Epiphone Dot

Brand new 2001 Epi Dot made in Korea. The soundboard is a spruce laminated archtop, in Epiphone cherry gloss finish and chrome hardware. Before I bought this guitar I was looking at a few different models. Various Fender Strat's, Tele's, Gibson Les Paul's, Epi Les Paul's. I wasn't concerened too much with the cost of the guitar, my main objective was quality. Strangely enough, after spending weeks, picking up these various guitars and playing them both unamplified and amplified, I found the Epi Dot was the best of the bunch, in terms of sound and playability. Of all the necks, I was instantly pleased with the Dot's shape, like a slightly flattened D shape. As close to perfect as I could find. Secondly I was captivated by its looks, it screamed Chuck Berry.

As I said before, I had the money and a chance to test out quite a few different guitars, unplugged and plugged into various amps. Being an acoustic guitar player also, I was impressed by the Dot's tone and resonance, while it was unplugged. A perfect combination of highs and lows were easily coaxed from this guitar, and I could feel the resonation throughout the guitar, even in the neck. None of the other guitars gave me that feeling when played unplugged. I then plugged into a variey of amps, I wasn't concerned with the number of effects built in or who it was made by. First I tried it with a smaller Marshall amp, 15 watts I believe. It was alright sounding, but wasn't really what I was after. I definitely wanted that nice warm tube sound. None of the Marshall's I tried impressed me that much. Next to the Fender's. I was almost certain that I would end up buying the Fender Blues Junior. I plugged into both a blues junior and a pro junior, and they also seemed to lack emotive qualities. So I thought either I am too picky or maybe the guitar is the problem. Then I seen a Vox Cambridge 15, which truly looked like a relic, I liked that. I plugged into it and played a variety of blues, folk/country and even some classical type stuff. Everything came out sounding great. I knew from the instant I started playing The Vox, that it was the one.

Everything on this guitar seemed to be well made and well finished. The guitar was already setup very well, with some .09's on it. I quickly changed these to .10's . I usually buy Gibson Vintage Re-Issue strings, which have an extra 6th and 5th string, in case you break one pre-maturely. Honestly, I can't complain about anything on this guitar. The finish, binding and shape are all perfect. The only irregularity I seen was with the f-holes. if you look closely you can see a bit of black ink, which I assume they use to trace the outline of the f-hole. This ink mark, underneath the finish is so miniscule, that you have to look at it at very close proximity, as it's only a very small portion of the f-hole. Because ceratin individuals may want to alter the pickups, nut, bridge and tuning machines, I will give it an eight out of ten, otherwise it's a ten.

I don't play live, however I wouldn't have a problem bringing this to a friend's house and jamming all night. I don't think anyone plaing this is going to be jumping around too much anyhow. As far as toting it around, get a good 335 style hardshell case, and you have nothing to worry about, unless you plan on dropping it from a fourth story apartment.

I bought this guitar from a well known instrument store in downtown Toronto. As far as dealing with Epiphone directly, I haven't. I did take my guitar to be setup a few weeks after owning it, just to make sure everything was holding up. I don't think they did anything to it, accept change the strings and check the neck. It didn't matter anyways because it was free of charge. However, it took something like 4 weeks until I got it back. I think this is an extremely long time, although I may be wrong.

I have been playing guitar for about 10 years now. I only owned one other electric guitar, which was a strat style Harmony. I pawned that one off quick! If it was alost or stolen, I'd either buy another Dot or would think about getting an Epihpone Emperor Regent. I actually love everything about the Dot, it has the styling, sound and playability that I am looking for.

Purchased brand new in 2002. Redesigned Authorized Gibson ES335 copy.Semi- hollow with center block. 2 Humbuckers. Sunburst finish. Maple body. Maple set neck with rosewood fingerboard. Dot position markers. Two tone. Two volume. 3 way pickup toggle switch.

I am really impressed with the sound of this guitar. I mainly play my Amercan Standard Strat- but always like to have a semi hollow body around as well and in fact I'm having a hard time putting this down to play my Strat. I have seen a few negative comments on the pickups but the newly designed ones in mine sound great through my Fender Deluxe Reverb. Full rich sound on the neck pickup with great fat jazz tone, nice and bright on the bridge.

