Dean Club!!!

[gormsby]

Huh. I was looking at that neck thing, wondering if it was real or some photo angle or image compression artifact. I did just inquire about the neck condition (not the Rhapsody aspect -- hadn't seen your update yet). We'll see what they say. I'm also a guitarist with a penchant for 12-strings, so if I don't get through this year with at least two Edges and a Dean 8-string (I'm partial to 4-string basses), it will be some sort of miracle.

 

[B-Mac]

Huh. I was looking at that neck thing, wondering if it was real or some photo angle or image compression artifact. I did just inquire about the neck condition (not the Rhapsody aspect -- hadn't seen your update yet). We'll see what they say. I'm also a guitarist with a penchant for 12-strings, so if I don't get through this year with at least two Edges and a Dean 8-string (I'm partial to 4-string basses), it will be some sort of miracle.

For Sale - Dean Edge 8 String

 

[gormsby]

I have three of them. If you like Barts and Q maple top that is a steal.
Please buy it to keep me from buying it as I really do not need another one. That is a great price. It still has the same neck and 24 fret FB.
Same as your fretless except the Quilt Maple Top and Frets and Barts.

Barts are deeper and warmer.
DMT's tend to be bright and sometimes hot to the point of distortion if dimed.


[edit]
I just noticed that this has a 2012 neck on it and it appears to be from a Rhapsody Bass. See the curves at the bottom of the neck? May not be an issue, but I'd ask about it.
View attachment 4925251

Well, I bought them both. When I have both in hand, I can figure out which one to keep and optimize, if not both. Two months ago I looked at my instruments and related gear, including three basses, and decided to do some winnowing and prioritizing to reduce all the stuff. I don't need all that stuff. Now I'll have six basses (one for sale). So clearly the "reducing" part is not going well.

 

[B-Mac]

Well, I bought them both. When I have both in hand, I can figure out which one to keep and optimize, if not both. Two months ago I looked at my instruments and related gear, including three basses, and decided to do some winnowing and prioritizing to reduce all the stuff. I don't need all that stuff. Now I'll have six basses (one for sale). So clearly the "reducing" part is not going well.

The thing is you're not spending a lot for items that perform well above their price. So all good even if you don't sell.

 

[Mark_L]

I’m looking to trade my maple Paramount neck for a rosewood. I’ve changed my hardware to black, so I would keep my black tuners. Neck is in excellent condition.

 

[Mark_L]

I’m looking to trade my maple Paramount neck for a rosewood. I’ve changed my hardware to black, so I would keep my black tuners. Neck is in excellent condition.

 

[B-Mac]

View attachment 4927883 View attachment 4927883 View attachment 4927883

Search ‘trade’ within this thread.
I think I recall some others asking to trade necks but might have been Juggernaut necks and I’m not sure if they are identical or not.

 

[gormsby]

I have three of them. If you like Barts and Q maple top that is a steal.
Please buy it to keep me from buying it as I really do not need another one. That is a great price. It still has the same neck and 24 fret FB.
Same as your fretless except the Quilt Maple Top and Frets and Barts.

Barts are deeper and warmer.
DMT's tend to be bright and sometimes hot to the point of distortion if dimed.


[edit]
I just noticed that this has a 2012 neck on it and it appears to be from a Rhapsody Bass. See the curves at the bottom of the neck? May not be an issue, but I'd ask about it.
View attachment 4925251

This one (first of two I recently ordered) arrived. At first glance, looks pretty good. The bridge saddles are bottomed out (as low as they'll go), and action is still a touch high for my liking. Expect that this is fixable with a neck shim (relief is fine). Could that be the consequence of having a rhapsody neck on an Edge body, maybe due to minor neck pocket differences)?

At first I was surprised to look in the control cavity and not see the same "black box" of the EQ as on my fretless Edge, but then realized that this is likely due to the pickups being different (Barts, rather than Dean). Photo of that attached. The barts sound great! At first I heard some distortion/clipping, but couldn't recreate it the second time I plugged in, so maybe I just had a bad jack connection first time.

It needed a new battery and the strings are a bit rusty in spots. They're 105s, it feels like, so I'll probably replace them with 100s (maybe even flatwounds, just for fun.)

The other one is also scheduled to arrive today.

 

[B-Mac]

This one (first of two I recently ordered) arrived. At first glance, looks pretty good. The bridge saddles are bottomed out (as low as they'll go), and action is still a touch high for my liking. Expect that this is fixable with a neck shim (relief is fine). Could that be the consequence of having a rhapsody neck on an Edge body, maybe due to minor neck pocket differences)?

