Epiphone Dot

Ebony, Chrome Hardware, Two Humbuckers, Three Way Switch, Grovers

I don't hear a problem with the stock Humbuckers, although I'm playing through a Gallien Krueger 1001RB II full stack (4X10 and 115), so I full control over low end and top end and a Lexicon MPX 100. It has the variations I like for jazz, blues and rock.

Action is great I set it myself. Fit is fine for me. Finish looks very good no flaws.

I've only had it two days. I did a gig 30 minutes after I bought it. No problems.

Very informative. Lifetime warranty......Great.

I love the Dot well worth the money, but if the Dot is this good I'm taking it back and raising the bar to the Sheraton II. Either are great deals.

Cherry finish. 2vol 2tone. stop tail piece. dot inlay. 2 gibson made (not samsung made) pickups. no binding on the neck. ivory binding on body. maple neck. plastic (not bone) nut. chrome (not silver) hardware.

FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!FLIMSY!i play through a line 6 ax2. this guitar dosent really sound that great. even after i changed the stock nut. i also changed the pickups to gibson 57 classics. the WOOD MATERIAL is not good quality. it sounds cheap and toy-like. i only like using the bridge pup, but even that is not that great sounding. the neck dosent feel good when you play it. it feels FLIMSY!

WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!WEAK!
intonation was completley off. action was too high. buzzing at a lot of positions. even after a pro setup, there was still some buzzing. inconsistant (cherry) finish. nasty pick up selector. it started going bad in a week. i replaced it along all the pots.

bad pots, bad nut, bad pickups. you gotta change all that.

come on man! customer support? whatever......

if you're gonna go through all the trouble of changing all those stock parts on an epi dot, why not look for something that comes with better stock part? like maybe a gibson? now i have to sell this one and save up for a guitar that i KNOW will increase its resale value even a hunderd years from now. after i sell this epi dot, i'm gonna save up for a guitar that i KNOW will sound better as it ages

Made in 2002. Korean made. 2 hb pups. volume volume tone tone. 3 way pup selectzor. cherry red.

I bought mine 3 months ago. It actually sounded nice straight out of the box. It had a nice meaty sound. The stock pups are not that bad contrary to what most folks say. Don't waste $110 for gibson 57 classics. The tone will mainly stay the same, the only thing you'll notice is that it make the guitar louder. A buddy of mine put 57s on his dot. I couldnt really tell. This guitar is good for all styles. Use heavier gauge strings. replace the 3 way pup selector (you'll have to anyway).

This is where the dot needs help. No matter what.....you'll have to get it setup. Either by yourself or professionally. The intonation was a mile off. the action was too high. there was a lot of buzzing with the strings. the truss rod needed some tweeking. The finish was very inconsistant. If you see one like this, don't panic, all standard epi dots will have a flaw in their finish. you can go to 10 different shops to search for a dot, but you'll notice the same thing

Quite reliable. But make sure you change the pots!!!!!!!

customer what?

The only thing that i changed on the dot were the pots. This guitar is great. if it were stolen, i would get a casino instead. you're paying 400 bucks, dont expect the quality of a gibson or and american fender. out of all the hollow body/semihollow bosy archtop guitars epi makes.

I don't really know when it was made - bought it used in 1999. I did have to tweak this guitar a bit. The original pickups (which were actually OK) were replaced by a SD 59 in the bridge and a SD Jazz in the neck. The pots are a little scratchy (doesn't bother me) and the 3-way switch is starting to bite it (I'll need to fix that!). You basically know the features.

I wanted this guitar for a back-up/complement/change to the Carvin "strat" I usually use - mostly I use it at home for my own enjoyment. I've only played this guitar live on one occasion for a solo jazz set at a coffee shop - was very tasteful for this setting. There's been several times others have played this live and man does it sound nice! Blew away my friend's Les Paul Studio (sounded brighter and more alive) and a guy played it at a gig I played bass for the other night and it sounded real sweet. I need to put down my strat and give this a shot in front of a crowd this week. I think the beauty of these guitars is that they're not all that common - the jangly yet warm sound is always a nice treat. Great for anything but extreme rock. Used with a wide variety of amps - most amps can handle these types of guitars pretty well since they are not extreme in any way.

