Dean Club!!!

[B-Mac]

May I have a number please?

I own the following Dean Basses and love every one of them.

1. Jeff Berlin Czech Made
2. Edge Pro
3. Rhapsody 8
4. Exotica Quilt Ash Gloss Natural A/E
5. Exotica Quilt Ash Fretless Trns Blk A/E
6. Performer Satin A/E 32"
7. Performer Radiant Satin A/E 32"

Here's a pic of the Exotica's out and ready for easy access

 

[Shannon]

May I have a number please?

I own the following Dean Basses and love every one of them.

1. Jeff Berlin Czech Made
2. Edge Pro
3. Rhapsody 8
4. Exotica Quilt Ash Gloss Natural A/E
5. Exotica Quilt Ash Fretless Trns Blk A/E
6. Performer Satin A/E 32"
7. Performer Radiant Satin A/E 32"

Here's a pic of the Exotica's out and ready for easy access


View attachment 2816575

Very nice! Based on my unofficial list, you are Number 125!

 

[Swerve]

My Dean Edge Pro 4. Korean 2006 Model. I stumbled upon her used at GC about 6 months ago and she's been my favorite bass ever since. Cured my GAS for sure, haven't even thought about another bass.

These came stock with a badass bridge, brass nut, and grover tuners. It's got a fast 24 fret neck-thru body and active pups. Can get a wide variety of tones for any style and has sustain for days. Sounds great distorted too with a definite Geddy Lee bite.

Never thought I'd own a Dean as I always associated them with beginner basses (that's all I ever saw in stores) or with heavy metal designs. I'd love to try out one of those Euro models someday.

 

[jd56hawk]

May I have a number please?

I own the following Dean Basses and love every one of them.

1. Jeff Berlin Czech Made
2. Edge Pro
3. Rhapsody 8
4. Exotica Quilt Ash Gloss Natural A/E
5. Exotica Quilt Ash Fretless Trns Blk A/E
6. Performer Satin A/E 32"
7. Performer Radiant Satin A/E 32"

Here's a pic of the Exotica's out and ready for easy access


View attachment 2816575

Damn, two Exoticas!
Should've never sold my first one but at least I found another for a great price.
Big mistake when they did away with the Aphex system preamp.
(Headphones are recommended)

 

[B-Mac]

Damn, two Exoticas!
Should've never sold my first one but at least I found another for a great price.
Big mistake when they did away with the Aphex system preamp.
(Headphones are recommended)

Yeah, the Aphex was great but it wasn't their decision. Aphex was bought out by another company. I used to have e-mail conversations with Elliot quite a bit about their products and he told me this was the reason. When they ran out of supply that was it. The ABG w/Aphex are definitely the ones to get!


In Memoriam: Elliott Rubinson

R.I.P. Elliot 'Dean' Rubinson.

I recently picked up a Sledgehammer also.

 

[-Stingray]

Two firsts for me. First Dean, first P-Bass.

While I've only been playing a few years, I somehow have managed to completely avoid P-Basses in that time. Found a Dean Paramount on sale new for $220, last week and couldn't resist.

Been playing both a Jazz copy, and a Sterling Stingray since I started, and I agree wholeheartedly with others who have said P-basses just sit really well in the mix. Didn't know what I was missing until now.

The Dean Paramount feels amazingly solid, especially considering the price point. I now have my eye out for a Czech made Dean Bass. drool

Not sure if you are still issuing club numbers, but if you are I'd like one.

 

[B-Mac]

Two firsts for me. First Dean, first P-Bass.

While I've only been playing a few years, I somehow have managed to completely avoid P-Basses in that time. Found a Dean Paramount on sale new for $220, last week and could resist.

Been playing both a Jazz copy, and a Sterling Stingray since I started, and I agree wholeheartedly with others who have said P-basses just sit really well in the mix. Didn't know what I was missing until now.

The Dean Paramount feels amazingly solid, especially considering the price point. I now have my eye out for a Czech made Dean Bass. drool

Not sure if you are still issuing club numbers, but if you are I'd like one.

