I scored a Dean Playmate acoustic bass for $75 from a dude. It does what it is supposed to do, although I REALLY need to sand the "Playmate" logo off of the headstock.
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Go Ahead, LAUGH! -- I Got a DEAN!
- Thread starter Bongolation
- Start date
No shame in a Dean or any other brand. I haven't played many Deans but I was messing around with a dean 8-stringer at a local shop the other day and it was total class. Beautiful looking, very resonant unplugged, played like butter.
I've bought three Vendetta six-stringers - one for here, one for when visiting relatives on the east coast, and one for classroom use. Plus two Dean 4-stringers for modding/tinkering beater platforms.
This may violate TB religion, but relative to the money I've paid I've never had a bad Dean.
Initial thoughts: After playing it for about 45 minutes this morning, I have mixed feelings. The gap between the FB overhang and body really bugs me. Although it doesn`t appear to have any impact on functionality, it just looks like poor workmanship. On the original thread, several have said theirs is the same, so I guess it`s not a defect. If I had actually paid the full $500+ price, I`d be very pissed. Otherwise, though, fit and finish are excellent. And I, for one, love the finish / top. Very unique. Nice hardware. My only other gripe is that the knobs rub the body and seem a little wobbly. It`s probably a perception thing because of the top contour, though - Les Pauls seem this way to me. Sound - wise, I don`t hear alot of variability in the tone, other than the bass boost. It has a nice modern sound, though, and the noise factor so many have stated doesn`t seem to be a big problem in mine. Playability: this is the smallest neck I`ve ever seen. A few years ago, when I played Jazzes, I would have loved this neck. Now that I almost exclusively play P`s, I just don`t dig this neck at all. I like the shape and finish, and the fretwork is surprisingly good, but the neck is just tiny ! Those who like thin necks will absolutely love it, though. And the ergonomics ? This is the lightest, most well-balanced and comfortable bass I`ve ever owned, hands down. Overall impression: not sure if I`m gonna keep it. I keep telling myself what a great bass it is for the cost of an SX; it`s really a steal for $139 - I really can`t complain. But I`m just not feeling it so far, either. It`s a matter of personal preference, mostly, and not quality. Gonna give it a chance though, and see if it grows on me. My .02
My friends,
I recently had the chance to pick up a Dean Edge 4-string bass at a pawn shop for $100, sporting passive pickups (which I prefer) and a wood-tone finish. It needed new strings and a setup (as I expected) but I have been really pleased so far. The tone isn't exactly what I am used to but it's very close. The thing that surprised me the most is the playability - it plays better (properly set up) than some $2000 basses I have tried out. Very, very low action, nary a fret buzz (unless I am beating on it, in which case the buzz is part of the desired tonality) and an overall great feel.
I have been a die-hard Yamaha BB-series enthusiast for years, but with the prices on the new BB-series basses skyrocketing I might spend a bit of time checking out some of Dean's other bass offerings.
----
Kurt
I recently had the chance to pick up a Dean Edge 4-string bass at a pawn shop for $100, sporting passive pickups (which I prefer) and a wood-tone finish. It needed new strings and a setup (as I expected) but I have been really pleased so far. The tone isn't exactly what I am used to but it's very close. The thing that surprised me the most is the playability - it plays better (properly set up) than some $2000 basses I have tried out. Very, very low action, nary a fret buzz (unless I am beating on it, in which case the buzz is part of the desired tonality) and an overall great feel.
I have been a die-hard Yamaha BB-series enthusiast for years, but with the prices on the new BB-series basses skyrocketing I might spend a bit of time checking out some of Dean's other bass offerings.
----
Kurt
What? Why didn't you get this one instead?
Amazon.com: Dean Custom Zone Bass, Nuclear Green: Musical Instruments
Actually I used to have one of those in Nuclear Green and it was a GREAT bass!!! I would have another one in a heartbeat!! I used to use it for the Lenny Kravitz song "Fly Away". Killer tone!!!
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I started playing bass on a Dean trans-black Fretless Edge w/passive pups and active preamp...truthfully somedays I miss it, Dean isn't the worst out there. Nice score!!!
As for those of you with those green or pink Dean playmate things...uh, 1987 called...they want their bass back!!
As for those of you with those green or pink Dean playmate things...uh, 1987 called...they want their bass back!!
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
hey good luck with it. I wanted one of those dean pace upright. the reviews were bad. so I asked my buddy and he said "dean make's a awlful electric bass what do you think a dean upright is gonna sound like" But all kidding aside looks cool sounds cool then it is cool.
Remember:
But, since it's here; I have a good friend (a professional guitarist) who bought a Dean Stylist... well, he got it from Ed Roman's shop, so it was a while ago, now. He likes it very much, and is always telling me so. I have to admit, it did impress me when he got it. It is a little pointy for my taste, and the spot it would fill in my herd is already filled; but otherwise... pretty darn impressive for the money...
Actually I had a nice Trans red fretless Edge 5 string that I liked but wasn't using for a few years so I sold it to a friend. I kinda miss that bass. It wasn't great but it was solid well made instrument and even the cheap Seymore Duncan's in it weren't bad.