Amazingly this guitar came set up great straight from the factory. Action just the way I like it without a buzz anywhere up and down the neck. I checked the intonation with my digital tuner thinking I would need to do a little tweaking but everything was right on pitch.Frets are nicely dressed with no rough spots anywhere on the neck, or anywhere else for that matter.No problem with the nut and the sunburst finish is really beautiful with no visible flaws I could find.

This guitar DOES withstand live playing. The hardware all seems solid, although I had an Epi Sheraton ll and the toggle switch only lasted about a year and I'm assuming they didn't upgrade it on this model. Just have to wait and see. Strap buttons seem secure. I never gig without a backup for all gear.

n/a

I have been playing for 37 years.I am extremely impressed with this guitar, and I have owned many in my lifetime including Gibson, Gretsch, Fender and others. This is not the epiphone dot of old. It has been redesigned including center block (for more solid weight, tone and feel), set neck for more sustain, better pickups, nicer finish- all in all is better built, and plays, feels, and sounds better than earlier versions.In fact, I played a new Gibson ES335 Dot yesterday and didn't like it. I don't think the new Gibson's are what they used to be and frankly $2300 for that guitar seemed outrageous. My Epiphone actually felt better to me. Also, before buying this guitar I tried Epiphone Riviera's and Casino's- both more expensive and both buzzed and felt "cheap" compared to the less expensive Dot. Go figure.If this guitar was lost or stolen I would immediately replace it with the exact same model.By the way I played 3 different Dots before choosing one and they all felt and sounded great. This looks, feels, and plays like a MUCH more expensive guitar, and I'm not kidding!

2001 model, natural finish with white binding and black pickgaurd... absolutely beautiful, Gibson alnico HB's, Semi-hollow body. Neck is the perfect size and ALL the frets are well within reach.

After playing acoustic for way too many years the DOT is the perfect guitar to return to electric with. Sounds great through VOX cambridge 15 w/ reverb pedal ( but that's a VOX flaw ). This guitar has sustain for days. Bright yet thick clean tones are easy to come by, yet don't be fooled this guitar can sound as gritty as a solid body also.

This guitar was setup perfectly at the factory and that's something I was not expecting. I did have the plastic nut changed out due to the G string slipping out of tune often. The wax dipped alnico HB's sound great and I wouldn't change them unless you feel you need a different sound altogether. My only complaint is that "E" epiphone logo piece of tin that they glue on the pickguard. The good news is that I think they know you'll drive yourself crazy trying to get it off and so that's exactly what it does and very easily I might add... funny thing is it's now on my takamine.

I can't see why this guitar couldn't with stand a gig, unless your pete townsend and need to smash stuff.

Have not had to yet....

20+ years playing... Jazz, (Funk, and Blues now). Started electric on a US Strat that was the biggest piece of crap I ever owned, with crappy pots and the thing never stayed in tune, but I was a label snob in the late 80's. I was concerned about Korean made guitars but all that has been laid to rest... this guitar is perfect. If this guitar were stolen or lost I'd buy another without even hesitating. I was returning to electric and couldn't fork out the money for real 335 as much as I wanted to but I compared the two very closely and it's very hard to hear / see extreme differences. Let's put it this way when I took the thing to my luthier I was about laughed out of the place. This guy's working on Guilds and 335's everyday and is a huge Jazz player. After he replaced the nut and dressed the frets he asked what I paid and he stood there shocked at what a great bargain I had found. Let's just say he was also impressed.

You know what the features are. I'm awaiting delivery of a Bigsby tailpiece to liven things up a little. I've already replaced the pickguard with a real 335-style because it looks better than the more bulbous Epiphone design, and I gave it black speed knobs. If the tuners need replaced I'll get plastic-handled butterfly knobs for a vintage look - but NO, I'm not going to trim the headstock and paint "The Gibson" on it....

I'm using the stock pickups and for now I'm satisfied with them, especially the bridge. They compare favorably with (though not the same as) the Pearly Gates I just put in my Les Paul. When I'm ready to change out the neck p-up I'll try my old Dimarzio PAF Pro but I'm not expecting anything earth-shattering from it; I'll probably end up with a Duncan Jazz to hopefully bring out that "Mr. 335" tone.

