Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Which Guitar Is Better For You?

Today, we’ll be looking at Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot to find the perfect guitar for you.

Just like we mentioned earlier, both of these guitars are really good guitars. Therefore, you can rest assured that at the end of this article, you would find a guitar that suites your taste, no matter what.

This is a pretty lengthy article, it’s packed full with information. However, if you do not have the time to read through this whole article, then check out the Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot- Comparison Overview below.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Comparison Overview

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Overview Of Similarities

The major similarities between these two guitars is their body type and the tonewood which are semi-hollow and maple, respectively.

Semi-hollow guitars work great with amplification and don’t give off feedback. Maple tonewood produces a really bright and snappy sound, which is really great for electric guitars.

Another similarity we found was the mahogany neck. This was also a common downside to these two guitars as mahogany cannot compare to maple in strength.

Maple has a hardness of 1450 pounds, while mahogany has a hardness of 800-900 pounds, according to the Janka hardness test.

The hardness determines how difficult it is for the wood to crack because of wear and tear. And from the scores above, you can see that mahogany would crack faster than maple.

However, because these are budget-friendly guitars, this is one thing you can forgive. It’s not like mahogany is a bad choice, and it’s more affordable than maple, so?

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Overview Of Differences

If you check the spec sheet below, you’ll find the features that are different for these two products.

The most notable differences were the pickup model, and the fretboard material. For the pickup model, we found out that the Ibanez AS93 had better pickups than the Epiphone Dot. Read through the article to found out just how each of them sounds.

The fretboard materials have a similar feel, although made with different materials. For both of them, you would have to clean the fretboard with a guitar conditioner, from time to time.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Price To Performance Ratio

In terms of price, we have to say that both of these guitars are really good. They are reasonably priced and provide you with enough quality to justify their price.

Yes, as a beginner, this might not be something you have enough to get. But certainly, as an intermediate player, this is something you should be investing in.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Brand Comparative Advantage

These two brands have a similar history and started existing, fully, in the same year. Epiphone was originally founded in 1873.

However, it was not what we know it to be today. That happened in 1957, when it was acquired. The same year, 1957, is when the company, Ibanez, was founded.

Therefore, you can see that these two companies have roughly the same experience under their belts.

Epiphone is mainly known in the US, while Ibanez is more of a worldwide brand. Epiphone is more known for its really affordable guitars, while Ibanez is known for making guitars using the latest tech and innovation, at different price points.

Ibanez is the bigger brand presently, but that comes at a price. They do not have great customer service. On the other hand, Epiphone has really great customer service, especially for its US customers.

Have you bought from any of these brands? Which of them do you prefer? Kindly tell us in the comments section.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Comparison Table/Spec Sheet

	Ibanez AS93	Epiphone Dot
Tonewood	Flamed maple top, back and sides.	Laminated maple
Fingerboard	Ebony	Rosewood
Neck	Maple/Mahogany set-in neck	Mahogany
Body Type	Semi-hollow body	Semi-hollow body
Pickup Model	Super 58	Alnico Classic Humbucker
Fret Size	Medium	Medium
Number of Frets	22	22
Left-handed Versions	Yes	Yes
Hardware	Gold	Nickel
Tailpiece	Quik Change III Tailpiece	LockTone™ Tune-o-matic StopBar

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – What Situation Is Each Best For?

Ibanez AS93	Epiphone Dot
The Ibanez AS93 belongs to the AS series. This series features a blend of old and new, using innovation to bring back some nostalgic feelings in its users. This is why the guitar is a semi-hollow guitar, coupled with other things we would highlight later on.	The Epiphone Dot is also one that tries to blend the best of old and new. You can see this clearly in the choice of materials, hardware, and body type. It’s a semi-hollow guitar also, which is not loved by everyone, if we’re being honest.
This is not an entry-level guitar. If you are just a beginner, we do not advise that you invest this much into it if you’re not sure whether this is a long-term dream.   One thing is for certain, if you pick up this guitar as an intermediate level player, you will be able to use it well into your expert years.	This is also not an entry-level guitar, it’s an intermediate level guitar. You can see this first in the price.   But away from the price, because this is a vintage-style guitar, there are certain care measures that need to be taken to keep the guitar intact. If you don’t know about vintage guitars, you might struggle with this guitar.
The guitar looks great! Because of that, it will wow the audience and draw their attention, even before you strike a chord in their hearts.	This doesn’t look as good as the AS93, but it sure doesn’t look bad. It’s something that you can also use into your expert years.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – What Features Do They Have In Common?