Please keep us informed with the Paramount. I have a Fender American Deluxe P-Bass. I’ve been thinking about getting a similar Fender J-bass, but can’t seem to find a similar deal that I got on my A D P-bass, so I have been eyeing the Dean Juggernaut, as a MIM FENDER J-bass or a Squire J-bass just doesn’t appeal to me.

 

[Shannon]

Two firsts for me. First Dean, first P-Bass.

While I've only been playing a few years, I somehow have managed to completely avoid P-Basses in that time. Found a Dean Paramount on sale new for $220, last week and could resist.

Been playing both a Jazz copy, and a Sterling Stingray since I started, and I agree wholeheartedly with others who have said P-basses just sit really well in the mix. Didn't know what I was missing until now.

The Dean Paramount feels amazingly solid, especially considering the price point. I now have my eye out for a Czech made Dean Bass. drool

Not sure if you are still issuing club numbers, but if you are I'd like one.

I think we still are, lemme check.

(Rummages around)

Ok, as soon as you post a pic, you will be #126.

 

[B-Mac]

having very serious G.A.S. for a Dean Razor NT

[edit 1/8/2018]

The Dean Razor NT 4-stringer that I was G.A.S.-ing over on GC Used is gone! I waited too long to get a reply on condition and some pix. I should have bought it! It was $262 and looked awesome! These are hard to come by in nice shape.
Argh!

 

[-Stingray]

Impressions after a week:

As I previously mentioned, I got the bass at a low enough price that I figured I could use it as a spare, or give it to my son to mess around on. The fit and finish are very, good. Action was decent out of the box, and I was able to get the action absurdly low (the way I like it) with a quick adjustment or two. Frets are great, and you can tell a good bit of attention was given to rolling the fret board edges.

Sound-wise, it sounds very P-like, as you would expect.

Now the bad: Upon plugging in I immediately noticed the pickups were way too hot. Hot as in sounding boomy/distorted, even when deploying the "active" switch on my D800 head (pickups are passive). Adjusted the pups down as much as I could (which helped significantly), but I still feel they a little too hot for my taste. Right now, it sounds best at about 3/4 volume. The bass plays nice enough that I'll spring for a set of Seymour Duncan Vintage P's to tame it down a bit. I understand Elliot had a hand in designing this model. Seems odd that he chose to put such hot pickups in it.

I don't own any high end basses, and as such I see this quickly becoming my main player for the classic rock cover band I'm in.

Overall I'm pleased with the purchase.

Edit: For clarity

 

[B-Mac]

I purchased this Dean Edge Hammer 10X from Jeff (Ric5) over the summer, as I'd always wanted a five plus octave-strings since about 1994 but as there was no production bass made until the Dean I made due by electronically simulating the upper-octaves via my Bass Whammy, Zoom 506, Yamaha MagicStomp, and Electro-Harmonix POG/Micro POG over the years. While that worked better than most would expect (especially as the electronics got better around the time of the Yamaha) I finally took the plunge and purchased a real-life 10-string after 14 years of desire:

View attachment 1366359

Number, please?

Any updates on this after 9 years and 2 months? Still have it? Still play it? You hardly see these for sale anywhere, so I guess everyone holds on to them? Give us an update if you could please.
Thanks.

 

[B-Mac]

Okay, so here we are...all fans of DEAN basses. Anyone here have a Dean Rhapsody? I have the 8 string in Bubinga Gloss Natural that is a bit amber-ish rather than brown-ish like the earlier satin natural ones. They made quite a few versions of these. Without getting into colors, finishes and hardware colors this is what I know:

12 string active w/two EMGHZ
8 string active w/two EMGHZ
5 string active w/two EMGHZ
4 string active w/two EMGHZ
4 string passive w/two PUPS (don't know manufacturer)
4 string passive w/one PUP (don't know manufacturer)
4 string passive hollow w/modern F holes w/one PUP (don't know manufacturer)

4 string fretless passive hollow w/modern F holes w/one PUP near neck (don't know manufacturer)
4 string fretless passive hollow w/classic F holes w/one PUP near bridge (don't know manufacturer)

I do not know if the active basses actually have passive or active PUPS. I've read about other mods of non-Dean basses where the owner swapped out the EMGHZ for EMG40 because the EMG40 were active PUPS and the EMGHZ were passive PUPS even though they were connected to an active preamp. The active Rhapsody's I've seen were all V/V/B/M/T
I do not know if these ever came with Barts like various Edge Pros and Edge Q4s
I do not know if the Rhapsody was ever made as a 6-stringer.
I have no clue how to adjust the bridge to raise/lower the strings. Is it even possible?