The Dot's setup was tons better than any genuine Gibson 335-style I played in the stores, but the FEEL was cheaper somehow. The Gibsons feel more solid & substantial, as do their controls. The Epi's controls are built to be temporary and I just hope they last until pickup-swap time. I've already had trouble with the switch, and the pots all make some noise. Finish-wise, there's some sloppy painting around the F-holes but that's all that stands out....considering what this is and what it costs. I think the guitar itself is a monster bargain considering what the same Gibson costs. No way is a Gibby 335 worth $2200 street. When I need a high-quality semi-hollow I'll go with a Heritage for $1300.

Once I replace the controls and nut, and maybe the bridge (to go with the Bigsby) this will be a good solid, able-bodied guitar. It's already a home favorite just like it is.

Never dealt with them, don't want to.

I've got two other Epiphones (American-made) in the house and this Korean job is much better. It's no worse than my '75 Les Paul Custom which has always been a turkey. If it were stolen I'd probably upgrade to an Ibanez or Heritage 335-style, or I might try something like an Epiphone Joe Pass. This Dot is my first semi-hollow in many years & I'm hooked but I'm ready to move on. My 9 rating is cost-weighted. Compared to a PRS or a GOOD Gibson it'd be more like a 5.

335 copy. Made in 2000 (?) Mine is red and beautiful. The nut is a cheap plastic thing (replace it!).

Neck is broad and thin, but not too thin. Epiphones have maple necks (as opposed to mahogany on the original 335), which gives a brighter tone.

This guitar is semi hollow, but it's also big, which makes it more heavy then you think. It's not a light weight!

I miss a master volume (but all you Les Paul guys are used to that).

Tuners, bridge, pick ups: certainly not the best, but for the money very good (9). Minus 1 point for the crappy nut.

Neck: 9. Round but also clear. !!
Bridge: 6.
Both pickups: 9. Full, shimmery.

Factory set up: 1. The brigde was set up wrong and also far too high. Strings sticked in the nut, which cause constant detuning, and made intonation very hard.

I've had a tech re-do the guitar (set up of bridge, filing the saddles, Graph tech nut). Now it's a 10.

Seems solid.

I bought this guitar 2nd hand. For the money, this guitar is a steal. Please, have it set up correctly by a good tech and replace the nut. Pickups are good (haven;t compared them to 'the real deal' though).

My other guitar is a PRS (with the 'regular neck'). That guitar is absolutely superior in built quality. Tones are miles apart: my PRS is a 'modern' sounding guitar, very versatile, it can scream like a demon and plays like a dream. The necks are very different: my prs neck is more narrow and fatter (which took me long to get used to but now I love it), the Dot is quite thin and broad (not as thin as an original 335, they say). Which is not bad, but again takes some time to get used too. If you're a serious player you can play on any neck though..

The Dot is a more jazzy guitar: if you want that full bodied jazzy/ bluesy, warm, round humbucker sound, no prs is gonna give that! You WILL need a hollow body guitar. And on price/quality terms, the Dot EATS every Gibson or Gretsch! Highly recommended!

A cherry colored Epiphone Dot, made in 2001 in the lovely country of Korea. Two Gibson USA humbuckers etc. I don't really need to list the features as everyone else has already done that. But I do have some issues that I'll talk about later on.

The sound is typical of a Gibson ES335 with humbucking pick-ups, it feeds back a little sooner than most solid-body guitars but that can be a good thing in the right hands. Nice Les Paul lead sound from the bridge pick-up and a deep jazzy/rhythm sound from the neck pick-up. I have used it with a Fender Deville 410 60 watt tube amp and also a Laney VC30 tube amp (VOX AC30 clone). Sounds great with both amps.

I play Brit-Pop/60's Merseybeat/Indie-Pop type music and it is excellently suited for those genres. There are no buzzes or nasty hums that come from this guitar, so that's a benefit.

The guitar is also nice and loud when unplugged, which is nice for writing songs when your baby or wife is asleep!

The guitar came with 9 gauge strings, which were too wimpy for me so I replaced them with a set of heavier 10 gauge Pyramids. The action was nice and low, yet with no fret buzz.

The pickups had some buzz and I haven't corrected that yet, I'm sure I'll have to tighten a couple of screws down.

The nut was a joke, it is either the wrong size or has been misaligned, looks more like the wrong size as the strings seem to fall in the correct position on the fretboard. This is a pretty major defect in my opinion. So there is an 1/8 " gap between the end of the nut and the end of the neck, looks pretty bad. But doesn't seem to affect playability.

The finish is certainly not flawless and not as good as my older Epiphone Sheraton, although it would take a close look to see the imperfections in the laquer job.

