Help me identify my new Epiphone Dot. I've never seen one like it!

[thesweetness]

Just picked this up from a fellow TGP member. Its a beautiful, smokin' guitar through and through. Problem is that I can't find any information on it at all. My gear obsession needs to know about build quality, what parts are used vs the stock model, and what specific model it even was. The previous ownder didn't know much about it either, just that it was used by a brand rep as a demo guitar.

So far all I can tell is that the neck is mahogany, the crown on the headstock is different than a dot, it has a gibson-ish 60's style short pickguard, and obviously it has 60's block inlays and 60's knobs. To me the cherry red color looks more accurate as does the grain on the plain top too. Its obviously an epi 335 style guitar, but I have no idea what it is really.

Does anyone know anything about these? Naturally my mind has wondered to thinking about upgrading parts and hardware like any TGP'er, but are they already of a higher quality since its a custom shop model?

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l268/mikeriderT1/DSC_6212_edited-1.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l268/mikeriderT1/DSC_6213_edited-1.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l268/mikeriderT1/DSC_6216_edited-1.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l268/mikeriderT1/DSC_6215_edited-1.jpg

[OuttaspaceMan]

That's a beautiful dot, congrats! How's the neck shape on it? =)

[schitzkaput]

This dude has something similiar...try ask him maybe? :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGeK8CkpxWM

[Niallmo]

I think it was/is called the "Super" Dot.

Aaahhh eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epiphone-Super-Dot-335-Limited-Edition-/120748802723)

[MichaelSaulnier]

I have a Epi G400 with the same "Custom Shop" logo.

I was told by my friend at GC that there is NO custom shop for Epiphone, but they use this logo for certain products they sell exclusively through GC / MusiciansFriend.

I have no way of verifying this... but have seen this in other threads here as well.

In any case, that's a sweet Dot you have there... good luck in finding out what you can about it...

Isn't there a website that you can enter the serial number and learn the factory it was built in?

M

[johnnytapia]

What does that say where the serial usually is on a Gibson style guitar? USED?

[Elias Graves]

The custom shop logo is used for limited run models. Colors, trim, etc.

I haven't seen that model Dot before, but I like the block inlays and bound fretboard. Nice touches.

EG

[Elias Graves]

What does that say where the serial usually is on a Gibson style guitar? USED?
Kinda looks that way. Epis usually have a gold screen printed serial number.

EG

[BigPapiFan]

The used generally indicates a factory second. Often they are perfectly fine except for a cosmetic issue. That "USED" indicates that it is no longer under the original factory limited warranty.

[frank62]

Sweet looking axe! Those were a "limited run"

[thesweetness]

I think it was/is called the "Super" Dot.

Aaahhh eBay (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?campid=5336713463&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-53200-19255-0%2F1%3Fcampid%3D5336713463%26toolid%3D10001%26mpr e%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fitm%252F Epiphone-Super-Dot-335-Limited-Edition-%252F120748802723)

My Dot is considerably different than that model. The crown inlay, the finish and the knobs, and the blocks on that one look to be modelled after the blocks on a 355 rather than a 60's 335. Call me crazy but the horns on my dot look like more of the mickey mouse ears you find on 59 335s. Thanks for the help and kind words though fellas.

[Elias Graves]

Since Epi opened up in Qingdao, they've been "correcting" many things they let slide when they were sourcing from outside suppliers. Many details that were once "let go" are being put right again. Horn shapes on Dots is one of those things.

EG

[stormin1155]

That ain't no Dot. That's a rectangle! Classy looking guitar. Congratulations!

[cowboytim]

Write to gibson an E-mail with those pics and it might take a week or so but they will write back. I bet it's a refurbished factory second....nothing wrong with that... nice guitar.

[cmatthes]

Why is it called a "Dot" when it has block inlays?

That is a cool guitar, but that's stupid!

[Phoenix59]

Its name is Dot. Short for Dorothy.

[oldtelefart]

I've played a few. Nice guitars mostly, but one older black one (sitting in with an out-of-town band) was so good I wanted to buy it. The guy didn't want to sell, I checked with him by email a few times, the last time he said he'd sold it. I would have been very happy to own that guitar.

[themadcaplaughs]

Here is your model, http://www.ikebe-gakki.com/shopping/goods/goods_detail.php?category_id=1&sub_category_id=13&brand=65&key=block+335&view=1&count=48&sort=1&search_status=1&id=114840