2007 GIBSON EPIPHONE DOT 355 STUDIO

[janglerocker]

Look forward to hearing about your tuner changes, Charly. I think you're right in that the Korean tuners are a smaller diameter. I ordered one of the tailpiece hole covers as well in anticipation of doing the B-7 addition to my Dot. Along with locking tuners, would a roller bridge be something I should consider? I'm throwing in a before shot just for the record. I'm pulling it apart next week to upgrade the electronics and add the vibrato. Haven't decided yet on the bridge and tuners as to if they are necessary.

before mods

[charlyg]

I'm not sure about the bridge. I checked the intonation the other day and a couple of strings were a little off. I tried to adjust but the screw wouldn't turn. I didn't investigate at the time (didn't have good reading glasses with me at the time). I will check out some bridges online today. In all of the material I've read on the Dot Studio upgrades, I think only one or two actually changed out the bridge. I have the little Vox AD30VT at home for messin around and recording, so later today, I will put up some clips of the Dot and the Vox on various settings. I'm not a 'real" guitar player so the clips will be simple and short, with no mass distortion power chording like the young'uns like!

[janglerocker]

This is the one I'm considering.

http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cg ... g/sku.html

[charlyg]

Now I remember, I couldn't find a black one, so gave up quickly.

[charlyg]

I still haven't done any recording, and I have to wait for a new custom made badge before pix, I just had to say, I took off the black beauties and put on XL nickel wound light top heavy bottom 10's. WOW, and double wow! This guitar has a natural reverb effect with these strings. It sounds so cool! I'll try again tomorrow to record. I will make a sample of just the guitar with a mic in front to see if I can capture that reverb! I barely have to have any reverb on at all on the Traynor!


PS - I just acquired a natural strat body and birds eye maple neck, so looks like I'll build a match to the P/J! I'll need all the hardware. I'm sold on the Planet Waves locking tuners that trim when you tune (put 'em on the dot), so those will be ordered soon. I'll have to decide on a Tremolo also. This body has the SSS route, I would like to turn it into a universal if possible. If not, I'll just put a stacked humbucker at the bridge.

[charlyg]

Please don't get after me about my chops! After all, I am a bass player. Here is how the Dot sounds througha n instrument mic, Mbox mini, straight into Pro Tools and bounced to disk. It almost sounds like Mark Farner's old metal guitar!


http://download.yousendit.com/55F6775307A79BDA

[charlyg]

Here's a small bit with it hooked to the Traynor, on the clean channel, pretty much straight up on the eq.

http://download.yousendit.com/06125AB76E82A144

I need to find a WHOLE bunch more of those little riffs to learn! Then I could string em together and , and, and......oh, someone has already thought of this? {:^)

[janglerocker]

Charly, have you attempted to remove the old stop tailpiece threaded inserts? I'm in process on my Bigsby install and it looks like they are a press fit with a knurled surface. If I could get those out of there, the custom made badge would fit much nicer. Any insights on the inserts would be appreciated.

[charlyg]

Yup, got em out with a pair of those electrician pliers, the big heavy duty ones. I did not turn them, just pulled up and jockeyed back and forth a tad and they came right out.

[jingle_jangle]

Run the posts into the sockets 3 or 4 threads, then grab 'em like Charly sez. If you plan to save 'em, pad the pliers jaws with a few layers of ductape. Pull straight out while wiggling a bit. (The pliers, that is...)

[sloop_john_b]

Sorry Charly, missed some of your initial questions. I'm an advocate of flats on ANY guitar, but be forewarned that you won't be able to mimic Alvin Lee with heavy strings - he probably had Fender 8's on his 335 at Woodstock!

D'addario Chromes are always a good choice - for guitar AND bass!

[charlyg]

Oops I forgot to mention I screwed in the posts and then grabbed those with the pliers. Old age, ain't it wonderful?

jb- It's not so much the tone of his I guess, I may put a peace sticker on it tho as a tribute. I'll try the Chromes....

[janglerocker]

How 'bout that. Right out they came. Thanks. Now another question. I know you bought the same "custom made" badge. I can't for the life of me find a backing to peel off this thing. Did yours have an adhesive back or is this why you posted you were waiting for a new one?

Could anyone (Paul...?...) recommend a suitable adhesive to adhere this here little plastic badge to the finished top?

http://cgi.ebay.com/CUSTOM-MADE-COVER-F ... dZViewItem

[charlyg]

Yes,they seemed to be shocked that there was no glue. They told me to return it and they would send another. I then, of course, misplaced it, so I ordered another. It should be here Monday or Tuesday. If it has no glue, they will hear from me again!! I would rather just find a suitable glue and do it myself. Let's hope Paul drops by.......

[janglerocker]

I figured it had to be for the same reason. I just emailed the guy, too so I'll see what he says. I would really like to just get this done in-house and not fool around with shipping it back and forth.

I did get a roller bridge but it won't just drop in. The new studs thread right in to the existing inserts but they are off about 2mm so the bridge won't slide freely down into position. Think I'll do some judicious grinding of the holes to make it work.