I'd consider the Jeff to modify, but Dean lost what little respect I had for them when they bastardized Dimebag by naming a bass after him. Looks cool but give me a break you money grubbing shmurds.
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Dean Bass Hate?
- Thread starter Higgins666
- Start date
The dean ML metalman is a Pig, i have never touched a worse playing "new" bass. Looks kinda dumb too. there are very little exceptions where a guitar shape looks cool as a bass shape.
Thats only the Metalman line though, how i hate thee. neck felt like it should be a 5 string neck, it was like a baseball bat too.
Thats only the Metalman line though, how i hate thee. neck felt like it should be a 5 string neck, it was like a baseball bat too.
I don't like the metal styled Deans, but they make some great non-metal instruments - the Edge, Bromberg, Rhapsody series spring to mind. They're the only major(ish) manufacturer apart from Hamer to do a 12-string, and having played a nice USA Hamer 12 I can say that it was nicer than my Dean but only by maybe 10%, and it was triple the price of the Dean (and it was used).
If you like Deans, buy Deans. Generally speaking, there's very little hate at TB - people will generally say "it's not my thing" rather than saying they hate a brand. After all, every brand makes some turkeys.
Steve
If you like Deans, buy Deans. Generally speaking, there's very little hate at TB - people will generally say "it's not my thing" rather than saying they hate a brand. After all, every brand makes some turkeys.
Steve
I actually like the look of the Rhapsody 12. It was mostly the wide string spacing that led me to sell it. I do recall having to turn make some modifications to the bridge and neck angle to get the action to a reasonable height. As for styling, perhaps some prefer something like the more conventional-looking Edge model?
I don't like Dean's image, but the Jeff Berlin is an excellent bass. It has a very thin and fast neck and sounds clear and balanced.
I haven't to this day, after 5 years of playing, seen ONE dean bass in person. Im sure i might like their Edge Basses if i could only see one in Real life
Thats what you get for living in the FORMER most isolated capital city in the world
Thats what you get for living in the FORMER most isolated capital city in the world
I don't like the headstocks. And I have never played a Dean bass, I have played Dean guitars though. They aren't that great in my opinion
I had a Jeff Berlin that was wonderful! I played the hell out of it but sold it to fund my Nordstrand. Can you blame me?
I think you would be hard-pressed to find a better bass than the original Metalman series in its price range. I played a couple of them in stores and was quite impressed by how they played---I never put one through its paces with an amp I was familiar with. But every once in a while I am tempted to get a V or Z. (Hasn't happened yet, though.)
There will always be people who don't take pointy and/or metal-shaped instruments seriously. But I don't think there's much affirmative hate for them.
There will always be people who don't take pointy and/or metal-shaped instruments seriously. But I don't think there's much affirmative hate for them.
When I think of Dean guitars I think of metal which is the last style of music you'll find me playing so they are about as far from being 'my thing' as they could possibly be!
But I'm sure those who play metal and like pointy guitars are perfectly happy with them.
But I'm sure those who play metal and like pointy guitars are perfectly happy with them.
I've never really bonded with or gotten any real GAS over any Dean I've played. Not to say they are crap or anything, they're just not for me, I guess.
I've had a couple of Dean Edge Q-4 basses. Decent basses. They were solid workhorses but nothing overly spectacular. They get the job done.
Note: the Q-4 was the active Edge model and was far better sounding than the passive Edge model.
I loved the Cabbie basses but I couldn't think of a use for them beyond a rockabilly band.
Note: the Q-4 was the active Edge model and was far better sounding than the passive Edge model.
I loved the Cabbie basses but I couldn't think of a use for them beyond a rockabilly band.
Meh. I have a friend who has a 4-string Dean bass (no idea what model), and it's got a pretty good fast neck and sounds okay. He bought it because it was the cheapest bass he could find (damn guitar players who look to branch out). I could show up anywhere with my SX and not be embarrassed, but the Dean wouldn't ever leave my house if it were mine. I will say the cheaper Deans are good value for the price if you're into that look. I'm not, so you couldn't give one to me.
I think Dean is quite good. I've owned a Dean Rhapsody 8-string now since late 2000. It's excellently made and the styling of it is quite nice. I rather like the body shape, actually (with that French curl upper horn). The satin finish on the neck is great, too. The stock EMG HZ pickups and Dean preamp are probably the weakest elements, though. I have never really fallen in love with the tone of this bass. I plan on selling it eventually. This is no reflection on the quality of the instrument, just the fact that I have come to realize that I much prefer the greater playability of a short-scale 8-string (like the Hagstrom H8 or the Hamer B8s).
I've always been curious about a Rhapsody 4-string, though. You just don't see many of those around. I have seen a Rhapsody 1 in a store once. I picked it up and it felt super cheap, but I never had the opportunity to actually plug it in and test it out. The semi-hollow fretless Rhap doesn't seem to do it for me either, style-wise. But, a regular Rhapsody 4-string (or even a Q4) would be nice to try. I know that when I restring my Rhap 8, before I put the octave strings on, I give it a quick play. Sure, it buzzes like hell because the tension is all out of whack at that point, but the basic tone sounds very promising. With better electronics, I bet it would really shine.
I've always been curious about a Rhapsody 4-string, though. You just don't see many of those around. I have seen a Rhapsody 1 in a store once. I picked it up and it felt super cheap, but I never had the opportunity to actually plug it in and test it out. The semi-hollow fretless Rhap doesn't seem to do it for me either, style-wise. But, a regular Rhapsody 4-string (or even a Q4) would be nice to try. I know that when I restring my Rhap 8, before I put the octave strings on, I give it a quick play. Sure, it buzzes like hell because the tension is all out of whack at that point, but the basic tone sounds very promising. With better electronics, I bet it would really shine.
When I still had it, I installed a Bartolini CX in the neck position of my Rhapsody 12. Sounded much better than the EMGs. I'd say that the pickups are holding things back more than the electronics as the preamp seemed okay, and was quite flexible with three bands. In some ways I preferred the sound of that bass to my Lane Poor equipped Hamer Chaparral B12L. It was also the best balanced 12-string among the ones I've tried.
Oh stop it! Ive got two Dean Z Tour basses and they are pretty good. Yes, I play them in a thrash metal band and granted, thats the only place I think it fits in. It doesnt sound great when playing other types of music. My basses have got no real body to their sound and they actually sound very weak, even with the EMGs. Dean has its niche that theyve built with their odd shaped guitars that reaches to the metal market and unfortunatley, thats affected the way folks look at their non-metal guitars as well. Honestly, I bought mine because I wanted an Explorer bass for the stage but when Im playing something where the tone needs to be there, I'll reach for something else.
Shes pretty though...and fits my needs.
Shes pretty though...and fits my needs.
I love the sound of Deans. I'm looking for something extremely simple at the moment. Passive, one humbucker and less than £200. I'm seriously considering the Dean Metalman V. Not only does it look amazing but it sounds pretty good too.