My major issue with this brand new guitar is the fact that it doesn't seem to be able to stay in tune for more than five minutes. I haven't decided if this is because of the tuning heads or a more sinister reason. It came with a decal saying it had been set up by Gibson in the USA, yet I wonder how much time they spent on it exactly.

It's not as solid as a Les Paul of course, but seems solid enough for live use. I replaced the strap buttons for locking ones. The hardware seems to be of a reasonable quality although I wonder about the longevity of the tuning heads (no name brand).

The pickup selector and volume controls don't inspire me with confidence so I wouldn't play it live without a backup guitar.

I've dealt with Gibson/Epiphone before, they are about as useful as a chocolate ashtray. So I'm probably not going to bother with them to fix my nut problem.

The warranty is a "limited lifetime" warranty, I have a feeling that the statement doesn't mean much in actuality.

By the way I've owned the guitar for almost 3 weeks now, so these are well though-out comments.

I've been playing for about 15 years, my favourite guitar is my Vox Mark III re-issue which is an absolute dream (and stays in tune forever). I have a Fender Deville 410 amp and a Laney VC30 amp.

If this guitar was stolen or lost, I'd either buy a genuine 60's vintage Epiphone or an Epiphone that was made at the Gibson USA factory. Although in reality, I'd probably just buy a Rickenbacker.

Trouble is, you get what you pay for. I see all these glowing reviews for Epiphones on this website, yet I doubt most of these folks have my ears which can detect any intonation issues or my careful eyes which can spot any finish flaws.

The main thing I look for in a guitar is a flawless intonation and rock solid tuning that doesn't drift out as soon as you look at it. This guitar doesn't meet my criteria, so I'm pretty disappointed.

When I first started playing 335 style guitars in the mid 80's they were something of a rarity, it seems now that every Tom, Dick and Harry has one. So they've lost that "coolness" that originally made me gravitate towards this guitar.

Epiphone "Dot" is not really a Gibson ES335 copy, it is a true competitor and if made well can actually outplay it. This one is Korean-made and I picked it off the wall at Sam Ash in Columbus, Ohio. Classic cherry finish with the black pickguard and Epi "E" logo, dual Gibson (yes, real Gibson) pickups, "dot" inlays in the fretboard, what looks to be Ping-made machines, Gibson hard-tail bridge and butt. This is a semi-hollow-body with double-cutaway, ivory binding, and a flawless finish.

I play everything from classic rock, to folk and fingerpickin' style and have played for over 30 years. This guitar has the sound I'd expect with stock pickups (double-coil) and a typical 335-like wiring job. The guitar is warm ans sweet on the front pickup, bright and hot at the bridge. Using both pickups, you get a rich, soft tone with enough warmth to play soulful blues with clear highs, not mud. Want to give it a little chop and rock and roll, the guitar is furnished with enough to do the job nicely rigth off the wall. This is a great choice for jazz and rock-a-billy or blues, as well as some classic rock.

The guitar's neck was perfect off the wall and the action was great. The intonation was close, but, I had to tweak it a little. I have perfect pitch, so, that does not surprise me. What did surprise me, though, was that this axe really holds tune! There are no obvious flaws and the fit and finish is beautiful. IF this is a typical sample, this is a better axe than the Gibson ES335 from what I've seen in recent samples of them. It is a much better fit and finish than most of the competition, except maybe the Artstar (Ibanez).

This guitar will serve the average guitarist well. It is solid and with the included hardware should be fine for years. Watch out for the tone and volume knobs, they are smooth and quiet, but, their not as durable as this same guitar's 60s cousins. The strap buttons are solid, as is the set neck and the body. The pickguard is solid... the one weak stop is the knobs. As for the machines, they are tight and seem solid, but, time will tell whether they loosen like many cheap machines. I don't think these will, they seem to have good structural integrity.

I have not had to use Epiphone support. In fact, I doubt I ever will need it. It the machines wear or the knobs ever need replacement, I will probably upgrade. The body of this guitar is perfect as is the neck, any upgrade will be well worth it.

I've played for over 30 years and have had many guitars... Les Pauls, Fender Tele, Ovations, Gretsch, Martin acoustic, Fender DG20ce acoustic/electric, Fender pre-CBS Bassman amp, Crate studio amp, lots more. This guitar is a fine addition to the rest of my gear. I have looked for one of these guitars for almost four years and they are hard to find in Columbus, Ohio. They sell fast, although they are in less demand than a lot of other guitars. People who own them seldom let them go and I plan to keep mine for the rest of my life.