At first I was surprised to look in the control cavity and not see the same "black box" of the EQ as on my fretless Edge, but then realized that this is likely due to the pickups being different (Barts, rather than Dean). Photo of that attached. The barts sound great! At first I heard some distortion/clipping, but couldn't recreate it the second time I plugged in, so maybe I just had a bad jack connection first time.View attachment 4931641 View attachment 4931642

It needed a new battery and the strings are a bit rusty in spots. They're 105s, it feels like, so I'll probably replace them with 100s (maybe even flatwounds, just for fun.)

The other one is also scheduled to arrive today.

I would agree about the Rhapsody neck being on the Edge body being a possible reason for string height being what it is.

I’m a pick player and don’t require the super low action, but having a different model neck on a different model body is definitely going to have some type of issue.

 

[B-Mac]

This one (first of two I recently ordered) arrived. At first glance, looks pretty good. The bridge saddles are bottomed out (as low as they'll go), and action is still a touch high for my liking. Expect that this is fixable with a neck shim (relief is fine). Could that be the consequence of having a rhapsody neck on an Edge body, maybe due to minor neck pocket differences)?

At first I was surprised to look in the control cavity and not see the same "black box" of the EQ as on my fretless Edge, but then realized that this is likely due to the pickups being different (Barts, rather than Dean). Photo of that attached. The barts sound great! At first I heard some distortion/clipping, but couldn't recreate it the second time I plugged in, so maybe I just had a bad jack connection first time.View attachment 4931641 View attachment 4931642

It needed a new battery and the strings are a bit rusty in spots. They're 105s, it feels like, so I'll probably replace them with 100s (maybe even flatwounds, just for fun.)

The other one is also scheduled to arrive today.

Well, today is Saturday so the other hopefully arrived by now. Any news? Waiting with baited breath!

 

[gormsby]

Yes, the second one ("Amber") has arrived, and it too was in really good shape. One of the tuning machines was a replacement (Gotoh, different enough to be noticeable), and another of the original Grovers was dented significantly. So I ordered a replacement set of Grovers. It also had after-market strap buttons that didn't look the best, so went with the only black thing my local shop had -- Fender Straplocks. Strings were OK but showing some age, so I put on a D'Addario EXL170 set. A quick measure told me that moving the Barts from the Q4 to the "Amber" would not be trivial (different routing sizes). Since the Barts sound so good in the Q4, and the "Amber" is such a nice twin for my fretless Edge, I guess I'm keeping them both

Action on both is a touch too high and saddles pretty much bottomed out on both, so I'm going to shim both necks. Have a couple 0.5-degree shims on order. I initially tried shimming the neck on the Amber with a 3/4-degree shim, but it was a bit much, so now I'm confident that 0.5 will be good for both. Should have those shims in a couple days. I ended up stringing the "Tortoise" Q4 with some 45-100 flatwounds I had around (D'Addario Chromes, I think).

So there it is: The "Amber" got new tuning machines, new strap buttons, new roundwound strings, and will get a shim. The Q4 got some old but good flatwounds and will get a shim. Once the shims come, I'll do a setup on each, then polish them up for a nice family photo.

Now I have to think about cases. That tilt-back headstock complicates it a bit. Might end up springing the full $179 for a Dean case, since the generic Fender Jazz/P-oriented cases tend to be a bit shallow.

 

[B-Mac]

Now I have to think about cases. That tilt-back headstock complicates it a bit. Might end up springing the full $179 for a Dean case, since the generic Fender Jazz/P-oriented cases tend to be a bit shallow.

Check the prices for Dean cases at Instrument Alley. If you register as a customer you'll get a discount and shipping is free for purchases over $200. That's were I get my Dean cases unless I see them on sale somewhere for a big discount.

 

[B-Mac]

Yes, the second one ("Amber") has arrived, and it too was in really good shape. One of the tuning machines was a replacement (Gotoh, different enough to be noticeable), and another of the original Grovers was dented significantly. So I ordered a replacement set of Grovers. It also had after-market strap buttons that didn't look the best, so went with the only black thing my local shop had -- Fender Straplocks. Strings were OK but showing some age, so I put on a D'Addario EXL170 set. A quick measure told me that moving the Barts from the Q4 to the "Amber" would not be trivial (different routing sizes). Since the Barts sound so good in the Q4, and the "Amber" is such a nice twin for my fretless Edge, I guess I'm keeping them both

Action on both is a touch too high and saddles pretty much bottomed out on both, so I'm going to shim both necks. Have a couple 0.5-degree shims on order. I initially tried shimming the neck on the Amber with a 3/4-degree shim, but it was a bit much, so now I'm confident that 0.5 will be good for both. Should have those shims in a couple days. I ended up stringing the "Tortoise" Q4 with some 45-100 flatwounds I had around (D'Addario Chromes, I think).

