Dean Guitars

Creating Sonic Booms

GEARBOX
Dean Mach 5 - Creating Sonic Booms
As "sci-fi" as the Dean Mach 5 looks, it may come as a surprise that it is actually a reissue of sorts. It is modeled on the last design of the original '80s line of Dean Guitars, the Mach 7 (the reason for the numeric demotion is unclear). No one will mistake the owner of this baby for a retro-rocker, reissue or not. Its sweeping tail fin may recall a '59 Caddy to some, but the overall look would be more at home in the lounge of the Starship Enterprise. Dean claims that the design offers a lot for those who dare to be different: The unique body is designed to produce a livelier guitar.

Sophisticated Specs
The Mach 5's body and 24 3/4" scale-length set neck is made of mahogany. While this feature, combined with its twin humbuckers and three-on-a-side tuners, offers a distinctly Gibson vibe, two notable deviations (in addition to its radical shape) give it a flavor of its own.

First, instead of the tailpiece that would normally accompany a Tune-O-Matic bridge, the strings go through the body. Second, this model is lighter than anything Gibson ever offered - including their semi-hollowbodies.

Whether these factors conspire to gieve the guitar the liveliness it claims, who knows? The fact is the test model exhibited good, solid sustain despite low action, light strings, and a feather weight - go Dean! Thanks to clean fretwork, there is no fretting out anywhere on the neck and no rough edges, even with the aforementioned low action.

Space-Age Simplicity
Looking at the Mach 5's futuristic shape, you might expect it to provide Internet access, but electronically, it is anything but high-tech. Two pickups, three-way selector, master tone and volume - end of story.

Played through a clean amp, both pickups reveal a wide frequency response and good power, with the bridge pickup slightly overshadowing the neck when both are engaged. The pickups were bright enough to cut through processing - a good thing, since when unprocessed, they tend to lack character. Through a Rat distortion pedal, the pickups were a bit harsh in the high end, though this might appeal to the players most likely to be attracted by the Mach 5's striking looks - purveyors of Goth or metal riffs like the music example below.

Speaking again of the looks (they are hard to ignore), it's a fact that though the styling may not be to all tastes, certain things about this Dean can be appreciated by any player. it's well balanced, and the guitar hangs comfortably. And though it would hardly be the first choice for a dinner jazz gig, the curve of the lower bout offers playing comfort in the seated position, something owners of Flying V- and Explorer-shaped instruments will envy.

Listed Specs
Dangerous looking headstock sports Grover tuners

Side dots add to a stark fingerboard look

Available only in Classic Black or Metallic White

The 1 11/16" nut and slight radius make for comfortable chording

List Price $679 (bolt-on model, $439)

Conclusion
The solid construction and flawless black finish of this axe show how far Korean-made guitars have come since the early days. If you are playing Stevie Ray covers or barn dances, the Mach 5 is probaly not for you. But if its style matches your music, you may be ready to break the sound barrier with this baby.

July 2000 - Guitar One

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