I do not know if the active versions had EMG preamps or DEAN preamps.

Anyone want to chime in on their experience with the Dean Rhapsody?​

 

[B-Mac]

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

Man, I like that Hollow Body. You should join the Hollow Body club here at TB

 

[B-Mac]

The DEAN club!

previous club from 2007. Maybe these guys will jump in here?

Dean Owners Club

previous club from 2008. Maybe these guys will jump in here?

Dean Bass Club

and another from 2007.

Lets consolidate! This club seems to have the most members, longevity and activity!

 

[B-Mac]

Impressions after a week:

As I previously mentioned, I got the bass at a low enough price that I figured I could use it as a spare, or give it to my son to mess around on. The fit and finish are very, good. Action was decent out of the box, and I was able to get the action absurdly low (the way I like it) with a quick adjustment or two. Frets are great, and you can tell a good bit of attention was given to rolling the fret board edges.

Sound-wise, it sounds very P-like, as you would expect.

Now the bad: Upon plugging in I immediately noticed the pickups were way too hot. Hot as in sounding boomy/distorted, even when deploying the "active" switch on my D800 head (pickups are passive). Adjusted the pups down as much as I could (which helped significantly), but I still feel they a little too hot for my taste. Right now, it sounds best at about 3/4 volume. The bass plays nice enough that I'll spring for a set of Seymour Duncan Vintage P's to tame it down a bit. I understand Elliot had a hand in designing this model. Seems odd that he chose to put such hot pickups in it.

I don't own any high end basses, and as such I see this quickly becoming my main player for the classic rock cover band I'm in.

Overall I'm pleased with the purchase.

Edit: For clarity

View attachment 2871638

Question: Any dead spots like on a Fender? The 5th and 6th fret on the G and D string usually do not ring out as long as the fretted strings around the same area; sometimes not even for a full second. It would be interesting to know if the Dean version of the P-Bass doesn't have this problem, or even less of it.

 

[-Stingray]

Question: Any dead spots like on a Fender? The 5th and 6th fret on the G and D string usually do not ring out as long as the fretted strings around the same area; sometimes not even for a full second. It would be interesting to know if the Dean version of the P-Bass doesn't have this problem, or even less of it.

Nope. No dead spots! At least not on this particular bass.

 

[B-Mac]

So, why a DEAN? Really, what got you into DEAN? They are pretty big with Metal Bands. But why a DEAN bass? For me it was pretty much the 'eye candy' effect. The Exotica series pulled me into the brand and I've been a fan since. But the band 'Strawbs' really made me aware of them. I'm very much into progressive rock and the Strawbs have been around since the 60's first as a folk band, then folk rock, then progressive. I've seen them 4 times. Once in 1985, 2004, 2016 and as Acoustic Strawbs in 2005.

Acoustic Strawbs really piqued my interest. The bass player, Chas Cronk had two Deans on stage. An Exotica Quilt Ash A/E Bass Trans Black (fretted - since discontinued) and a Performer SE 12 sting Acoustic Guitar. Dave Lambert, who is their main electric guitarist, had a Dean Performer Key Largo PQSE KL acoustic 6 string (also since discontinued). All very beautiful and great sounding. When I saw them again as a complete band in 2016 I noticed that Chas Cronk was playing a Dean Edge Pro and still had his Performer SE 12 string.

Here are some pix:


My first Dean was my Exotica Quilt Ash GN fretted Bass purchased in May 2013. My second was the Exotica Quilt Ash Fretless Bass Trans Black.