So there it is: The "Amber" got new tuning machines, new strap buttons, new roundwound strings, and will get a shim. The Q4 got some old but good flatwounds and will get a shim. Once the shims come, I'll do a setup on each, then polish them up for a nice family photo.

Now I have to think about cases. That tilt-back headstock complicates it a bit. Might end up springing the full $179 for a Dean case, since the generic Fender Jazz/P-oriented cases tend to be a bit shallow.

This style, with the 'GROVER' lettering in chrome, gold or black are very difficult to find, especially bass side and treble side sets.
These were typically on all quilt top Edge basses. All non-quilt top basses typically had no name Grover style tuners.
Link Removed

 

[gormsby]

This style, with the 'GROVER' lettering in chrome, gold or black are very difficult to find, especially bass side and treble side sets.
These were typically on all quilt top Edge basses. All non-quilt top basses typically had no name Grover style tuners.
Link Removed
View attachment 4940772

Very interesting. My "Amber" Edge and the fretless Edge both have the lettering on the tuning machines (both E 06xxxx Korea serial numbers). As you pointed out upthread, the Q4 I got had a non-original neck, probably from a Rhapsody. That arrived with 1 Gotoh mini tuning machine, 2 Grovers *with* lettering, and 1 Grover without. It was one of the 2 Grovers with lettering that is dented, though still fully-functional. The replacement set I ordered has no lettering and a slightly different washer profile between the key and barrel. That new set look just like the tuning machines on my Yamaha TRBX 604, though those are a different color. Could that move to no-name be a more recent change? The Rhapsody neck with the mixed set is a Korea E12xxxx serial).

 

[B-Mac]

The move to the no-name was usually done a few years after a specific model was introduced to help reduce costs. Here are pages from 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 catalogs featuring Edge basses.
sometime after 2005 Edge basses were made in the 'World' factory and also the 'Un Sung' factory.
You'll see some with Grover Tuners and others with Doe Cast tuners, which would be the no name Grover style tuners.
2001 quilt basses have Grover

2001 non quilt have Die Cast

2003 non quilt have Die Cast 2003 fretless have Grover

2003 non quilt have Grover (this is not the norm and I believe is actually a miss print)

2003 quilt have Grover

2005 entry level Edge have Die Cast and higher tier have Grover

2005 all of these 'special' Edge models have Grover

2005 fretless and quilt all have Grover

2007 all lower ties Edge basses have Die Cast
Non quilt also Die cast 'Special' 8 string has Grover

2007 You can see below the switch to Die Cast for Edge Q, but not the Pro (still gets Grover as highest tier Edge)

2007 fretless back to Grover

 

[gormsby]

Recap of my Dean odyssey:

Less than three months ago, my little bass world slid into what would become a bit of a revolution. My stable at that point was a Fender Jazz MIJ Geddy Lee edition and an old modded-before-I-got-it Peavey T-20 FL fretless. Many years ago, I had an Ibanez SR800. Last November, I began thinking, "You know, I kind of miss that old Ibanez. Maybe I should add a modern active bass to the collection." I spent too much time perusing listings, familiarizing myself with the state of things, in particular getting used the idea that a good quality bass could be had for less than $1,000 -- Times had changed since I was last in the market. Eventually, I ended up with a new Yamaha TRBX 604, which seemed to offer more than comparable Ibanez basses, for what I was seeking.

But...my mind was now in "buyer mode," and turning it off wasn't so easy. I started thinking about that Peavey T-20 and what I didn't like about it. I bought it for the fret lines, but I've grown out of that, and was really drawn to an unlined board. I like the T-20 as a classic, traditional bass, but for a fretless, "modern" was my leaning. New custom neck? Mmmm....nah. Started poking around Reverb and Craigslist and my local store to see what the fretless scene was like. Even the unlined Ibbys had "lines plus mid-dots" as side markers. Eww--redundant, cluttered, gross. Unlined Fenders, expensive and didn't fit that "modern" aspect. I was starting to despair. My local shop had an unlined Warwick Infinity that was really nice, at $1,200 -- I bit much for my "whim." Then I saw the Craigslist ad: "2006 Dean Edge 4 String Fretless."

