Epiphone Dot Archtop Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar - Vintage Sunburst Reviews

I am a pretty dedicated Les Paul guy, having gotten my first one at age 15, and every guitar I have owned since I compare to it, consciously or unconsciously.

This compares very well. I had played friends' semi-solids before, and always wanted one, and now was the time. I love this guitar. It has a wonderful warm tone and a big roundy-soundy. Contrary to what others might tell you it does not lack punch in any form. The mids are super expressive, and the variation of sounds this baby produces are exceptional.

Physically, it seems light to me, weighing just around 6 lbs, but it is solid enough to have superb sustain. I was concerned about feedback, but played at high volume through either an old 50 watt Mesa Boogie, or a newer Marshall head and cabinet I have no issues.

My only complaint is the one everybody seems to have, that is the placement of the neck strap tab. I use the cheap little Fender strap licks and they do the trick.

As far as the Sweetwater experience, it was wonderful. I ordered the guitar Friday, 22d November, and it arrived today, the 29th. It was shipped in the casevi also ordered, and arrived quite well set up, and even in tune! I am going to replace the factory STRINGS with a set of Ernie Ball Skinny Top/Heavy Bottoms, but that is the only modification of any kind I will make.

I was leery of buying an instrument sight unseen, but Sweetwater has just made me a solid customer.

Gambatte, Sweetwater!

Great service, amazing price!

59-year-old dude taking up guitar for the second time in life. Previously owned a real (1980) Gibson 335 and a '80s vintage Japanese Ibanez Artist 335. Wanted another 335 but turned off by the price. I'm a diehard bottom feeder and normally buy everything used from pawnshops/ebay, etc. This time was different. Research/reviews gave me confidence in the Epiphone Chinese factories. Ordered new sunburst Epi Dot. Sweetwater's purchase process was really impressive. Staffer Ryan Murphy called to confirm shipping details (delivery to local Walgreens was a nice touch - kept box off the porch). Ryan followed up on phone a couple days later to make sure everything was cool. It totally was. Super nice guitar. Arrived perfect. Build quality was better than expected. Not cheezy or cheap at all (I was prepared for some Chinese factor). This guitar is proof that with American supervision and investment, the Chinese can make quality goods. It's a shame American factories can't deliver the same value but our wages/benefits/regulations don't allow it. If this guitar was produced in America it would have to cost three times as much. Make no mistake, this is a NICE guitar. Not junk at all. I can't say it has the same vibe as my old USA Gibson but it's a great guitar in its own right (probably equal to my old Ibanez Artist). Great tone. Great playability. Compared to pawnshop guitars, this came set-up right (without the usual used guitar issues) and was actually cheaper than some used ones I've seen. There is no reason to buy used when these are so nice and affordable. I can't imagine how this transaction could have gone better. Perfect in every way. Thank you Sweetwater!

I've been a strat guy most of my life and I wanted a change..The guitar arrived perfectly from Sweetwater..I've in the past purchased 4 guitars from sweetwater, this Epi dot cherry being the 5th..Since I started doing business with Sweetwater I've bought many things from them..Amps pedals etc..all arrived when promised and all in perfect condition..
Alan is the man...Back to the dot...Since I got it I can't seem to put it down..All it needed was a slight lowering of the action, it felt a bit stiff at first but after a few days it felt like an old friend..I sometimes think about buying the Gibson 335 but not because this guitar seems inferior, thinking about buying because I'm nuts..I keep wondering that if this guitar plays and feels so good I can only imagine how the Gibson is..

The Story:
I received this as a gift from my wife for Christmas, and I was a bit apprehensive about getting a guitar that I had never played before from an on-line retailer.
(BTW..I have bought equipment from Sweetwater before and have nothing but good things to say about the service and my contact Lucas Anderson!)
As someone who has had many guitars over the years I have pretty high standards (Gibson, Fender, Paul Reed Smith, Taylor, Martin...), and since I haven't had a semi-hollowbody electric for a long time I wanted to get a Gibson ES-335, but they are out of my price range now.
The Review:
I was very pleased when the guitar arrived and I checked it out. It was packed well. The workmanship was excellent and the Sweetwater set-up was really good right out of the box. (nice job guys!) Understanding that it's impossible to set up an instrument that will be exactly the way every musician wants it, it took me less than 5 minutes to lower the action a wee bit on the treble side and it was ready to go for me.
The neck was straight, frets level and all the electronics worked perfectly. The finish on the guitar is beautiful with no flaws found and everything fits and is put together well, and it stays in tune. (Bonus..it came with Grover tuners, which I put on all my guitars). I am very impressed with this guitar!
I then plugged it in and proceeded to fall in love with this guitar! It sounds great!! The pickups respond well to the way I pick, and it will growl, sing as well as whisper when coaxed gently. It also plays very well. The shape of the neck is different then any of the guitars that I currently have, but not bad at all, just different, and it didn't take me long to get used to it.
For the price, I think this guitar is a fantastic buy! I worked at a music store for 15 years and sold and played all kinds of guitars, and as a salesman and a musician who has owned a lot of great guitars over the years, this guitar is a keeper and I am very happy to have it. Great job Epiphone!
Did I mention that I like this guitar a lot? :o)

I also got the Epiphone E519 hardshell case for the guitar and it also is excellent. It fits this guitar perfectly the way a case is meant to fit, snug without being too tight, and it appears to be solidly built. It is well worth the money to protect your guitar with a good case!

