Fantastic Guitar - Great Price.

I have a 1968 Gibson Dove and a 2001 D28 Martin and I hate to admit my Epiphone Dove has a clearer and more mellow sound than either of my other guitars. The neck action beats out my Gibson hands down, It's one of the finest Guitars I've ever owned. I couldn't be more blown away by a guitar selling for 299.

The Dove Flys High!

I'm going with a top rating. The only flaw on this guitar was a few tiny black dots near the nut, along the binding. tiny. not worth a second thought.

First, the guitars cosmetics are right on the money. There is a lot of attention to detail that is clear and easy to see. Like no glue slop inside.. nicely shaped braces.. no dirt along ANY binding OR inlays.

Paint, perfect, finish, perfect, all detail.. perfect.

Kudos Epiphone!

Set up: nice. Mike, my sales guy, says Sweetwater checks 'em over. I believe him. Right out of the box this played better than 90% of the acoustics in your local store.
Straight neck, just a tad of relief, bridge not cut too tall, nut slotted nicely, frets had no noise.

Sound, look, I hate to say it, but people who review 300.00 guitars and feel they sound better than Martin/Taylor etc., are just overly enthusiastic.
It sounds good. It is a little bright, as Maple would suggest. It does a lot better for the low end with Bluegrass strings.. slightly heavier low strings.

But the stock basic tone is very good.. a little less volume than the big money boxes.. not quite as complex or rich as those over a grand and above pieces deliver.

It fingerpicks, it flat pickcs, it strums, and it it's nicely balanced and sounds good doing all of it.

I immediately put in a Bone bridge saddle, a Tusq nut, a set of dunlop straplocks, and have a set of ebony bridge pins ordered. Preferring ebony to brass as brass pins in my experience do add a tick of brightness, which the Dove doesn't need.

It's solid, it's pretty, it's fast and it sounds good.
Now how you'd expect more for three hundred bucks shipped, I don't know.

I will definatley be sticking a piezo under the bridge saddle.
Very fun to play, and always gets compliments. Wonderful warranty, Sweetwater gives great service,
and I'm Happy Pickin!