Epiphone dot studio

[Despres]

So I've got this epiphone Dot studio that I bought on a whim a few years ago. It's nice to have because I can leave it out of a case and it's enough of a beater that I don't care if my dog drools on it or my kid tips it over. It plays pretty decent though, and sounds good unplugged, but the electronics in it are unusable - I think I've only plugged it in twice, and promptly unplugged it.

I've kicked around the idea once or twice of replacing the pickups/pots/switch, but looking at it, the best I can figure out is that I will have to fish the pots and switch out through the F-Hole. Is that what it takes to work on a 335 style guitar, or is there enough room under the pickups to pull the pots through that way?

 

[20721]

As I understand it the traditional method is to go in through the f-hole. Needless to say, be careful.

 

[sjtalon]

Fish them out is right, with fish line, or string. Pretty good tips here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS9ZB_Sgi6Q

 

[joaopazguitar]

So I've got this epiphone Dot studio that I bought on a whim a few years ago. It's nice to have because I can leave it out of a case and it's enough of a beater that I don't care if my dog drools on it or my kid tips it over. It plays pretty decent though, and sounds good unplugged, but the electronics in it are unusable - I think I've only plugged it in twice, and promptly unplugged it.

I've kicked around the idea once or twice of replacing the pickups/pots/switch, but looking at it, the best I can figure out is that I will have to fish the pots and switch out through the F-Hole. Is that what it takes to work on a 335 style guitar, or is there enough room under the pickups to pull the pots through that way?

Hi Despres,

in my case, my EDS is most probably best value for money I ever spent ... cherish that guitar
I love everything about, hardware and electronics included... of course I'd love to try some different things like a Gibson 57 in the neck, etc ... but I think I'd have to buy another one as I don't want to touch mine....

of course this has nothing to do with your question - sorry - but I wanted to write my testimony in the case of this wonderful guitar!

 

[Despres]

It is a pretty decent guitar - mine is a 'factory second,' and has 'USED' stamped on the back of the headstock, so it was dirt cheap, but after a proper setup, it really does play nicely.

Both of the pots 'feel' scratchy, though- they don't make any noise through the amp, but do not operate smoothly, and you can hear the friction when the amp is unplugged. This is more of a nuisance than a real problem The switch mutes the pickup half the time, so you have to jiggle the switch to get sound to come out of it. This is more of a problem than a nuisance.

I honestly haven't plugged it in for 2 years, so I am not sure about the pickups, but I did not think very highly of them last time I did. I suppose I ought to plug it in again before I throw out the pickups. I have read a lot of glowing reviews (like yours) of the sound of these guitars, so I wonder if they put different pickups in some, or perhaps the quality of pickups is all over the place?

 

[joaopazguitar]

It is a pretty decent guitar - mine is a 'factory second,' and has 'USED' stamped on the back of the headstock, so it was dirt cheap, but after a proper setup, it really does play nicely.

Both of the pots 'feel' scratchy, though- they don't make any noise through the amp, but do not operate smoothly, and you can hear the friction when the amp is unplugged. This is more of a nuisance than a real problem The switch mutes the pickup half the time, so you have to jiggle the switch to get sound to come out of it. This is more of a problem than a nuisance.

I honestly haven't plugged it in for 2 years, so I am not sure about the pickups, but I did not think very highly of them last time I did. I suppose I ought to plug it in again before I throw out the pickups. I have read a lot of glowing reviews (like yours) of the sound of these guitars, so I wonder if they put different pickups in some, or perhaps the quality of pickups is all over the place?

well.. I guess it may depend a lot on what you intend to play with it. I using mine for jazz alone, .011s flatwounds, direct to amp or just with little of amp/cabinet simulation, so I'm sure my settings hardly make rule.
but after I bought mine a friend at school ordered one online (same shop) it it came out as great.
The model I'm talking about it this:
(link removed)

Also as I play with light attack I raised the PUs a bit.
Anyway, lot of love for that humble guitar in my case

 

[LeftyAl]

That's a semi hollow guitar. It has a block of wood running down the center of it.You 'll need to fish the controls out thru the F holes.

 

[DuncanAngus]

Attach Pull-strings while you take it apart. Someone already did the snaking...

 

[Strat62]

Thru the F-hole is the way to go. I used dental floss to thread them back into the respective holes; the jack being the most difficult. Push/pulls for coil split and out of phase with GFS Dream 180's.

