Dean Club!!!

[B-Mac]

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.

They're all made at the 'World' factory in South Korea. Two 4's are 2006. The QB could be 2,3,4,5,6,7,8 or 9, but with the Rhapsody neck you'll never know unless there was a hand written date in the neck pocket.
The S/N were only on the back of the headstock as far as I know.

 

[B-Mac]

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....

 

[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

Well, it’s been over a month since the post of that picture.

Is the ‘honeymoon’ still going strong?

 

[Aceman]

At Dean Owners of America in Clearwater last week...

 

[B-Mac]

At Dean Owners of America in Clearwater last week...

Awesome! So no more Covid restrictions? Can you tell us about it and any possible bad news due to the Gibson litigation and Evan’s embezzlement? Just asking as there still is no new 2023 catalog posted on Dean’s website.

I also haven’t seen much on the Dean Discord page.

 

[Aceman]

Dude - I live in Florida. There have not been Covid restrictions for 2 years...


As for Gibson/Dean; At the factory, on Friday, Pam Rubinson was there. I did speak with her a bit.
- No discussion of Gibson.
- Discussion of new things coming
- Looks like she is getting things in shape again

But, didn't talk business details and wouldn't discuss if I did!

 

[B-Mac]

Dude - I live in Florida. There have not been Covid restrictions for 2 years...


As for Gibson/Dean; At the factory, on Friday, Pam Rubinson was there. I did speak with her a bit.
- No discussion of Gibson.
- Discussion of new things coming
- Looks like she is getting things in shape again

But, didn't talk business details and wouldn't discuss if I did!

Glad to hear Pam is getting things back in shape. Hate to see all of Elliot’s hard work go down the tubes!

 

[B-Mac]

Dude - I live in Florida. There have not been Covid restrictions for 2 years...


As for Gibson/Dean; At the factory, on Friday, Pam Rubinson was there. I did speak with her a bit.
- No discussion of Gibson.
- Discussion of new things coming
- Looks like she is getting things in shape again

But, didn't talk business details and wouldn't discuss if I did!

The 2022 DOA member event was cancelled last year?

Though I assume a lot of Florida locals did get together.

Glad it happened this year. How was turn out?

It would be good to get peeps from here to join DOA
DOA - Dean Owners Association

Not sure if you saw my Cadillac Acquisitions?

 

[Aceman]

About 40 people. Good time. Always is.

 

[gormsby]

Well, it’s been over a month since the post of that picture.

Is the ‘honeymoon’ still going strong?

It is! my playing is about 50% the Edge Q4 Bartolini, 25% the fretless Edge, 15% the fretted Edge 4, and whatever is left goes to the Yamaha and the Fender Jazz. Have flats on the Q4 Bart and the fretless, so I think the others gets time mostly so I don't forget how to play roundwounds .

Now, however, my new GAS focus is some sort of Bass VI. Most of those, including the dominant Fender/Squier VI, really are framed as "basses for guitarists" and have the string spacing to match. I've looked at a lot of the analogues from Schecter, Danelectro, Harley-Benton and Eastwood in particular (both those marketed as bass VIs and as baritone guitars), and have sort of gone down the road of maybe building my own. I want the Bass VI style 6 strings, E to E, and 30" scale, like the VIs, but I also want slightly wider string spacing (I'm a fingerstyle player, mostly). Splitting the difference between the Dean/Yamaha ~19mm and my guitars' ~11mm gives me 15mm as a target. Haven't found anything like that being sold in a style and price that I like. So now I've got a notebook filling up with specs, a big butcher paper drawing on the wall, and far too many hours of YouTube logged watching bass and guitar builds.

The quest really never ends, though we do find treasure along the way.

 

[B-Mac]

It is! my playing is about 50% the Edge Q4 Bartolini, 25% the fretless Edge, 15% the fretted Edge 4, and whatever is left goes to the Yamaha and the Fender Jazz. Have flats on the Q4 Bart and the fretless, so I think the others gets time mostly so I don't forget how to play roundwounds .

