Members ryanward84@gmail.com Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 I am looking at buying a used Korean made Epiphone Dot and the owner says that it is in perfect condition except rough finish at the neck joint. I attached a photo. Is this cause for concern? It looks like the neck has slightly shifted. Any advice would be appreciated. I am looking for a budget guitar with humbuckers to compliment my Highway1 Start. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members uab9253 Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 I am looking at buying a used Korean made Epiphone Dot and the owner says that it is in perfect condition except rough finish at the neck joint. I attached a photo. Is this cause for concern? It looks like the neck has slightly shifted. Any advice would be appreciated. I am looking for a budget guitar with humbuckers to compliment my Highway1 Start. Thanks It would concern me. I would think if it snapped there, it would be a whole lot more expensive to fix than the typical Gibson neck break location just under the headstock. That "rough finish" looks like cracking or movement enough to disrupt the finish, which is pretty thick on this model. Maybe it is a repair that was not done in a neat manner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 I build and repair guitars and that would concern me a lot. I assume that is some sort of 355 clone - at one time Gibson made some 335's with "short tenons" that were notorious for weakness. I don't know if Epi did but I would stay away from those models (you can tell by pulling the neck pup and seeing if the tenon extends into the cavity). The cracks in the finish could also be due to a neck reset, if you do decide to buy the guitar it would be worth while to check the neck angle. Last thought - if the neck really is loose and it is a long tenon a good repair tech could remove it, reset it and somewhat clean up the finish at the heel. In my shop that might be 2 or 300 dollars. The finish is the hard part. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 I am looking at buying a used Korean made Epiphone Dot and the owner says that it is in perfect condition except rough finish at the neck joint. I attached a photo. Is this cause for concern? It looks like the neck has slightly shifted. Any advice would be appreciated. I am looking for a budget guitar with humbuckers to compliment my Highway1 Start. Thanks Even new they are pretty inexpensive, but most standards. Not the best axe. It looks like a stress fracture. Could be for the pressure of the string and it could have been dropped. Personally if it comes with a hardshell case, that will probably be the best part of the deal. You do what you want, but I would pass on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 I build and repair guitars and that would concern me a lot. I assume that is some sort of 355 clone - at one time Gibson made some 335's with "short tenons" that were notorious for weakness. I don't know if Epi did but I would stay away from those models (you can tell by pulling the neck pup and seeing if the tenon extends into the cavity). The cracks in the finish could also be due to a neck reset, if you do decide to buy the guitar it would be worth while to check the neck angle. Last thought - if the neck really is loose and it is a long tenon a good repair tech could remove it, reset it and somewhat clean up the finish at the heel. In my shop that might be 2 or 300 dollars. The finish is the hard part. this kind of guitar is on sale for less than 300 dollars very often.... ten years ago or even more i wanted my 335 on the cheap and the dot was the only lefty available and a local store had one to try. the build quality was really bad, not only cheap but bad, lots of stinging edges, sucky pickups, sucky mechanics, it was not really fun to play at all aso... it was really a bad, cheap guitar which turned me away from getting a cheap es type guitar. i'm not saying you need to buy a over 2,5k gibson instead, but the standard epi dot is one of the worst guitars i ever had in hand, i would not buy it new, nor used, with maybe some major neck issues... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ryanward84@gmail.com Posted February 16, 2017 Author Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 Thanks all. Seems like sound advice. I've always leaned toward Fender guitars because they are more affordable than Gibson and Epiphone quality can be suspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 Epiphones are good guitars, but by design must not be better than their Gibson cousins. This would probably have been a decent one until it had it's accident, but I wouldn't buy it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mikeo Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 Thanks all. Seems like sound advice. I've always leaned toward Fender guitars because they are more affordable than Gibson and Epiphone quality can be suspect. Not a hollowbody, but it's tone chambered and not very costly. Look for the newer one with the blacktop pups. Just and idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 Pass - That baby took a shot and its not worth the trouble of finding