Dean Club!!!

[B-Mac]

FOLLOW UP TO THIS REVIEW. I decided to give Dean Another chance, after talking to my buddy who is a professional guitar player and has no less than 3 dean guitars. So I picked up another Dean 1 PJ mahogany.
What a stark contrast.
1. Sound. Very decent. Surprisingly so. This time electronics had ZERO issues, no cracking. Vol Vol Tone Tone are control found on MORE expensive basses, so they were very much appreciated.
2. Body. This time there was no issues with seeing the connection lines between parts of the body. Still thin body, thicker and more massive than current Ibanez series.
3. Neck... WOW... All I can say is WOW. I got the action on the Low E string at a hair more than 1/8 of an inch.
Overall grade 4.0 out of 5. Bass COULD have use a thicker, more massive body. Not griping about cheap electronics and cheap bridge, for 150 shipped, I can't expect better.

Overall I am happy with bass. The bass will be getting an upgraded pickups (Entwistle), and upgraded bridge. Someone gave me a Peavey T40 bridge and it seems that it SHOULD fit on that bass. IT will look funny as hell but the sound should only improve... I will post pics once upgrades are done.

Tigerclaw_x,

Welcome to Dean Club!!!

You have been officially issued Member Number 182

 

[deff]

True, they do get a bad rap, but I don't think it's because they're priced lower ($89 vs $99). I think how good/bad the HZ's sound depends on which pre is driving them. Matched up with an active EMG circuit (or any quality pre) they sound stellar. With a Spector Tone Pump Jr....not so great IMO. Agree that it's a personal taste thing, but a mis-matched pre doesn't help matters.

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EMG HZ's came in the Schecter I have. At least I am told they are HZ's by some folks around here that are in the know. The active electronic preamp tone controls that come in the Schecter sounds really decent.

 

[B-Mac]

Updated member list:

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the harp unstrung #420

[edit: updated 12-23-2018]
[edit: updated 12-27-2018]

 

[B-Mac]

EMG HZ's came in the Schecter I have. At least I am told they are HZ's by some folks around here that are in the know. The active electronic preamp tone controls that come in the Schecter sounds really decent.

EMGHZ's are in my Schecter Studio Stiletto and they sound great. No clue what preamp though.

This is the only non-Dean bass I have that has EMG pups.
All the others are Deans:

• Hardtail
• Rhapsody Q4
• Rhapsody 8

[edit: thought I'd add these in order as above]

 

[deff]

EMGHZ's are in my Schecter Studio Stiletto and they sound great. No clue what preamp though.
View attachment 3254371
This is the only non-Dean bass I have that has EMG pups.
All the others are Deans:

• Hardtail
• Rhapsody Q4
• Rhapsody 8

I have a stiletto as well as you can see from the avatar. I used to have a Rhapsody 8. I loved it and have owned a number of Dean 6 strings. Schecter makes their own preamp as far as I know. I miss the Rhapsody. I heard recently that Eliot Rubinson died. That's a shame as he seemed to be a really great owner who loved his customers.

 

[B-Mac]

I have a stiletto as well as you can see from the avatar. I used to have a Rhapsody 8. I loved it and have owned a number of Dean 6 strings. Schecter makes their own preamp as far as I know. I miss the Rhapsody. I heard recently that Eliot Rubinson died. That's a shame as he seemed to be a really great owner who loved his customers.

Elliot was cool. He's the only CEO of any guitar company that ever replied to my e-mails. Plus he played bass which is even cooler.

 

[Iridescentone]

EMG HZ's came in the Schecter I have. At least I am told they are HZ's by some folks around here that are in the know. The active electronic preamp tone controls that come in the Schecter sounds really decent.

If they are EMG HZ's, I'd expect them to be badged "EMG HZ" on the covers. Same for any USA-EMG pickups.

 

[deff]

If they are EMG HZ's, I'd expect them to be badged "EMG HZ" on the covers. Same for any USA-EMG pickups.

Yeah they just say EMG

 

[B-Mac]

Invalid Link Removed

 

[trailer]

Thanks for the invite! Rockin the Green Dean!

 

[B-Mac]

Thanks for the invite! Rockin the Green Dean!View attachment 3256017

Great Dean Bass in action photo!

 

[B-Mac]

Thanks for the invite! Rockin the Green Dean!View attachment 3256017

trailer,

Welcome to Dean Club!!!

You have been officially issued Member Number 183

 

[B-Mac]

Thanks for the invite! Rockin the Green Dean!View attachment 3256017

is 'Traumatide' the name of your band?

 

[Rojd]

I've been really digging the Dean Rhapsody 12 and am seriously considering one for my next bass purchase, sometime early next year.

 

[B-Mac]

I've been really digging the Dean Rhapsody 12 and am seriously considering one for my next bass purchase, sometime early next year.

View attachment 3258076

I have the 8 string and love it.

Davie504 does a cool vid with a 12 string rhapsody

 

[trailer]

Haha no...Traumatide was a local band 10 or so years ago. I love the name and know one of the guys that was in it. And the T-shirt is really cool. My band is named Parris....Invalid Link Removed

trailer,

Welcome to Dean Club!!!

You have been officially issued Member Number 183

 

[B-Mac]

Haha no...Traumatide was a local band 10 or so years ago. I love the name and know one of the guys that was in it. And the T-shirt is really cool. My band is named Parris....Invalid Link Removed

FYI

both @armyadarkness and @rtslinger brandish Custom Zone basses and are true believers in them.

 

[B-Mac]

I've been really digging the Dean Rhapsody 12 and am seriously considering one for my next bass purchase, sometime early next year.

View attachment 3258076

 

[Tony Sun]

Thanks for getting me in! Have a Dean Paramount Bass on the way and check out my razorback! Also anyone know where I can find a battery cover for it? Been missing a cover for quite a while.

 

[Destroyer661]

Thanks for getting me in! Have a Dean Paramount Bass on the way and check out my razorback! Also anyone know where I can find a battery cover for it? Been missing a cover for quite a while.View attachment 3261244

Mine busted off as well... I've been thinking about having it modded to be like other 9v cavities with the cover and screws. Also just curious does your battery drain just being in your bass? I have to disconnect the battery in the cavity every time i unplug or the next time I play I have to throw new 9v at it.