Identifying a Dean Guitar I am thinking about buying

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

I am looking at a guitar that looks 95% like the one in this photo,

but there are a couple things that are different, and I am just kinda curious about what I might be getting into.

The pickups have been changed to EMGs with chrome covers

One of the volume knobs has been removed, and I assume both pickups are wired into one volume and one tone. Odd, and something I would definitely change immediately.

The headstock is very similar, but the truss rod cover is different and says something more than just ML on it. Unfortunately the image is blurry when I zoom in close enough to read it.

Just curious if anyone might know what this is prior to pulling the trigger.

Jon

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

Well dang, it looks like it was sold before I had a chance.

Jon

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

Sorry for the spamming, but since this one is gone I was wondering if I could get some opinions of the 35th Anniversary models that were released this year.

The guitar player in my band is looking for a new guitar and I would like to get him something for the holidays.

He really wants to get into something with a soft V neck and this seems to be something that the Deans offer without having to get into a custom build. From what I have learned he played a Washburn Maverick that had one years ago, and it wowed him.

I am curious about build quality and playability on these before I ask a local store owner to bring one in for him to check out.

Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 3463 Location: North Carolina

Ok the first one in the photo is a Dark Knight guitar. It was a limited run Dean did a few years ago just for dudes here on the forum, I believe they made 50 of them. The truss rod cover probably said Dark Knight and then # of 50.

As for the 30th anniversary guitars. I don't know. I've never played one, but there are quite a few guys around here that have had one.

Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 3201 Location: UK

Do you mean the dean black gold run

This one.

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5603 Location: phoenix az.

I have a black gold v and upon arrival i noticed it was a little nicer than the 79 series.i used to have the black gold ml to it was a very solid guitar!

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

kingoflight wrote:

Do you mean the dean black gold run

This one.

Here is a picture of the guitar on Facebook, I didn't think to post it there last night. And in the continuing saga, the guitar had not yet sold, but was pulled as someone was looking at it. I pulled the trigger on it this morning, and should see it next week.

Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 448

If you bought this at guitar center, I heard by another forum member on here that the truss rod is broken on that one fyi. Hope its all good man. They are pretty guitars

Joined: 28 Mar 2006 Posts: 5467 Location: White Haven,Pa

koury73 wrote:

If you bought this at guitar center, I heard by another forum member on here that the truss rod is broken on that one fyi. Hope its all good man. They are pretty guitars

That is the same one.

Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 448

I thought so with the skull jacks and all on it. Too bad. . .

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

UGH! That is terrible news. I wonder if this is something they would cover under the warranty I bought on the guitar. GC has always been pretty straight in their deals with me, so I wonder if they will take the hickey on this one. We had discussed the electronics changes, but nothing was mentioned about the truss rod, or neck condition, other than the general 'action is low... little to no buzz...'.

Thanks for the information on it.

Jon

Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 448

Hopefully its all good man and there is nothing wrong with it. I sure wish I would have caught this before you bought it. I almost took a risk and pulled the trigger on it too, because I love the finish on them. Let us know how it turns out. I'm sure gc would be cool with a return if they sold you a broken guitar anyways.

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

I just went through their warranty agreement and it says that if the repair costs more than the sale price they will opt for a replacement. In the case of such a limited run guitar I am not sure how that would be handled.

It sure would be a major waste to see this relegated to the scrap heap since it is such an awesome looking guitar. I am not sure what they sold for originally, but I know a truss rod repair is no joke as far as price goes.

Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 49

The guitar showed up Friday and played just fine. I took it into GC today and had they tech take a look at it and the truss checked out just fine. The guitar sounds delish overall, so I am not sure what issues the previous ownders were encountering.

Also picked up a sweet double bass pedal in almost new condition, and a M-Audio Venom for $300 less than the $499 sticker price. If you know a keyboard/synth player Sweetwater is selling them for $199 now, so the price match is pretty amazing. Also ordered a Barbera pickup for my wife's electric violin, so everyone in the band made out like bandits for Xmas this year.

Hope everyone made it through the Thanksgiving holiday without too much trouble, and thanks for the help on the guitar.