Although these two have some similar features, some of these features are implemented differently by the two manufacturers of the guitars. Therefore, while looking at the similarities, any difference in implementation by either of the guitars will be highlighted.

Body-Style: Semi-Hollow Body

The biggest similarity between these two guitars is also the one you see right out of the box. Both of these are semi-hollow guitars.

Now, when we talk about electric guitar body types, in this regard, there are three options available for you to choose from:

• Solid body.
• Semi-hollow body.
• Hollow body.

These three basically refer to the amount of wood that is inside the guitar. For solid body guitars, the inside of the guitar is solid, with wood.

For semi-hollow, there are parts of the insides that contain wood, and parts that are left empty.

For hollow body guitars, the inside of the guitar is completely empty.

When it comes to which is best, it mostly comes down to preference and what you want to use it for. Each of them has their strengths, and their weaknesses. However, in terms of balance of strengths and weaknesses, semi-hollow is the best of the three.

The major strength of the hollow body is the weight. It is lightweight. However, it gives off a lot of feedback, even in low volumes. The major strength of the solid body is that it carries of the growling and striking sounds that electric guitars should have, however, it is pretty heavy.

The semi-hollow body lies in the sweet-spot between these two. It is lightweight, to a large extent. And although it is not as light as the hollow body, it gives off very little feedback.

As for the sound, semi-hollow body may not be as growling as the solid body, but that can easily be tuned using the right electronics. Semi-hollow bodies work really well with amplification.

Tonewood: Maple

Both of these guitars are made with maple as the tonewood of choice. However, there is a slight difference in implementation.

On one hand, the Ibanez AS93 was made with flamed maple. On the other hand, the Epiphone Dot was made with laminated maple.

We would first look at maple generally, and how it affects both these guitars. Then, we would look at how much flamed and laminated affect the maple and what that means to the guitars.

The most popular tonewood for electric guitars is maple. The biggest reason for this is because of the sound that maple produces. Maple produces a really bright, striking sound. A sound like the sound of a bell. This sound is what most people want from an electric guitar, hence, why it’s so popular.

Coupled with really bright sounds, maple has a good resonance and long sustain time. While these are good things about maple, the reason behind them is the not nice part about maple, the weight. Maple is a really heavy and dense material.

However, because both of these guitars are semi-hollow guitars, some of that weight is dropped, reducing the overall weight of the guitar. So, with these guitars, you don’t have to worry too much about weight, though they’re made from maple.

Now, let’s go into the difference proper between these two woods: flamed and laminated maple.

Flamed Maple: Ibanez AS93

The first thing that you need to know is that flamed maple and normal maple have no noticeable tonal difference.

Simply put, whether your guitar is made with normal maple, or flamed maple, doesn’t change, alter, or affect the sound in anyway. Or at least, to human hearing.

So, What is the difference between maple and flamed maple?

Well, the difference is in the looks.

Flamed maple is simply a variation of the normal maple wood that is caused by difference in environmental factors. This difference causes distortion to the growth pattern of the maple wood fibers.

This distorted growth pattern then causes the face of the wood to have wavy lines. These wavy/curvy lines look like flames, hence, its name.

As a guitarist, you are bound to be superficial, even if slightly. So, if you would want a really good-looking guitar, then flamed maple might just be what you’re looking for.

Laminated Maple: Epiphone Dot

The Epiphone Dot features laminated maple. Unlike flamed maple, lamination affects a lot more than the looks of the guitar.

Laminated wood refers to thin pieces of wood that have been joined together by strong adhesives. This process of joining different layers is referred to as “lamination”.

The first thing people think when they see “laminated wood” is “budget” or “cheap”. But that is not always the case.

Yes, laminated wood is more affordable than solid wood, but that is not to say that it doesn’t have its perks.

Picking between a laminated wood and a solid wood should not only be dependent on money. In fact, due to innovation and technology, harvesting solid wood has become a lot more affordable than it was in the past. Because of that, the price of laminated wood and solid wood, are, on average, fairly the same.

