New Guitar for BBoo!

BettyBoo · October 2009

Hey there,
Well I've gone and spent money on music gear......again. I decided to trade my PRS Custom 22 as it was a POS and it made a great wheel chock for my trailer. :evil: A while back I tried a US Dean Hardtail and loved it. It had what Dean calls a Braziliaburst finish and I was really impressed with the sound and feel of it. The sales guy offered me a sweet deal on it as Dean is relatively newish here and he is trying to get a few guitars circulating around the place. So I went home to think about it but was a bit hesitant as I already have quite a few nice guitars. Then the wife said why don't you get rid of my PRS and get something you're happy with so I decided to do just that. However, I didn't want another sunburst guitar which is essentially what the braziliaburst is so I decided to go with a Spalted Maple finish instead.

It took a bit of time to arrive but its finally here and its an absolute doll of a guitar. When it arrived though, I got the boys at the shop to do a few mods to it. Standard it comes with a gibson pickup setup with 2 volumes and 2 tones etc and I'm not a huge fan of this design. So I got the volume knob at the top made as the master and put a heavey duty 3 way rotary switch in where the old bottom volume pot was and used the original knob on the switch. I next had both the humbuckers split to give me the choice of single coil too. So the 3 way switch selects either humbucker, single coil series and single coil parallel. This is an amazing setup, huge variety and totally expands on what the original guitar did. I know PRS make some beautiful guitars and I don't mean to knock them - but the one I had was awful and this Dean is soooo much better!! It has a date with my Rivera next gig for sure.

I haven't got a photo just yet of this baby, but the finish is VERY close to the picture on the Dean site below:

Do you approve......of the guitar that is!

Manitou · October 2009

I like that guitar stand too! g-grrRowl!

Ohhh! she won't let me touch it.

y-e-s...indeed...I must have it!

Good choice Meatbag!

Now I gotta go Kill myself.

Rawb · October 2009

Still looks like a braziliaburst! to me! :shock: 8)

Aw but nice guitar, I like that finish... Since you don't have no pic with the mod.. How about a lil sound clip. 8) :P

I don't take it as a knock on PRS... That one just didn't fit ya.. can probably say that with any brand..

WTG though.. glad it fits the bill, an not another disappointment!

shredd · October 2009

Oh dear gawd in heaven. :shock:

The git'r is tasty - love the wood, the shape, and the mods you did sound awesome. And I'm big on hardtail/non-trem git'rs...
But the git'r stand is what I want. D'ya think your guy would order me one of those?!? :twisted:

ednrg · October 2009

What guitar?

Tal Rules · October 2009

\ednrg\ wrote:

What guitar?

There's a guitar there???

BettyBoo · October 2009

Thanks for all the kind words guys - thought you would like that picture!

\"Rawb\&quot wrote:

Still looks like a braziliaburst! to me! :shock: 8)quote]

Yeah, she'd have one helluva braziliaburst but they have some wacky names for guitar finishes these days. This is what Dean call a 'Braziliaburst':

I've already got a few guitars that are some form of sunburst (tobacco etc) and I love that finish, but I thought this time I would go for something a little different hence the spalted maple. I thought this axe would be a little brighter than the one I initially test drove, but there's a fair hunk of mahogany in that body, plus the neck is mahogany too. The fretboard is ebony which is usually a hard, bright sort of timber but all in all the guitar tone could be described as 'a brightish mellow tone that isn't dull, but has plenty of power' :? :roll: I'm not real good describing these things......

I was playing this Dean last night with my Rivera and I'm as yet not totally convinced with the bridge pickup - to me it seems a little 'honky' perhaps, again its hard to describe. I may be sticking something else in there one day soon. Yeah I know, I'm being fussy about this, but I think a bridge pickup change to something with a little more midrange might be in order. Maybe a Seymour Duncan JB will do the trick - they're usually pretty reliable.

