Sorry, I thought the rest of the thread would appear here. The thread is at https://www.talkbass.com/threads/dean-club.424546/page-194#post-28257109
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Dean Club!!!
- Thread starter tom once dead
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Somebody got a great deal!
Used Dean USA Spire with original Bartolini pickups and original Aphex for the cost of a used Korean import.
Plus the gold logo case for Dean USA models.
https://reverb.com/item/92134833-dean-spire-bass-guitar-2000s-red-custom-shop?show_sold=true
Was it anyone here?
Similar to my Korean Import made at the Un Sung Factory in 2010.
Used Dean USA Spire with original Bartolini pickups and original Aphex for the cost of a used Korean import.
Plus the gold logo case for Dean USA models.
https://reverb.com/item/92134833-dean-spire-bass-guitar-2000s-red-custom-shop?show_sold=true
Was it anyone here?
Similar to my Korean Import made at the Un Sung Factory in 2010.
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Got crafty with my Z. It's single pickup which is just the bridge pickup. Wanting to play closer to the neck I sometimes find my hand wandering. I don't play this bass that often so I figured I'd 3D print a thumb rest to call home. I recessed a notch to hold double sided tape so it'll appear flush to the body. No screws and a good wide bit of tape that I'm not worried about it falling off. Just thought I'd show it off here since I'm up early before work and bored.
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Hi there,
I just found this on my local FBM - unlined fretless (yikes!) but a different bridge design from many with the Aphex system. I can't seem to find anything about the year, however it does tout the aphex and big bottom exciter yada yada - is this a re-issue with none of the mojo that the earlier ones had or is it the real deal?
Thanks for any info anyone can provide.
Andy
I just found this on my local FBM - unlined fretless (yikes!) but a different bridge design from many with the Aphex system. I can't seem to find anything about the year, however it does tout the aphex and big bottom exciter yada yada - is this a re-issue with none of the mojo that the earlier ones had or is it the real deal?
Thanks for any info anyone can provide.
Andy
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Im not sure if im replying to the to something specific being discussed or this is where I start a new topic. I don't see a start new box. Im trying to I d. a Dean bass ,my son bought. He didn't pay much considering the set neck. < $400. The body is like 1/2 V 1/2 explorer and is finished in solid black. It has Two emg hz active humbuckers. It has an ebony board with MOP or abalone circle 
fret markers. Neck is not bolt on and is set I believe. The neck and headstock are painted matching black. The neck has 24 frets, 2 pearl circles @ 12 and 24. The letters or initials ML appear stamped on the truss rod cover just below the headstock. Came with a huge Dean factory hardshell case. I have researched the serial # and have learned some things if accurate. US07021382 -
KOREA factory import. Built February of 2007 1,382nd bass built that month. Is that being interpreted by me correctly? It plays great and has nice low action. Reminds me alot of the Spector Rex I used to own.
fret markers. Neck is not bolt on and is set I believe. The neck and headstock are painted matching black. The neck has 24 frets, 2 pearl circles @ 12 and 24. The letters or initials ML appear stamped on the truss rod cover just below the headstock. Came with a huge Dean factory hardshell case. I have researched the serial # and have learned some things if accurate. US07021382 - KOREA factory import. Built February of 2007 1,382nd bass built that month. Is that being interpreted by me correctly? It plays great and has nice low action. Reminds me alot of the Spector Rex I used to own.
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Dean MLIm not sure if im replying to the to something specific being discussed or this is where I start a new topic. I don't see a start new box. Im trying to I d. a Dean bass ,my son bought. He didn't pay much considering the set neck. < $400. The body is like 1/2 V 1/2 explorer and is finished in solid black. It has Two emg hz active humbuckers. It has an ebony board with MOP or abalone circle
KOREA factory import. Built February of 2007 1,382nd bass built that month. Is that being interpreted by me correctly? It plays great and has nice low action. Reminds me alot of the Spector Rex I used to own.
Made in South Korea
Un Sung factory
That is one of the higher end ML models. Not to be confused with ML Metalman.
Search this thread for ‘destroyer’ ‘Z’ ‘Demonator’ and you’ll see catalog pages that will include your ML
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Go hereIm not sure if im replying to the to something specific being discussed or this is where I start a new topic. I don't see a start new box. Im trying to I d. a Dean bass ,my son bought. He didn't pay much considering the set neck. < $400. The body is like 1/2 V 1/2 explorer and is finished in solid black. It has Two emg hz active humbuckers. It has an ebony board with MOP or abalone circle
KOREA factory import. Built February of 2007 1,382nd bass built that month. Is that being interpreted by me correctly? It plays great and has nice low action. Reminds me alot of the Spector Rex I used to own.
Haven’t seen much ML basses here.
<$400 is a great deal for that particular model with EMG pickups and set neck.
I just acquired a Dean 8 string bass. No idea what strings are on there now, but I'd sure appreciate knowing what others have chosen for the lower 4 and for the octave strings. I don't plan to alter it from standard tuning, so E A D G and the octave strings, obviously, an octave higher. I have no objection to experimenting, even using guitar strings for the octave strings. All recommendations and suggestions appreciated.
D'Addario sells an 8-string set. EXL170-8 (maybe others too). That's what my guitar guy put on my 8-string Schecter. Since I rarely play it (and will likely be selling it soon) I didn't care much about what he put on there, but these seem to be pretty good.
