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semi hollowbody guitars,, Epiphone Dot or Ibanez Artcore ?

quick question, in your opinion, which is better:

Epiphone Dot or Ibanez Artcore?

Thanks!

Merry Christmas to all!

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Artcore in my oppinion. The epi has a huge amount of wood removed from the peghead under the nut area to allow more than nessary room to access the too big trussrod. This, coupled with a thin neck leads to many of these comming to my shop with the neck snapped off. A quick search on eBay for guitars with broke necks seems to turn up a bunch of them.

I agree with Harrison but for different reasons.

I have an Epiphone Dot that I bought to have here when my friends come over to play so that they don't have to schlep an ax here every time.

It's a piece of........ junk in my view with horrible sounding electronics, terrible fret work and a board edge that one could slice cheese with....  And the neck profile sucks and feels like a Louisville Slugger to me....

Took in an Artcore today to repair the area around the jack after the owner dropped it.  Nice guitar and it would be my choice too over the Epi Dot.

Hi Arthur. Looks like the Artcore wins with me too.

One additional advantage (IF you're speaking of the Artcore AS-73) is that it averages 1+ pound less in weight than the Epi Dot.

To add to Hesh's observation: The Epi Dot's quality is all over the place. I've seen many and some are structurally great but most have 'issues'. The Natural ones seem to be of better quality for some strange reason. Also, a decade ago, the very rare ones made in Korea as the "Flametop" model are of strangely good quality. Today they're MIC or MI Indonesia. In all cases, the hardware and electronics...can I just say 'stink'? Again, some were as heavy as boat anchors.

All of the AS-73's I've seen are of very nice quality for the $$, set up terrific after a fret level/crown/polish, the pups are better sounding, the necks are a player's delight, they have a bound neck and just look soooooo much better with the 'pointier' cutaway "ears". Of course, the last item is my personal opinion.

I've recommended AF-73's fro almost 10 years to customers looking for a 335 style instrument (for under $600). ALL of them have been extremely happy with their 73's and have them  to this day. The folks who bought Dots instead have all gotten rid of them for various reasons.

Good hunting.

Quote: "The Natural ones seem to be of better quality for some strange reason."

 

 

Epiphone's apart.

The last Acoustic Guitar I bought, and the Semi-Acoustic Guitar I will probably buy today are both Natural Finish Guitars.

It is my personal observation, that the Best Woods are Reserved by Manufacturers to use on Natural Finish Instruments, as with only Clear Gloss Finish to Enhance them Attractively, they largely Rely upon the Quality of the Wood Grain itself for Looks Alone, to Sell the Guitar to prospective customers.

I very much like Sunburst and Cherry Finish Instruments,  but have been repeatedly drawn away from them, and strongly towards Natural Finish Instruments, purely because of the Generally Higher Quality of Wood that I have discerned. In a Factory it's impossible to cover up "things" at all, when you are dealing with a Natural Finish Instrument.

Whilst with a Sunburst you can. It is my perception therefore, that greater care and attention to detail is taken by most Manufacturers with these particular Instruments during construction. It's not certain, but possible they might be run through the hands of their better Craftsman at certain crucial stages in the Manufacturing Process, or given simply more critical attention, knowing that the discerning and demanding will be likely drawn to these Instruments.

So as usual, I think there is something deeply significant in what Paul has helpfully drawn our attention to.

 

 

As a Lover of Old Epiphone's, and Parsons St. Models.

My view of today's Epiphone Instruments is that they are made to Look Pretty and largely very much do,

But without the Strong Personality of Sound and Hallmark Characteristic Playing Quality that would have originally attracted Genuine Musicians to the Brand.

 

I well remember the first Ibanez Guitars ever to be Manufactured.

They seemed to be direct clones of American Brands, Looked Great but were not really there yet at all in Sound Quality or Playability.

Today they have come a long way and during the journey acquired their own Distinct Characteristics, Look and Identity for Various Models along the road.

I'm most Impressed by their better Jazz Hollow Body Semi Acoustics and their better Solid Body Basses. For me, most of the rest of their Instrument Models lie betwixt and between the extremes Quality Wise, but for sure you will be getting more Personality and Character in the Instrument, for the Money you Pay than with many other Choices.

 

But.

I have a slightly different take on this whole thing.

Years ago I use to Travel Internationally, Playing in TV and Recording Studios around Europe.

My Guitar was a Parsons St. Cherry Red Gibson 335 TD, so that is the Benchmark by which I judge all the Guitars of this Type.

Its why the Thread is of Interest, and I think you should consider Saving Your Pennies, or at least Looking At and Trying some of the Alternative Instruments available from other Manufacturers.

