With a Twist

Need a refreshing refill for that jaded palate?
Pull up a barstool for a cool Dean Tonic.

Dean Tonic D
The elegant double-cutaway Tonic D boasts a mahogany body with an art deco-inspired design. Its "bi-level" construction features deeply cut rims and a control area that's sunk below the top and back. The theme extends to the hardware: the embedded Tune-O-Matic bridge has thru-body ferrules to anchor the strings, the output socket is countersunk into the rim and the four-bolt neck joint utilizes ferrules instead of a plate. This bold design is enhanced further by the handsome two-tone paint job, which on this model is a Black and Pal Vintage Yellow.

The pickups are Dean's own Mini Silver Rail models (essentially single-coil-size blade humbuckers), and the five-way pickup selector offers some tantalizing options: Bridge, Bridge Tap, Bridge and Neck Tap, Neck Tap and Neck. Master Volume and Tone controls complete the Tonic D's electronics.

The slim bolt-on maple neck features 22 jumbo frets, a rosewood fingerboard and diamond inlay markers, all of which are neatly fitted and finished. The olive in this particular cocktail has to be the three-aside headstock, which perfectly matches the two-color/two level body and is outfitted with reliable Grover tuners.

For a guitar with just two pickups, the Tonic D has an impressive buffet of tones to choose from. On their own, the Mini Silver Rails combine the power of a humbucker with the loose, spanky tones of a single-coil, providing a gnarly, percussive bridge tone and a smooth, funky neck position. The three tapped selections rule the clean-to-bluesy range, and the middle position is particularly full and spicy for lush chord work. Pop, rock, blues, funk, even lounge jazz - the Tonic D is an enjoyable tipple for any occasion.

Dean Tonic S
The second model to grace our bar tab is the flamboyant single-cutaway Tonic S. Although its construction is very similar to the Tonic D's the S version features two notable differences. The first is the singlecut body, which has the same double horns as the D, but the thinner section of the body continues to form an uncut upper bout. Otherwise, the notched sides and matching headstock are the same as on the D model, and this version looks great with the luscious Metallic Copper-and-Black color scheme.

The second difference lies within the choice of pickups. The Tonic S boasts a full-size Dean Silver Rail in the bridge position and a Mini Silver Rail at the neck. The five-way selector offers the same positions as the D, with the larger humbucker in full and tapped modes. The fast neck has been smoothly machined and outfitted, making the most of the light feel and low, clean action. The recessed bridge also adds to the comfortable touch of the Tonic S, especially without the bulk of the usual stop tailpiece.

With the extra grunt at the bridge, the S moved easily into harder rock territory with a bright balanced tone. That said, it still retained plenty of those sparkling clean and twangy blues sounds via the comprehensive pickup selector, all of which added up to a very versatile guitar. Combining sophisticated looks with hardworking tones, the Dean Tonic really hits the spot.

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March 2001 - Guitar World