SUPER SOLIDS

Affordable Wonders
by Art Thompson

A dollar ain’t what it used to be-or so the saying goes. But these new guitars defy a trend that sees just about everything that’s either hip, fun, or absolutely essential escalating in cost. Each guitar brings something different to the party, and whether you’re a hard-working player or just getting your first band off the ground, you’ll dig what these low-cost beauts have to offer.

DEAN TONIC S
With its sculpted body and two-tone paint, the Tonic S ($369) exudes a “southside” vibe that’s vastly different than the Maserati-inspired Deans of the ‘80s. The lightweight, Korean-made guitar sports quality details such as die-cast Grover tuners, a Tune-O-Matic-style bridge, and neatly installed, diamond-shaped position markers. The body carving on the top and back is cleanly executed, the metallic copper finish is flub free, and the rosewood board sports 22 gleaming, nicely trimmed jumbo frets. The handsome headstock even incorporates a tuner arrangement that maintains a straight string path north of the nut.

The Tonic’s maple neck is sleek, yet substantial, and playability is enhanced by the smooth, unobtrusive neck joint and deep cutaway. With its thin body, the Tonic feels extremely compact and handy – the only ergonomic downier is the location of the pickup selector, which can be hard to avoid when strumming.

The two Dean Silver Rail humbucking pickups and 5-way selector provide the following configurations:

•Position 1: neck
•Position 2: tapped neck
•Position 3: neck and bridge
•Position 4: tapped bridge
•Position 5: bridge

While the control bay is less than inspiring with its rough looking cable openings and sloppy shielding paint, the Tonic’s tones are happening. Plugged into a crisp-sounding amp such as a Fender Super Reverb, an old Marshall, or a Dr. Z Route 66, the Tonic delivers a palette of sounds that encompasses the snap of a Tele and the fat punch of a Les Paul. The output level is very strong, and it’s easy to dial in everything from rich clean sounds to grinding crunch to rabid lead tones. The tapped-neck setting is the weakest of the bunch, but the bridge position packs an upper-mid boost that power-hungry players will appreciate. If you’re in the market for a raging blues-rock ax, you’ll want to taste the Tonic S – it’s a wolf in chic clothing.

The Rating Game…1 (Dismal) to 5 (Excellent)
Tone…4 out of 5
Workmanship…3 1/2 out of 5
Hardware…4 out of 5
Vibe…4 out of 5
Value…5 out of 5

Guitar Player – April 2001