out weather the neck joint is any good. I can say the neck joint in mine isn't that great to begin with. I actually had issues with the neck separating from inside the body which could be seen with the neck pickup removed. I packed the separation with liquid epoxy then clamped it. It seems to have arrested the body separation at the neck joint. If the guy wants to sell it for $50 its worth the chance. You can probably re-glue it and fix the cracked finish, but like others said, Dots aren't holy Relics. They play OK but your shouldn't expect too much from a plywood guitar with questionable quality issues. You can buy them cheap all day long so again, I'd say pass on this one unless you're getting it super cheap as a fixer upper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 (edited) I can say the neck joint in mine isn't that great to begin with. I actually had issues with the neck separating from inside the body which could be seen with the neck pickup removed. I packed the separation with liquid epoxy then clamped it. It seems to have arrested the body separation at the neck joint. I had some bozo do that to a POS Rogue. I charged him extra to clean up his mess before I fixed it correctly. That's been several years ago, it hasn't come back so I assume its held up. Edited February 16, 2017 by Freeman Keller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members badpenguin Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 Pass. you see those type of breaks all the time on the GFS website, and they knock off $100 for a $300 guitar. It's not worth the time and aggravation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 16, 2017 Members Share Posted February 16, 2017 Thanks all. Seems like sound advice. I've always leaned toward Fender guitars because they are more affordable than Gibson and Epiphone quality can be suspect. If you really do prefer Fenders you might consider one with one or more humbuckers. Lots of options 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WRGKMC Posted February 17, 2017 Members Share Posted February 17, 2017 I remember that repair, you did a good job. I bought my Dot maybe 20 years ago. The top near the neck joint started buckling within 8 years. I had been using heavier strings in the beginning. Its been over 10 years since I've fixed it. In my case the neck was still well glued to the back of the body but the neck block wasn't properly glued to the top and was pulling forward causing the top of the body to separate from the block and buckle. I wish I had noticed it sooner I could have prevented the top from becoming disfigured. I'm not overly concerned with the instruments looks at this point. Its stable now and I get the right tones from it. Its simply not constructed with the same quality and materials as the 60's Riviera or ES335 I used to own. Its simply a $350 and you get what you pay for. I still get allot of use out of mine and it fills a niche in my collection. After a half dozen pickup changes I ended up using mini humbuckers with full sized adaptor rings and it nails the tones I wanted. I'm am going to need to re-fret it fairly soon, I just been putting it off. I've built a couple of semi hollow bodies but they've all been flat tops. My #1 is a semi hollow Tele build with Mini's and Tom bridge. Its a simple durable design that's held up well. My builds are targeted for my own use. I don't have the desire to build them for profit. My day job in the service industry has burned me out dealing with the public in that way. I don't have the tools or shop to build the kind of instruments you do either. The builds I do is done with simple hand tools which limits what you can do. Still, I do encourage guitarists to give repairs a shot when its both economically and educational to do so. I learned because its was a good way for me to get quality instruments at low costs. My father taught me carpentry and finishing. My trade is electronics so most of this is simple stuff so long as it doesn't require bench tools. You can gain allot of satisfaction from your own repair or build. You just have to choose your victims with cost and skill required in mind. This DOT would probably be an easy fix for you and others who have the skill. A couple of hours work and it can be a good player. The crack may simply be cosmetic, but I'm able to repair it properly if it isn't and the time involved which is the biggest expense would be my own loss. Someone without the experience to repair it is taking a risk. Again, it may be simply cosmetic and a little touching up on the finish isn't that hard to do well. If it isn't, and the neck block is separated from the back of the body, it would require the neck joint being steamed loose, then re-glued properly. You'd need a steamer hypodermic hose and kettle to do that and the experience to know where to drill. Those tools are often something a Luthier scraps together. I used to use an old hand air pump hose basket ball inflation needed for that. you can buy the hose and needle here but you'd have to rig up your own kettle to deliver the steam. http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Tools_by_Job/Tools_for_Necks_and_Fingerboards/Neck_Joint_Steamer.html Again, if