Now, however, my new GAS focus is some sort of Bass VI. Most of those, including the dominant Fender/Squier VI, really are framed as "basses for guitarists" and have the string spacing to match. I've looked at a lot of the analogues from Schecter, Danelectro, Harley-Benton and Eastwood in particular (both those marketed as bass VIs and as baritone guitars), and have sort of gone down the road of maybe building my own. I want the Bass VI style 6 strings, E to E, and 30" scale, like the VIs, but I also want slightly wider string spacing (I'm a fingerstyle player, mostly). Splitting the difference between the Dean/Yamaha ~19mm and my guitars' ~11mm gives me 15mm as a target. Haven't found anything like that being sold in a style and price that I like. So now I've got a notebook filling up with specs, a big butcher paper drawing on the wall, and far too many hours of YouTube logged watching bass and guitar builds.

The quest really never ends, though we do find treasure along the way.

Glad to hear you’re enjoying your Deans!

This might help with your new quest:
The Short-Scale Six-String Club Part 4 - for the original six-string basses!

 

[B-Mac]

Finally getting around to posting this. Arrived a few months ago.
Dean Hillsboro Select Fluence Roasted 34" bolt-on (2022) active MIIndo

SPECIFICATIONS
Item ID
HB SEL RM FL SN
Model Name
HB Select Fluence Roasted Maple SN
Design Feature
Roasted Maple Fluence Bass
Dexterity
Right Handed
Body Material
Swamp Ash
Body Type
Hillsboro
Top Material
Swamp Ash
Top Contour
Flat Top w/Arm Cut & Back Belly Cut
Neck Material
Roasted Maple
Scale Length
34" (863mm)
Construction
Bolt-On Neck
Neck Shape
C
Fretboard Material
Roasted Maple
Inlays
Abalone Dot
# of Frets
22 Jumbo
Fretboard Radius
12" (305mm)
Year
2022
Nut
Graph Tech NuBone
Nut Width
1 5/8" (41mm)
Tuners
Grover 20:1
Knobs
Dome Black
Hardware Color
Black
Bridge
High-Mass Bass Bridge
Pickup (Neck)
Fishman FLuence Bass
Pickup (Bridge)
Fishman Fluence Bass
Binding
None
Finish
Satin Natural
Country of Origin
Indonesia
Truss Rod
Dual Action
Controls
Vol/ 3 way Toggle/ Stacked Tone/ 3 way mini toggle
Strings
D'Addario EXL165 (.045-.105)

 

[Basssy]

Found this on FB Marketplace for a killer price, put some fresh strings on it and am really impressed!

 

[B-Mac]

Found this on FB Marketplace for a killer price, put some fresh strings on it and am really impressed!

That's the Edge 4QB! A real sleeper. @gormsby recently discovered one as well and loves it.
Here's a page from the 2003 catalog.

 

[B-Mac]

It is! my playing is about 50% the Edge Q4 Bartolini, 25% the fretless Edge, 15% the fretted Edge 4, and whatever is left goes to the Yamaha and the Fender Jazz. Have flats on the Q4 Bart and the fretless, so I think the others gets time mostly so I don't forget how to play roundwounds .

Now, however, my new GAS focus is some sort of Bass VI. Most of those, including the dominant Fender/Squier VI, really are framed as "basses for guitarists" and have the string spacing to match. I've looked at a lot of the analogues from Schecter, Danelectro, Harley-Benton and Eastwood in particular (both those marketed as bass VIs and as baritone guitars), and have sort of gone down the road of maybe building my own. I want the Bass VI style 6 strings, E to E, and 30" scale, like the VIs, but I also want slightly wider string spacing (I'm a fingerstyle player, mostly). Splitting the difference between the Dean/Yamaha ~19mm and my guitars' ~11mm gives me 15mm as a target. Haven't found anything like that being sold in a style and price that I like. So now I've got a notebook filling up with specs, a big butcher paper drawing on the wall, and far too many hours of YouTube logged watching bass and guitar builds.