Because they’re now fairly the same in price, picking one or the other doesn’t become a factor of budget. However, here are a few other things you’ll need to consider:

Solid Wood Vs Laminated Wood

1. Tone

The first thing we need to consider here is that this guitar is an electric guitar. Because of that, the sound produced is largely dependent on the electronics, not the wood used.

This is not to say that the tonewood doesn’t affect the sound, it does. It’s just that it doesn’t affect the sound as much as it would’ve if it was an acoustic guitar.

With that said, yes, solid wood sounds better than laminated wood. The reason for this is the adhesive used to stick the thin pieces of wood together. These adhesives adsorb some of the sound produced by the wood, causing some level of distortion to the tone.

Also, the natural resins present in wood, are what cause the wood to resonate. Because some of the resins are lost in the process of lamination, laminated wood does not resonate as well as solid wood.

2. Durability

The second thing that we need to look at, is durability. For this one, it’s a bit tricky. A lot of people straight up think that solid wood is a lot more durable than laminated wood, simply because it’s thicker and harder.

While that is largely true, it is not true in all circumstances. Laminated wood is held together by artificial glue, solid wood is held together by its natural resins.

Rapid fluctuations in temperature and humidity will gravely affect these natural resins. This in turn can break the wood, destroying your guitar.

Therefore, if you’re one that travels a lot with your guitar, you might want to look into getting laminated tonewood. Also, even if you don’t travel a lot, if you have a solid wood guitar, you have to regulate the temperature and humidity of wherever you keep it.

3. Look

Just like we said earlier, some of us guitarists are a little superficial, come on now, don’t be shy, it’s okay. Well, when it comes to looks, there is no clear winner between solid and laminated wood. It simply depends on the particular wood being discussed.

With solid wood, what you see is what you get. If the wood looks great, it looks great, and vice versa. On the other hand, with laminated wood, certain colors and grain patterns can be accentuated, giving the wood a unique look.

So, if you have wood that doesn’t look so great, lamination can actually make it look a lot better. But if you have wood that’s already good-looking, the altering caused by lamination might actually make it look, not so good.

Neck Wood: Mahogany

For the neck wood of these two guitars, the two companies involved in production decided to go for mahogany.

Just as a reminder, this is a budget-friendly guitar. Because of that, you would have to pick the more affordable version of certain things, though it might yield a reduction quality. The neck wood is one of these things.

If you check pro-level guitars, the ones that spare no cost, you would find the neck wood made of maple, as opposed to mahogany. The reason for this is that maple is a stronger wood than mahogany.

There is a test called the “Janka hardness test” that is used to measure, in pounds, the strength of a wood. The strength determines how well it resists wear and tear.

Now, there are many different types and variants of mahogany, all over the world. Because of that, there is no one score for their hardness. However, there is a range. The range is from 800 – 900.

For context, the most popular type of maple has a hardness of 1450 pounds. Soft maple, which is not so popular, has a hardness of 1000 pounds.

So How Does Hardness Affect The Guitar?

Well, the neck is where the fretboard lies, which is where all your strings are. As you play the guitar, there is a lot of tension generated by the strings.

The more you play, the more this tension wears the neck of the guitar. And just like we said earlier, the harder the wood, the less likely it is to break due to wear and tear.

That means a mahogany neck will not survive tension as long as a maple neck would. Which simply means that maple is more durable than mahogany.

However, that is not to say that mahogany is not durable, it is. Only that after some years of playing, it’ll be difficult to keep your strings tuned.

Slight Difference

While the Epiphone Dot has a mahogany neck, the Ibanez AS93 has a mix of both mahogany and maple.

Just like we’ve explained earlier, maple is a really hard wood and is more durable than mahogany. Therefore, the Ibanez AS93 has a more durable neck than the Epiphone Dot.

What that means is that if you’ve played the two guitars the same way, after a number of years, the Ibanez AS93 will still keep your strings tuned, when the Epiphone Dot doesn’t.

Left-Handed Versions

If you’re part of the 10% of the world’s population that is left-handed, then you’re in luck. Both of these guitars are available in the hand orientation that works for you.

All the features of the guitars are the same in the left and right-handed versions, that is the only difference, the hand orientation.

Want to get the left-handed version of the Ibanez AS93?