you roll the dice and spend $50 on it then rig the tools together to do the job right then go for it. others can help guide you. If your goal is to just buy something you can play without having to repair it, then this may not be an easy fix and better left to a pro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 17, 2017 Members Share Posted February 17, 2017 (edited) My whole point was that trying to fix something the wrong way just made it harder to do it right when the wrong way ends up not working. I had a Fender with bondo in the neck pocket, and just recently a beautiful Guild 12 string that someone had shaved the bridge. Bring it to me or someone who knows what they are doing in the first place and it will be much simpler. And while I like to buy good quality tools, sometimes that isn't totally necessary. I built my steamer from an old espresso machine, a length of vacuum line from an auto parts store and the little needle thingie for inflating footballs (I got mine from Tom Brady). Here is the thread on fixing that Rogue - it was a bad glue joint from the factory, the epoxy just made it worse, after doing it right its about as strong as it will ever be http://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/forum/guitar/acapella-41/31575332-repairing-the-beast-rogue-double-neck Edited February 17, 2017 by Freeman Keller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ryanward84@gmail.com Posted February 17, 2017 Author Members Share Posted February 17, 2017 If you really do prefer Fenders you might consider one with one or more humbuckers. Lots of options I'm open to suggestions on specific models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 17, 2017 Moderators Share Posted February 17, 2017 It would help to know your budget and preferences. That Dot, well, the crack could just be from when they screwed the strap pin in,and could just be the finish, but...why buy someone else's problem? Dots are so inexpensive, why would you buy used? For that matter, the Dot is the bottom of their semi-hollow line, and although they look nice, tend to need to be heavily modified to be really playable. If you like the looks, spend the extra $ and get a Sheraton, or a Casino, Riviera or even a Wild Kat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted February 18, 2017 Members Share Posted February 18, 2017 Have a look at Reverend as well. They make excellent guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 18, 2017 Members Share Posted February 18, 2017 I'm not really a Fender guy, I just know that they make a lot of HSS and HHS and HHH models - you need to play them and decide which ones have the sounds in the positions that you play. Its always possible to get an inexpensive Strat or Tele and have a good tech route out the pickup cavity to fit a 'bucker - usually that would be the neck position (where I think they do the most good) I'm building three tele-clones right now and the customer for one of them wanted a P90 in the neck. I thought the idea was cool so I'm doing it with two (and maybe the third if I like it) Remember too that when you look at a dot 335 it is an entirely different guitar than an Fender - besides the pups they are different scale, totally different construction, different f/b radius - all of which will affect both the tone and the playability. If you truely want a 335 style guitar (and I love them) save your money, shop wisely and enjoy what they can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 19, 2017 Moderators Share Posted February 19, 2017 but pricey...I mean, he was going to buy a used Dot... Better to look at Artcores, Deans, Corts, Agile... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesmann Posted February 19, 2017 Members Share Posted February 19, 2017 (edited) A new Epiphone is not that much expensive. used around 200.00 I just bought a ES335pro 430.00 killer guitar. Me? i'd pass on the crack and buy new. I believe they're made in China. http://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/...one-es-335-pro Edited February 19, 2017 by bluesmann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emory Posted February 19, 2017 Members Share Posted February 19, 2017 and Fenders have a bolt on neck.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 19, 2017 Moderators Share Posted February 19, 2017 The new Epiphones are made in China, Viet Nam and Indonesia, but they used to be made by Samick in Korea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thatsbunk Posted February 19, 2017 Members Share Posted February 19, 2017 I see musicians friend has the 335pro on sale now for $379 (maybe a president day sale?). As bluesmann said already, these are seriously good guitars (I have a 339 pro myself). Unless you're getting the dot for a dopey cheap price, I'd pass on it too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 19, 2017 Members Share Posted February 19, 2017 Probably better get one before the tariffs go up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 19, 2017 Moderators Share Posted February 19, 2017 but...Epiphone is an American company... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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