Since you brought up Dean Guitars

[hikarateboy]

Dean along with Hamer were my absolute favorite brands back when I first got into guitar in about '79. The closest music store to me was Parker Music in Mankato MN and they sold both.

However, Dean was probably the first brand I remember due to an article on Dean Z in a People magazine (?) that my grandma had out at their farm. I must have read it about a 100 times mostly for the photo of Dean with an Z or maybe and ML in hand. I immediately was hooked on that head stock. Totally Iconic. Once I got to play one I loved the v shaped neck strangely though, I have never owned a Dean. Thinking I should rectify it with a Cadillac and maybe a V in the classic configuration as in 79-81

I know there are many on the board close in age and with similar Hamer/Dean stories so expect there is a ton of knowledge here. So this is where you guys come in.

If a guy were going to shop for a Dean where do you look? Ebay sucks and the dean forum doesn't have a for sale board.

Secondly, I know there are many permutation from original usa chicago build to Czech to Korean to US Masters and I expect Chinese built. The look is the main thing for me. I am not afraid of imports. If its a good guitar its a good guitar and hardware and pickups are easy upgrades. I saw the 79 series at namm with Cmatthes one year and they seemed decent.

What would you look for?

[LordOfTheThighs]

The Dean Forum has a F/S board. (Unless they've done away with since last visit).

I think you've got to be logged in as a member to see it.

[svl]

The Dean site has a FS board on the forum. BUT- funny enough, most of the good vintage geets are still sold by members on eBay and not on the forum. One of the guys there just sold two beautiful '81 Cadillacs last week on eBay (both went for $1300).

I too have been searching for a Dean Caddy, but unlike most I want the shrimpfork headstock and stock Kahler (puts me in the '83 to '85 range). If anyone has one and wants to let it go hit me up. Would love crowns and 7 ply as well.

[hikarateboy]

Ah, I registered and now I see the fs forum. Not a lot there that was of interest. I am completely not into the razor back or dime stuff. A black import looks nice but are they? Like I said as long as the thing is solid I've been cool with one.

[dragan]

they were really well made back then & zelinski had a heck of a Namm show booth 79-82 at McCormick place

[Steve Haynie]

Get the real deal original run guitars.

It would be nice to have another one.

[zorrow]

All the Deans I have owned, but one, came from the Dean forum. Some good deals can be made there, now and then.

However, at the HFC we seem to have a higher average income that theirs. That's why you see less vintage stuff FS there than here, I suppose.

But Deans are great, as well as the players in that forum. And while I also dislike the Dime/Razor stuff and have mixed feelings about the V-necks (sometimes they're just too thin for my tastes), the MSG Vees and the Czech models do satisfy my needs big time.

You know, I even plan to make them build me a goldtop V with P-90's someday, as well as a 7-string korina V.

[hikarateboy]

...the Czech models do satisfy my needs big time.

Can you give me the low down on these? How do they differ from the other imports and where do they fall quality wise from the usa stuff? Are they still sold new? Having a hard time understanding that.

[Ting Ho Dung]

And, Who brought up Dean?

[Carl.B]

Hikrateboy, where exactly did you live when you were growing up? I was born and raised in Mankato/North Mankato. I don't remember Parker music but that maybe because I am old! I do remember Brown's Music, Schindals Music, Rhapsody Music and Schiedels Music.

Carl B

[murkat]

...the Czech models do satisfy my needs big time.

Can you give me the low down on these? How do they differ from the other imports and where do they fall quality wise from the usa stuff? Are they still sold new? Having a hard time understanding that.

The build quality on the czech stuff is top shelf. Very nice woods and hardware. The only gripe is the pickup rings...

the rings are propriatary to just these guitars, any other ring will not work, fit. assorted screws can be goofy as well, and as well as the pots. they sourced parts, hardware were they could. But the over all build, woods, etc. is very nice. Players do know about the czech's and comand a decent chunk of coin for them, better than any asian, or moder jap fiddle.

[zorrow]

...the Czech models do satisfy my needs big time.

Can you give me the low down on these? How do they differ from the other imports and where do they fall quality wise from the usa stuff? Are they still sold new? Having a hard time understanding that.

As murkat said, they are almost up there with their American counterparts, and are even better than many.

They were built in the early 90's. If I remember well, this was while Dean was moving to Tampa. They did so in order to keep a higher-end offer active. This lasted just a couple of years, or even less. Gene would be more precise than me on this subject.

The fact is, build quality-wise, those guitars are just awesome. The electronic components are so-so though, but that's easily fixable. As of the rings, I've been using MIK pup rings on them without any problem.

A couple of details now: their necks are C-shaped (forget about the famous Dean V profile), they usually have no binding and they have dot inlays on the first fret.

You should be able to find one below 600, although they're becoming more rare these days.

[hikarateboy]

Hikrateboy, where exactly did you live when you were growing up? I was born and raised in Mankato/North Mankato. I don't remember Parker music but that maybe because I am old! I do remember Brown's Music, Schindals Music, Rhapsody Music and Schiedels Music.

Tombo, Robbie and I all grew up in St. Peter. I'm pretty sure it was called Parker Music but could be misremembering. It was on the back side eastern end of Madison East Shopping Center. There was a guy who worked there I think named Paul Gurerro or something and while I never saw them the story was that he and his brother bother bought Standard customs in reverse finished from each other Matching Lita fords salt and pepper.

I remember Browns had a story in New Ulm but didnt think it was in Mankato

[hikarateboy]

A couple of details now: their necks are C-shaped (forget about the famous Dean V profile), they usually have no binding and they have dot inlays on the first fret.

