Epiphone DOT ES Style – Epiphone's Mighty Budget Semi Hollow

Body And Neck:
Electronics:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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For all you folks out there looking to get a good semi-hollow electric guitar that can go from light jazz to roaring rock, we would like to kindly draw your attention to Epiphone DOT ES Style.

As one of the best jazz guitars within this price range, this puppy pleasantly surprised us with a few nifty tricks up its sleeves. Let's check it out, the full review awaits below!

Body & Neck

The instrument sports a laminate maple body with a maple top, a sturdy mahogany neck, a standard rosewood fingerboard, a set of 22 frets, white dot inlays, and a 24.75-inch scale length. Having an all-maple body is a distinctive combination and a clear risk for the company that was worth taking in our book when the final result is considered. To spice up the sonic mix and round it up a bit, the manufacturer threw in a highly resonant mahogany center block.

In the aesthetic segment, the guitar looks quite nice, each of the available finishes (Ebony, Natural, Vintage Sunburst, Red) is classy and elegant, and those F-holes don't just provide resonance, but look pretty sweet too.

Hardware

As expected, the guitar sports a classic Tune-O-Matic bridge, a lavish headstock, a set of strong Grover tuners, and a black Epiphone pick guard. Each of the listed components does a fine job in keeping the instrument in proper shape in terms of accurate tuning, good intonation and high sustain. The fret job is decent, and while light buzz and fuzz can occur at moments, it's generally very solid for the listed price.

Electronics

The electronic department is driven by a pair of Alnico Classic humbucking pickups with individual Tone and Volume control knobs and a classic three-way pickup selector switch.

These bad boys are a bit more on the hot side than some classic jazz players would like, but that's also a factor appreciated by more versatile and experimental guitarists, making this a fine choice if you're looking for the best jazz guitar that you can spice up with anything from blues to metal motifs.

Sound

As noted, the word of the day is versatility. The tonewood combo of this puppy secures a bright, clear and punchy audio foundation, while the hotter pickups reel in the fuzz and the cream. That means that the notes produced by this Epiphone semi-hollow guitar are deeply rooted in jazz, but still capable of going as deep as the realm of crunchy hard rock and metal. And that's great!

Value/conclusion

Value for money stands out as one of the key factors we decided to list this guy as one of the best jazz guitars at the moment. You get one heck of a deal and one amazing six-string that can cover a lot of ground. It's worthy of professionals, and while it's not the top choice we can think of for folks who play jazz and nothing but jazz, it's a top-notch pick for the more adventurous bunch. Good stuff!

For more info about the Epiphone DOT ES Style, click here.
For more Jazz electric guitars, click here.