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Dean Club!!!

#361
I have an old Washburn LP clone that shares the colors. I can't say I'm crazy about the colors in those combinations. But I have to admit that having one in the same room tends to feel to me something akin to a secret someone is attempting to be noticed by being unnoticed. Doing this by standing directly behind you and making all your same movements like a shadow or reflection that can only be observed in the outer periphery of sight........

Err ummm oh yeah..... The Cherry burst colors..... bother me... LOL!!!

But it's cool.......
 
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#363
wintremute said:
I do like that color and matching headstock, but not that binding.
Click to expand...
Agreed...it would look really good with the celluloid binding they use on the Exotica Quilt models...but this was more than likely a 'one off' model for the NAMM show at that time....probably 2006 or 2007. Something they put out to get crowd feedback own.
 
#364
:(
-Stingray said:
Never cared for cherry burst tbh.

What I am digging is the blue curly maple tops on the exotica line. One of those will be my next acquisition.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the Blue ones are sharp but they have always been Quilt Ash (except the Exotica Supreme versions). That is why the Cherry Burst above is interesting in that it is Quilt Maple. The Exotica Radiant I posted above it has Flame Maple back and sides and the top is solid spruce. Dean was definitely experimenting back in the later 2000's. A few differences with the newer Exoticas; more conventional bridge (I prefer the curved asymmetrical bridge), no more Aphex (instead it has a DeanDMT G05 Pre-amp w/Tuner), and apparently now made in South Korea rather than China (which probably is an improvement). I'd say find a good used one or Store Demo or New Old Stock (NOS) that has the Aphex If you're really G.A.S.-ing for a Blue one.

Before Elliot 'Dean' Rubinson passed away I would have e-mail conversations with him telling him (begging actually) to make a 5-er version of the Exotica Quilt Ash. That would be sooooooo awesome especially with the Aphex modifying the low B string; but alas it was not to be. :(

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

Item ID
EQABA TBL
Model Name
Exotica Quilt Ash A/E Bass TBL
Dexterity
Right Handed
Body Material
Quilt Ash
Body Type
Exotica
Top Material
Quilt Ash
Top Contour
Flat Top
Neck Material
Mahogany
Scale Length
34" (863mm)
Construction
Set Neck
Neck Shape
D
Fretboard Material
Rosewood
Inlays
Pearl Dot
# of Frets
21
Fretboard Radius
16" (406mm)
Nut
Daeil Chemical (Plastic)
Nut Width
1 5/8" (41mm)
Tuners
Sealed Die Cast
Knobs
None
Hardware Color
Chrome
Bridge
Rosewood
Pickup (Bridge)
Piezo
Binding
Celluloid
Finish
Trans Blue
Color
Country of Origin
South Korea
Truss Rod
Dual Action
Pre-amp Type
DMT G05 w/Tuner
Controls
Built-In EQ
Strings
D'Addario EXL170 (.045-.100)

This guy gets some cool sounds out of one...more so than I can!

 
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#365
wintremute said:
Thanks for invite from B-Mac.

Here's my Dean Exotica AEB:

View attachment 2881677

Here's the thread where I talk about it: NBD - Dean Exotica AEB

I was set to play this at church on the 28th but....I'll be at NAMM!

And I'd love to join this club. What's my number?
Click to expand...

Tejas Thumper said:
I added new strings to my Exotica bass today. Between that and a few twists to the truss rod, it sounds like a new bass now. This was my first go around with nylon wrapped strings and I must say I am very impressed. Badly played notes are muted and finger sliding noise is all but gone. Who could complain about that? But most of all I love the rubbery feel of the strings. Oh yeah..... D Adario XL strings.
Click to expand...

Sorry it took so long to get to you guys. B-Mac had to poke me with a stick and wake me up.

wintremute 128
Tejas Thumper 129

B-Mac has compiled an more or less accurate list of members/numbers at this time. I offer these numbers to you, unless you have preferences not already taken? A 'formal' list is coming soon(tm).
 
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#366
The natural quilted ash finish just grabs me in a way that the blue cannot. The blue just seems to be a lil over the top to me. Maybe if they would have gone with a more subtle hue of blue... Sometimes less is more and in this case "for me" the blue is too much. As for the cherry sunburst.... If they would have reversed it into a moon burst {darker towards the middle and lighter outwards on the body and headstock} rather than sunburst the cherry would have worked better IMHO. As for the binding on the cherry... I think they went with the best matching binding for the red....
 
