Frustrated with my new Epiphone Dot!

**Bigmagic** · 04-17-2013, 08:28 AM

In December I bought an Epiphone Dot along with a voice live harmonizer. I figured more bang for my buck since the Dot gets some decent tone and the voice live would be handy in my home studio. Now for the bad stuff.

It needed the intonation set so the first thing I did was buy a new set of strings for the Dot (D'addario Jazz nickel 11/50) and restrung it. Now I will preface this by saying I haven't broken a string in 15 or 20 years(and a lot of road gigs). I broke the little E two minutes after stringing it up. I did a little research and found that the Gibson "Tune-a-matic" style bridges have sharp edges that can cause problems.

Okay so I ordered a roller bridge(a cheapo from China ) and installed it. But while setting the intonation I broke the little E six more times( replacing it each time with old strings I had laying around because I never break strings).

Here's where it gets weird. The strings broke while being lowered to set the intonation. They broke between the nut and the tuner(?) The nut on a Dot is plastic I don't know if it has some sharp edge I can't see or what. Anyway I ordered a set of Chromes and will try again when they get here. Anyone else had these problems?

I bought a cheap Squire Tele for my son a few years back so he could learn on it. It came in tune with perfect intonation. What's up with Epiphone?

I own a couple of nice acoustics a Takamine Tan16C and an Alverez Artist that finally opened up after 20 years.
Should I:
1.Break down and buy a better Jazz box?
2.Stick it out and get this thing fixed?
3. Buy a Tele and get back to enjoying electric guitar.
4.Trick my son into trading me his Squire for the Epiphone?

I have owned a lot of Tele's and Strats and I can honestly say the new Tele's are far superior in the tuning area than the so called "vintage" ones. Those old 3 piece bridge saddles were a pain to work with. I wish I were a guitar tech about now.

**KidBlast** · 04-17-2013, 08:47 AM

Only had similar issues on my acoustics when I use alternate tunings, and in these cases, having the nut regulated resolved that break in the area you describe. (most of the time for me, it was the G string and it was as I was detuning quite often too. - some of the tunings I use require the G is tuned down to E) So maybe in your case it's also the nut.

take some 220 or similar grit sand paper and try a few passes in the string slot (angle the sand paper so that it's sort of pointing down toward the head stock so you don't change the angle of the slot, as it should slant back a bit from the fretboard.

And are you slacking off (detuning) the tension on the string when you adjust the saddle for intonation? Cuz, I think you "should" to keep the tension off the witness points as you adjust the intonatio, .. anyway that's how I've always done this, good luck..

/Ray

**nado64** · 04-17-2013, 09:33 AM

I don't know to explain, but try to reverse the strings on the stopbar of the tune-o-matic.

**Bigmagic** · 04-17-2013, 09:37 AM

Thanks for the tip, I had heard of that from guys that keep the stock bridge. It shouldn't be needed with the roller bridge though. Did you ever break strings up between the nut and the tuner?

**Bigmagic** · 04-17-2013, 09:40 AM

I loosen the string completely when I change the saddle position or the bridge position. I think it may be the plastic nut. Thanks.

**Clamps** · 04-17-2013, 10:14 AM

Fill the nut up with some graphite.

**Little Jay** · 04-17-2013, 10:15 AM

If they break between the nut and the tuner, then my best guess is that your nut-slots are too narrow for the heavier gauge strings, so they can get stuck in the nut. Try KidBlast's advise, try roaming the slot slightly. To be sure you can lubricate the slot with some graphite after that. But if the string broke between nut and tuner, why did you change the bridge then?

**nado64** · 04-17-2013, 10:20 AM

Like you say and as KidBlast explained, the issue comes from the nut.
But before to pass the sand paper, you need to adjust your guitar.
And if you pass too much the sand paper, you can replace the nut.

IMO, if you want to keep your guitar, it's the beginning of your troubles.
You'll go to spend too much time, and you don't know the result.

Yes, you can bring to a luthier, but I tried the Dot and the Sheraton made in china, and I didn't like them at all.
I would prefer a telecaster like the squier classic vibe, or a little archtop like an epiphone Joe pass.

**Little Jay** · 04-17-2013, 01:33 PM

nado64, be positive! Don't frustrate Bigmagic too much....

It's actually a very minor issue and chances are the guitar will be much to his linkings, once the nut is fixed. And if he does it carefully, there's not much that can go wrong. If he cuts the nut too deep, just a drop of super-glue in the slot and try again.....

**KidBlast** · 04-17-2013, 01:47 PM

Jay, those were my thoughts exactly but I wasn't going to say anything at first. A few minor tweaks is a very common necessity for any new guitar, regardless of the make, or country of origin,

plus you should really not try to set the intonation (move the saddle forward or backward) with out first de-tuning the string with which you are working on.

**Bigmagic** · 04-17-2013, 02:07 PM

I am expecting to have to tweak it. And I get pretty good tone out of it thru a Peavey Vypyr or a DR-888 so I'd like to just repair it. One thing I can't tolerate is bad intonation, as long as that clears up I'll fix the nut problem. Thanks guys.