Action is nice - I had a tech adjust it for me and I thought it sounded bad - so I raised the action back up and have really gotten used to it. Feels very silky after playing my strat. The finish is OK - some blems on mine but I actually like scratches and dings here and there... My complaint is the pots & switches. Nothing a little patience and a soldering iron can't fix.

The only thing I don't like is that I would think this guitar would be more fragile than a solid piece of wood (duh!) so I get a little nervous. The stupid 3 way can be a problem at times... I probably wouldn't go without a back up.

NA

I really like this guitar and hope others will check it out. It needs some tweaks (pickups, pots & switches) but it is a fun guitar to own. I HATE seeing average players paying for overpriced guitars when relatively inexpensive ones + a little common sense can get the job done just as well. This will do the trick - forget the expensive Gibson version. Unless of course they send you one for free!

Just purchased the Epi Dot this week. It was new so it must be a 2003 and it was made in Korea. I went to Guitar Center to try out some guitars, I was looking for the Epi Sheraton II but they did not have any, and this was sitting right at the front of the store. I instantly fell in love with this guitar. It is cherry red...if you have seen pictures on the internet it does not do this thing justice. Go to the store and look at it. It is amazing looking. Controls seem nice but I think I might change them out for black with chrome tops eventually. Grover tuners so the thing going out of tune has not been much of a problem. PUs are the stock Gibsons. Contrary to popular belief they sound really nice. Nice warm mellow tones, can get muddy but there are so many different tone settings you can avoid this (unless you want a muddy tone).

I had been playing a Fender Telecaster and I noticed my style moving more towards a mellow sound. Picked the Dot up in the store and it was a perfect fit. In the jazz and blues arena, this guitar delivers. I play mostly blues and original jazz/blues pieces and this guitar amazes me every time I pick it up. In the store I played it on some tube amps...and it kicked ass. I brought it home to my small Marshall and it still kicked ass. It did sound a bit warmer with the tube amps, but that was expected. My favorite pickup to use is the neck pickup on around a 5 tone setting. It is very warm and mellow. I haven't played it through much distortion but when I did it seemed to be alright. I did get quite a lot of feedback though. Some of you out there might really desire that. Overall, for the price you can't beat it. Those Gibson freaks out there who say it can't compare don't know what they're talking about. The sound is quite comparable to an ES-335. It's not about how EXPENSIVE your guitar is it's WHAT YOU DO WITH IT that matters. Some of these Gibson fanatics might have $3,000.00 guitars but can't play worth shit. Buy an Epiphone, save money and have those types of people kicking themselves when they hear you play.

The action on my guitar was quite good when I bought it. It doesn't really matter to me though. It seems like the PUs were adjusted correctly. There is one microscopic flaw in the finish but that's it! Other than that it is perfect. No string buzzing, no loose tuning pegs...perfect.

I don't play live, but hope to some day in the future. The Dot seems very reliable. The hardware SEEMS like it will last, but according to many Epi users the switches go bad after a while. Knock on Wood this will not happen to me (I know, wishful thinking)! I would probably bring a backup just in case though. It also seems very durable but I do not wish to find out! I take care of my guitars as if they were my own flesh and blood.

Haven't had to deal with them....hopefully I won't.

I've been playing for about 3 years now. I own a Fender Telecaster and that's it for my "gear". If stolen or lost I couldn't buy another one as I am a student and am therefore very poor. I could only buy this one as my parents gave me $150.00 for an early X-mas present and I had the extra 200 already saved up. I would probably save up for another one though. This guitar is great for jazz and blues and I can attest to that. There is nothing I can find to hate about the Dot.

2003 model, chrome hardware, 2 (stock) Gibson HB pickups, (stock) Grover tuners, 2 volume and tone knobs, 3 way pickup selector switch, (lam.) Maple body with a Natural gloss finish.

The guitar was made in Korea but setup and final inspection done in the USA by Gibson.

I played this guitar through my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp.

The guitar had .10 gauge strings on it when I got it and I replaced them with D'Addario ECG24 "Chromes" (Ribbon Wound) .11 gauge strings. The guitar sounded good with the original strings but I don't like thin gauge strings because I can't keep them in tune (I use .11 and .12 gauge strings).

This guitar sounds great, very close to an actual Gibson ES335. The rhythm picup has a very mellow sound that is full, rich and responsive (essp. after I put the new strings on it). The treble pickup is bright (but not too bright ... what a 335 should sound like).