Want to get the left-handed version of the Epiphone Dot?

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Features Unique To Each Product

What’s unique to each product? Is that a pro, or a con? These are the questions that would be answered in this segment of this article.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Features Unique to the Ibanez AS93

Fretboard: Ebony

The fretboard is the part of the guitar that the guitarist interacts with the most. It is therefore important that you get the best fretboard that is suited to your needs. The Ibanez AS93 has a fretboard that is made with ebony.

When it comes to fretboards for electric guitars, there are usually three options that roughly have the same quality but different characteristics.

These three options are: ebony, rosewood, and maple. Although, ebony is not as popular as the other two.

Ebony is a unique blend of both, sharing characteristics with both rosewood and maple.

When you talk about the feel of the fretboard, which is actually the most important thing, ebony is more like rosewood.

Like rosewood, ebony does not require finishing. Because of that, it has a really natural feel, which is really liked by many guitarists.

However, also because ebony doesn’t have finishing, it requires regular conditioning to keep it looking good.

During your regular string change, you can get a rag, pour some guitar conditioner on it, and wipe the surface of your fretboard. It’s a pretty small price to pay for a natural-feeling fretboard, if you ask us.

Pickup Model: Super 58

The one reason why a lot of people like the Super 58 pickups is because they are used across a wide range of guitars, from budget-friendly intermediate guitars, to expensive pro-level guitars.

It makes people feel like they’re getting the same, or similar, pickup experience, irrespective of the budget they have.

While that is true to a large extent, you still shouldn’t expect an intermediate level guitar to sound as good as a pro-level guitar.

Although they have same pickups, their sounds will differ based on other features and factors.

However, whichever guitar these pickups are on, they maintain certain characteristics.

For one, these pickups produce a smooth nuanced sound. This sound carries a growling and biting sound, something like you would hear in blues.

You don’t have to take our word for it. Why don’t you check out how these sound by listening to how the guitar sounds? Check out the video below for a review of the Ibanez AS93, if you’re interested:

Hardware: Gold

First off, let’s be honest with you, the hardware is not actually gold. Yes, gold is simply a marketing strategy to attract customers, but truly, not all that glitters is gold. However, this is not a lie. Although this is not gold, it has gold finish, or it is gold plated, whichever you prefer.

Anytime you see guitar hardware that’s labeled “gold” it’s probably nickel hardware that has been overlaid with a thin layer of gold.

However, if it is a cheap guitar, then the gold is simply gold painting that will easily wash away.

Now we’re sure you’re asking why a gold plating. Well, it’s simply because gold does not tarnish and is not corrosive. Nickel is the opposite.

Nickel tarnishes quickly and is very corrosive. In the overall Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot argument, this is one point that you’ll want to take note of. This is because, Epiphone Dot has nickel hardware.

There is one downside to gold hardware, though, and that is the fact that it is not cheap. Gold hardware is not as affordable as nickel hardware, which can be a bummer if you have a low budget.

However, the good news is that gold and nickel hardware are interchangeable. So, if you don’t have the money, you can simply opt for nickel hardware, until you have the money for gold.

One problem people who have gold hardware often encounter is:

 “How Do I Clean My Gold Hardware So It Doesn’t Fade?”

Put down that polish! Yes, that’s the first and biggest thing you need to keep at the back of your mind. Most of the polishes out there will simply wipe off the gold plating together with the dirt on it.

What you need to do is to get a non-abrasive cloth and some dishwashing soap. You’ll also need a lot of patience. You have to wipe through every hardware, gently and softly. That way, you’ll clean the dirt without wiping off the gold plating.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot– Features Unique To The Epiphone Dot

Fretboard: Rosewood

Just like we mentioned earlier, rosewood is one of the three major options when it comes to fretboard woods.

When it comes to fretboard, the first thing, and the most important for electric guitars, is the feel.

Rosewood does not require finishing. Because of that, what you feel when sliding through your fretboard is the natural rosewood.

This natural feeling on the fretboard is what a lot of guitarist look for. It’s also safer because you’re sure no chemical is getting under your fingernails. However, this comes at a very small price.

Because there is no finishing, you’ll need to take proper care of your rosewood fretboard. You need to clean and condition the fretboard, regularly. That way, you’ll keep the fretboard looking clean and feeling same.

