Epi Dot or Ibanez Artcore?

  • Thread starter Thread starter ez_willis
  • Start date Start date

Epi Dot or Ibanez Artcore?

  • Epiphone Dot

    Votes: 19 38.8%

  • Ibanez Artcore

    Votes: 30 61.2%
  • Total voters
    49
Which Artcore you had in mind? There are so many. I would assume the one that looks closer to a real 335 (or dot).

I own a Dot and an Artcore AF75, so the comparison wouldn't be fair. Out of the two I prefer the AF75 for playabilty reasons.
 
Mine is just like that AF75D, but in sunburst finish, with no bigsby.

I find the neck of my AF75 more confortable to play, granted it's a preference thing.

My out of the box experience was also better with the AF75. I had some uneven fret problems with my Dot, but I fixed that in no time. I wasn't too happy with the stock pickups either, so I replaced them with a pair of Gibson 57's, it is so much better now.

The stock AF75 pickups are quite usable, at one point I replaced them with a SD 59/jazz pair as an experiment, I like them a lot but the original ones are still very nice in my opinion.

I don't know, you are still comparing a 335 copy with an ES 137 copy, but given the choice I cast my vote for AF75.
 
they are both nice, but you get a ton more choices with the artcore, and I think the QC on them is a bit better, as well as the bang for the buck. they also have some very nice finishes as well.
 
If it were me, I would try to find a good used gibson 335 and be done with it....I've played both....liked the tone of the epi, but the Ibanez played better...of course the epi would be fine with a decent setup....but to be honest, they both didn't really do anything for me.
 
just got my ibanez awd82ltdbk today, the thing is beautiful. sustains like a motha, probably the most versatile guitar i've had my hands on. this model isn't really like anything, though... definitely not a 335 copy. yes, a gibson would be nice, but you will be hard pressed to beat the artcores, especially since their dot counterparts can be had for $275. of course, i'm partial to them because i set up guitars at a local shop, and you won't find me sweating and cursing over an artcore.
 
I have been playing a an ES335 for years. IMHO the Epiphone version is a peice of crap. The hardware is cheap and the QA stinks. I have one old Ibinez Artist that is a peice of crap too. Love my old Gretsch and my Gibsons.
 
I own a dot after trying the Artcore and the dot.

The dot has nicer sound and felt better in my hand. Off course it cuts corners on hardware in comparison to the ES335, but just compare the prices. I'm very happy with it.
 
Artcore

I was just on the hunt recently for a semi-hollow and ended up with a Washburn HB-32m. I did try out the Epi Dot's and the Artcore series stuff. The one I felt most comfortable with was the Artcore AF75, and if the salesman wasn't such a dick smoker, I would have bought it. But I ended up buying the HB-32m elsewhere, and I am a happy camper. :)
 
Those Artcores are sweet for rhe price.
Then again I've played some pretty nice Dots.
Oh what the hell,buy both.
 
I've played a lot of Ibanez guitars and a lot of Epiphone hollowbodies. Both are great for the money, but are better in different ways. The Ibanez are without a doubt built more consistently and it is very hard to find a bad one, the feel and finish of these guitars is great for that price. The Epiphone are much more inconsistent with many crappy ones that never should have gone out for sale floating around on the market, and the stock hardware is not as good as the artcores, though both guitars could use new pickups.

Although the playability of them is subjective, the Artcore's finish is much better. However if I were to choose one I would pick the Epiphone after a lot of shopping around, because although the Ibanez consistently are better guitars, there are some VERY good Epiphone hollowbodies (I can't say the same about the solidbodies however) that just sound better than the Ibanez, which feels good and looks good but is lacking in tonal characteristics.
 
I played lots of artcores and a few different dots when looking for another semi-hollow. I can't really say anything that hasn't been said already, but I ended up going with the epi sheraton 2, I couldn't be happier with it, but that doesn't help a whole lot. I didn't really like the dots but I have played a couple nice artcores that were enjoyable, but I have also played a couple I thought weren't very good.
 
DeadUnion said:
I played lots of artcores and a few different dots when looking for another semi-hollow. I can't really say anything that hasn't been said already, but I ended up going with the epi sheraton 2, I couldn't be happier with it, but that doesn't help a whole lot. I didn't really like the dots but I have played a couple nice artcores that were enjoyable, but I have also played a couple I thought weren't very good.
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I went with this guy-
 

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