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Dean Club!!!

#2,281
Cliff Colton said:
The Ibanez SR neck also appears to have an angled cut at the heel, so I’m not sure how that needs to be addressed. This may be a job for Super Luthier, not a Jimmy Olsen like me. My first task is to find an SR neck with a headstock color that will match the Dean body. I don’t think Ibanez orange, red, or silver will match very well. So I guess my choices may be to either learn to play fretless, or start planning and saving for a life long bass project. Hmmm...
Click to expand...
An Edge 4 neck has 24 frets
I may post something this evening
 
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#2,287
FinialBassist said:
Congrats! And nice score on the parts bass.

My Paramount instantly became my primary player. I liked it so much I got a Juggernaut, but I've come to realize I'm definitely a P bass guy (especially if it's strung with flatwounds).
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Are they as good as everyone says? They look to be on par with a 1200 dollar Fender P bass in build quality and playability/sound......I REALLY want one, and I still see them pop up for around 300 bucks but that wont be for long as they disappear from stores......before Covid19 wiped out my and my wife's jobs, I was getting ready to order a Paramount the next time I saw one at a good price. So you would highly recommend it? Would it be on par with my neck thru Dean's and BC Rich's and Gibsons?
Thanks for your input!
 
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#2,289
barclaybass said:
Are they as good as everyone says? They look to be on par with a 1200 dollar Fender P bass in build quality and playability/sound......I REALLY want one, and I still see them pop up for around 300 bucks but that wont be for long as they disappear from stores......before Covid19 wiped out my and my wife's jobs, I was getting ready to order a Paramount the next time I saw one at a good price. So you would highly recommend it? Would it be on par with my neck thru Dean's and BC Rich's and Gibsons?
Thanks for your input!
Click to expand...
I’d say this they’re on par with a MIM Fender.
I own a Paramount and a Juggernaut and enjoy playing them. I really like their thin narrow fast necks. They’re 22 frets as opposed to 20 or 21.
 
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#2,294
BradWorld said:
I know Dean Guitars has their issues with reputation and quality control at times. They get a lot of grief for abusing the whole Dime signature thing too. But I have been a loyal fan of Deans for a very long time, and play them quite a bit. I have a nice stable of vintage and limited Dean guitars and basses. I play bass in an original band, and try to play my Deans at every show. I never like to be the guy that plays the same thing as everyone else. And a lot of the Dean basses I play have their own unique look and feel... at least just enough that I'm not playing the same P or J or Ibanez as the flock. So good or bad, I am a loyal Dean enthusiast.

Here are a couple of my Dean Basses for you guys to check out.

Dean DOA V-Zilla Bass #8 of 20

View attachment 2062457

Dean DOA Trans Flame Blueburst Z Bass #8 of 12
Dean DOA Trans Cherryburst V Bass #8 of 25
Dean NAMM Prototype Metalman V Bass

View attachment 2062458

Dean DOA Silverburst Cadillac Bass - one of 25
Shown with two matching DOA Silverburst Cadillac Guitars

View attachment 2062459

Three Dean Euro Basses hand made in the Czech Republic

View attachment 2062460

One of a kind Dean Hollowbody Bass Prototype

View attachment 2062461

Dean USA Custom Shop Hillsboro Bass in Trans Black over Swamp Ash

View attachment 2062462

1983 Chicago USA Dean Bel Aire Bass. Very rare.

View attachment 2062463
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I have a dean bass that looks just like this Bel Aire. Same neck, same body. black body, no pickguard. just the bridge pickup though. cant find any info on it. any ideas?
 
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#2,295
Ken Davis said:
I have a dean bass that looks just like this Bel Aire. Same neck, same body. black body, no pickguard. just the bridge pickup though. cant find any info on it. any ideas?
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It’s from the 80’s when Dean Zelinsky actually owned Dean guitars.

Here’s a contact email from his current business endeavor
[email protected]
if you’re lucky he’ll reply.
I’d provide pix and S/N info you have to help get a thorough answer.

This club deals more with when Elliot ‘Dean’ Rubinson bought Dean from Tropical music in 1997.

That doesn’t mean we won’t try, just that it might take longer depending on who is still here on TB that would know like @BradWorld who sadly is not here much anymore.
 
#2,296
Came across this the other day:
F4F96417-715C-40F1-94D5-D2E1000237A4.png
211462EB-0273-40D0-90A0-1161908F0E18.png
8C1EA47C-3F81-4C36-B5F5-A6DDC8A77972.png



Dean Jeff Berlin signature bass.
Made in Czech Republic.
Not in any catalog.
‘99 model.
Seller claims it is a Prototype, which is possible.
Only thing I have a problem with is the ‘Bass Lines’ pups on it from Seymour Duncan.
Dean never used these. Jeff Berlin was/is gaga over Bartolini pups and I am 99% sure Semour Duncan didn’t start making Bass Lines pups until after 1999, but I could be wrong on that. I’m guessing these were a PO mod but the seller insists they’re original which I am having a real hard time with.

@Ronen ...what do you think?
Anybody else?
 
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#2,298
Nenor said:
Do you have a photo of the back? It sure looks like a JB Dean. Pickups size seems to match the Bartolini on Jeff's Dean. No idea about the SD. Are you considering buying it? If there's no issues and the price is right I wouldn't hesitate.
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Oh, it is definitely a Dean.

Look at the label on the back of the headstock. Definitely legit.

Has the BAII Bridge & Schaller Tuners

My issue is the claim about the Bass Lines.

I don’t want to pay full asking price under the possible premise of a less than honest advertisement.

I know for certain from Brad Mader and Scott Frazer at Dean that Dean never used these pups.

So if I could verify when Seymour Duncan started selling Bass Lines pups that would certainly help me determine the validity of the sellers claim of these being original.
 
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#2,299
Note that the headstock back stamp is of the later models, so are the tuners. The earlier ones (like mine) had different stamp, symmetric tuner position and an older tuner model. The serial 94492 is newer than mine 92822 - So that neck is not a prototype for sure.
 
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#2,300
Nenor said:
Note that the headstock back stamp is of the later models, so are the tuners. The earlier ones (like mine) had different stamp, symmetric tuner position and an older tuner model. The serial 94492 is newer than mine 92822 - So that neck is not a prototype for sure.
Click to expand...
Good eye!
 
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