Dean Club!!!

[58kites]

Thank you for helping me.

You are very welcome.
I've had a couple Peavey USA basses that had bridges with huge saddles (that should never have been spec'd) that required the use of the Peavey micro-tilt feature to get the action down where it belongs.
I hate the micro-tilt (Peavey, Fender and G&L) feature and will not use it, so these shims are a good solution if a business card cut in half is not to your liking.
If you want to get it sorted today, you can cut a business card in half and use the two pieces stacked in the bottom of you neck pocket and it will do the trick.
If you're happy with that, then you are done, if you want to get fancy the StewMac shim will work great.

 

[Shaggai]

Is stewmac an inmate here or an on line source of some kind. Regardless, I am looking for something appropiate to use that might be handy or something that I can just run down and get. Today is a wasted day, so tomorrow. Looked on line this morning at son/father guitars cause I was going that direction anyway. Permanently closed. Dang! I bet if I run down to skips I can pick up shims. The repair window is right in there inside the store.
Anything else I may have on hand? Anyone? A credit card is awfull thick!
But look at my strings! Bridge is low as it goes.

View attachment 3541698

Sorry to hijack, is the fretboard hanging off of the neck a Dean feature? My Q6 came with it and I thought it was a defect and returned it, new one showed up with the same fretboard hanging over the body like this pic. Obviously kept it since I was wrong...

 

[58kites]

Is the fretboard hanging off of the neck a Dean feature? My Q6 came with it and I thought it was a defect and returned it, new one showed up with the same fretboard hanging over the body like this pic. Obviously kept it since I was wrong...

I've seen it other brands as well, on some expensive basses.

 

[B-Mac]

Is stewmac an inmate here or an on line source of some kind. Regardless, I am looking for something appropiate to use that might be handy or something that I can just run down and get. Today is a wasted day, so tomorrow. Looked on line this morning at son/father guitars cause I was going that direction anyway. Permanently closed. Dang! I bet if I run down to skips I can pick up shims. The repair window is right in there inside the store.
Anything else I may have on hand? Anyone? A credit card is awfull thick!
But look at my strings! Bridge is low as it goes.

View attachment 3541698

Wow! Have you compared the fretted neck and fretless neck side by side ?

Just wonder if the fretless neck sat differently in the neck pocket of the Rhapsody HBF?

Hope it all works out

 

[Bass Man Stan]

I have used a block just a little narrower than the pocket with 80 grit sand paper on it. Make sure sand paper going up the sides is taped over. The block in picture is for a six string guitar.

 

[2many]

You are very welcome.
I've had a couple Peavey USA basses that had bridges with huge saddles (that should never have been spec'd) that required the use of the Peavey micro-tilt feature to get the action down where it belongs.
I hate the micro-tilt (Peavey, Fender and G&L) feature and will not use it, so these shims are a good solution if a business card cut in half is not to your liking.
If you want to get it sorted today, you can cut a business card in half and use the two pieces stacked in the bottom of you neck pocket and it will do the trick.
If you're happy with that, then you are done, if you want to get fancy the StewMac shim will work great.

So what do they call these bridges? Kind of disappointing that all you can do is raise, lower or slant the whole thing.

I do not mind the intonation adjustment, but wait till you see what they have got on a twelve string!

 

[2many]

Sorry to hijack, is the fretboard hanging off of the neck a Dean feature? My Q6 came with it and I thought it was a defect and returned it, new one showed up with the same fretboard hanging over the body like this pic. Obviously kept it since I was wrong...

All mine hang over...

 

[2many]

Wow! Have you compared the fretted neck and fretless neck side by side ?

Just wonder if the fretless neck sat differently in the neck pocket of the Rhapsody HBF?

Hope it all works out

I have not had necks side by side. When I pull the fretless off, I can compare with the original neck. It was my assumption the fretless neck I bought from dean was for the Q4 not an HBF as they told me it was their last one. Hasn’t the HBF been inproduction all along since then? Mid 2000’s...? And when I bought the neck was right at the Q4’s end. The shipping date of the neck was
2-15-05. Looking closely at the original neck, I see minor fretwear on the frets near fourth and thirteenth. Tells me how much use it had. Fourth fret has round wound gouges, up the neck is just worn flat a bit. Dressing needed there.

Original neck had a high tech emery paper shimming approach. Also note a circled screw hole! Points out a slightly “pulled” thread base? See the raised wood?