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#368
Here's one they no longer make. Exhibition FM Bass A/E w/Aphex® - FD

FM = Flame Maple FD = Faded Denim

exbfmfd.png

This came out around the same time the Exhibition Quilted Ash basses came out. This had a thinner body and faster thinner D type neck. It was marketed to electric guitar players with the idea that the thin body and fast thin D style neck would appeal to them. I have never seen one up front and personal. They did come with Aphex which is a plus. Always wondered how they played and sound. Never seen them on the web in any other finish either. Can't tell from the picture or the description what kind of binding they had or how extensive it was.

Top
Flame Maple
Body
Flame Maple
Neck
Mahgaony
Scale Length
34"
Neck Type
Set Neck
Neck Profile
Slim D
Body Type
Thin
Fingerboard
Ebony
Inlays
Pearl Diamond
# of Frets
21
Pre-Amp
Aphex w/Tuner
Pickup
Piezo under saddle
 
#369
The thing is, it's hard to find ones with the Aphex system. Even with the older models with the flaired bridge, many of them have the regular electronics. I once took an hour ride to buy a 6-string with the faded denim finish…the listing.said Aphex…but when I got there, no deal.
 
#370
jd56hawk said:
The thing is, it's hard to find ones with the Aphex system. Even with the older models with the flaired bridge, many of them have the regular electronics. I once took an hour ride to buy a 6-string with the faded denim finish…the listing.said Aphex…but when I got there, no deal.
Click to expand...

I don't believe the Exhibition basses ever had the flaired bridge. The Exhibition guitars did (as you said). I don't think Aphex started with Dean until 2013 and ended late 2016/early 2017 per my email conversation with Elliot Rubinson. The Exotica Supreme basses never had the flaired bridge either, but they did have Aphex from 2013 to late 2016/early 2017.
My fretless Exotica Quilted has the conventional bridge with the Aphex, which I bought in 2015.

Depends on the model year. A picture is always worth a thousand words...or in this case, just one word: 'Aphex'
Those of you who never experienced the Aphex pre-amp are probably wondering what the heck is the big deal, but in all honesty there isn't a pre-amp out there for an ABG that compares and that is not an exaggeration by any means.
 
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#371
B-Mac said:
I don't believe the Exhibition basses ever had the flaired bridge. The Exhibition guitars did (as you said). I don't think Aphex started with Dean until 2013 and ended late 2016/early 2017 per my email conversation with Elliot Rubinson. The Exotica Supreme basses never had the flaired bridge either, but they did have Aphex from 2013 to late 2016/early 2017.
My fretless Exotica Quilted has the conventional bridge with the Aphex, which I bought in 2015.

Depends on the model year. A picture is always worth a thousand words...or in this case, just one word: 'Aphex'
Those of you who never experienced the Aphex pre-amp are probably wondering what the heck is the big deal, but in all honesty there isn't a pre-amp out there for an ABG that compares and that is not an exaggeration by any means.
Click to expand...
You're right.
I wonder why.
I was ready to buy an Exotics bass with Aphex and the standard bridge from that place in Florida you always see on ebay. The blue was so deep, it was beautiful.
 
#372
Here is a Dean vid showing off the Aphex for Guitars in 2010. There is no mention of using it for basses.



The vid of 'Grov GT Tigue' playing the Blue Exotica previously posted is dated June 11, 2012. So, I am thinking the Basses didn't have the Aphex right away like the guitars did.

[edit] Near the end of the vid Eric Stewart from Dean does say 'basses also' so based on that Aphex was in the Exoticas starting in 2010
 
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#376
B-Mac said:
Yours? Still got the big hair? :D

What year is that? Headstock looks different...pointier 90's?
Click to expand...
Not sure of the year, probably wouldn't be hard to find. It was the 2nd bass I bought when I started down this bass road a few years ago. Saw it on CL, it just sat there, they dropped it to a straight bill and I pounced. Had it set up properly, a big old brass nut and the string tree. The D string would pop out of the old nut at the worst time onstage.
My older brother was blessed with the hair, I am hair challenged.
 
#379
Tejas Thumper said:
Anyone familiar with the Eric bass? I like the looks.... Has a 60ish Danelectro vibe to it. And I love the look of an old Danelectro guitar. With that said...... I know nothing about this one but have a line on several.
Click to expand...

The Hillsboro? Seems they have a couple versions of that now. The Eric Bass signature as well as a 'J' version. The vids I've seen on YouTube seem to show it is pretty versatile.
 

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