Chicago Flame- Standard Name Screw-Up Already Confusing Ads

Joined: 05 Mar 2012 Posts: 77 Location: Evanston, IL

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dean-V-Chicago-Flame-Tran-Cherryburst-Electric-Guitar-NAMM-2013-1977-RI-/150989122979?pt=Guitar&hash=item2327a72da3

Here's a Standard already being called a Flame, like Vintage terminology. Who's the genius that's responsible for this marketing nightmare ?

Joined: 05 Mar 2012 Posts: 77 Location: Evanston, IL

HA ! and a Standard being called a 79-Series:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dean-ML-79-Series-Classic-Black-Electric-Guitar-NAMM-2013-/190792521826?pt=Guitar&hash=item2c6c1ed862

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:22 am

I don't find it hard to believe that Neils, has made these mistakes.....bunch of tools they are.

Joined: 13 Dec 2010 Posts: 643 Location: Ontario, Canada

Looks like neal's needs to get their Sh!t together LoL

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10200 Location: New Jersey USA

I think they did the right thing by "fixing" the naming convention that Dean Z screwed up 35 years ago. Calling the flame top version the "Standard" was okay. But then calling the plain top version the "Flame Series" was completely moronic. I dont have any issue with the change. Its Neal that has to get his stuff straight. It says exactly what model it is right on the back of the headstock. And you can see it in the photos from Neal's auction. LOL.

I checked out these guitars at NAMM, and they were really great. I have a 35th Aniv. V from last year, and the import Chicago Flame Top is essentially the same spec. Great guitar.

Joined: 05 Mar 2012 Posts: 77 Location: Evanston, IL

That Dean Z. screwed up 35 years ago ? It was HIS company. That's like saying Coke fixed their original screw up of the Original Coke formula with New Coke.

I think it is a completely stupid marketing ploy. First of all, the originals were NOT made in Chicago, they were made in Evanston. Yeah, the Flame/Standard terminology is a little confusing but you gotta remember, probably 60%+ of Vintage Standard Series guitars do NOT have a flame top. Why confuse the hell out of everyone now?

At least they are still being made by UnSung in Korea. They should be nice guitars. Glad to see Dean isn't moving all their mid-range stuff to Cort Indonesia.

Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 6624 Location: Minnesota

For the record, I'm not confused.

Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 3197 Location: UK

They should just change the name and fix it back so a flame is a flame top and a standard is a solid, it makes more sense and will save confusion for new customers.

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:19 pm

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

Joined: 21 Jul 2008 Posts: 612 Location: Yorkshire, England

Northwinds wrote:

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

Aren't there USA production models of the Chicago series as well as the imports?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:54 pm

Razorback16 wrote:

Northwinds wrote:

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

Aren't there USA production models of the Chicago series as well as the imports?

No clue man and if that were the case, it's just blurring the lines. USA and imports should always be standalone and not share a series name. This is just my humble opinion. Whenever I see all that white on the back of a headstock including the Buzz Feiten logo, I just walk away

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10200 Location: New Jersey USA

Razorback16 wrote:

Northwinds wrote:

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

Aren't there USA production models of the Chicago series as well as the imports?

Yes, there are three models. USA, Flame, Standard. They are all very nice. Build quality is excellent on the imports. Same as the 35th Anniv. models from last year, except they are making more then 150 of each. Smile

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:04 am

kingoflight wrote:

They should just change the name and fix it back so a flame is a flame top and a standard is a solid, it makes more sense and will save confusion for new customers.

That is what they did and why the comments are abound that they should've left it alone.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:34 am

Northwinds wrote:

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

+1

BTW did the American ones have the Series 1 Headstocks like the Lost 100 series?

Joined: 13 Dec 2010 Posts: 643 Location: Ontario, Canada

ML Tib wrote:

Northwinds wrote:

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

+1

BTW did the American ones have the Series 1 Headstocks like the Lost 100 series?

http://www.deanguitars.com/pdfs/DeanGuitarsNew2013_web.pdf

I'm pretty sure that the USA Chicago guitars do not have the big headstock, but there is a V in the catalog that has it. It's not apart of the Chicago series though(I think)

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 12:58 pm

SRH wrote:

I think it is a completely stupid marketing ploy. First of all, the originals were NOT made in Chicago, they were made in Evanston.

I'm gonna be funny. How are the Chicago series turn out to be Tampa made? Laughing

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:01 pm

56shredda101 wrote:

ML Tib wrote:

Northwinds wrote:

I hate the fact that the way it (Chicago Series) is marketed that it alludes to US made. They are not, just more imports in an already flooded market

It would be nice to see the Chicago Series as a line of budget priced USA guitars similiar to the 1000 Series

+1

BTW did the American ones have the Series 1 Headstocks like the Lost 100 series?

http://www.deanguitars.com/pdfs/DeanGuitarsNew2013_web.pdf

I'm pretty sure that the USA Chicago guitars do not have the big headstock, but there is a V in the catalog that has it. It's not apart of the Chicago series though(I think)

You are correct. The question remains why didn't they just offer the whole series in BFH, instead of just the V? I wanted to get a lost 100 ML, but I was either unemployed or under employed at that time.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10200 Location: New Jersey USA

The Chicago USA has a Series II. There is a new USA 77 reissue as well, but it looked to me like a Series II also.

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:13 pm

BradWorld wrote:

The Chicago USA has a Series II. There is a new USA 77 reissue as well, but it looked to me like a Series II also.

Nope Brad that is incorrect...

SKU: USA V77 TCS
• Flame Maple Top / Mahogany Body
• 24-3/4” Scale • 1-11/16” Nut
• Set Mahogany V Neck
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Abalone Dot Inlays
• Single Ply Aged Cream Body & Neck Binding
• Grover Tuners
• Nickel w/ Brass Plate & Output Jack Hardware
• Tune-O-Matic String-Through Bridge
• DiMarzio® Super Distortion Bridge & Neck Pickups
• Dean Original Series 1 Headstock
• Deluxe USA Hardshell Case & Certificate Included

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 10200 Location: New Jersey USA

ML Tib wrote:

BradWorld wrote:

The Chicago USA has a Series II. There is a new USA 77 reissue as well, but it looked to me like a Series II also.

Nope Brad that is incorrect...

• Dean Original Series 1 Headstock

If so, then thats cool. I saw it in person, and it didnt look stupido big like the original. Maybe they slimmed it down some so it didnt look like a boat paddle. Smile

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 7:45 am

The very first page of the 2013 catalog is a Z, and ML and a V, USA made and being called a flame, most certainly because of the flame maple tops.