Few months ago, I decided to get me Epiphone's authorized copy of the famous "ES-335" guitar. Since I live in Yugoslavia, this decision was made mostly on the basis of the reviwes posted on your website, and some stories I've heard from more experienced players. To cut the crap, buying this guitar was a big risk for me. Actually, I must admit that irresistible looks of "the only guitar", which is quite apropriate nickname of 335, was the only quality of Epi Dot that I wasn't doubting in. Pretty risky way of getting the new gear, isn't it?
So, this should tell you two things. Firstly, the perfect job that Epi did in reproducing a very well known shape of ES-335 (semi-hollow body, two GIBSON humbuckers, since it is a 2001 model, tune-o-matic bridge, two volume, two tone, 3-way swich controls, 22 frets...), and secondly the rating that I'll give it.
Almost everyone of your reviwers complained about the knobs, tuners and a plastic nut. The nut did gave me the creeps at first, but for now it seems to be working just fine, and when the knobs and tuners are concerned, all I can say is that one has to be a real grumbler to criticize it. As I enjoy that "retro" looks of this guitar, I like the "gold" knobs better than the real 335 ones. In a combination with the perfect dark cherry red finish (which I almost forgot to mention!), they give me the feeling that I really have a "history" under my fingers.

Fortunatelly, I had a few opportunities to play 335 type guitars. Two of them that are worth mentioning are the "real thing" that I borowed from a local jazzman, and a late sixties (I guess) Gibson ES-347 which my father's friend showed me a week before I got my Epi. The first one I don't remember (it was almost three years ago, at the time when my playing was crappy), but the second one... Who could forget that sweet, warm sound coming from the old Marchall amp?
The answer is: ME! I have no idea why, but I find it very difficult to compare it with Epi, and it isn't the matter of quality. This two gears sound pretty different. 347 really has a much bigger range of tones, but the Dot's sound is, I think, a bit cleaner and stronger also. However, don't take me too serious, because my amp is a piece of junk, and I still didn't have a chance to play this guitar through something powerful.
Anyway, I don't play anything except rhytm&blues, which makes this gear perfect match for me. It is enough to say that my idol is Alvin Lee of Ten Years After, a man thanks to who I decided to learn to play the guitar at first place. This gay made 335 become his trademark, but since I'm not a millioner (for now) I'll be more than satisfied with an axe I could afford. Well, if it doesn't sound just like his, at least it looks the same.

Enouhg about the looks. The playability of this axe is amazing. I guess everybody who is familiar with the gibson bridge, probably knows that one can set the action as low as he wants. What should be of greatest interest, is a fact that the neck is even more playable than on the real 335. This is again my opinion, but we entered the ground that I happen to know realy good. Beside this Epi, I own an USA Fender Stratocaster, which softness is more than famous. I also played a bunch of another Fenders and Gibsons, and came to conclusion that this guitar has the most playable neck I ever held.
First few days after I've changed the strings (I play Martin 9's), my opinion on the playability was completely different. As a matter of fact, I was just about to take the advice of changing the nut. And then, after exactly seven days, I realised that I can't even feel the strings. I thought maybe the tuning went to hell, but found out that it's just fine. From that point, the strings feel like 8's or at least tuned down a bit. That gives me an idea to try the 10's for the firs time.
One of your readers mentioned that "honey moon" period, that we go through after buying a new equipment. It's not that, belive me. Again, it could be just the matter of my style or personal likes and dislikes, but I find this Epi as fit as an axe can get.
As I said, it has a finish that is a cross between chery and wine red, which is absolutely perfect. It doesn't have any flaws, loose tuning pegs, loose knobs etc...
But, it IS a fragile guitar, and should be treated very carefully. That's something you don't have to worry about with Strat, but I'll get used to it.

It would be pretty unprofessional from me to talk about this after only a few months of owning this guitar. Anyway, it has a year warranty, which makes it poor compared to Gibson, that, most often, has a lifetime one.

