Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

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Blues_N_Rock

New member
Music 123 is selling the Epiphone Dot refurbished in vintage sunburst for $249.99. I never purchased an Epi Dot in the past so I know of very little of this guitar. But I’m very interested in a semi-hollow body guitar. Can anyone tell me what I am getting into by purchasing these refurbish guitars sight unseen? No details are provided on exactly what range of less then “perfect” (per Epi’s QA/QC definition) are these guitars. Thank you.

http://www.music123.com/Epiphone-Dot-Electric-Guitar-518250-i1149955.Music123
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

I don't think refurbished is an issue here.

You generally need to be careful with Epihphone as the wood quality can be very random. Whether the thing has been used, dinged and refurbished doesn't change anything about this.

The refurbished item might have less warranty and less return time.

If they allow you to return it if you don't like it I'd say try it. You might end up with a very nice guitar for $250 shipped.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

It may be a safer bet to get a refurbished guitar from a Guitar Center or some place... they may be refurbished because someone bought it and decided it sucked. But they could be wrong... and they also could have sent it back because it wasn't set up and had old strings and they tried it through a 15 watt practice amp. But for 200 bucks less than a new one, it could be awesome.

GC does have refurbished guitars, right? Haggle 'em down :)
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

My last epi was a refurb. Nice wood, but had a couple dead spots on the board. Not exactly sure what got refurbished but it **** sure wasn't the frets!

In fact, when I got it the action was SKY HIGH: wasn't a truss issue. I like high action but it was nuts. Lowered the action to "medium" and the dead fret issue became very apparent. I suspect when it went back to Epi/Gibson here in the US, they fixed whatever else was a prob and then raised the action, re-doing the frets would have cost too much time/effort/$

Caveat Emptor!
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

Caveat Emptor! Well phrased. Can I afford a new Epi? Yes, so I shouldn't bother with the refurbish models. Would the blemish models be of the same responses?

But a more fundamental issue is becoming apparent to me. Should I avoid purchasing a new Epi Dot via online, without seeinng it or trying it out? The few Guitar Centers around me don't have it in stock...always back ordered. And to be honest, my experience with those folks at GC hasn't been the most impressive. Is it a risky $400 bet online?
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

Again: the question is whether the webshop allows you to return it after trying it. Most do, but you have to check this shop and whether it applies to refurbished items.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

Depends on how you view your guitars. Would you still play it and be happy with it if it wasn't as good as you wanted? Do you need a hollowbody to round out your collection? If so, go ahead and get it. If you prefer for your guitars to all be your favorites, your babies, and you want them all to be as nice and to your liking as possible, then you'll probably be better off buying one you've played. I tried 3 hollowbodies a couple of days ago, and only one really spoke to me with its tone... needless to say I'd be pretty bummed if I'd bought one of the others that were a little more dead.

I'd say play it before you buy it. It's a hollowbody, and you want it to sound rich and luxurious both plugged and unplugged. If it were a Schecter or Jackson that you were going to put EMGs in then it wouldn't matter as much, but a hollowbody is a beautiful tone machine and you definitely want to get the richest possible sounding guitar. You have to make sure that the body resonates the way you want it to - that's why you're getting a hollowbody!
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

I got my Epiphone Dot refurb from Musiciansfriend about three weeks ago. I was a little hesitant at first but it was a manucfators refurb from the factory so it came with all the same warranty and also it was covered by Musiciansfriend's 45 day return policy. The only thing that is usually "wrong" with the refurb is some cosmetic issues. Mine had some slight chipped paint in the f-hole but nothing real noticeable. For the price different it was definitely a great bargain. With the money I saved I bought a pair of Seths and new electronics. If it has a return policy get it, you have nothing to lose.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

Mine was a factory refurb as well, and had the same return policy as anything else. If you get it from MF you should be fine to return it.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

the dot is an overall great guitar, id say the only drawback to this deal might be some cosmetic issue, which could be major , or minor.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

