Advice: Epiphone Dot v Epiphone Les Paul vs Fender Telecaster

mickey_t

Hi,
I'm going buying a new guitar and have narrowed by options down to these 3:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/epiphone_the_dot_vs_egitarre.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/epiphone_les_paul_standard_cherry_sunburst.htm

http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_tele_mex_std_mn_bsb_upgrade.htm

I play a bit of rhythm guitar with a few mates in a band. The stuff we play is mostly the doors, the strokes, beatles, rolling stones etc. If anyone has any advice or experience with any of the three guitars I'd appreciate the info. Cheers.

david

I'd go for a telecaster but not a mex standard.. Look for Highway One or Crafted in Japan if you can.

punchdrunk

save up,buy this

http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_62_tele_custom_rw_3tsb.htm

david

punchdrunk wrote:

save up,buy this

http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_62_tele_custom_rw_3tsb.htm

Yeah I own one of them, they are excellent.. its my main guitar. I got it in black when they were only €566 on thomann, the other guitarist in my band got the 3tsb one last week after playing mine. If i was buying a tele again i'd still probably pay the €715 for it... its an amazing guitar.

fish-head

If you really like the Dot, I would reccommend getting a Sheraton instead. They're a much better guitar. I love mine. That said, I also love my Telecaster..

deaddonkey

fish-head wrote:

They're a much better guitar.

wrong.
the sheraton and the dot are the same guitar, except the sheraton has more binding and cosmetic stuff. they have different neck pickups though. (blocks etc) that's the only real difference.

for stones, doors and strokes, i'd take the dot or a sheraton any day, no question.

there's also a lot of quality 335 copies out there with more guitar for the money than the epiphone option.

fish-head

deaddonkey wrote:

wrong.
the sheraton and the dot are the same guitar, except the sheraton has more binding and cosmetic stuff. they have different neck pickups though. (blocks etc) that's the only real difference.

But it's just my opinion, how can that be wrong?

deaddonkey

fish-head wrote:

But it's just my opinion, how can that be wrong?

when you proclaim one guitar to be much better than an effectively identical guitar, then it's not a matter of opinion, it's a matter of fact.

mickey_t

Thanks for the info so far lads, I've played the epiphone lp and an €800 telecaster (not sure which one exactly) and liked them both. I'll have to locate a dot or similar variation and give it a go too.
deaddonkey, which 335 copy would you recommend instead of the epiphone?

TelePaul

It's interesting that you're comparing a humbucker equipped guitar with a single-coil equipped guitar. I think i you decide definitively which you prefer, it'd be an easier decision to make. Or just go with a '72 Tele deluxe.

punchdrunk

for what it's worth the guitar shop in portebello had a sheraton going stupidly cheap,but it was a few months ago,may well be gone now though..

Bratach Bán

I'd save for a Highway One Tele - great guitars.

Goodwins had one on sale for a long time at around 600, but it may well be gone now.

Edit: Sorry, Punchdrunk, that looks like I was taking the mickey out of your post, but I wrote this before I had read to the end of the thread. Great minds and all that, eh?

Quattroste

If your going for a 335 copy go for the Tokai ES100 (or above 100) series. I have one and they are a fantastic guitar. They are made really really well and the neck is perfect (opinion, terms and conditions apply!).

I am having a slight problem with the switch after 2 years but it may just be the contacts need cleaning. They will cost in excess of €800 either new or second. Ebay has the odd one and you can get them in the UK too. Buying new here in Ireland just lines the pocket of the seller. I know cos I did just that.

Some other 335 options:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Rare-Vintage-GRECO-81-SA-700-MIJ-SA700-ES-335_W0QQitemZ320086408268QQihZ011QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ie/RARE-IBANEZ-AS-100-ARTIST-GUITAR-1982-GIBSON-ES-335_W0QQitemZ320086524303QQihZ011QQcategoryZ33043QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Tokai-Japan-335-Style-ES-120-All-Flame-VNT-Gibson-PU_W0QQitemZ320086503610QQihZ011QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The_g-man

Keep an eye out on e-bay for some Edwards models, great guitars with seymour duncan pickups you would probably end up installing in an Epiphone guitar.
There's a Fender Japan telecaster in the u-box for under €200. Add customs and delivery it would still be well under the price of the inferior mexican model.


It is the beauty goods.;)

punchdrunk

looks like a toploader

punchdrunk

Bratach B&#225 wrote: »

I'd save for a Highway One Tele - great guitars.

Goodwins had one on sale for a long time at around 600, but it may well be gone now.

Edit: Sorry, Punchdrunk, that looks like I was taking the mickey out of your post, but I wrote this before I had read to the end of the thread. Great minds and all that, eh?

no worries mate,i didn't get to read what you'd said so it's all a mystery to me anyway!

TelePaul

punchdrunk wrote:

looks like a toploader

Yeah...hrmmm could that explain the cheaper price? I think they're considered inferior by most. Although Jeff Buckley played one....

punchdrunk

yeah jeff used an early 80's toploader tele,fender were trying to save a few bob on manufacturing,funny how these guitars are hated by most guit-nerds,but jeff managed to sound alright with one

also jimmy page used a toploader on zepplin I and the solo on stairway,that wasn't exactly crap either...

TelePaul

punchdrunk wrote:

yeah jeff used an early 80's toploader tele,fender were trying to save a few bob on manufacturing,funny how these guitars are hated by most guit-nerds,but jeff managed to sound alright with one

also jimmy page used a toploader on zepplin I and the solo on stairway,that wasn't exactly crap either...

Yeah I think Jeffs was customised...pretty sure it had a Carvin neck pickup. He borrowed it off his friend, it wasn't even his! I wish Fender would give him a signature model.

The early 80's was no doubt down to CBS.

red_ice

I have a mexican strat (92) and i love it. Its a lovely guitar, well crafted and so on but it just feels so basic. Same with the teles, fender just dont cut the mustard for me anymore.

For christmas 2 years ago my gf got me an epiphone dot this one. In most of the pics for the dot, the red looks terrible. Trust me, its sexual. A real dark, yet rich red, and the grain darkens the red more in certain areas. Everyone whos seen it jips. I love playing it, the actions amazing, the feel of it is great and the tone is great on pritty much any amp i play it on. Its my favourite guitar.

The epiphone les paul isnt anything i would go near. I know 2 people who have one, and they dont take care of them simply because they dont feel its worth taking care of. I cant speak about how it plays or feels, because i didnt have the urge to pick it up and mess about with it - that says alot to me.

Ravelleman

If you can squeeze your way up to €600 you should definitely check out the new Classic Players Baja Telecaster. It has much better features than pretty much any other Tele in that price range. I want one this much <

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> *gasp*.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_classic_player_baja_tele_vb.htm