the dot studio is a decent guitar as it does have value for the money (only 200 bones). As far as the quality of the thing, when I went to buy my first electric I had looked at the Dot Studio online and thought hell, this thing is pretty badass. When I went to play it, the construction job on the 2 or 3 guitars they had in there were pretty shitty. volume knobs, nuts, other hardware in not the best shape.
Like others have said above, you probably would have to replace some parts on it after not too long. Apart from cheap hardware, the body and neck seem to be quite solid, and I liked the feel. The guitar had some of that signature gibson/epiphone tone in the strings and the hollow body was one of the main selling points when I was considering the purchase.
I decided not to buy because of the hardware issues, I was totally broke and did not want to deal with it. I was gonna buy the Les Paul special II which is their beginner guitar but then the salesman offered me a used Epi LP for 300 and I could not pass it up. It was beautiful and sounded like a dream compared to other guitars I was considering at the time (Dot Studio, Strat/Strat Copies).
Overall, it would be a good guitar to have in the arsenal, though probably not the last guitar you'll buy. Like I said, definitley good value if you are broke and it is your first guitar and you want that Gibson sound (I believe it has a set neck, not a bolt-on, which is another plus) as opposed to that tinny more trebley Strat type sound.
Ok well this was a ramble and a half but I hope it helped. Just make sure you play it in the store and verify that it is what you want.
Best of luck with your purchase, dude.
a whole new gameball