I have had a lot of guitars in my career but I would have to say this guitar is by far the best I have owned! It plays so amazing ias God as its model after the Gibson ES 335 it stays in tune and it won't break the bank! Sweet water you guys carry some of the best affordable instruments I tell all my friends all over the world!

I have owned many guitars from Gibson's to Fender's to Gretch . My Epi DOT 335 plays just as great as others I have owned and played . The feel the action is great . If you are looking for a semi-hollow body this is the one for anyone .

Everything about this DOT is right and I fall for her each time I play. It compliments my American Standard Stratocaster. Sometimes I don't know which one to play. The Dot has a warmer tone which works for clean blues sounds. The string height and intonation was dead on. I play thru a Ampeg GVT-52 60 watt tube amp. Heaven on earth. Good job Jason Koons @ Sweetwater and Epiphone.

By the way, don't listen to the snobs about Epiphone. They make great guitars that have life and great tone. Isn't that what's it all about?

This was the first time to order an instrument from Sweetwater. The guitar came when it was supposed to and was in perfect shape. I unpacked it and played it right out of the box! Setup was good. One string (G) needs a little fine tuning, but overall I am very, very pleased!

Great guitar, just what I was looking for, beautifull finish and solid construction with a great resonance acoustic body that gives you sweets warm tones. In my opinion this is the best website to buy your instruments. Excellent and fast attention, also the fact that you can see real photos of the gear you are buying is amazing.

I bought it to upgrade and have had it for 3 years. My main guitar is a Clapton Strat. It covers 80% of what I do (blues, roots and boogie). But I needed something for 5 or 6 songs per night to cover B.B., Freddie, early Clapton type tones. Couldn't justify the price of the Gibson 335 for this. Besides, several new ones I played needed work right off the bat. Any guitar I buy gets a new nut right away - solves most or all tuning problems. This Dot was no exception-really needed it. The Dot does exactly what I wanted - gets the semi-hollow humbucker tone I was looking for, great tone and sustain, nice chubby neck - very well done. After upgrading wiring and pickups it's even better. I have about $750 in it total. I might be a little happier with a Gibson 335 but could have 2 or 3 more upgraded Dots for the same price. In fact, I recently bought another Dot to use for slide in open D tuning. Sounds great!

My wife bought this for me as a Christmas present and I have to say that this is one amazing guitar! I have always wanted a Dot and now I really know why! The fit and finish are flawless. The fretwork is perfect and this guitar plays and sounds like a dream! Epiphone really knocked this one out of the park! I can get beautiful cleans and huge crunchy rhythm tones from this guitar with nothing but sheer tonal bliss. This has become one of my favorite guitars and will never be sold, traded or given away!

i got a good one ,no fret buzz,appears to be a quality guitar.they inspect all of stuff they sell. I bought the same guitar from musicians friend and had to send it back,fretboard seperated from neck,from now on i'll go with sweetwater.

Great build quality, finish is exceptionally well applied. Neck is a slim D profile which is not my forte, but I find it easy to play, and I experience no hand fatigue. Setup out of the Sweetwater box was very good, limited tweeking needed. Hardware and electronics are very nice quality. I see no need to swap pickups, just spend a little time adjusting and you can find some very nice tones! I'm normally a high end guitar snob, this one made me realize there are some great budget friendly guitars being built these days. I ordered an Epiphone hard case the next day, as this is a case worthy guitar. If you can't/won't swing the +$3K on a USA made Gibby, this not a bad alternative.

The only flaw when I first played it was the action was a mile high and was difficult to play, but after my guitar tech did a set up and put on new strings , it came alive. It comes stock with gauge 10-46 . but I had it set up for 9's which feels better for me. The sustain is killer and the pups are good. I hear putting seymour 59's is a good upgrade but I don't plan on it anytime soon, but since I own three of these I may give one of 'em a 'PUPGRADE' . Great ax for the price.

I have other Apple phones and I sat down and played one of these one time and I was very impressed and I'm very anxious to learn some jazz on the one that I'm going to get and I have great expectations to come out of that phone in the years to come there a great guitar it was good as Gibson just the same way to go up a phone and don't worry Gibson I love you too great guitars thank you you make better musicians out of us yet I'm sure LOL

I can't believe it. What a value for the money. I wanted something to play the blues without robbing the bank . Very smooth for those blues licks.
Came in great shape with only minor tuning needed. Happy customer.

nice guitar has a low string buzz but I can get that fixed otherwise great

I can't believe that I finally own one! Sweetwater really is incredible. I got it shipped to me in only 3 days. It sounds so good as well. The pickups have a lot of output, but also are super warm at the same time. I could not have asked for a better feeling, playing or sounding guitar. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because there is some fret buzz, but other than that I love it!

The guitar is strikingly beautiful right out of the box. You can tell of the quality workmanship on the finish, and it sounds truly fine. My only complaint and why this not a super high grade is that it gets out of tune frequently. A distraction as you really just want to play and enjoy.

Customer service is great, and it arrived at my house in just a couple days from purchase. I will certainly do business again with them and have no problem recommending business to others.