Dean...I remember them from the bottom, cheap racks at Music-Go-Round. Aren't those a "metal dude" brand? No shade intended, I love me my Maiden and Metallica, just not what I play. But the bass: Unlined board: check; side dots at the note positions: check; modern body and electronics: check; fit my general aesthetic: check. OK, I'll go check it out. Did my due diligence (including discovering this forum -- Thanks everyone!) beforehand and drove across the river to take a look.

I came home with a beautiful Dean Edge 4 fretless that plays like a dream. Beautiful end to the story, right?

But...Now I had the Dean bug. That neck! The Yamaha neck felt fat by comparison (though I think the numbers put them closer than the feel). I couldn't quit thinking about finding a fretted twin for my fretless. As this thread already attests, I found a near-twin, but also another contender, an Edge Q4 in "Tiger Eye" with Barts, different enough to also be intriguing. Given the asking price for both, the solution was obvious: I bought both. Thanks B-Mac, by the way, for shepherding me through this part.

Turns out the Q4 had a replacement neck, from a Rhapsody. The tuning machines on that neck were a mix of Grover-branded with or without dents and scratches, no-name Grover clones, and one Gotoh. Both basses had action set a bit high for my liking even with the saddles bottomed-out. But in for a penny, in for a pound. Bought a new set of tuners and a pair of 0.5 degree shims. Shimmed both necks, swapped out the tuning machines on the Q4, and did an exhaustive setup, cleaning, fretboard-oiling, and re-stringing of both. Flats for the Q4, rounds for the amber fretted Edge.

So now my bass family numbers five: Still have the Geddy Lee Jazz and the Yamaha, along with three Deans. The Peavey is now the "resident fretless" at a nearby recording studio. Picture of the Dean contingent below:

 

[B-Mac]

@gormsby , You're quite welcome!

And nice 'Dean Family' Picture!

I take it that the Edge 4QB is leaning back more than the other two?

Also, the Edge 4QB body looks smaller than the other two. Or is that an illusion/camera angle thing?
It would be interesting to trace the outline of the bodies and compare as I haven't had my Edge 4QB's setting next to my other Edge 4 basses like that. It could be because of possibly being made in the 'World' factory versus the 'Un Sung' factory or just the difference between an Edge 4 and an Edge 4QB that I had not realized or noticed before.

Could you by chance provide the first letters and first two numbers of each serial number of each bass?

I am sure you love the necks. I can't recall, but are they gloss or satin?

Funny you mention the Yamaha. I've been G.A.S. -ing over the TRBX604 in Satin Natural for a while and think I finally beat the G.A.S., at least for now anyway (unless I see one used for a really good price of course).

Plus the prices you got these at is a real steal compared to what you get and how they play. In my opinion the higher than 'entry level' Dean basses or 'metal mania' basses are severely underrated.

Have fun and spread the word with your musician connections!

 

[B-Mac]

Recap of my Dean odyssey:

Less than three months ago, my little bass world slid into what would become a bit of a revolution. My stable at that point was a Fender Jazz MIJ Geddy Lee edition and an old modded-before-I-got-it Peavey T-20 FL fretless. Many years ago, I had an Ibanez SR800. Last November, I began thinking, "You know, I kind of miss that old Ibanez. Maybe I should add a modern active bass to the collection." I spent too much time perusing listings, familiarizing myself with the state of things, in particular getting used the idea that a good quality bass could be had for less than $1,000 -- Times had changed since I was last in the market. Eventually, I ended up with a new Yamaha TRBX 604, which seemed to offer more than comparable Ibanez basses, for what I was seeking.

But...my mind was now in "buyer mode," and turning it off wasn't so easy. I started thinking about that Peavey T-20 and what I didn't like about it. I bought it for the fret lines, but I've grown out of that, and was really drawn to an unlined board. I like the T-20 as a classic, traditional bass, but for a fretless, "modern" was my leaning. New custom neck? Mmmm....nah. Started poking around Reverb and Craigslist and my local store to see what the fretless scene was like. Even the unlined Ibbys had "lines plus mid-dots" as side markers. Eww--redundant, cluttered, gross. Unlined Fenders, expensive and didn't fit that "modern" aspect. I was starting to despair. My local shop had an unlined Warwick Infinity that was really nice, at $1,200 -- I bit much for my "whim." Then I saw the Craigslist ad: "2006 Dean Edge 4 String Fretless."

