New guitar - review and pics included - aberdeen-music

HateEvent · 29-11-2006, 16:14

I have now sold all of the guitars I had advertised on here at various times (the blue Gibson LP, the ESP Strat and the Ibanez Giger RG) and so I had the change to buy a new guitar.

I went for a Dean USA DFH which is a limited edition Dimebag tribute model. It's a replica of his 'Dean From Hell' 1981 ML with Lightning Bolt graphic. This is VERY much a love it or hate it guitar so just say it if you really don't like the finish/shape/whatever. It plays so well and sounds so great that the look of it doesn't matter to me. I just happen to love that too!

It is number 80 of 150 worldwide and only 6 in the UK. It was difficult sourcing it but I did my best and was very lucky to succeed!

Plain and simple, it's the best guitar I own. Fretwork is perfect, amazing tone (no EMGs for this one - Dusty will be proud of me for going passive for once!), attention to detail and just general quality of construction is simply incredible.

My benchmark guitar to which I compared all others I tried was my ESP KH-2 Neck Thru. Not anymore. I feel that overall - despite the fact that it IS a completely different beast thanks to the tonewoods and electronics - the Dean is superior to the ESP. The KH is a Custom Shop ESP so it's one of the top quality models they do. The Dean is a Custom Shop affair aswell, I simply think slightly edges it.

If anyone wants a great high gain pickup for the bridge position: Bill Lawrence L500XL! Keeping in mind that there are infact two slightly different versions as there was some big feud with the Bill Lawrence company and so they have two seperate groupings making the same thing - both are fantastic and tonal differences are very slight between them.

I'm back to the old combination I grew to love before the days of my ESP which is Mahogany body, Mahogany set neck and rosewood fingerboard. Such a fantastic combination. This guitar just sounds huge!

This model has the 'V' neck profile. Very comfortable and easy to get used to. Very different to the neck on my Explorer (which I modelled on an old Firebird) and the KH (which is a 'thin U shape).

The killer for most is the fact that it has an Original Floyd Rose on it. This was the one spec I was 100% in need of for the next guitar I bought prior to this purchase. Holds tune very well. I'm gonna keep this one in E. Every so often I'll drop it by a 1/4 tone if playing along to Vulgar Display Of Power (A=436 on your tuner if interested

) but otherwise this one is keeping in E.

In short (thank god you're saying!

) - Dean USA has impressed me very much. This is certainly not my last guitar from them. I'd recommend them without a doubt!

Right, that's about it for a review for now. Here are some pictures:

HairyScaryMark · 29-11-2006, 17:27

Sonds like a nice guitar. Heard someone play a dimebag signature Dean in bruce millers, great sound. Weighs an absolute ton.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel Of Death

Every so often I'll drop it by a 1/4 tone if playing along to Vulgar Display Of Power (A=436 on your tuner if interested

) but otherwise this one is keeping in E.

This is the first I heard of anyone doing this. Why? Wont it just annoy the hell out of anyone with perfect pitch?

Hog · 29-11-2006, 18:06

I want a shot of that tonight

Nice!!!!!!!!

29-11-2006, 18:11

Very cool, congrats!

Who's signature is it on the back of the headstock?

By the way, I don't remember dissing active pickups, but I can't remember what I did yesterday so I guess it's not outwith the realms of possibility.

HateEvent · 29-11-2006, 18:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by HairyScaryMark

This is the first I heard of anyone doing this. Why? Wont it just annoy the hell out of anyone with perfect pitch?

Dime did it on the album 'Vulgar Display Of Power'. I'd do it to play along to that. Playing along in E to it is horrible. It didn't seem as bad when my ears didn't work though!

I can imagine it would annoy people with perfect pitch though, but... shame!

29-11-2006, 18:13

Oh, and nice duvet!

HateEvent · 29-11-2006, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustyDeviada

Very cool, congrats!

Who's signature is it on the back of the headstock?

By the way, I don't remember dissing active pickups, but I can't remember what I did yesterday so I guess it's not outwith the realms of possibility.

Thanks man

It's Dimebag's. I've heard rumours that he had signed them (all 150) as they were made before his passing. It's a Dime sig whether genuine or a print that Dean applied. I'll look into it.

You didn't diss actives, but I know that you'll prefer passives. It may have just been for resale when talking about getting the EMGs off the LP, but I know tonally, you'd prefer a nice set of BurstBuckers or 496R/498T or Duncans or whatnot

29-11-2006, 18:22

You're probably right, although Knopfler does use a Pensa with EMGs, or at least he used to, I'll get one someday.

Ordered some new TV Jones pups for my Gretsch today!

Diesel · 29-11-2006, 18:43

Nice axe James.

Should sound El Bizzo thru my Trilogy

Dime's in the music/guitar press so often, you forget what a shit deal he and the other victims got

HateEvent · 29-11-2006, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel

Nice axe James.

Should sound El Bizzo thru my Trilogy

Dime's in the music/guitar press so often, you forget what a shit deal he and the other victims got

It'll sound something else through that H&K dude! I've not put it through the Powerball yet. I'll do that tonight.

You can definitely play it through the Trilogy, but there's no chance I'd ever sell you this one! I've probably already racked up more time on this than I did on that Les Paul. I played the LP enough aswell. That lets you know how much I've already played this one!

Yeah I agree man - sucks about what happened to Dime

I watched the Pantera: Behind The Music programme again the another night.