Epi Dot or Ibanez Artcore?

[Sloan]

I played one of the AFS75T's a few weeks ago and blew a load all in my pants. The dude wanted too much for it ($500 WTF???) so I didn't get it, but I'm determined to pick one up. The only forseeable problem is blowing loads onstage and possibly ruining PA gear or slipping.

The only Epiphone hollowbody I played and really liked was a Sheraton. NOT the Sheraton II. The others felt kind of cheap or something.

 

[faderbug]

ibanez. for shure.

 

[Unsprung]

When I bought my Ibanez Artcore AG75TBS, I stopped dreaming of the Epiphones, and especially the Gibsons. I absolutely love the range of sounds and the tone, and the only playability issue that I ever had was the position markers on the fingerboard are more jazz oriented than I've ever been used to, but I got over that with just a few plays. The only thing I'll ever really change on my AG75 are the strings, when need be.

Matt in Indiana

 

[hixmix]

[QUOTEez_willis]Epi Dot or Ibanez Artcore?[/QUOTE]

So which one did you decide to go with?

 

[MadAudio]

I went with this guy-

Nice axe, man. Is that new?

I voted in this poll but I thought I had also posted an opinion. So here's my belated post: I remember this thread because I had a craving for a hollowbody around the same time, and had narrowed it down to those same two (Dot and Artcore). I tried 'em both at the nearest GC, and for me the Artcore felt much nicer, and even had a nicer tone unplugged than the Dot.

 

[pisces7378]

Epi. But...

I have an Epi DOT that I've had for four years now, and I absolutely love it.

I think that a lot depends on what kind of music you play and how you are with the whole "what everybody thinks of you" side of things. Me personally, "everybody" can go fuck`em`self. But since I don't know you, it may be a concern.

What I would do, is what I did myself. I'd buy the Epi for $400 and get the guy to give you a deal on a `57 Classic and a `57 Classic Plus Gibson pickups ($95/each). Get the guy to come down fifteen or so bucks on the pickups. If you are a real stickler, then get all new pots for the volume and tone.

Get them to set up the guitar for you. Working on a semi-hollow body brings new meaning to pain and headache. You need special tools and little dentist mirrors etc. Make sure they raise the back part of the bridge up. The factory in Korea just screws the damn thing all the way in, and it makes the angle too great, and so you break strings left and right, directly at the fulcrum where the string lays over the bridge.

After you do all this, you genuinely do have a VERY good guitar for around $600-$650 (or maybe $750 with set up costs) Compared to $3,500 for the Gibson version. Now, don't get me wrong. The finish on the Epi is not the same as the Gibson. The Wood isn't as pretty. And the overall craftsmanship isn't like an American made Gibson.

But contrary to how it "feels", you do NOT get what you pay for with a Gibson. $3,500 is so utterly ridiculous for a semi-hollow body electric guitar. It is downright vulgar. I can somehow understand paying ($5,000-$10,000) for a one-off hand crafted archtop Benedetto jazz guitar made from European Spruce and is literally a work of art in and of itself.

But any electric guitar made by Gibson uses machined necks, and probably goes from blanks to completion in one to two days (not counting finishing.)

The Ibanez is a nice guitar as well. I just have never felt the same emotions while holding an Ibanez as I do when I play my Johnny B. Good Epi. With the Gibson pickups my Epi has all the ass that the Gibson does. And four times that of the Ibanez.

But nothing can make up for style, technique, and ability. Always remember... You can't polish a turd.

 

[ez_willis]

Nice axe, man. Is that new?

Yes Sir!

I actually bought the thing a few months ago. I kept the thread open so others can give their opinions on what seemed to be a common question.