I bought this guitar in Epiphone's line in Thessaloniki, Greece. This sounds like a commercial, but the guy (named Nikolas) who sold it to me was as kind as it gets - he gave me the lowest posible price. All those anegdots about Greek salesmen seem to be thrue...
However, the media cover of Epiphone products is a complete waste of time. I went to their website, finding out that my fridge contains more informations about the guitar that I want to buy. Look up to Gibson, guys!

I'm not too sure, but I think I've been playing for about four years. In a moment of madness, I bought Ibanez Destroyer II, that was a decent guitar, but million miles away from blues/rock style I prefere. I now own USA Strat, Samick Artist Series acoustic, and of course this Epi. If it were stolen, I'd have to comit a suicide, since I'm not rich enough to collect the guitars like a postcards. But if I ever get rich, I'll probably by the real ES-335 (block, not dot one) and arrange a few jam-sessions with Alvin Lee and Ten Years After. Their music is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for every thrue rocker on the planet.
My advice for everyone who wants to own 335, but doesn't have enough money for it, should be pretty clear...
Finally, I'd like to thank you, guys, for the patience to read the confession of a man who is maybe too easily satisfied, and for providing what happens to be a very reliable informations about the guitar that he bought almost blindfoulded.
Sorry for my English - it's a disaster.
KEEP ON ROCKIN!!!

2001 model. Gibson ES-335 copy. Not sure where it is made, maybe in the Orient or South America. 22 badly dressed frets (More on this later). The top, back and sides are laminated maple (Thinline hollow-body). Gibson made Epiphone pickups that OHM out at 8.8 OHMs DC resistance (very nice middle ground). The neck is also maple with the classic Gibson spanish angled headstock. The finish is transparent cherry and bound with ivory colored binding (very nice). Bridge is a Tune-O-Matic that was placed slightly off center where there is more room between the high-E string and the fingerboard edge than the low-E side (More on this later as well). Tuners are the basic cheap sealed tuners and they are just fine. The neck has a 12" radius that is not exactly true from nut to the bridge end. The frets are medium jumbos that were filed down way too far to try and make up for the fingerboard radius imperfections during the dressing process. I got this new from Guitar Center and could have it sent back to the factory for repair, but I could be asking for the same kind of fret job if they don't true up the fingerboard beforehand. Fortunately, I am in the business of guitar repair, to include re-fretting, and this will be a simple task. I also will be making a new nut out of bone material and make the angled string slots that should have been in the original plastic nut. Now the case: I have always had a problem with guitar manufacturers that sell you the bloody guitar and treat the case as an option. If I were to trade it in, Guitar Center would expect me to throw in the flipping case just to get the true value out of the guitar!

I play blues, classic-rock, jazz, etc. and this suits all the styles especially the blues and classic-rock. I am using a 2000 Fender Twin Amp (The Evil Twin), full of lush beautiful classic Fender tone with a nice lead channel to boot. The guitar is not noisy and has a great tone in all pickup selections. It is perfectly constructed (except for the frets).

As I said before, the frets were piss-poorly dressed. I do realize that these are manufactured is mass quantities and I am lucky to have gotten one that didn't have any more problems than the frets. This is why I wasn't to worried about it. Forget the factory setup, probably took 1 minute on it and went to the next one in line. Intonation and relief on the neck are important factors that can't be addressed in a few minutes. This is where Guitar Center could assist when they get the guitars IMHO. Pickups were flush within their frames and I had to adjust those too. The tone control for the rear pickup was loose and I adjusted it as well. Once I am finished with the re-fretting and setting the action and intonation this guitar will play as good as or better than a stock Gibson ES-335. The only real audible (unplugged) difference will be in the laminated maple of the Epiphone vs. the solid maple of the Gibson ES-335. I played both side by side for comparison and then plugged in there is no stark or noticeable difference.

This guitar like any other will last a long time if taken care of properly. Oil (Orange oil, real lemon oil, cutting board oil, etc)the fretboard once a month after cleaning the dirt off with fine steel wool. Wipe down the body everytime after playing it and always put it in it's case when no in use. Putting some desecant (absorbs moisture) in the case will lessen the expansion and contraction of the neck in extreme temperature changes. I always bring my '79 Strat, '79 Les Paul, and my Music Man/Ernie Ball Van Halen guitars so no problem in that catagory.

I haven't tried and I would rather not as I've dealt with guitar companies before.