The finish was very good, very glossy plus the wood has some really nice grain. There were a few small spots were the finish got onto the top of the fretboard (but was easily fixable by picking it off). The "dots" were a moto / mother of pearl material and was set pretty good as well as the epiphone logo on the headstock.

The guitar was setup at the Gibson USA factory and is fantastic. I don't trust alot of the music stores "setups", essp. from someone that can sell a guitar but doesn't even know how to play a guitar much less set one up.

The action was great, it's close to a medium low action ... there is no string buzz, etc. the strings are really easy to play and bend.

I got my guitar straight out of the factory box. This is the only way to get a guitar that will be setup properly, when you have a guitar that everyone has played (in the store) there tends to be problems with switches, nicks, etc. from kids that go in the store and bang on everything and don't care about taking care of an instrument, so I ask for most of my guitars in the box (like this one).

The guitar will probably last as long as it's taken care of. Which I've taken care of all of my gear and use cases when going to gigs.

But with the guitar being semi-hollow you need to be a little extra careful with it.

I haven't delt with them but they have a good website.

I've been playing the guitar for over 10 years and own lots of gear (10+ guitars, 4+ amps, 20+ effect pedals, etc.) and play Gospel, blues, country and classic rock.

This guitar is great for someone that wants a ES335 but can't afford the actual Gibson model and that doesn't want to go with the upper Epiphone models (Sheraton II / Elite models).

The Gibson pickups sound fine and the tuners hold the guitar in tune (you really don't have to use any "locking" tuners if you use a heavier gauge string).

Overall a great guitar for the price.

2003 model, chrome hardware, 2 (stock) Gibson HB pickups, (stock) Grover tuners, 2 volume and tone knobs, 3 way pickup selector switch, (lam.) Maple body with a Natural gloss finish.

The guitar was made in Korea but setup and final inspection done in the USA by Gibson.

I played this guitar through my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp.

The guitar had .10 gauge strings on it when I got it and I replaced them with D'Addario ECG24 "Chromes" (Ribbon Wound) .11 gauge strings. The guitar sounded good with the original strings but I don't like thin gauge strings because I can't keep them in tune (I use .11 and .12 gauge strings).

This guitar sounds great, very close to an actual Gibson ES335. The rhythm picup has a very mellow sound that is full, rich and responsive (essp. after I put the new strings on it). The treble pickup is bright (but not too bright ... what a 335 should sound like).

The finish was very good, very glossy plus the wood has some really nice grain. There were a few small spots were the finish got onto the top of the fretboard (but was easily fixable by picking it off). The "dots" were a moto / mother of pearl material and was set pretty good as well as the epiphone logo on the headstock.

The guitar was setup at the Gibson USA factory and is fantastic. I don't trust alot of the music stores "setups", essp. from someone that can sell a guitar but doesn't even know how to play a guitar much less set one up.

The action was great, it's close to a medium low action ... there is no string buzz, etc. the strings are really easy to play and bend.

I got my guitar straight out of the factory box. This is the only way to get a guitar that will be setup properly, when you have a guitar that everyone has played (in the store) there tends to be problems with switches, nicks, etc. from kids that go in the store and bang on everything and don't care about taking care of an instrument, so I ask for most of my guitars in the box (like this one).

The guitar will probably last as long as it's taken care of. Which I've taken care of all of my gear.

I haven't delt with them but they have a good website.

I've been playing the guitar for over 10 years and own lots of gear (10+ guitars, 4+ amps, 20+ effect pedals, etc.) and play Gospel, blues, country and classic rock.

This guitar is great for someone that wants a ES335 but can't afford the actual Gibson model and that doesn't want to go with the upper Epiphone models (Sheraton II / Elite models).

The Gibson pickups sound fine and the tuners hold the guitar in tune (you really don't have to use any "locking" tuners if you use a heavier gauge string).

Overall a great guitar for the price.

You should know by now.

Can do most sounds you want: rock, folk, pop, jazz, etc.
Pickups Ok. But could be better (mine are the Gibson endorsed ones).
Sounds best through a tube-amp rather than distortion pedals.
It will cope with lots of various tunings (always staying in tune), I usually opt for varitions of Open G or Open C.
The 2nd Strings intonation is pretty poor.