Thanks everyone for answering all my questions. Great having a panel of experts right that at my disposal. I am surprised Gene hasnt chimed in yet. I thought he would be first! ha!

So does the V neck profile exist anymore or only on the older stuff. I can deal with the other shapes but its my favorite and would be nice to get that.

[RobB]

If a guy were going to shop for a Dean where do you look? Ebay sucks and the dean forum doesn't have a for sale board.

If I were you I'd check your PMs!

Seriously, I have something you may be interested in, Ted.

[BTMN]

Man has to work and pay for them guitars! PM sent. I can answer more in a 5 minute conversation than I can type.

Edited to add: 1997-2000 era Czech made cuties Tatiana and Tanya, Korina Vs had for half the price of a Hamer Korina Vector. Not Hamer quality but very good stuff. The Amber one sports Duncan Antiquities procured from the Murkat man himself and that one RIPS!!!

[The Shark]

My buddy Jimmy used to have a shop close to my house. He used to go down to Dean in Tampa and Elliot would let him cherry pick from the Czech models. I had a couple of EVO Les Paul-style bursts that were simply the best value for the best guitar I can remember. I think they were about $900 new. The bodies were one piece thicker than a Paul mahogany with incredibly thick carved maple tops. I think the necks were one piece too. Jumbo frets and set up really well from the Czech factory. I seem to remember Ben Chafin saying that they (Dean) should have been selling them for much more. They were so cheap, people stayed away. Sold one back to Jim and the other one is in the clutches of my cousin. I'm on the hunt for one, but it's been a long time since I've seen a really good unmolsted one. The Vees were killer too.

[BTMN]

Ben put the pickups in my Amber V above.

I have these two Czech Vs and 2 of the Czech made Korina Zs. Turdus posted a picture a longtime ago of a Korina Z and a Korina Caddy and that drove me to get my first Dean in 2003. That would be the Clear Gloss V above. I had eyeballed Deans and strummed them in guitar shops since 1978 but never popped for one until 2003. I actually was not a fan of the V headstock but after I owned one I realized it just added to it rather than detracted.

As far as I know all the Czech guitars are three piece neck construction. The Czech EVOs are sweet!!

[bcsride]

This guitar (same model, that is someone else's pic) is on sale for $350 local to me. It is Korean with some minor play wear/gold tarnish but looks in very good overall shape. I have handled it but I haven't played it. And I don't know if it has a case. It is at a pawn shop so they might deal. If anyone wants it, I could help. Let me know.

[DaveL]

actually, the dean forum does have a for sale board... you can find some nice stuff there...

I'm partial to the time capsules (reissues) cos they haven't had enough time to have nasty

fretwear or been buggered with... not really into that transition era (1990's) stuff. although

some of those nicely aged late 70's early 80's ones with the original pickups are pretty

cool if you can find them

[Armitage]

That Black Z with blocks is sweet!

[Carl.B]

Hikrateboy, where exactly did you live when you were growing up? I was born and raised in Mankato/North Mankato. I don't remember Parker music but that maybe because I am old! I do remember Brown's Music, Schindals Music, Rhapsody Music and Schiedels Music.

Tombo, Robbie and I all grew up in St. Peter. I'm pretty sure it was called Parker Music but could be misremembering. It was on the back side eastern end of Madison East Shopping Center. There was a guy who worked there I think named Paul Gurerro or something and while I never saw them the story was that he and his brother bother bought Standard customs in reverse finished from each other Matching Lita fords salt and pepper.

I remember Browns had a story in New Ulm but didnt think it was in Mankato

OMG! My mom was a english teacher at St Peter HS. Also my brother in law was a math computer science teacher too.

Dam what a small world!

[serial]

I really like the 81 and earlier stuff. Not a single Dean after that interests me in the slightest. I've owned a few-if you're looking for the V neck-81s had a pronounced V in most examples I've seen.

I wouldn't mind picking up an original ML. Here's an 80 Z, an 81 ML Bass and an 80 V. All were nice and clean, but not at the level of a Hamer.

[Andrew]

Dean and Hamer shared much but they were made so differently. Hamers are more refined and consistent but a good pre-83 Dean (I disagree with Serial, many excellent Deans made in 82 although the rot had started) can be up there with a Hamer.

If you have a 80-83 Hamer with non-standard binding (I.e.: anything other than cream ivoroid) the chances are that the binding material was borrowed from Dean.

The Dean name was sold on in the eighties and all sorts of abominations appeared - the Chandler-made USA guitars from the late eighties were about 4 inches thick for example. Even though it eventually settled down to the current Dean USA in Florida, with Dean Zeilinsky even returning for a while, it could never quite be the same. Insert your own sad and disappointed parallel with any possible Hamer resurrection here.

[BTMN]

The last 5 years the USA guitars have been made here in Tampa. Knowing many of the guys in the USA shop for a while now I can say that the stuff coming from them has been made with skill. Alll enjoy the work and at least 5 of them have been there for all 5 of those years and before. Even the US Masters stuff made from 2000-2008 was real good too.

Pat Baker who heads up the custom shop and the pickup shop in Tampa really has a good group of builders and finishers under him. CEO Elliott Rubinson and the marketing/sales side have brought the Dean name back to being a strong brand. The import lines, in my opinion, can get hairy in the entry and beginner levels but most of the upper level imports are fair guitars. Especially many of the Korean lines.

http://www.deanguitars.com/electrics.php