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Dean Club!!!

#781
B-Mac said:
Based on the Catalog info I posted, and yes you pointed out catalog inconsistencies, that is an Edge Select.
Edge Improv
I think I like the one with matching headstock and gold hardware more.
Hopefully you can give an in depth comparison for both aesthetics and playability.
Nice!
You're getting really good at snagging these!
Is it neck-thru?
Click to expand...

Yes, this one is a neck-thru as well. Both are marked as a 'Dean European Custom Select' on the back of the headstock. I'm going to put more credence in the actual basses than the catalogs! lol :) I like the look of the matching headstock more myself, too, but the black headstock gives it a slightly more Spector vibe, IMO.

Just gotta keep your eyes open for these. I learned early on with US-made Peavey's that you gotta educate yourself more than the big box stores/ average consumer, and strike while the iron is hot. Getting a deal is getting harder anymore, but I still get lucky from time to time. Luckily, this seller was willing to work with me, even changing the listing to include a Buy It Now so that we could move things along quickly.

Differences between the 2-
New one has narrower walnut stringers, clearly visible. New one has a flame maple veneer, whereas the old one has a maple top that is at least a quarter inch thick. New one's veneer covers the walnut stringers on the front. New one has a black headstock, and black hardware (Grover tuners vs. Schaller on the old one). Bridge is the same on both, minus the color. As far as I can tell, the preamp is the same, or very similar. Still not sure the make, likely EMG. New one has EMG-Hz pickups, vs. EMG 40CS that came stock on the old one. I was expecting the tone to be 'meh' on the new one, but it's actually really good, and pretty aggressive. I may leave it as-is. New one feels lighter, but plays the same.

If the serial numbers are any indication, the new one is actually older (94399 vs. 94602). But with everything else being what it is, who knows.

20180612_181837.jpg

20180612_181856.jpg
 
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#784
Didn't realize there was a Dean forum, on their website. Anyway, the following is copied and pasted from a thread from 7 months ago:

Sounds like you have the Edge Select5. 1999-2001

They all had the Inlay at the top of the Headstock and talon inlay @12th fret. They are all 35" Scale with a 1-11/16" nut. All had Wenge Fretboards.

They made 3 flavors.....
Custom5 ($699 List)
the Custom5 has a Flame Maple Top, Alder Body, EMG-HZ Pickups, Bolt on Multi-piece laminated neck(maple & walnut), grover tuners, black Hardware.

Select5 ($869 List)
the Selects have a Flame Maple Top, Alder body, EMG-HZ pickups, Neck Thru Multi-piece laminated neck(maple & walnut), thru neck. Grover tuners, Black HArdware.

Improv5 ($1450 List)
The Improv5 has Gold Hardware, Flame Maple Top, Alder Body, Grover Tuners (Schaller in 2001), EMG-CS Pickups, Neck Thru multi-piece laminated neck(maple & walnut).

Still not sure why they decided to label them all the same. Ah well.
 
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#786
NicJimBass said:
Didn't realize there was a Dean forum, on their website. Anyway, the following is copied and pasted from a thread from 7 months ago:

Sounds like you have the Edge Select5. 1999-2001

They all had the Inlay at the top of the Headstock and talon inlay @12th fret. They are all 35" Scale with a 1-11/16" nut. All had Wenge Fretboards.

They made 3 flavors.....
Custom5 ($699 List)
the Custom5 has a Flame Maple Top, Alder Body, EMG-HZ Pickups, Bolt on Multi-piece laminated neck(maple & walnut), grover tuners, black Hardware.

Select5 ($869 List)
the Selects have a Flame Maple Top, Alder body, EMG-HZ pickups, Neck Thru Multi-piece laminated neck(maple & walnut), thru neck. Grover tuners, Black HArdware.

Improv5 ($1450 List)
The Improv5 has Gold Hardware, Flame Maple Top, Alder Body, Grover Tuners (Schaller in 2001), EMG-CS Pickups, Neck Thru multi-piece laminated neck(maple & walnut).

Still not sure why they decided to label them all the same. Ah well.
Click to expand...
That's the same info as the catalog pages I posted except it has more info on the neck and price. I didn't think the Dean Forum was still that active or maybe I got that mixed up with the Dean Owners Association not being that active anymore. I'll have to check it out, but I need to find my user name and password.

Thanks for the review on the bass and the comparison plus the side by side pix. I'd like to get a 4 string version of the one with the gold hardware.
 
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#787
B-Mac said:
That's the same info as the catalog pages I posted except it has more info on the neck and price. I didn't think the Dean Forum was still that active or maybe I got that mixed up with the Dean Owners Association not being that active anymore. I'll have to check it out, but I need to find my user name and password.

Thanks for the review on the bass and the comparison plus the side by side pix. I'd like to get a 4 string version of the one with the gold hardware.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you were right on all along. I still don't understand why they have 3 different tiers of a bass, yet mark them all the same. Seems weird, but it is what it is!
 