First of all, I thank you all for taking the time and helping me with directions. My long term plans with the hollow body is to make it a learning machine. That is learning how to upgrade the guitar to better pickups, tuners, and bridge. Oh yeah, forgot to include learning how to play guitar. These are typically the items replaced on this particular guitar. So the hope is with a price discount from purchasing one of these refurbish or remanufactured guitars, the savings can be applied to the hardware and electronics. More power to me if it doesn't require it and it sounds great stock. I just wasn't sure what I was getting into in purchasing a remanu/refurb guitar. One thing is replacing the electronics or hardware, but another thing is if the neck or body is a total piece of crap. Everyone makes a strong argument. I personally prefer walking into a retail store and playing it before purchasing it. Maybe I will wait and see if the deals offered on line for a non-remanu/refurb guitar becomes more enticing to convince me to make the leap. A return policy is a plus but still a headache to deal with.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

Blues_N_Rock said:
First of all, I thank you all for taking the time and helping me with directions. My long term plans with the hollow body is to make it a learning machine. That is learning how to upgrade the guitar to better pickups, tuners, and bridge. Oh yeah, forgot to include learning how to play guitar. These are typically the items replaced on this particular guitar. So the hope is with a price discount from purchasing one of these refurbish or remanufactured guitars, the savings can be applied to the hardware and electronics. More power to me if it doesn't require it and it sounds great stock. I just wasn't sure what I was getting into in purchasing a remanu/refurb guitar. One thing is replacing the electronics or hardware, but another thing is if the neck or body is a total piece of crap. Everyone makes a strong argument. I personally prefer walking into a retail store and playing it before purchasing it. Maybe I will wait and see if the deals offered on line for a non-remanu/refurb guitar becomes more enticing to convince me to make the leap. A return policy is a plus but still a headache to deal with.
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valid point. though, chances are, the refurb isnt so bad. if its refurbed, and not a scratch and dent item, the issue isnt so bad.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

astrozombie said:
valid point. though, chances are, the refurb isnt so bad. if its refurbed, and not a scratch and dent item, the issue isnt so bad.
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Yeah the same thoughts on a refurbish model. I can handle a possilbe blemish or small scratch. But a remanufactured model paints a different picture in my mind.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

Blues_N_Rock said:
Yeah the same thoughts on a refurbish model. I can handle a possilbe blemish or small scratch. But a remanufactured model paints a different picture in my mind.
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it isnt really remanufactured, just made to look new.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

astrozombie said:
it isnt really remanufactured, just made to look new.
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So a refurbish and remanufactured are actually the same thing when it comes to the Epi Dots? For some reason, I took a refurbish as meaning a cosmetic issue but a remanufactured model required something more significant in repair work.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

If you want to learn how to mess with electronics and hardware get a blemished item. Because you'll blemish it anyway for the first 5 or 6 years :)
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

uOpt said:
If you want to learn how to mess with electronics and hardware get a blemished item. Because you'll blemish it anyway for the first 5 or 6 years :)
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That was my logic. I don't mind a few scratches along the way of higher education. But what got me thinking was that these guitars apparently are not manufactured the most consistent and I am refering to the non-remanu/refurb models. So I am a bit cautious about the idea of purchasing sight unseen. Will see. I might say what the hell and go for the online purchase.....no venture no gain.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

First - I've purchased a few items from Music123 and I've always had good luck working with them. One time the shipper (FedEx) messed up the delivery and Music123 was all over it trying to make it better. FedEx finally came through, but I really appreciated the effort on the part of Music123.

Second - a friend of mine has an Epi Dot and he loves it - and he is not easy to please.

Third - refurbish in my mind is a used item with worn parts that have been cleaned up or replaced. I could be wrong -- but it could be a sweet deal.
 
Re: Refurbished Epiphone Dot - Good or Bad?

refurbished, like i said, simply means that they took it back in for whatever reason and it was good enough to be resold. they get it back to factory specs, and sell it again...now, i dont know about remanufactured, i dont think ive ever seen or heard of one, but hey, if its being sold again, it cant be that bad right?
 
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