Dean also make a cheaper series made in Korea called a Hardtail Select. When I picked mine up I tried one of these and I tell ya, for the money it was amazing. Very similiar tone to mine but the neck was the slightest bit fatter overall. I reckon one of these would be an awsome buy - just the thing if you like tinkering with pickups and wiring like I do. Here's a pic on their website: http://www.deanguitars.com/home.php[/img]

shredd · October 2009

\BettyBoo\ wrote:

a bridge pickup change to something with a little more midrange might be in order. Maybe a Seymour Duncan JB will do the trick - they're usually pretty reliable.

I'm a big fan of the D/M PAF Pro. I have a pair in my Ianez RG3, both coil tapped, and they sound great. And that's just a garden-variety basswood body/bolt-on neck hardtail...now only if it'd come with a stand like that Dean did!!! :twisted:

Manitou · October 2009

(Warning...too many puns ahead)

I really like the inlay work at the mid-section.

After studying her closer, something I've seen allot, is she has heavier action on the top bass side. I always thought this was a flaw, but now I can see it's a built in feature. I just know these top heavy models, have to be manhandled more, to get those squealies.
The rest of the action looks smooth and fast all the way down to the hummers. The headstock looks wicked, so I can see why you had her rewired. I think I'd like her more with the hummer cover off. Tight looking body...boy howdy, I bet this is fun to spank.

P.S. (if you haven't already) Check your measurements to the 12 fret, and then to the bridge. Make sure your intonation is set right, and pickup height adjustments, before swapping out a pup. If anything, you may have to back off height adjustment.
Here is some theory of mine to consider. Your fresh strings will affect the sound until they are broke-in. After that, a fresh pup magnet being played for the first time, could also have need of a break-in period, depending on the magnet and potting. I like un-potted to begin with. In potted pups..I like the wax. Some Asian pups are potted with epoxy. (blah- not a fan) Whatever you have, first thing is adjustments. New pup mags are stronger in the beginning. If you want to break them in fast...

lean your guitar up against the speaker cabinet for awhile. The powerful speaker magnets will affect your guitar magnets. There is a magnetic field up to 24\" away from the front of the cabinet.
Now about the amp... your usual settings are not going to work on this guitar, and give you the tone you are use to with other guitars. (you probably know that...I'm just touching all the bases) I can't say if it's as much a break-in period with the pups, and amp, as it is with the guitarist and his gear. But in 2-3 weeks of steady playing, you will notice a difference. Considering all the materials involved, especially in a new guitar, there is going to be some settling in period. All this stuff moves with climate change, and player habits.
Manitou's Break-in Theory (5 cents... still cheap) :?

guitar3456 · October 2009

Cool Guitar! Congratulations! 8)

BettyBoo · October 2009

Tou what you say about the speaker magnets with the pickups is interesting - hadn't heard that before! When the Dean pickups were opened up to get them split there was a stack of wax inside them which is always a good sign.

You're right what you say about amps too. The Rivera I've got really allows you to hear what the guitar is about tone-wise. Unlike something like say a Marshall which always sounds like a Marshall first before you really hear the character of the guitar (IMO). The EQ on the Rivera is SUPER sensitive and has huge adjustibility which is something I love about it. It takes a while to set just right but once done it really does a guitar justice. This is great for me because I have quite a few different guitars to plug in - but every axe sounds great. This Rivera KR7 is definitely the best thing I've bought in a long time. It might have cost a packet but its been well worth it.

So I run this big baby with an RP500, Headmaster footswitch, then all my axes. But I'll play about with the Dean bridge and see what I can do. 8)

Rawb mentioned about a pic of my Dean - sorry I don't have one yet, but I thought I'd chuck up a coupla photos of some other toys I have. These pics I had on file - sorry about the photo of the Rivera, took it with my phone today so its a bit dodgy.

My ESP Horizon - love this axe! Have a Custom Shop version too but no pic, sorry... :?