I've been playing for 25 years. I would buy another one if it was stolen. With a decent fret job you can have a $400.00 Gibson ES-335.
I love the feel and the tone of this guitar, very close to the real thing.

not sure where it was made. i imagine probably korea. 22 frets. it has a volume and tone pot for each "gibson made" humbucker pickup as well as a three way toggle switch. pretty straitforward. practically the whole guitar is maple. the finish is a very nice natural transparent thang. if you're reading this, you probably already know that it is an epiphone dot, which is epiphone's attempt to copy the classic gibson es-335 dot at an affordable price. it is a double cutaway semi hollowbody tune-o-matic dual humbucking sorta jazz machine. i am, however, seriously considering buying and installing a bigsby bridge assembly into. oh yeah, the toggle switch is pure crap.

it might suit some of my music styles. it doesn't really matter to me. i have only owned four electric guitars including this one, so i'm not some tone conissuer (sp). i can get good tones out of it, however. it can get a pretty good jazz sound as well as a good all around rock or whatever you want to call it. the only style i can see it not being totally fit for is like really hardcore shred metal (which i wouldn't even consider playing anyway) not to say you couldn't shred on it. you can do anything with the right pedals. it just isn't quite ridiculous looking enough for shred-heads. i use this guitar with either a carvin bel-air 212 or a hughes and kettner attax 200 (older version). i own a lot of effects, but i don't use most of them. here they are: digitech pds-1550 distortion (not digital), crybaby, boss dd-3 digital delay, boss tremolo, eh frequency analyzer, vintage phase 90, small stone, rat dist., dan-echo, digitech whammy, i think that's it, i'm not sure. that list wasn't necessary, but you asked. the guitar can get a bit noisy, especially with heavy distortion (obviously). however, this noise is only feedback that can be useful. in other words, it isn't bad noise. it has a very full sound, but it can get a little muddy. it just seems the bridge position isn't quite snappy enough. it isn't that bad though. i really wouldn't expect anything else. i like the big jazz sounds. i like the nice overdrive tone. i don't like how it isn't a bratwurst.

the guitar was set up pretty well. i didn't buy it directly from the factory, so i don't really know how it was when it came out of there. (those of you who have never wrote a review probably don't know what i'm talking about). the pickups were set up well. the top was matched very well, etc. the neck was a little rough though (finish on the back of the neck that is). no noticable gaps or anything, nice frets. one day, however, all i could get out of it was a buzz, and i had to adjust the truss rod. the pickup selector is just awful. i actually traded the one i bought in originally for the one i have now, and they both have problems with the selector. it occasionally won't select either the neck or bridge pickup, or neither (rarely). it can be temporarily fixed by figetting with the part of the selector within the guitar (pain in the arse). i really want to change it, but that would be a pain in the arse as well.

the guitar seems fairly solid aside from the toggle switch. it is not reliable enough for playing live without a different toggle switch. the rest of the hardware seems like it would last, though, as should the finish. the strap buttons are very solid (all that matters in a guitar). frankly, at this point, i can't depend on it. i hope i won't have to say this after i deck it out (new toggle, bigsby & maybe new pickups). as far as a reliable guitar, i look no further than my trusty mexican made tele. this is a nice alternative though.

i've never dealt with epiphone, but i wouldn't expect much from such a gigantic business. the place i bought from was pretty pitiful though. i went in to show them the toggle switch deal, and the stupid shredder pube at my service refused to believe me because he (of course) had the digital processor on full shred, and a faint signal still came through. i don't know about the warranty. it doesn't really matter much to me. i like to fix guitars. if something goes wrong with it, i feel confident enough to fix it.

i've been playing for five years. please don't discredit my entire review because i've only been playing for five years. i know my shit. i know more about guitars than about playing guitars. don't get me wrong-i don't consider myself a bad player by any means, and nobody i know does either. i also own a telecaster into which i installed vintage noiseless pickups into and a mexican stock strat and a couple of fender acoustics. i used to have an epiphone junior, which i sold, regretably. it was a crappy guitar, but it was a really cool crappy guitar. if the dot were lost or stolen, i would probably buy it again. it really is a good value. it's one of the cheapest mass produced thinline guitars around, and probably not the worst. i didn't really compare it to anything else aside from my friends' conrad and crestwood thinlines. the dot is definitely much better. i wish it had a bigsby tailpiece, but i am pretty close to changing that. i wish it had coil taps, maybe. i don't think i'm willing to fix that sort of thing. overall, a pretty good buy.