 

[Warm Gums]

A couple of things I would look at before I went "fishing"

If you feel the Pus are too strident, I would try lowering them a bit, it can also be helpful, to roll back the volume pot so you are hitting the amp with less signal, and attenuating the highs a bit. I had one of these and often played it on 5-6 with the PU's lowered to just above the rings to get a good clean sound. If you like jangle etc. you may need to boost the treble on the amp to compensate.
Check to make sure the knobs are on straight, I have seen some inexpensive guitars with the knobs on slightly out of wack, this produces the effect you are describing. These pots are never going to feel like top of the line stuff, but they should be better than what you are experiencing.

Try a little tuner cleaner on the switch, if it is coming apart, this won't help, but it's possible it had a dead spot that a clean will eliminate.

 

[J. Hayes]

Despres............

What's unusable about the electronics in your Dot Studio? I've used mine on stage a bunch of times and there's no problems and it sounds great. What kind of amp are you using, maybe that's the problem.... I redid my D/S awhile back and it's a killer guitar for sure.... Here's a shot or two of it and also a shot of the back of my Epi Sheraton which I have a control access plate installed like a Les Paul. I'm going to install one on my D/S, my Casino and my Riviera P-93, makes workin' on them a whole lot easier......JH in Va.

 

[Despres]

Thanks for the responses - to the others who love their Dot Studios, I meant no offense, but keep in mind, there is a great deal of variation in quality of guitars - I have a 76 Les Paul, which Les Paul snobs would tell you is one of the worst years of the model, and mine is a great instrument. I also have a Rick 330, which I have learned since joining this form makes me a fetishist for enjoying such a troubled instrument - before I found that out, I was always amazed at how reliable it was and how it only needs minor adjustments to the setup every decade or so.

As far as my Dot Studio, the switch does not work properly, so 1/2 the time when you use it, it mutes both pickups. The pots feel mechanically scratchy (you can actually hear them when the guitar is not plugged in). I could just be being picky on this one, but I expect my gear to 'feel' right, and these do not. The pickups did not sound good to me. I didn't expect them to match either of my proper gibsons, my Rickenbacker or now my tele, but they just do not seem to provide the rich tones I would expect from a semi hollow. The Mids seem muted, the lows a bit farty and the highs sort of thin.

Like I said, this guitar was sold as a factory second, but there was nothing cosmetically wrong with it, so I suspect the electronics just didn't pass the QC test. It looks good and plays great, so I've been planning on replacing the electronics since the week I got it, but am just now seriously thinking about it.

I do not think my amps are the problem, one is an Ampeg Reverberocket Reissue and one is a modified Sovtek Mig 50 with a 4x10 Gallien-Krueger Bass cab loaded with Eminince Ramrod speakers. Both my Les Pauls (one with 57s one with 490/498 pickups), my Rickenbacker and my Tele (with Cavalier Pickups) all sound great through them.

I think it is more likely that my expectations were the problem, but since I paid about as much as I spend on a set of tubes, I'm still pleased with the guitar, I was just thinking I would like it more if I put better pickups in it.

 

[Despres]

Forgot to ask-

JHayes, tell me about your control plate- did you route a lip on the body so it sits flush, or does it stick out a little bit? Does it feel pretty smooth even though the back of the body is arched?

I had actually thought it might look cool to cut the front of the body and put a tele-style control plate on the front (and would certainly be easier than the F Hole technique), but decided against it.

 

[musicalmartin]

I put a set of Tonerider Rocksongs into my Dot and it transformed the sound .Put in a new selector switch as well .They seem to fail as soon as they leave the store premises .I had one fail in a new Fender Japan Aerodyne Telecaster and another in my new Dot .You can cut and splice the pickup wires to avoid the unholy task of pulling out the pots though at least there are only two on a Studio .I like Studios .Wiith a bit of minor upgrade they are good guitars .

 

[J. Hayes]

Hey Despres...........

The control plate sits on top of the guitar and not in a "lip". The edges of the plate are beveled and the screws are flat head into counter sunk holes so they're flush with the top of the cover plate. I doesn't bother anything, doesn't catch on anything and if I ever have to have further repairs, it'll be so much easier to do them...........JH in Va.

 

[harleysr]

Here's mine

Earvana nut
Kent Armstrong P-90s
New pots, etc....
Faux block inlays
MIDI pickup

Bought it used for a trifle. It was just fun to play. It has a neck like a Louisville Slugger, which I love.

The P-90s really brought the tone to life, as I was completely underwhelmed with the stock humbuckers. Now, it's very lively when plugged in. It's a good platform for the MIDI, too.

I will replace the tuners, bridge and tailpiece. It might look nice to shoot it in a clear gloss.

The pics I saw with the gold hardware looked nice. Interesting idea.

 

[joaopazguitar]

wonderful EDS's gents.
definitely material for Dot Studio Club at TDPRI (if there isn't one already!) ... anyone?