Epiphone The Dot Electric Guitar

I've owned an Epiphone Dot for over a year now, so I know it intimately. Well, as intimately as a man can get with a guitar anyway! I guess I'll start with the basics for anyone who's just starting out.

The Dot is a semi hollow electric guitar, This means thats it has a solid block of wood running lengthways through the body, but has hollow chambers on either side. This means it is more audible than a standard solid electric guitar ...
...often a problem with all Epiphone guitars). When I first bought the guitar, the selector WAS a little crackly, but after a couple of weeks it was fine - I just put it down to some dirt.
Just to make a correctiont to the other review here - dont expect a "standard Gibson shape" headstock. Its an Epi headstock, and its massive(!)

HOW DOES IT FEEL?
Well, contrary to the other review here, if youre expecting a ... more

I've owned an Epiphone Dot for over a year now, so I know it intimately. Well, as intimately as a man can get with a guitar anyway! I guess I'll start with the basics for anyone who's just starting out.

The Dot is a semi hollow electric guitar, This means thats it has a solid block of wood running lengthways through the body, but has hollow chambers on either side. This means it is more audible than a standard solid electric guitar unplugged, but plugged in has the added bonus it is less prone to unwanted feedback than fully hollows. It has 2 humbucker pickups, a 3 way selector switch which lets you use youre different pickups at different time, and 2 independant tone and volume controls. Humbuckers give a more earthy, full sound than single coil pick ups, and are perfect fodder for some overdrive, yet are equally at home with clean jazzy tones if thats what floats you boat. If you want to sound like Hank Marvin, look elsewhere. Typically, Dots have a laminated maple body, rosewood fretboard, and laminated mahogony neck. Dont let the fact is laminated put you off - so are Gibson ES335's, which are 5 times the price!

Right.

SOUND
On clean settings, my baby sounds like a dream. The humbuckers are Epiphones own (NOT Gibsons like stated in the other review), but they are sweet sounding, and with a mid range output so they are very versatile. Add some overdrive, and you'll be very pleased with what you hear, especially in the lower registers. Ive had my Dot screaming out at full volume with masses of overdrive, and feedback is hardly an issue at all - brilliant. The alnico humbuckers even handle full on distortion surprisinly well too. When you start venturing up to the 15th+ fret, the tone does diminish a little and you get some unwanted artificial harmonic sounds, but this is only when youre going heavy on the overdrive. Its a minor annoyance, but in its defence, the Dot isnt meant for screaming Slash type solos. This is a bluesy lead, or a rock/pop rhythm guitar in my opinion.
The only real sound problem I had was intonation. My G string (no jokes please) just refused to intonate properly at all, despite everything I tried. In the end, I tried some jazz strings where the G is wound rather than just steel, and voila! Perfect intonation, problem solved!

BUILD QUALITY
My Dot is a 2004 model, made at the Unsung factory in Korea. By late 2004, the majority of Epiphone's production moved out to China - the results have not been favourable by all accounts, with poor workmanship, finishing, and even minor changes to the design that differs between factories. Korea models are generally very good, but if youre lucky enough to track down an old Japanese model (made there up until the early nineties i think), then grab it! They are almost on a par with USA made Gibsons in terms of workmanship.
I can only comment on my particular Korean Dot, but the build quality is excellent. Semi hollows are obviously more fragile than solid bodies, but this feels like it could handle being run over by a tank! The finish is top quality too, with the gorgeous maple veneer making it look way more expensive than it really is. The frets are perfectly finished, no imperfections in the lacquer anywhere, and even the 3 way selector switch is very sturdy (which is often a problem with all Epiphone guitars). When I first bought the guitar, the selector WAS a little crackly, but after a couple of weeks it was fine - I just put it down to some dirt.
Just to make a correctiont to the other review here - dont expect a "standard Gibson shape" headstock. Its an Epi headstock, and its massive(!)

HOW DOES IT FEEL?
Well, contrary to the other review here, if youre expecting a light guitar with it being a semi, then you'll be disappointed. It IS heavy - not in the same realms as a Gibson Les Paul, but still heavy. If youre on the smaller side (or the female side), expect an aching shoulder after a couple of songs. A nice wide leather strap can really make a difference here though - spending a little extra on a good strap can make all the difference.
To play, its quite a well balanced instrument - a tad neck heavy, but again, a good strap overcomes this no problem. The neck is chunky to say the least. Im 6'5" with hands like spades, but my Dot still fills my palms. Its comfortable, but if youre on the small side, making those stretches will be a struggle. Its really not a guitar for soloing. Thats not to say you CANT pull of some great riffs, but its a lot harder work than you might like. These fat necks only arrived post 2001 (ish), so if you get your hands on an earlier one, expect a more average neck.
The action (how high the strings are for those novices out there) was set up perfectly on purchase, but its childs play to adjust if you want it higher or lower due to the adjustable screw type bridge.

RECOMMENDED?
Yes. Definately. But only if you try one out first! If youre a bit self conscious about playing guitars in a shop where everyone can hear you, then just ask to hold it and have a play while youre not plugged in. The differences in the different models from different countries in different years makes it hard to write a "cures all" review, but hopefully this has been a little use. All in all, a fantastic guitar for the money.

I LOVE MY DOT! 

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