My experience with the Epiphone Dot

[old mark]

I bought a used Epiphone Dot in October 2011. It is a Black 2002 model, made in Korea. I quickly bought a hard shell case for it, and I recommend that every Dot owner do the same-these great guitars are worth protecting! I really love this guitar! It is factory stock, and the pickups give it a very refined, smooth jazzy and bluesy sound, just what I was after. I took the time to tighten all the screws and oil the fret board, put on my favorite Ernie Ball 9's and intonated the guitar. I then set up the TOM and tailpiece and very slightly adjusted the truss rod. The neck is near-perfect for me now, and I love playing this Dot so much, I bought a second used Dot in November. I then set up and balanced the pickups.

 

Dot #2 is a very different animal - a 2011, made in China, Natural finish. These newer Dots have mahogany necks, while older models have maple necks...they feel a bit different, not that one is better than the other, but just different. My Natural Dot has Gibson 490's Humbuckers installed, and it sounds raucus rather than smooth...To me, it is more of a rock and roll guitar. I did the same set ups on this Dot as my first, as I do with every guitar I buy, new or used.

 

I find my 2 Dots are very similar, but different enough that i feel good having them both. They are both great players, both live in hard cases, both were bought used for an average $300 each. ( The black '02 came with no case, cost a little over #200. The Natural came with a 1980's GIBSON hard case from a 335, cost a little over $300...it also has a repaired neck crack that has not effected playing or sound.)

 

I really love the Dots, and I think they are the greatest bargain in electric guitars going. They are versatile, great to play and can become addictive...and they are CHEAP for what you get.

 

 

mark

[Dennis G]

Congrats on the Dots, but without pic's, they don't exist!

 

I agree with you that they're a great value and great players. I've got an '08 Chinese that I totally modded after about 6-7 months.

Out of all of my guitars, I find myself reaching for my Gibby LP, Dot, Wildkat or Casino before any others (and not necessarily in that order).

 

Congrats again.

[Blueman335]

You do the same set up on guitars I do.

 

I've got a Chinese Dot in natural (with a mahogany neck), a couple Dot Deluxes, and a Sheraton. All are great guitars, and I got them used for nice prices. Upgraded the PU's in all of them. The Chinese Dot was the most recent and I put a pair of Duncan Seth's in it, one of the best PAF's you can buy (A2 magnets, unpotted, and unbalanced coils). Great open, airy, vintage sound.

 

I have a few 490's and ended up changing magents in them to get the tones I wanted. I put A5's in the 490R's to get more treble and definition, and UOA5's in the 490T's for more bite and cut. They really sound good now.