May be nothing to worry about.

 

[2many]

I have used a block just a little narrower than the pocket with 80 grit sand paper on it. Make sure sand paper going up the sides is taped over. The block in picture is for a six string guitar. View attachment 3541790 View attachment 3541784

I like this sanding block option as a solution. Not the first one, but if I have some kind of “abortion” going on here that the luthier failed to address, that method may be something I can acheive. Given there is not excessive material to remove.

 

[B-Mac]

I have not had necks side by side. When I pull the fretless off, I can compare with the original neck. It was my assumption the fretless neck I bought from dean was for the Q4 not an HBF as they told me it was their last one. Hasn’t the HBF been inproduction all along since then? Mid 2000’s...? And when I bought the neck was right at the Q4’s end. The shipping date of the neck was
2-15-05. Looking closely at the original neck, I see minor fretwear on the frets near fourth and thirteenth. Tells me how much use it had. Fourth fret has round wound gouges, up the neck is just worn flat a bit. Dressing needed there.

Original neck had a high tech emery paper shimming approach. Also note a circled screw hole! Points out a slightly “pulled” thread base? See the raised wood?

View attachment 3541853 View attachment 3541854

May be nothing to worry about.

The Solid body Rhapsodies never came in a fretless version. Only the Hollow Body Rhapsody did. That is why I am mentioning this. I don’t know how different the HB Rhapsody body was, if at all, from any of the Rhapsody solid bodies. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t as I never owned the HB, but it might be worth it to have them side by side as it could be why you have to do what you’re currently going through with this shim adjustment... or not. If they are different as far as thickness differences of the FB or thickness from back of heel to face of FB it could give you an idea of just how much shimming you actually have to do.

 

[2many]

And I shall have a look.

 

[B-Mac]

Variations of the Rhapsody

12 string Transparent active w/two EMGHZ

8 string Transparent Bubinga w/two EMGHZ

Q5 string active w/two EMGHZ

Q4 string active w/two EMGHZ

BB5 string active w/two EMGHZ

BB4 string active w/two EMGHZ

4 string passive w/two DMT

4 string passive w/one DMT

4 string passive hollow w/modern F holes w/one DMT near neck

4 string fretless passive hollow w/modern F holes w/one DMT near neck

4 string fretless passive hollow w/classic F holes w/one DMT near bridge

(I have never seen the latter HB with the classic F holes in a fretted version in any catalog listing)

 

[2many]

Ok so under the fretless neck there was some veneer. About .010 thick.

The only difference I could find between the fret and fretless was a slightly longer fretboard.

I ended up putting in two layers of credit card to get it up for string height and within range for further up and down adjustments of the bridge. I got results as far as low action. And I have the whole fret board working well. So I’m happy with that! My first time shimming and doing a truss rod. Ok...
Want to lower the action on the 12 str.

 

[B-Mac]

View attachment 3542621

Ok so under the fretless neck there was some veneer. About .010 thick.

View attachment 3542622

The only difference I could find between the fret and fretless was a slightly longer fretboard.

View attachment 3542623

I ended up putting in two layers of credit card to get it up for string height and within range for further up and down adjustments of the bridge. I got results as far as low action. And I have the whole fret board working well. So I’m happy with that! My first time shimming and doing a truss rod. Ok...
Want to lower the action on the 12 str.

Thanks for sharing this!
Well done and much appreciated!

 

[FinialBassist]

My Fender Flatwounds came in the mail today. Love how they sound fresh out of the package, and how they feel. The tension is pretty high for a light set of strings, which I'm actually thankful for. I'll probably post a sound clip later.

Edit: I should probably specify I put these on the Dean Paramount I recently purchased.

Jimbo, do you still have Fender Flatwounds on your Paramount and do you still like the combo? I picked up a used Paramount a few months ago and am contemplating putting on a set of 9050Ls. Curious how the tension compares with the stock D'Addario rounds and if I'd have to make any serious adjustment to the truss rod.

I was also wondering if other Paramount owners have noticed the tuning pegs sightly pulling away from the headstock due to string tension. B-Mac's photo from another thread clearly shows a gap between the upper edge of the peg's trim ring and the headstock:

View attachment 3433610

I just want to make sure this is a cosmetic issue and that I won't hurt anything by installing flatwounds on my Paramount.