After waiting to hear from others, and hearing pretty much nothing, I contacted Jason at Fret Nation and he suggested sets of SIT strings. I started using SITs on a couple of basses I owned at the time after receiving an endorsement for them from LowEndLobster, my favorite online bass reviewer. I have never liked any set of D'Addario strings I've tried, mostly because they came stock on some basses I bought, but in every single case changed them out for something I thought sounded better. At the moment, I have LaBella Super Steps, exposed core strings on just about every bass I have except for the 8 string. A set of Super Steps for the 8 would be unbelievably expensive, so I settled for the SITs. We'll see how they sound once they get here. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Knock knock, can I be in the cool kids club too?
Edge Q5 with stainless Lo-Riders
My first Dean, purchased in about 2004. Currently wearing stainless Lo-Riders and black bridge and knobs. Also has a SBMM preamp so it's now active
Edge Q5 with stainless Lo-Riders
My first Dean, purchased in about 2004. Currently wearing stainless Lo-Riders and black bridge and knobs. Also has a SBMM preamp so it's now active
So . . . here it is two years to the day since my last post on this subject (#3880). I have since refurbished my Tropical Dean with some ding repairs, a full fret replacement, Kahler bridge and other new black hardware to replace the gold, EMG BQC active preamp, Gotoh tuners and a Tusq nut. I am very happy with the results.
While I've added to my collection of basses, I still don't have the Dean I want. Still hunting for a Dean Entwistle Spider bass, non-USA model. I've seen the Hybrid's available for sale, but haven't been able to find a Spider. If anyone has one and is willing to sell it, or sees one for sale somewhere, please let me know!
Thanks.
Thanks.
Well the Duo De Twanger swapped pickups. Had to change the tone pot but with emg it’s pretty easy. The Strat pickup is pretty low output but sounds amazing. Need to put some fresh batteries in there. The humbucker was wobbly and had it taped down. The Strat is nice and tight lol
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Oh yeah. I totally forgot to mention. I got a Dean V Metalman for $250. Came out to around $330 including tax and shipping. I had it sent directly to my brother as a late Birthday jift last year. He's primarily a guitarist so I'm trying to corrupt him. 
He mentions it in the following video around the 40min mark.
He mentions it in the following video around the 40min mark.Attachments
I'm gonna sneak these in.... 
I did a simple search for "Dean GS" or "SG" or "Gran Sport", I don't recall. This turned up. The banjo guitar. I had no idea they even made these. With an Electronic Audio Experiments: Prismatic Wall, playing slow and spooky it sounds wicked! I plan on replacing the synthetic skin with a natural hide of some sort.
FWIW, I'd like to build a banjo bass with a full size bass drum. Fretless, of course. Probably ground wounds. Maybe 4-5 string as I'd prefer a metal neck but, we'll see what's possible later on.
I also snagged a a Gran Sport double neck. Each cost me ~$600. The double neck even came with a huge case!
I did a simple search for "Dean GS" or "SG" or "Gran Sport", I don't recall. This turned up. The banjo guitar. I had no idea they even made these. With an Electronic Audio Experiments: Prismatic Wall, playing slow and spooky it sounds wicked! I plan on replacing the synthetic skin with a natural hide of some sort.
FWIW, I'd like to build a banjo bass with a full size bass drum. Fretless, of course. Probably ground wounds. Maybe 4-5 string as I'd prefer a metal neck but, we'll see what's possible later on.
I also snagged a a Gran Sport double neck. Each cost me ~$600. The double neck even came with a huge case!
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I had a similar issue on my Rhapsody 12. On mine, it looks like the bridge was put in 1cm too close to the knob side. It has a metal nut and seems okay there. I haven't fixed mine yet
From your later posts, it sounds like you ultimately replaced the pickups and got an EQ pedal. I was going to suggest starting with the latter.
I primarily use a Source Audio: EQ2 pedal but also have a 2ch 31-band rack unit to help set the base tone across instruments and play styles then use the pedal + MIDI presets. It works well but, I've learned that I want Jazz style pickups in (almost) all of my basses.
What I've noticed is there isn't much difference in the greater signal chain between pickup makes and models. The biggest differences are low output / noisy / muddy / generally poorly made pups VS good ones. lol. Then things like active VS passive. And the general category i.e. J style, P style, humbucker, wide single coil, etc which'll give a different character.
Where do things sit now for you?
I always go for custom sets of DR Strings from my local shoppe. Neons are on my 12-string Dean Rhapsody.
Except, I believe basses should always only ever have wound strings and tuned the main course down to G#0 with an octave up for the outer course and the middle course is three semitones above that.
My 8-string bass is similar but in drop C with a low G below that, plus octaves. This all allows me to continue using heavy enough gauge wound strings. It's got DR bronze acoustic strings for the two C's of the main strings and DR DDT's for the two G's with yellow and red Neons, respectively for the octaves.
I'm thinking an 8-string might still allow you to use a 20-25g wound string but, it's going to be under the guitar section of DR's website, should you go with them. You might have to use a non-coated string. I'd try with a 25g "bass" string. It'll be around 50lb tension but, that'll be fine. Just be careful tightening those last few turns and you'll have to adjust the truss rod after for sure. For the rest, you'll have to mix and match "guitar" and "bass" strings to get the optimal tensions and gauges.
I'd try a welding clay from an auto parts store or quick blow torch weld, if you've got the tools, to combine strings just after the nut to lengthen them. Some of the "guitar" strings* might not be long enough to wrap around the tuning pegs but, they'll reach past the nut so that's all that matters.
* There is no inherit difference between bass strings and guitar strings. Some product lines of the same name use hex core for one and round core for the other. I haven't noticed a huge difference between them so, I wouldn't get too hung up on that if I were you. That's only one part of the over all sound. As mentioned above, a good EQing goes a long way. As does a compressor. And fuzz/distortion. ;P