Dean...I remember them from the bottom, cheap racks at Music-Go-Round. Aren't those a "metal dude" brand? No shade intended, I love me my Maiden and Metallica, just not what I play. But the bass: Unlined board: check; side dots at the note positions: check; modern body and electronics: check; fit my general aesthetic: check. OK, I'll go check it out. Did my due diligence (including discovering this forum -- Thanks everyone!) beforehand and drove across the river to take a look.

I came home with a beautiful Dean Edge 4 fretless that plays like a dream. Beautiful end to the story, right?

But...Now I had the Dean bug. That neck! The Yamaha neck felt fat by comparison (though I think the numbers put them closer than the feel). I couldn't quit thinking about finding a fretted twin for my fretless. As this thread already attests, I found a near-twin, but also another contender, an Edge Q4 in "Tiger Eye" with Barts, different enough to also be intriguing. Given the asking price for both, the solution was obvious: I bought both. Thanks B-Mac, by the way, for shepherding me through this part.

Turns out the Q4 had a replacement neck, from a Rhapsody. The tuning machines on that neck were a mix of Grover-branded with or without dents and scratches, no-name Grover clones, and one Gotoh. Both basses had action set a bit high for my liking even with the saddles bottomed-out. But in for a penny, in for a pound. Bought a new set of tuners and a pair of 0.5 degree shims. Shimmed both necks, swapped out the tuning machines on the Q4, and did an exhaustive setup, cleaning, fretboard-oiling, and re-stringing of both. Flats for the Q4, rounds for the amber fretted Edge.

So now my bass family numbers five: Still have the Geddy Lee Jazz and the Yamaha, along with three Deans. The Peavey is now the "resident fretless" at a nearby recording studio. Picture of the Dean contingent below:

View attachment 4943641

If you get a chance, check the Paramount and the Juggernaut out. Introduced in 2015 and discontinued in 2017, but quite a few places are still selling NOS. P and J style with the same Dean neck profile/feel and 22 frets rather than 20 or 21.

Sorry, I can be a bit of an enabler...
...but its always with the best of intentions!

 

[gormsby]

@gormsby , You're quite welcome!

And nice 'Dean Family' Picture!

I take it that the Edge 4QB is leaning back more than the other two?

Also, the Edge 4QB body looks smaller than the other two. Or is that an illusion/camera angle thing?
It would be interesting to trace the outline of the bodies and compare as I haven't had my Edge 4QB's setting next to my other Edge 4 basses like that. It could be because of possibly being made in the 'World' factory versus the 'Un Sung' factory or just the difference between an Edge 4 and an Edge 4QB that I had not realized or noticed before.

Could you by chance provide the first letters and first two numbers of each serial number of each bass?

I am sure you love the necks. I can't recall, but are they gloss or satin?

Funny you mention the Yamaha. I've been G.A.S. -ing over the TRBX604 in Satin Natural for a while and think I finally beat the G.A.S., at least for now anyway (unless I see one used for a really good price of course).

Plus the prices you got these at is a real steal compared to what you get and how they play. In my opinion the higher than 'entry level' Dean basses or 'metal mania' basses are severely underrated.

Have fun and spread the word with your musician connections!

That's all camera angle. The Q4 is on a lower stand and leans back more, thus the appearance. Body is exactly the same, best I can tell, as the standard Edges, aside from the slightly different pickup openings for the Bartolinis.

Fretless is E 06xxxx, "amber" fretted is E 06xxxx as well - So they really are siblings, and the Q4 is E 12xxxx, all Korea-made. But of course, the headstock is attached to the neck, which for the Q4 we've already pegged as non-original probably Rhapsody, so that serial info goes with a different body. Would the serial number be anywhere else, too?

All the necks are gloss.

 

[gormsby]

If you get a chance, check the Paramount and the Juggernaut out. Introduced in 2015 and discontinued in 2017, but quite a few places are still selling NOS. P and J style with the same Dean neck profile/feel and 22 frets rather than 20 or 21.

View attachment 4943764 View attachment 4943765

Sorry, I can be a bit of an enabler...
...but its always with the best of intentions!

I've got my Geddy Lee Jazz which is great, so I don't need another J. Really, I don't. I don't need another J. I don't need another J. I really don't need....