NBD: Dean Paramount

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by B-Mac, Jun 1, 2019.

  1. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    Got my new Paramount about 10 days ago from Musician's Friend.

    Fit and finish is really good and not a sharp fret end. Action appears to have been set by Musician's Friend because it is low and no buzzing, just the slightest neck relief.

    I've purchased things through MF before but never a bass....just pedals for my guitar playing oldest nephew.
    $259 free shipping and no tax!

    2016 serial number so I am guessing they are unloading existing NOS inventory since these are discontinued. Came with usual Dean sticker and warranty card and tools.

    View attachment 3432792 View attachment 3432794 View attachment 3432798 View attachment 3432799 View attachment 3432800 View attachment 3432801 View attachment 3432802 View attachment 3432803 View attachment 3432804 View attachment 3432805

    1.65” width at nut and 0.75” thick neck at 1st fret. Thin Satin finish on back of neck. This is a nice fast neck without the sandpaper or steel wool routine.
     
  2. P. Aaron

    P. Aaron Supporting Member

    Nicely built bass. Good looking too. Congrats.
     
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  3. mojomike001

    mojomike001

    Mar 28, 2013
    South Florida
    Congrats.

    I do have one request. Could you measure the length from the nut to the saddles? I ask because the bridge looks so far up from the bottom of the bass compared with a typical Fender P.
     
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  4. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    Thanks
    34”
    22 frets
    Although the familiar P-Bass shape not exactly the same.
    0D61E7B7-53FA-449F-92DB-8F9162A487BD.jpeg FB429B64-CF23-473A-8103-E707BFCA15B5.jpeg
    93BBD7C1-57BE-4EEF-8C82-547FF5C05D01.jpeg
    7C8E2A7B-C7D9-4BF5-BF2B-8E32D0DEEEA0.jpeg

    I really like this double slotted bridge too

    Surprisingly I’m liking the strings on it too, though I’m not sure what they are other than some standard D’Addario strings
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
  5. mojomike001

    mojomike001

    Mar 28, 2013
    South Florida
    Interesting. The neck must be longer.
     
  6. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    Dean
    From end of headstock
    F11A8960-D02F-499C-B16A-A0B0543823DA.jpeg
    From nut
    214E2A21-9CDF-489D-A253-575A5E58B6DE.jpeg
    Fender from end of headstock
    4B721169-F889-4FFA-87E1-9A224995CC35.jpeg
    From nut
    D320951D-28A3-4B8F-A78E-E84813D268F4.jpeg

    FYI
    compared to 2014 Fender USA Deluxe
     
  7. mojomike001

    mojomike001

    Mar 28, 2013
    South Florida
    Makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to measure.
     
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  8. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    You bet! No problem
    Notice however that they are both the same length of 24” and 33” measured to the 21st fret.
    @Sub-Frequency @Jimbowhit7 and @Mark Yurick also own one and have recently posted on ‘Dean Club!!!’
    Either Jimbo or Mark actually bought more than one

    I think they’re a steal at this reduced price and I love their necks
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
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  9. CallMeAl

    CallMeAl

    Dec 2, 2016
    Ithaca Ny
    Cool! Is that black n gold? What do you think of the weight/balance and sound?
     
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  10. lowendrachel

    lowendrachel Supporting Member

    Sep 11, 2012
    GTA, Ontario
    Good looking bass. Congrats! How do you like it?
     
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  11. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    It’s more like a black and off white. Not a cream or parchment but not bone white either if you look at the picture above next to my Fender.

    @Spidey2112 just brought this up on another thread
     
  12. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    So far I love it. Especially the neck. Narrow and thin. 1.65” wide and 0.75” thick at nut. Thin satin finish on back of neck so for me it’s a fast neck.
    Also, the finish on the FB is a thin satin finish and not a thick gloss finish.

    No sharp fret edges. Set up great from MF or Dean out of box. Just the slightest neck relief. Good tone no static in controls. Knobs are metal. Tuners are solid and smooth turning
    Solid bridge

    22 frets

    Dead quiet as it should be

    For $259 no tax and free shipping this is a steal

    I’m just a bedroom bassist so I can’t say how it would hold up under the riggers of gigging
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
  13. skygzr

    skygzr

    Feb 23, 2015
    Southeast US
    Dean makes good stuff. I’ve had a couple and they’ve been very playable. My 35” 5 string is one of my favorites.

    They probably come from the same giant factory as 90% of the worlds guitars. On Monday they make Deans, Tuesday is for Ibanez, Wednesday and Thursday is Fender/Squier. Trees go in one end, guitars come out the other. And so it goes.
     
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  14. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    Weight appears to be the same according to my ‘analog’ bath scale around 8lbs. (I can’t give you ounces) and surprisingly similar to my Fender USA Deluxe P

    Sound is deep and not bright as some of the Dean pups tend to be on the hot side...this is not. Balance feels no different than my Fender USA Deluxe P.
    Made of Alder rather than Basswood which may have something to do with it?
    However I usually play sitting on my bed with my right foot on the bed rail which positions the bass next to me like I was using a guitar foot stool.
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
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  15. jd56hawk

    jd56hawk

    Sep 12, 2011
    The Garden State
    That thing looks nice!
     
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  16. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    Actually according to some web posts the Korean made Dean basses are either made in the ‘Un Sung’ factory or the ‘World’ factory

    The Paramount is made in the Korean ‘World’ factory

    I’m a bit partial to Deans by to way
    @BK bassist will laughingly attest to that lemme tell ya
    :)
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
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  17. Mark Yurick

    Mark Yurick

    Mar 6, 2019
    I just ordered two more for a total of eight. Couldn't resist at $259 (thanks B-Mac!)Safe to say I have issues, but these are great basses. Every bit as nice as a Mexican Fender, if not nicer.
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2019
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  18. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    Where are you finding them at $249?

    MF and GC are selling them at $259

    I went with MF since shipping was free and no tax

    I think you need to join the bass hoarding club now...like me and @BK bassist :)
    Bass Hoarding Personality Disorder (BHPD) - You are not alone.

    What body color/neck combinations are you acquiring?
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2019
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  19. B-Mac

    B-Mac Happiness is a warm puppy and a great bass Gold Supporting Member

    By the way the same no name case I bought for my Retrovibe by Chowny Volante fits this bass perfectly and for all of $59.99 shipped

    These don’t fit properly in the Dean Edge cases.
     
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  20. EatS1stBassist

    EatS1stBassist In Memoriam

    Apr 15, 2016
    So cal
    Very nice!:thumbsup:
     
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