The quest really never ends, though we do find treasure along the way.

I've been eyeing the Dean Icon Baritone Guitar as a possible candidate for a Bass VI
Link Removed

 

[Vagner]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I need help to correctly identify my bass: it's a DEAN DB 90s KOREA. The issue is that it is fretless and I didn't find any model described like that. It doesn't have any signs of fretting and my Luthier said he didn't see any signs of adaptation, which appears to be original... Can you help me with his identification please? thank you very much!

 

[B-Mac]

View attachment 5015362 Hi everyone, I'm new here and I need help to correctly identify my bass: it's a DEAN DB 90s KOREA. The issue is that it is fretless and I didn't find any model described like that. It doesn't have any signs of fretting and my Luthier said he didn't see any signs of adaptation, which appears to be original... Can you help me with his identification please? thank you very much!

I answered this in a PM, but I'll answer it here too.

Sure can!

From Wikipedia:
With the advent of the Superstrat and grunge music, Dean Zelinsky sold the business to Oscar Medeiros of Tropical Music, who gained ownership of the brand from 1986, and until 1995 focused on selling to Latin bands overseas. The company had all but disappeared from the American market at that point.

Armadillo Enterprises, under the leadership of Elliott Rubinson, then purchased the business in 1997. Rubinson, a musician who toured as a bass player for the Michael Schenker Group, Uli Jon Roth and Michael Angelo Batio expanded Dean's products to include acoustic, electric and bass guitars; mandolins, banjos and ukuleles with prices from less than $99 to more than $13,000. Rubinson had previously built Thoroughbred Music, a music retail store, music supply, and music clinic. Rubinson sold Thoroughbred to Sam Ash Music in 1999 so he could focus on Dean.

----------------------------------------------------

Your Bass is one of the DB Series basses from the 90's when Oscar Medeiros owned Dean (known as Tropical era) and before Elliot Rubinson bought Dean.

Right now, these are the only catalog pages that I have from that Era of Dean Guitars.

Please stop in here and say.
Dean Club!!!

Yours looks like a DB91F (fretless)

Dean Guitars - Wikipedia

 

[Vagner]

Thank you so much!!!!! I found it!!!!!!!!

 

[Vagner]

I answered this in a PM, but I'll answer it here too.

Sure can!

From Wikipedia:
With the advent of the Superstrat and grunge music, Dean Zelinsky sold the business to Oscar Medeiros of Tropical Music, who gained ownership of the brand from 1986, and until 1995 focused on selling to Latin bands overseas. The company had all but disappeared from the American market at that point.

Armadillo Enterprises, under the leadership of Elliott Rubinson, then purchased the business in 1997. Rubinson, a musician who toured as a bass player for the Michael Schenker Group, Uli Jon Roth and Michael Angelo Batio expanded Dean's products to include acoustic, electric and bass guitars; mandolins, banjos and ukuleles with prices from less than $99 to more than $13,000. Rubinson had previously built Thoroughbred Music, a music retail store, music supply, and music clinic. Rubinson sold Thoroughbred to Sam Ash Music in 1999 so he could focus on Dean.

----------------------------------------------------

Your Bass is one of the DB Series basses from the 90's when Oscar Medeiros owned Dean (known as Tropical era) and before Elliot Rubinson bought Dean.

Right now, these are the only catalog pages that I have from that Era of Dean Guitars.

Please stop in here and say.
Dean Club!!!

Yours looks like a DB91F (fretless)

Dean Guitars - Wikipedia

Would it be possible to know which wood they used in this series?

 

[B-Mac]

Would it be possible to know which wood they used in this series?

No, I do not have that information.

However, I would guess Basswood. The ones with the flame tops would be Flame Maple Tops and Basswood Bodies, but I'm only guessing based on the later Edge Models under the 'Armadillo Era'.