 

Before..  You make your Purchase.

 

 

So let's talk 335's.

I tried to buy a New Gibson 335 earlier this year, but sadly was unable to find one that lived up to my expectations of the Instrument, though I tried quite a few.

If you can find a Perfect Example Though. I believe it remains the High Watermark in Guitars of this Type. And as a Big Gibson Fan of Old, I am naturally drawn to them and want them to be Great!

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/ES/Gibson-Custom/E...

But honestly compels me to state that to me, Collins with their Gibson Style Instruments seem to have taken over as the Clear Leader in what I would regard as a Typical and Traditional Parsons St. Models of High Quality. Wonderful!

http://www.collingsguitars.com/Instruments/?ID=71

 

 

Heritage are Great Guitars too and well worth a Good Look.

It's another American Company I very much want to see do well.

http://www.heritageguitar.com/models/semihollowbody.html

 

 

Guild are back in business in a good way.

All their New Products seem Impressively Manufactured, regardless of Price. A Fine Company and Great Brand.

http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments/?gtype=electrics&series...

 

Yamaha Semi Acoustics like the SA -2200

Have Seriously Impressed me and are at a lower price point.

They come well set up and perfectly playable right out of the box in my experience.

I remember a Guitarist Playing with Frank Sinatra using one, when he could have anything he wanted.

As the Push Pull Tone Controls give Single Coil or Humbucking Versatility. It's a Great Guitar for the Money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAB6f3JgfZg

 

 

Eastman are another Great Brand to try.

Some of my Best Loved Guitarists, have one of these somewhere in their Arsenal.

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MfcqAkmISU

 

 

Peerless.

These have probably impressed me.

Far more than any other Manufacturer around their Price Point.

http://www.peerlessguitars.eu/#/electric/4549480806

 

And at the Level you are looking at by your question, these are what I think you should save up a bit for.

If they were affordable, you would never regret waiting that little bit for a Fine Instrument. Many of their Gibson Types are actually fitted with Gibson Pickups and so these are what I would Heartily Recommend.

Usually, they have a Quite Fantastic Action, brilliantly Set Up from the Get Go, and are thus Extremely Playable. I Played a Natural Finish 175 Type a while back. Seriously, it was one of the Best Guitars I have ever encountered by any Manufacturer at any Price.

http://www.peerlessguitars.eu/#/gigmaster-jazz/4556931654

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYgPKAP3tlI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQWgriAWA94

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8z2Ae4szUE

 

Whatever you can afford and buy, and I think you are leaning towards an Ibanez.

Try to Play ALL these Different Guitars if you can find them in Dealers near you, as you will learn greatly from the experience, and gain valuable knowledge from that.

If you are going to buy a New Guitar, Take your Time, and Enjoy the Ride, Finding the Best Example that you possibly can. There's one other point I would like to make, if I might press a little further.

Today Branding is Everything. People believe that when a Certain Name is on the Headstock, that Kudos is a Guarantee of Quality. It is not. You have to evaluate, each and every singular Guitar on its own Merits, without any "Marketing" bias.

Furthermore, because a Guitar is Branded "X" it doesn't mean it will exhibit the same qualities as other Instruments Branded "X". It is not at all uncommon, for Manufacturers of Brands, to have Different Classes of Instrument, Sold at Different Price Points, Made in entirely Different Manufacturing Plants, at Entirely Different Costs to them.

This is why People's Perceptions of a Brands can be all over the place and different people's views of a Brand differ, for their experience only reflects  but a Part of the Picture of that Brand as a Whole.

So don't think of Brands so much, would be my advice.

 

 

For example.

Epiphone have an Elitist Casino Model.

Fitted with Gibson USA P-90 Pickups that could challenge many perceptions.

http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Archtop/Elitist-Casino.aspx

 

 

Don't be Swayed too much by "Brands".

Many different "Brands" are all made in the same Factories at certain Price Points.  

Critically Evaluate and Appraise the Particular Example of the Instrument you have in your hands as an Entirely Singular Entity.

 

And Buy the Guitar that Truly Speaks to You. Perhaps like this.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynn5ek56pVI

P

Hello Arthur, 

I would recommend the Ibanez as well. Off course looks are a matter of taste. But in my experience the overall quality of the Ibanez products is better and more consistent compared to the current Epiphone products.

Jelle

Not to throw a wrench in the works but ever consider a Washburn HB-35? All the one's I've encountered were a treat compared to the Epi Dots. I haven't tried a AS-73 however but I really like the ES-175 style Artcores.

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