My Wolfgang Special - an 'ol favourite, never part with it! You'll notice it has Seymours in it - the originals packed it in so I replaced them with genuines, then they did the same after 6 months. So I stuck the SD's in and haven't had a problem since!

Rivera KR7 - Knucklehead Reverbs - 120watts of pure magic, don't care what anyone says! :twisted: Great if you can live with lifting the bloody thing! :roll: Ch1 is the best clean I've heard ever, Ch2 is classic Marshall just with more sting, Ch3 is pure mayhem but much nicer than a recto (IMO). Plus it can be switched right down to 12watt! I'm thinking about finding a 2x12 cab for it also...maybe a nice little Soldano perhaps....hmmm. :?

BettyBoo · October 2009

\guitar3456\ wrote:

Cool Guitar! Congratulations! 8)

Thanks buddy, wish I could give you a play of her, you'd love it! 8)

partch · October 2009

Man very nice gear indeed BBoo! 8) Congrats on the new guitar!

BettyBoo · November 2009

\partch\ wrote:

Man very nice gear indeed BBoo! 8) Congrats on the new guitar!

Thanks Partch - wish I had more time to play them all tho!

Hey, hows your new Strat going?, hope ya still lovin' it to bits

You know, I haven't seen any Strats like yours over here whatsoever and I've been keeping an eye out for your model in all the music shops. I'd love to try one out - if I could actually find one. Are they a special order or stock model? Maybe Fender just doesn't do them here in Oz...... :roll:

BettyBoo · November 2009

\shredd\ wrote:

\BettyBoo\ wrote:

a bridge pickup change to something with a little more midrange might be in order. Maybe a Seymour Duncan JB will do the trick - they're usually pretty reliable.

I'm a big fan of the D/M PAF Pro. I have a pair in my Ianez RG3, both coil tapped, and they sound great. And that's just a garden-variety basswood body/bolt-on neck hardtail...now only if it'd come with a stand like that Dean did!!! :twisted:

Hey Shreddy, hows life - hope things are working out buddy! A mate of mine has PAF Pro's in one of his axes - I'll have to have a listen again to his when I see him next. Do you know off hand what resistance they run at?

Here's some more Dean 'guitar stands' you can choose from - nothing like variety I say!
http://www.deangirl.com/

partch · November 2009

\BettyBoo\ wrote:

\partch\ wrote:

Man very nice gear indeed BBoo! 8) Congrats on the new guitar!

Thanks Partch - wish I had more time to play them all tho!

Hey, hows your new Strat going?, hope ya still lovin' it to bits You know, I haven't seen any Strats like yours over here whatsoever and I've been keeping an eye out for your model in all the music shops. I'd love to try one out - if I could actually find one. Are they a special order or stock model? Maybe Fender just doesn't do them here in Oz...... :roll:

All yeah Man! I love having a Strat man! I'm still digging it. As far as it being special order? well kind of. Most places do not stock this model. I waited 6 months for mine to finally come in. It was deffinetly worth the wait 8) I think you can find the Mexican version in stores sometimes at least I have anyhow. Enjoy man

shredd · November 2009

\BettyBoo\ wrote:

Here's some more Dean 'guitar stands' you can choose from - nothing like variety I say!
http://www.deangirl.com/

Dood. You're killin' me. 8)

\BettyBoo\ wrote:

Hey Shreddy, hows life - hope things are working out buddy! A mate of mine has PAF Pro's in one of his axes - I'll have to have a listen again to his when I see him next. Do you know off hand what resistance they run at?

Things still pretty tough. No job, home, woman. Gear/axes all still in storage. Searching daily for a reason to go on. :roll:
But yeah, give the PAF Pro's a listen; good, trusty, does-everything pup. Very versatile. But no, sorry, I don't recall the ohm-age...probably not as high as the screaming headbanger pups, but a good strong output. They also coil-tap beautifully.

New Guitar for BBoo!

Comments