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Dean Bass Phobia?

jackajesusfreak

jackajesusfreak

Mar 5, 2009
1,154
20
72
#1
The only Dean bass I've ever played or owned, is the Dean Edge Q4 Bartolini. These sold new for $519.00. In my quest to whittle down the herd and settle on 2 basses under a grand and as close to the 500 mark I can get, this bass, so far, is standing head and shoulders above the other ones in the herd under a grand, sadly including the Peavey RSB KOA I just purchased here.
Don't misunderstand, the Peavey is a nice bass and is cosmetically a beauty! However, if I did an overall review, A to Z, the Dean comes out on top.
I'm beginning to think that these Deans have a very similar tainted reputation that the Peaveys used to. Now, again, Peavey has more models to offer just from their USA models than Dean has in their entire arsenal, but these Edge Q4s seem to, at the very least, go the distance with any of the makes and models, under a grand, that have come through this house in the last 3 years!
Crazy thing is, you can get this Dean for less than $300.00 all day!! Go figure!
Jack
 
#4
snyderz said:
Loaned my wife a Dean Edge 4 fretless a couple years ago. She hasn't let it out of her sight since.
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I'm telling you snider, I can't speak for any of the models except the Q4, but I'm amazed that everyone runs from them. Especially since I would have to say that majority of the nonprofessional bassists, can't afford high end basses, even ones over a grand. Yet these Deans sit on EBay all day long like the lonely Maytag repairman! :D
Jack
 
#7
metallicafan18 said:
I have two Dean Hillsboro's and the Eric Bass sig is one of if not the best playing bass I have. The action is almost flat against the fretboard with no fretbuzz anywhere. Under $500 too.
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There ya go!!! Another testimony and satisfied customer!

Even though I've been playing guitars for 40+ years, I just started playing bass in February. In my 2+ years of buying, returning, selling, loaning, and trading basses, in order to get the right fit for me, I had some money owed to me that had accumulated over that period. With the economy the way it is, many did not have money to pay back, but offered up gear instead! I scooped up 4 of these rascals (Q4s) thinking that I would have no problem selling them, worse case scenario, break even for what was owed to me. I can't move a single one! I'm hoping that, push comes to shove, I can move them during the holidays.
 
#10
I'm not going to lie...Dean basses are a little on the ugly side IMHO. But I used to have a Rhapsody 8 String that I thought was wonderful, and I'd still have it if I had any use for an 8 string.
 
#12
My first bass was/is a Dean. It's a metal man series bass. The pickup is admittedly lame, but it's an overall comfortable bass. I bought it used and it seemed neglected, but I'm sure these are fine basses new. That said, I don't see why the Dean brand is avoided like the plague. Maybe it's the "metal" image, or wonky designs. I'm entirely satisfied with my Dean, and compared even to basses that are a little more expensive.
 
#14
jackajesusfreak said:
How so Jimmy?
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How so did I think the Dean 8 was wonderful, or how so do I find Dean basses a little ugly?

If the first, it had great low action with minimal buzzing, and while it may have beneffited from better pickups, it had a good strong chimey sound like you'd expect from an 8 and a goodly amount of tonal versatility. If the second, hey, look at them!
 
#16
JimmyM said:
How so did I think the Dean 8 was wonderful, or how so do I find Dean basses a little ugly?

If the first, it had great low action with minimal buzzing, and while it may have beneffited from better pickups, it had a good strong chimey sound like you'd expect from an 8 and a goodly amount of tonal versatility. If the second, hey, look at them!
Click to expand...

Nothing ugly at the Q4 Jimmy!! :smug:

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#17
I just joined today and my two main basses are both Deans

I think a lot of the problems with Dean is the necks are really hit-or-miss on the Korean models. Once you get into some of the better models more care is taken with the craftsmanship

Although, my hardtail which is only 2-3 years old already needs a new finish.

I'd love to try a Czech made Dean, I've heard they are amazing
 
#18
Jack, I'll admit that that's a nice looking bass, and I probably have owned a couple that were way uglier. And overall, Dean's bass line has gotten better looking. But they still have plenty of basses that are ugly. What's up with that pickguard on the Hillsboros? And they still do that horrible lime green bass, also available in Pepto pink.
 

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