#788
NicJimBass said:
Yeah, you were right on all along. I still don't understand why they have 3 different tiers of a bass, yet mark them all the same. Seems weird, but it is what it is!
Click to expand...
If you ever see a 4 string version like the one you have with gold hardware let me know
 
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#791
NicJimBass said:
Yeah, you were right on all along. I still don't understand why they have 3 different tiers of a bass, yet mark them all the same. Seems weird, but it is what it is!
Click to expand...
I'd compare it to options on a car and as the options increase the name of the car changes. Like on a Land Rover Discovery....SD, SE, HSE :smug:
But that sticker on the back just having the same name is a real problem for a seller and buyer who isn't aware of the differences.
But sometimes than can be a help for the buyer if the seller doesn't know the one they have is the top tier rather than the lowest tier of that model, and sometimes GC has no idea. That's why it's good to share this info here at TB.
 
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#792
B-Mac said:
I didn't think the Dean Forum was still that active or maybe I got that mixed up with the Dean Owners Association not being that active anymore. I'll have to check it out, but I need to find my user name and password...
Click to expand...

Aw man, I used to be a DOA member myself - I've had a few Deans over the years, including one of the run of DOA 2004 guitars (the tigereye-quilted ML). Always wished they'd do more basses, like one every year *alongside* a guitar instead of just the occasional year's guitar being a bass. EDIT: it looks like they DID make basses every year for a bit. I didn't remember that, just remembered that I hadn't seen many basses...
 
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#793
TheBassmaster27 said:
Does anyone here have any experience with the Dean Custom Zone Basses
View attachment 3048107
The black one looks the best in my opinion, but I don't think they make that anymore. I'm not sure though.
Click to expand...
Yes I have a discontinued Neon Yellow and they have a great tone right out of the box. Action is good and no dead spots. I think only pink and green are the only available colors, but you could possibly get a used Black one, but I don't think I have seen one recently. Some people I read don't like the coating on the fretboard, but I didn't notice any playability issues because of it. I have some videos posted of it in the gig report section of TB check out the tone :cool:
 
#794
samurai shotgun bass said:
I have a USA made dean juggernaut prototype that I'm selling. It was the only(maybe first) model of the juggernaut series made in Tampa, Florida. I use to work at armadillo enterprise and copped this bad girl only to realize I was more into p basses. It has a long scale maple neck, 9lbs, Adler body, vintage hot jazz dmt pickups, and rotosound flatwound strings. It' a serious thumping machine and very versatile. If anyone is interested I can direct you to a demo video I made on YouTube, but for now enjoy the pictures. View attachment 3047447
Click to expand...
Is there anything else besides the hand written serial that indicates this is a USA model?
 
#796
B-Mac said:
ABG feedback

Quite a few of you have Dean ABGs and I wanted to hear your experiences on this. Some ABGs are worse than others and it certainly is not isolated to Dean ABGs.

What do you do to minimize it.
Click to expand...

Musical instruments are, as you know, B-Mac, very subjective and personal things. I absolutely love the looks of my Dean ABG. And I love the way it plays. Even though it is what I would consider to be a big AGB, it is well-balanced and sits on my lap nicely. It sounds pretty good acoustically.

As I've mentioned, the A string on this bass is louder than the others. It does seem to be feedback. I've tried a number of things to rectify/minimize it: Moving further from my amp, turning away from my amp, using a sound-hole plug, filling the inside of the bass with lightweight foam. I even lightly sanded the bottom of the saddle to make sure that the piezo is getting equal pressure from all the strings. BTW, this model does not have a phase switch. Nothing helps...to a high degree anyway. I hated to give up on the bass. And I haven't. What I've found is that if I keeping the volume on the bass fairly low, maybe at about 1/4, and turning the volume up on my amp tends to get rid of almost all of the feedback. Almost. The only negative that I've found to doing this is that the E string is now quieter than the other 3. So I'm thinking of buying another Fishman Classic 4 preamp with piezo to replace what's in it. Is the bass worth it? Subjective call. But to me it probably is.
 
#797
sdgrfan said:
Musical instruments are, as you know, B-Mac, very subjective and personal things. I absolutely love the looks of my Dean ABG. And I love the way it plays. Even though it is what I would consider to be a big AGB, it is well-balanced and sits on my lap nicely. It sounds pretty good acoustically.

As I've mentioned, the A string on this bass is louder than the others. It does seem to be feedback. I've tried a number of things to rectify/minimize it: Moving further from my amp, turning away from my amp, using a sound-hole plug, filling the inside of the bass with lightweight foam. I even lightly sanded the bottom of the saddle to make sure that the piezo is getting equal pressure from all the strings. BTW, this model does not have a phase switch. Nothing helps...to a high degree anyway. I hated to give up on the bass. And I haven't. What I've found is that if I keeping the volume on the bass fairly low, maybe at about 1/4, and turning the volume up on my amp tends to get rid of almost all of the feedback. Almost. The only negative that I've found to doing this is that the E string is now quieter than the other 3. So I'm thinking of buying another Fishman Classic 4 preamp with piezo to replace what's in it. Is the bass worth it? Subjective call. But to me it probably is.
Click to expand...
Hope it all works out as that is a beautiful bass! Could you post a pic of the pre-amp controls on the side of the bass body?
 
#799
Went to a local open jam last night, sans bass. The 'house bassist' had, unbelievably, a Dean Euro Select 4 in red. I showed him a pic of my two and we had a good laugh. I played it for several songs, and it was just as good as the ones I have. Small world!
 
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