THE STORY: Originally, I obtained a blond (natural) DOT to trade for the USA-built Casino in the"Lennon's Casino Project." It was a nice guitar, and positively a different instrument from my similar-looking Sheraton II. I wound up trading a different guitar for the Casino, and sold the DOT to a friend. But the wife liked the looks of the DOT - OK, I did too - so I snagged another, and here it is.

As you can see, it's been "Deaf Eddied" with a pair of Seymour Duncan 59ers. A coil split of both pickups is accomplished through using a push-pull pot/switch, replacing the bridge pup's volume control. Yes, the bridge pup is a "reverse zebra" - the coil with the adjustable pole pieces is AWAY from the bridge, just like on my Sheraton... 'cuz that's the way, uh huh, uh huh, I like it! The height-adjustment springs were replaced with rubber tubing, and the pup caveties were stuffed with spongy-foam stuff (I find the stuff that the Seymours are shipped in works great). This goes a long way in preventing unwanted feedback and howl out of these guitars (I did this to my Sheraton as well).

Where this guitar is most obviously differs from the Sheraton (besides the lack of all the fancy "trim") is in its neck silhouette (or "profile"). The Sheraton is a thin, thin, thin bound-and-inlaid beastie with hare's-breath super-low action that frankly scares a few of my friends. I have owned some high dollar axes - still do! - and that axe out-PLAYS them all. This DOT, on the other hand, has a big ol' friendly neck - kinda like that fretted-baseball-bat feel. After an hour or two of my wanging on it (frets leveled, bridge and nut re-cut, trussrod tweaked), the action is sweet, smooth and low - but the neck is still BIG!... and very solid feeling.

The other difference - which may indicate more "invisible" construction differences - is that the DOT has a "allen wrench" style trussrod adjustment, where the Sheraton has a Gibson-like nut. Of course, these MIK guitars were built probably eight to ten years apart - perhaps they've just changed their technique over time. Any newer Sheraton - or older DOT - owners out there care to venture an opinion? It's a well built axe, in any case, as is the Sheraton...

Anywhoo, it looks neat with the faux-tortoise shell pickguard that was originally on my Sheraton, it sounds great with them Seymour Duncans loaded, and it plays great, because, frankly, I can really set 'em up like nobody's business...