Since then I have acquired a total of 8 Dean basses and one Dean Exotica Paduk GN 6 sting acoustic guitar.

What got you into Dean? Any particular artist or band? Something just grab your attention like the Exotica series? price/value? Share your story.

 

[-Stingray]

Back when I was playing guitar it was the body and headstock shapes that first got me interested. After owning a couple of very nice Korean models I picked up the American Cadillac in the photo below. That was the most beautiful well made instrument I've ever owned.

The Dean forums and Dean Owners club were also very, very active (not so much anymore). Getting together with other Dean owners was a lot of fun.

 

[Ian Perge]

Any updates on this after 9 years and 2 months? Still have it? Still play it? You hardly see these for sale anywhere, so I guess everyone holds on to them? Give us an update if you could please.
Thanks.

I actually sold it about a year after purchase - the neck was just a bit too large and a touch too wide for my fretting hand to play comfortably, and wasn’t working well for my fingerstyle technique under the RH fingers (...and I did give it a full year to try and warm to). I was very impressed with the build quality at its pricepoint and had it stayed, it would have gotten my “usual” Nordstrand “Big Singles” & Aguilar OBP-3SK/PP electronics upgrade as well as the hardware (Hipshot Ultralites and I would have tried to find someone to make/modify a more heavy-duty custom Bridge). I still think Dean should have made and promoted it more: I searched high-and-low when it was on the New Gear market, and moreso on the used when I lucked out and scored it from Ric at a absolutely reasonable price!

...I went back to my “Effects Solution” of a E-H Micro POG with light Overdrive most of the time and that really works for me 97% of the time. I sometimes consider adding a Custom “Dual Course 5-string” onto my list of “Stuff I Want”, but honestly? There’s so many ideas that would be more useful to me I’d rather just continue to upgrade and getting closer to 100% with continually upgrading effects (it’s been a decade since I came up with my idea for a “Bass Sustainiac” & Kahler Bass Trem “Effects Bass” and despite having purchased the Bass & gotten a great deal on a US-made Kahler, that has yet to come to fruition: part of that is numerous moves and lack of disposable cash as the Better-Half became “Better-Half, MS”, “Dr. Better-Half”, and an employed “Dr. Better-Half” in the middle of “The Great Resession”! )

Sorry, but I hope this was at least some help/answers to your question!

 

[B-Mac]

I actually sold it about a year after purchase - the neck was just a bit too large and a touch too wide for my fretting hand to play comfortably, and wasn’t working well for my fingerstyle technique under the RH fingers (...and I did give it a full year to try and warm to). I was very impressed with the build quality at its pricepoint and had it stayed, it would have gotten my “usual” Nordstrand “Big Singles” & Aguilar OBP-3SK/PP electronics upgrade as well as the hardware (Hipshot Ultralites and I would have tried to find someone to make/modify a more heavy-duty custom Bridge). I still think Dean should have made and promoted it more: I searched high-and-low when it was on the New Gear market, and moreso on the used when I lucked out and scored it from Ric at a absolutely reasonable price!

...I went back to my “Effects Solution” of a E-H Micro POG with light Overdrive most of the time and that really works for me 97% of the time. I sometimes consider adding a Custom “Dual Course 5-string” onto my list of “Stuff I Want”, but honestly? There’s so many ideas that would be more useful to me I’d rather just continue to upgrade and getting closer to 100% with continually upgrading effects (it’s been a decade since I came up with my idea for a “Bass Sustainiac” & Kahler Bass Trem “Effects Bass” and despite having purchased the Bass & gotten a great deal on a US-made Kahler, that has yet to come to fruition: part of that is numerous moves and lack of disposable cash as the Better-Half became “Better-Half, MS”, “Dr. Better-Half”, and an employed “Dr. Better-Half” in the middle of “The Great Resession”! )

Sorry, but I hope this was at least some help/answers to your question!

Thanks for the update! Too bad it didn’t work out for you. I wonder how wide the necks are on other make 10 string octave basses for comparison. Are you DEAN-less now?