I suppose I should join the club while I'm here! Proof of Dean ownership:

 

[B-Mac]

Jimbo, do you still have Fender Flatwounds on your Paramount and do you still like the combo? I picked up a used Paramount a few months ago and am contemplating putting on a set of 9050Ls. Curious how the tension compares with the stock D'Addario rounds and if I'd have to make any serious adjustment to the truss rod.

I was also wondering if other Paramount owners have noticed the tuning pegs sightly pulling away from the headstock due to string tension. B-Mac's photo from another thread clearly shows a gap between the upper edge of the peg's trim ring and the headstock:



I just want to make sure this is a cosmetic issue and that I won't hurt anything by installing flatwounds on my Paramount.

I suppose I should join the club while I'm here! Proof of Dean ownership:

View attachment 3542968

Welcome!!!!!

 

[B-Mac]

Jimbo, do you still have Fender Flatwounds on your Paramount and do you still like the combo? I picked up a used Paramount a few months ago and am contemplating putting on a set of 9050Ls. Curious how the tension compares with the stock D'Addario rounds and if I'd have to make any serious adjustment to the truss rod.

I was also wondering if other Paramount owners have noticed the tuning pegs sightly pulling away from the headstock due to string tension. B-Mac's photo from another thread clearly shows a gap between the upper edge of the peg's trim ring and the headstock:



I just want to make sure this is a cosmetic issue and that I won't hurt anything by installing flatwounds on my Paramount.

I suppose I should join the club while I'm here! Proof of Dean ownership:

View attachment 3542968

Welcome!

FinialBassist,

Welcome to Dean Club!!!

You have been officially issued Member Number 199

You’re also officially our 200th Dean Club!!! member

 

[B-Mac]

Jimbo, do you still have Fender Flatwounds on your Paramount and do you still like the combo? I picked up a used Paramount a few months ago and am contemplating putting on a set of 9050Ls. Curious how the tension compares with the stock D'Addario rounds and if I'd have to make any serious adjustment to the truss rod.

I was also wondering if other Paramount owners have noticed the tuning pegs sightly pulling away from the headstock due to string tension. B-Mac's photo from another thread clearly shows a gap between the upper edge of the peg's trim ring and the headstock:



I just want to make sure this is a cosmetic issue and that I won't hurt anything by installing flatwounds on my Paramount.

I suppose I should join the club while I'm here! Proof of Dean ownership:

View attachment 3542968

Nice score on the Paramount too!

 

[Swerve]

Jimbo, do you still have Fender Flatwounds on your Paramount and do you still like the combo? I picked up a used Paramount a few months ago and am contemplating putting on a set of 9050Ls. Curious how the tension compares with the stock D'Addario rounds and if I'd have to make any serious adjustment to the truss rod.

I was also wondering if other Paramount owners have noticed the tuning pegs sightly pulling away from the headstock due to string tension. B-Mac's photo from another thread clearly shows a gap between the upper edge of the peg's trim ring and the headstock:



I just want to make sure this is a cosmetic issue and that I won't hurt anything by installing flatwounds on my Paramount.

I suppose I should join the club while I'm here! Proof of Dean ownership:

View attachment 3542968

Nice bass, got the same one! I installed Chromes 45-100 and it is definitely higher tension than that stock rounds, but for me it's only really noticeable on my plucking hand, but since I have a light touch it doesn't bother me. I actually like how tight the E string is compared to my Fender P, which isn't as defined. I've had Fender 9050Ls on other basses and I think the tension may be a bit less than the Chromes, but not 100% sure.

No issue with the tuning pegs here. I had pretty much the same neck relief after changing to Chromes, I only had to lower the saddles a bit to get the action I like. I'll keep an eye on them though.

My Paramount is currently getting a bone nut installed. The E slot on the stock nut was cut way too low, almost like the E string buried deeper into the slot from pressure. It was probably in a box for 3 years so no telling how that happened.

 

[FinialBassist]

Thanks for the responses and the club number. I put the Fender 9050Ls on this weekend and my initial impression is favorable. I'll let them break in a bit before passing final judgement. I have D'Addario Chromes on an older Squier P bass so it'll be fun to compare them.

I'm still a little concerned that the tuners on the Paramount are being pulled towards the bridge by the strings, but I suppose it's normal given the tension. Attached is a photo of my headstock with the new strings.

Seems like the Fender flats are a little higher tension than the stock rounds so I'll probably make a few tweaks to the set up once I've played it for a while. It's definitely not unplayable as is, but I could make it a little easier on the fingers.