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NBD: Dean Hillsboro(pics and review inside)

Lammchop93

Lammchop93

Supporting Member
Feb 4, 2007
8,875
14,215
Southern Indiana (Louisville, KY)
#1
Just got this an hour ago. That I know of, I'm the only one on this forum that has one of these at the time. I got the Eric Bass signature version of the Hillsboro with the single MM pickup in the sweet spot.

First Impressions:
The box came from UPS, so I was already worried. The box itself was opened on one end and was beat to hell. I was nervous. I look inside and see the bass in another box with lots of padding. YAY. I bring it down to my room and open it up. The bass was layered with bubble wrap and very well padded. I took off all the padding and grabbed the bass. It is pretty light-weight. I look at the fingerboard and neck and it is perfectly set-up. The grain is nice and clean on the fingerboard. So far I am very impressed. I tune it up and turn on my amp. This bass sounds massive! I love the rock tone this bass gets. It came factory stock with Rotosound Stainless Steels! That was a surprise.

Feel:
If you were to take the feel of a Rickenbacker body, a jazz bass neck, and the tone of a Stingray; you have this bass. The neck is very small and comfortable. The body has a large upper horn, but no worse than a Rickenbacker. The tone just screams Musicman. It sounds very similar. The neck has a light satin finish, so it is very smooth and doesn't get sticky.

Sound:
The bass is built for rock. There is no doubting that. It is very mid-range strong. I assume it will cut through well. I haven't had a chance to play it with a band yet, but I will Friday, and I will report back. The only complaint I have is that the pickup is very loud on the E string, and the other strings not so much. I was planning on upgrading to a Bartolini or something like that later on, so that should help. Also it is a active bass ran off of one 9V battery.

I know the standard model Hillsboro's are under $300, so they would make an amazing bass to mod or just have. The action and ease of play is as good as my Rickenbacker. I am shocked of how much I got for the price. I am a huge fan of Dean basses now.


And of course a few pics:
IMG_2231.jpg

IMG_2232.jpg

IMG_2233.jpg
 
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#8
I am loving Dean Basses after the Hillsboro's came out (not realesed, I looked up, they will be out around August/September) im thinking about trading my Fender/Squier P-J Combo for a Hillsboro Jazz or the Single Hillsboro bass. I dont think I would get the Eric Bass one though, i mean it looks buetiful, but until the White w/Black comes out, ill get it.
 
#10
Hey, I was just thinking about buying one of these. I found one in transparent black with a white pickguard (beautiful bass) with a case for a really nice price. I was looking at an Epiphone EB-3, custom, but I'd have to pay $300 for the one I want without a case, not to mention $50 for shipping. I can get the Hillsboro with the case AND free shipping for the same price.
I just bought a used Dean AEBC for $135 at Guitar Center on Saturday and it plays much better than I thought it would. Satin finish is nice and absolutely no fret buzz.
Maybe the is Hillsboro J-4 is just what I'm looking for.
 
#12
I've always liked the look of those hillsboro J basses,what they do with the pickguard is really awesome. I don't really like shinedown,but I watched your vid,and I must say,it sounds really good. unfortunately I don't like black on black. I saw an advert in bass player the other day with eric bass holding a white one with a black guard,now that was awesome,and I'd definitely rock one. congrats on the bass though,it's sick.
 
#14
"Have any of you had the chance to look over a Hillsboro Jr?"
it's a nice, solid bass with a precision pick-up.
it's quite simple looking, but don't be deceived, it still sounds good.
one thing, it is not as flexible sound wise as a erick bass, hillsboro single, or the j-bass... :hmm:
 
#15
this is off topic, but interesting. the other day i saw a Hillsboro j-bass that had it's pickups wired together in series (basically made one humbucker out of the two) and a bartolini humbucker added closer to the neck. the blend button now moved between the two j-pick-ups and the bartolini pick-up. i was not allowed to test it though....
so... i would appreciate any input on the sound, electronics, tone, etc. :)
 
#17
I have a red sunburst Hillsboro Single. I play it through a Hartke rig and it cuts like no other. I play in a NJ based rock band that plays out professionally 2-3 times a week, Backseat Love Affair. I LOVE this bass! I used it as my main for about a year until I got picked up by Lakland. But I sneak it in for a few gigs here and there and use it in the studio. Bass is massive sounding and the neck is faster than hell. And its durable too! I beat my basses up pretty good while on stage, and this thing can take all that I can throw at it. For the price, there is seriously nothing better. I strongly suggest picking one up if you are in the market!
 
#19
I just received a Hillsboro 5 in silverburst with a black pearloid pickguard and the Dean Humbucker. It is staggering the build quality for the money on these basses..... Perhaps harder to believe is they are already discontinued?! Ive been pretty happily using ESP LTD's (b205 and a b335) for a few years now and i intend to grab 1-2 more of the Hillsboros. They have an ENORMOUS sounding low end and a very nice tone capability range. You can go from a more 'classic' (think Thunderbird) tone to a very modern (think Warwick) tone with 1 knob. The neck is mu favorite part. Comfortable and accessible at all points with a satin wood finish. When it 'smooths out' from sweat Ill hit it with an sos pad to make it like new again.
Im VERY pleased with the bass.... BRAND new I got it for $315. I paid $550 a few years back for a Warwick Rockbass (not a bad bass) of similar build/quality. The difference was Warwick kind of 'makes a cheap bass but just to satisfy a niche otherwise left uncovered' where the Hillsboro is the lovechild of a Musicman and a Rickenbacker
 
#20
Markr1st said:
I just received a Hillsboro 5 in silverburst with a black pearloid pickguard and the Dean Humbucker. It is staggering the build quality for the money on these basses..... Perhaps harder to believe is they are already discontinued?! Ive been pretty happily using ESP LTD's (b205 and a b335) for a few years now and i intend to grab 1-2 more of the Hillsboros. They have an ENORMOUS sounding low end and a very nice tone capability range. You can go from a more 'classic' (think Thunderbird) tone to a very modern (think Warwick) tone with 1 knob. The neck is mu favorite part. Comfortable and accessible at all points with a satin wood finish. When it 'smooths out' from sweat Ill hit it with an sos pad to make it like new again.
Im VERY pleased with the bass.... BRAND new I got it for $315. I paid $550 a few years back for a Warwick Rockbass (not a bad bass) of similar build/quality. The difference was Warwick kind of 'makes a cheap bass but just to satisfy a niche otherwise left uncovered' where the Hillsboro is the lovechild of a Musicman and a Rickenbacker
Click to expand...
I think the Hillsboros have some of the best necks around. The satin finish is incredible and the maple fretboard is topnotch.
Imagine my surprise when I bought a Dean Exotica bass which has neither and found that I still love the neck and fretboard…feels and looks perfect!
 
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