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Dean basses?

#2
Dean has made everything from the sublime to the ridiculous, from cheap entry level stuff to multi-thousand dollar customs.

Here's the ad copy for one of their better production offerings from the (I think) 90's. Made in the Czech Republic. Really nice instrument.

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#5
Ive had a dean import john entwistle hybrid bass it was expensive for what it was and played pretty poorly (uneven fretts and no sustain at all and tons of neck dive) my advive would be play one first for a long time before buying it.
 
#7
twinjet said:
What are your opinions? I've never been terribly impressed by their instruments, but perhaps I am only seeing the lower quality basses.
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Very nice Jazz bass with a slightly different look. Incredible neck, potent pickups, and you can find one for a good price. Originally $599 but I just bought this one for $209!
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The Dean Eric Bass is pretty damned good, too. If I found one for the same price I'd buy it without a second thought.
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#8
Ok, that's more like it. They look pretty good. Every time, and I mean EVERY time I go to a music store their Deans just never sound any good.. though I did try two separate electric uprights and the Dean actually sounded better. That one shocked me.
 
#10
I have played and owned a number of Dean basses over the years including "Edge" models and they were all decent axes IMHO. I owned a Dean "DB" (pre Edge, I believe) from the early 90's that had a large body scallop where your right wrist/forearm would cross if you play with a pick. That was a great instrument and well made/finished. As with any manufacturer, there can be some clams out there. I have purchased very expensive brand basses that were poorly fit and finished....

Rock On!
 
#11
I’m not sure if this really applies, but I bought a short-scale Dean bass for my 8 year old son for Christmas last year. It was really inexpensive, and figured that it would most likely not sound very good compared to what’s in my stable. I was totally wrong on that count. After it arrived, I set it up and plugged into my amp to make sure it worked. Was very surprised with the tone, especially with the tone knob rolled off a bit. Nice, deep P bass tone, real easy to get around on the neck, light weight (of course). Candy apply red finish with a P pickup, rosewood board. The tuners are cheap but they stay in tune. My estimation of Dean basses went way up after that. If they can make a bass this inexpensive and sound good enough for me to actually take notice, then there’s something there.

I don’t think any of the stores I frequent carry Dean basses, I actually haven’t seen one in years.
 
#12
IMHO, Dean's Razor series (discontinued now for several years) were some of the nicest instruments ever produced by the company. At one point, I owned three of the Korean-built Razor models, but ended up selling them during an exceptionally-intense GAS attack. I give Dean a lot of credit for their attempts at innovation. The previously-cited Hillsboro line has received some decent accolades here and elsewhere. Not quite my cup of tea, but I honestly wouldn't hesitate to purchase another Dean should the opportunity arise.
 
#13
crucislancer said:
I’m not sure if this really applies, but I bought a short-scale Dean bass for my 8 year old son for Christmas last year. It was really inexpensive, and figured that it would most likely not sound very good compared to what’s in my stable. I was totally wrong on that count. After it arrived, I set it up and plugged into my amp to make sure it worked. Was very surprised with the tone, especially with the tone knob rolled off a bit. Nice, deep P bass tone, real easy to get around on the neck, light weight (of course). Candy apply red finish with a P pickup, rosewood board. The tuners are cheap but they stay in tune. My estimation of Dean basses went way up after that. If they can make a bass this inexpensive and sound good enough for me to actually take notice, then there’s something there.

I don’t think any of the stores I frequent carry Dean basses, I actually haven’t seen one in years.
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I'm wondering if this is another situation where a brand once considered "cheap" (especially for entry level/lower level instruments) is now making quality inexpensive instruments (such as Ibanez and Squier).
 
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#14
wintremute said:
I'm wondering if this is another situation where a brand once considered "cheap" is now making quality inexpensive instruments (such as Ibanez and Squier).
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That could be. I personally always felt that Ibanez makes great instruments, though I can’t say that I’ve played anything that would be considered budget. Both of the Ibanez basses I had were MIJ and were amazing. Squier, on the other hand, has some good stuff now, but in the past their beginner stuff was really awful.
 
#15
I have a Dean Edge 5 string. Won it in a Bass Player Magazine drawing about 12 years ago. It's a pretty good bass and I've kept it in the stable all these years. I rarely play it now because I prefer my other basses (SBMM Ray34, Lakland Skyline DJ-5, Ibanez 12063), so I should probably trade/sell it.
 
#16
crucislancer said:
That could be. I personally always felt that Ibanez makes great instruments, though I can’t say that I’ve played anything that would be considered budget. Both of the Ibanez basses I had were MIJ and were amazing. Squier, on the other hand, has some good stuff now, but in the past their beginner stuff was really awful.
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I was thinking specifically the entry level/lower-end basses, but I didn't specify that. I'll edit my post to make it clearer. I've never thought poorly of Ibanez, but it seems their reputation (on their lower level instruments) wasn't so hot.
 
#19
my problem with dean is that my feelings about their basses are partly based on their acoustic guitars. these don't stand up too well to the competition - i blind tested them against several other brands in the same prices, and the guys i had listening to the guitars picked the deans as the least good without a pause. i completely agreed.

i haven't had a chance to try many dean basses, and maybe i should do so with a more open mind the next time i try 'em.
 

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