Re: Epiphone Semihollows
I have an Epiphone Dot Studio.
It's build quality is... a good value. I paid $269 + tax for mine.
The top and back on mine are really good looking wood, I'd be impressed to see this kind of grain even on a high-line guitar.
The playability is... average.
I was really hot to trot on it when I bought it, but after the honeymoon, here's what I noticed:
Intonation: my G won't intonate properly, in a very large and noticeable way. I had to start using wound 3rds and it resolved a bit, but a guitar should be able to be set up, period.
Tuners: The tuners are either fake Grovers, or Grovers with no markings. They hold a tune better than cheapest of cheap tuners, I suppose, but not as well as my MIA Strat or my $99 Squier '51. Now that I think of it, they are the worst tuners I have on any guitar. Important to note that they do stay in tune, just not as well as my good stuff (and my '51)
Switch: Switch sucks, (3 way like a Les Paul) sometimes only bridge pickup works, if in middle position the neck pickup will drop out and I won't realize it til a song is over. Very annoying. I can twist / screw / unscrew, basically mess with the switch and it will work, but that sucks. I haven't replaced it yet, I knew I would have to, I just haven't.
Pickups: I like the pickups --- call me crazy. I would replace them but they sound good. AlNiCo 5 stock Epiphone pickups.
Pots: LOVE the pots, smoothest and best control of any I have. Tone and volume control is perfect, just as I like it. No crackling.
Action: hard to get the action low enough without fret buzz. I have truss rodded it a bit thinking it had a touch of backbow, but basically after 3 or 4 setups, I've concluded that it's just a buzzy neck. I have the action higher-than-comfortable right now and it still frets out anywhere above the 9th fret. I'm basically displeased with this, and I set it up every 2 weeks or so hoping things will change. I know a thing or 2 about setups and use all the reputable books and guides as my guide. Cliffs: mine sucks.
Neck: gigantic, bigger than my acoustic. D shape but flat on the back, kind of like a spanish guitar. Very weird, but it works. I like the profile a lot.
Gigging: I gigged with mine once a week for about 12 or 14 weeks this summer. I gigged it without a backup. The action and stuff are only an issue at home. When I perform, I just care about what comes out of the speaker, not what has to happen to get that sound, that's my burden and I don't share it with the audience. I chose to gig this guitar over my MIA Strat, a Jackson, my Squier '51. Take that as you will. I still gig with it about 25% of my gigs. It's volume and tone control responsiveness are a big reason for this. It sounds incredible plugged in.