**Bigmagic** · 04-17-2013, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by Little Jay

If they break between the nut and the tuner, then my best guess is that your nut-slots are too narrow for the heavier gauge strings, so they can get stuck in the nut. Try KidBlast's advise, try roaming the slot slightly. To be sure you can lubricate the slot with some graphite after that. But if the string broke between nut and tuner, why did you change the bridge then?

Jay, I changed the bridge because the Tune a matic bridges are known to have built in problems with string breakage. The Roller Bridge also gives better sustain. Thanks.

**peterpanico** · 04-17-2013, 02:38 PM

Trash the Epi and buy a "real" guitar,there are many in that price range a whole lot better,unless you wanna support Gibson Marketing at all costs! Epi are

.... worthless....
It's not about the Tune O Matic,I had several guitars with that kind of bridge goodies and cheapies, and I cannot remember when I broke a string the last time....

**KidBlast** · 04-17-2013, 02:43 PM

and out come the trolls....

**peterpanico** · 04-17-2013, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by KidBlast

and out come the trolls....

Hey mate please "Troll" yourself,I just said what i think about the Epi,based on my experience,you are not requested to comply with my point of view,and also you are not requested to Troll anybody,just to remain polite ok?

**KidBlast** · 04-17-2013, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by peterpanico

Hey mate please "Troll" yourself,I just said what i think about the Epi,based on my experience,you are not requested to comply with my point of view,and also you are not requested to Troll anybody,just to remain polite ok?

the OP comes for advice, and we try to help.

yet your advice is to trash the guitar he just spent good money for, when all it really needs is probably a minor tweak....

that's helpful? Sorry I don't think so. and you're telling me to be nice??

Look I'm not looking to poke any ones buttons, but your post... well... wasn't in the spirit of good will imo.

and sure you are entitled to your opine.. no problem there. I have a few Epi's (Emperors) as well as a number of USA Gibson and Fender makes, I find that, for the money they're fine guitars.

**mr. beaumont** · 04-17-2013, 03:10 PM

Probably just needs some nut work. Try that first, before doing anything drastic.

**peterpanico** · 04-17-2013, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by KidBlast

the OP comes for advice, and we try to help.

yet your advice is to trash the guitar he just spent good money for, when all it really needs is probably a minor tweak....

that's helpful? Sorry I don't think so. and you're telling me to be nice??

Look I'm not looking to poke any ones buttons, but your post... well... wasn't in the spirit of good will imo.

and sure you are entitled to your opine.. no problem there. I have a few Epi's (Emperors) as well as a number of USA Gibson and Fender makes, I find that, for the money they're fine guitars.

I respect your opinion,you do it with mine,and Troll has nothing to do with anything else imho

**SamBooka** · 04-17-2013, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by peterpanico

Trash the Epi and buy a "real" guitar,there are many in that price range a whole lot better,unless you wanna support Gibson Marketing at all costs! Epi are

.... worthless....
It's not about the Tune O Matic,I had several guitars with that kind of bridge goodies and cheapies, and I cannot remember when I broke a string the last time....

Where is the damn dislike button..?

**nado64** · 04-17-2013, 04:33 PM

I think we can respect all opinions.

The OP asks :
"Should I:
1.Break down and buy a better Jazz box?
2.Stick it out and get this thing fixed?
3. Buy a Tele and get back to enjoying electric guitar.
4.Trick my son into trading me his Squire for the Epiphone?"

So, the answer of PeterPanico was completely appropriate with the humour of the first choice.

"Trash the Epi and buy a "real" guitar"

**jazzbow** · 04-17-2013, 05:45 PM

Needs nut work, that's a given.

Most new guitars come shipped with 9's so upscaling to 11's, widening the slots on the nut is a must, just as getting a guitar that is set up with 13's and fitting 8's and wondering why there's a weird grinding noise coming from the nut when you bend that plain G.

**Bigmagic** · 04-17-2013, 09:47 PM

I don't take offense to the "real" guitar statement. The "worthless" statement was a bit much. I could have bought an archtop. The truth is I wanted a little more than just a Jazz guitar and I wanted to add the Harmonizer to my studio equipment.

@Kidblast, thanks for the troll defense, I think in forums it's easy to misunderstand the spirit of someone's comments. We don't have the luxury of facial expressions or tone.

I did open myself up for the comment, but I will make every effort to get the guitar working correctly. I just wanted some advice. I got a lot of good advice (even the get a "real" guitar was good advice). So no harm done. Thanks everyone!

**AlohaJoe** · 04-17-2013, 10:18 PM

#4. Trick your son... you can get a guitar you like and teach him a valuable lesson at the same time.

**Doctor Jeff** · 04-17-2013, 11:06 PM

I had a Dot a few years ago. I had it professionally set up and never had any problems with the neck or playability. The main issue I had with it was that I was playing mainly fingerstyle jazz, and I just couldn't get the tone I wanted.

Knowing what I know now, I would probably change out the pups right away. Mine was a natural finish, well made, and to be honest I miss it. I'd like to get another 335 style guitar someday.

**peterpanico** · 04-18-2013, 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

Where is the damn dislike button..?

Down there lower right it's a bit tricky to use, you have to spell the password first,blink the eye to the camera and then smile,the passw. for today is "heresy"...