Any 335 type guitar is a tone monster as far as I'm concerned, and I've discovered that they sound better at a clean setting than a solidbody guitar does, has a fuller tone to my ear, I love mine! Congratulations! You got yourself a HELL of a guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiggy Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Hi & Welcome to the board. If you want more bite from the neck pickup then you might consider replacing the neck humbucker with a humbucker sized P90. It's quite a popular mod which gives you a very wide tonal palette. Either way, as others here have already said, the 335/Dot is probably the most versatile guitar out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis G Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Welcome to the forum and the Dot owner's club. They're just great guitars for the $$. I upgraded the p/u's wiring, switches, etc. and have a "poor man's Gibby", but even stock, they're sweet. And yeah, where are the pix? Without them, it doesn't exist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trewblue Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Didn't know where to put this and seeing that the Dot is the subject, seemed like a good spot. I had to replace the input jack on my dot. The nut wouldn't stay tight and it finally fell into the abyss. At first the panic was overwhelming. I had no idea on how to get it out or even grab it. That's when it hit me. I took a telescoping magnet(it extends to about 18 inches) and slipped it into the F hole in the direction of where I thought the jack was. I was amazed when I saw the jack attached to the end of the rod. I grabbed it with a pair of surgical clamps and my heart started to beat normally again. I replaced it with a Gibson jack that had a longer barrel, so more of the threads were showing(for a better grip by the nut). To get it back into its hole I put a 2foot long piece of fish tank tubing in the jack hole and snaked it out the F hole.The tubing is 1/4 inch wide,so I pushed it into the jack and pulled about 6inches out the bottom end. When I pulled the tubing back out the jack hole, the new jack slipped right into its hole. I slipped the washer then the nut over the tubing and tightened it down. I then pulled the tubing and it came out of the jack nice and easy. I should have taken pics along the way., but I totally forgot. The telescoping magnet can be found at an automotive parts store for about 5 bucks or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amx05462 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 if you think the neck pickup is too muddy or bassy. you could change the caapacitor to a lower value. i think most gibson type guitars are too bassy in the neck position so in most cases i change out the 047 to an 033 cap . and it solves this problem. my dot is the only one i havent done this to. the easiest thing to do is turn down the bass on your amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyGibson Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Didn't know where to put this and seeing that the Dot is the subject, seemed like a good spot. I had to replace the input jack on my dot. The nut wouldn't stay tight and it finally fell into the abyss. At first the panic was overwhelming. I had no idea on how to get it out or even grab it. That's when it hit me. I took a telescoping magnet(it extends to about 18 inches) and slipped it into the F hole in the direction of where I thought the jack was. I was amazed when I saw the jack attached to the end of the rod. I grabbed it with a pair of surgical clamps and my heart started to beat normally again. I replaced it with a Gibson jack that had a longer barrel, so more of the threads were showing(for a better grip by the nut). To get it back into its hole I put a 2foot long piece of fish tank tubing in the jack hole and snaked it out the F hole.The tubing is 1/4 inch wide,so I pushed it into the jack and pulled about 6inches out the bottom end. When I pulled the tubing back out the jack hole, the new jack slipped right into its hole. I slipped the washer then the nut over the tubing and tightened it down. I then pulled the tubing and it came out of the jack nice and easy. I should have taken pics along the way., but I totally forgot. The telescoping magnet can be found at an automotive parts store for about 5 bucks or less. Excellent tip. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bookkeeper's Son Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 i think most gibson type guitars are too bassy in the neck position so in most cases i change out the 047 to an 033 cap . and it solves this problem. Um....except that most Gibson-type guitars have .022 caps. And if the pickup sounds muddy with the tone control at 10, a cap change will do nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Um....except that most Gibson-type guitars have .022 caps. And if the pickup sounds muddy with the tone control at 10, a cap change will do nothing. You can always use caps inline on the hot wire to brighten a pickup's tone. Taming Muddy Sounding Pickups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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