Action was good, especially with 11's strings.
Finish was poor around the f-holes and the headstck.
The first thing to go, within 1 week was the pickup switch.. spend #20 and put a Gibson one in yourself (it's very easy to solder it) now it's totaly reliable.
The volume % tone pots are starting to go after about 2 years.

Will it last? ... I've sold mine.
Why? because I could start spending a few hundred quid on changing pickups, pots, bridge, nut, etc.. But I sold mine for about #300 after 2 years and the few hudred qiud I could have spent means I now have about #500-#600 to spend on a new guitar.

Never used.
Just took it to the shop where I had it from when I neededit set up

Have been playing many years and own many instruments.
If your not bothered about the name on the headstock its fine.
Lets face it, it might be endorsed by Gibson, but it's not a 335 is it. You might only be buying it because you want to think you have a 335.
If like me it was bought on the pretext of: use it; look after it; sell it after a couple of years it's fine.
An instrument is meant to be played. What do you do with your car.. keep it polished & locked in a garage or actually drive it, then in a few years replace it??

OK, Just got mine! It is a 2003 model, and korean Made.
22 frets, your standard Gibson Epi scale. The bonys I guess are Laminated Maple. And your standard volume volume tone tone threeway selector electronics. I have the stock PU configeration no mod's yet!
Mine is in the standard Cherry transparent finish.
I have always liked the 335 Gibson looks. Tuners are stock but plan to change them. The nut is a joke. It has a nice feel from neck to body and everyware else.
Here is my list of things to change:
Tuners, to Sperzel Locking's.
Nut, to a graphite.
Pickups, Duncans.
Sadles, there to sharp or have a burr.
Posibly a Bigsby.

I go for a big yet fuzzy sound, like the Smashing Pumpkins.
So the sound has got to reflect that.
I use a Tech21 Trademark 120 2x12 combo and a stack of pedals.
The guitar stays very clear even under heavy fuzz. I has great feedBack!
I like the cleaner sounds to.
I just want more from it though.

Factory setup was a Joke!
String oh man you have to change those like I read elseware 11's are good. I used GHS TNT Boomers 10-52.
The wood on this one is kind of nice.
And the F holes had Black paint runover on the top of the geetar.

The guitar seems tough! its somewhat heavy.
Hardware looks good. finish is good except for the paint runover.
I changed to Dunlop strap loks rightaway I wont drop a guitar.
Yeah I can depend on it!
I would use it on a gig with a backup. But I never would cause thats just plain dumb!

WHy I dont speak Gibson-eez!?

I would give this guitar a good rating.
I did not buy it with a case cause the idiot at GC didnt have one and sait it would fit in a Dred case! NO!
I have owned a couple of Epi's and liked em(LP Custom Black and a LP Special II Burst).
GET ONE GET ONE GET ONE, THEN MOD IT!

2003 Standard Epi Dot. Double HB. laminted body. 3way pup selector......

The Dot is a guitar that has great potential, but not right away. You have to work on it a little. The stock pups are unclear, unresponsive, fake sounding (toy like), muddy, and actually annoying. But i didn?t give up, and neither should you. I went out and got some gibson 57 classics. replaced both stock pups. and DANG, what a freakin difference. I had to drop some extra dough, but very well worth it. Better tonal sound, variety, feel. i like using the bridge pup the most. You might want to change the nut too, because some nuts on some Dots are nasty and they will cause you to go out of tune like a mofo. Oh and you're gonna have to change the pots soon, because will start giving you some static. Before the upgrade i'd give the dot a 6 or 7.

Again, straight from the factory this guitar sucks. My dot needed intonation, lower action, truss rod adjustment. There was way too much buzzing going on. i dont like how the fingerboard is so dull and buffed looking. finish was fine. f-hole were painted kinda sloppy. you might as well just toss out the stupid epiphone E logo. its gonna fall off anyway. I had to get the whole axe professionally setup. Afterwards it was actually very nice. so after the setup i'd give it an 8. oh BTW use 11's on this guitar.

The only thing i have to say on this section is the static on the controls. and maybe the nut, which causes the guitar to go out of tune. (but not if you upgrade)

Never bothered.

I play shoegazing and space rock. This guitar (w/57 classics) are great for controlled amp feedback. Remember upgrade, upgrade, upgrade. these guitars suck straight out of the factory. But honestly, after all the modifications, the Dot can sound excellent. My DOT is living proof. I'm very happy with it.