To clean a rosewood fretboard, you’ll need to get a conditioner. Get a conditioner that is specific for guitars. Get a soft cloth and with the conditioner. Wipe your fretboard clean, clean thoroughly. This process can be done regularly, the same time you replace your strings.

Pickup Model: Alnico Classic Humbucker

Well, this is one part of the Epiphone Dot that is not really loved by the general public.

In the light of Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot, we’re going to have to say that the Dot takes a loss in this feature. These pickups are not nearly as good as the Super 58 pickups.

A lot of people do not like these pickups. In fact, a customer once said that these pickups produce a “muddy, farty, sound”. However, this is not to say that everyone has the same opinion. There are actually some people who feel that these pickups are good enough, especially for their price.

One thing everyone can agree on is that they’re definitely an improvement from their predecessors. They produce meaner and more growling sounds that their past colleagues.

Whether this is good enough for you, comes totally down to personal opinion and preference.

You need to hear for yourself for you to decide whether this is worth your buck, or not. Check out the video below for an Epiphone Dot demo:

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Unique Pros

Ibanez AS93

• Super 58 pickups are way better than Alnico Classic Humbucker pickups.
• Gold hardware does not tarnish or corrode.

Epiphone Dot

• Rosewood is a better fretboard wood than ebony.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Unique Cons

Ibanez AS93

• Gold hardware is not very affordable.

Epiphone Dot

• The pickups could’ve been better.
• Nickel tarnishes pretty quickly.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Pros Common To Both

	Ibanez AS93	Epiphone Dot
Price	The first thing we can see about these two guitars is their affordability.   Although these are not the most affordable you can find out there, they’re definitely great value for money.	This guitar lies in the same price range with the Ibanez AS93.   Therefore, it shares similar quality, for similar price. Now, which one of these two is more economical is determinant on which is better for you.
Body type: Semi-hollow	The semi-hollow body type exists in the sweetspot between solid body type and hollow body type. Therefore, it bears pros from both sides.	Semi-hollow body type reduces the weight of the guitar, which is great because maple is quite heavy. It also works really well with amplification, giving off little feedback when volumes are very high.
Tonewood: maple	Maple is a great tonewood, and the most popular choice for tonewoods for electric guitars.	Maple is a very hard and dense wood, which ensures durability. For sound, it produces bright, punchy sounds, which is great for an electric guitar.
Brand trust	Brand trust is something that not many people look out for but is pretty important. If the brand is trustworthy, you’re sure of the quality of the product.	Both Ibanez and Epiphone are really trusted brands that have been existing for decades. Due to that fact, you are rest assured of quality.
Left-handed Versions	This guitar is available in a left-handed version, which is pretty handy.	This guitar is also available in a left-handed version.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – Cons Common To Both

	Ibanez AS93	Epiphone Dot
Not for Beginners	This guitar is not an entry-level guitar. You can see that from the price.	This guitar is also not an entry-level guitar. However, if you do have the money to spare, it’s not difficult to catch on.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – General Feeling Amongst Users

Ibanez AS93	Epiphone Dot
Well, people who got this guitar really liked their purchase. Some people bought this as an upgrade from the AS73, while some others, this was their first purchase.   People absolutely loved the fire top! Get it? Flamed maple? Yeah! It was really what caught a lot of people.	People who got this guitar also really loved their purchase. Most people who got this guitar got it for the nostalgic feeling that it gave them.   That was the aim of the company, which you can see in the nickel hardware and semi-hollow body design.

Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot – What Do We Think?

Well, we’ve come to the end of the Ibanez AS93 Vs Epiphone Dot argument and it’s time to pick the better one. Things like this are really difficult to do because most of the time, it comes down to opinion.

Get the Ibanez AS93 now!	Get the Epiphone Dot now!

However, we have to say that for us, Ibanez AS93 just tipped the bar. The pickups and the hardware were the two strong points that did if for us.

Just like we said, it’s down to opinion. So, if you feel the Epiphone Dot is better for you, there’s no issue. Afterall, both are really good guitars.

Ibanez AS93	Epiphone Dot
Get the Ibanez AS93 now!	Get the Epiphone Dot now!
Get the Ibanez AS93L now!	Get the Epiphone Dot Left-handed now!