Dean Guitars Vintage Z Bass

4 string modified Explorer body bass. Maple Neck with rosewood fretboard. Not sure what the wood is; I suspect Alder though I've been told that is maybe Basswood. This one was made around 1986-1987 so that is a possibility. Pretty gloss black finish. P/J pickup combination and single tone/volume controls. Three position toggle switch. Pickups are passive. Tuners are Schaller style.

This bass covers all the basic styles I play very competently. The P Bass sounds are thick, smooth and robust. The J bass sounds (bridge) are bright and punchy. And like any good P/J combination, it shines when blended in the center position. Pickups offer very good, clear definition. The stout heavy duty bridge office a very good sustain. I use this bass for R&B, jazz styles, pop -everything I play. Covers all the bases well.

To me, this is where this thing shines. I bought this bass from a friend who wanted to learn to play bass. Purchased it new for around 260.00 dollars. Sat in his closet for 4 years before I got. Needed a slight truss adjustment and I adjusted and intonated the bridge. Didn't need much more than that. The pickups are kind of close to the strings the way it's set up and there isn't a lot of adjustment in them for height. Can be distracting when trying thumb/pluck styles but very smooth for everything else. Frets were very smooth-no rough edges as purchased. Very good fit and finish in my oppinion. Dead solid. Not too flashy but feels just right. Body was very well balanced. I really like the feel of it-especially coming from a Z(Explorer) type body.

I use this bass live, in the studio and at home when I practice. It always travels in a hard shell case and takes a licking. I have used it many times solo on gigs and in the studio. The finish is very thick and has no cracks . For a bass that is over 15 years old, it still looks new. There is no noticeable pitting and corosion on the hardware so far.

Never had to deal with Dean very much at all but I'm glad Zelinsky is back with the company he founded. Have written some e-mails to get information about this instrument and they promptly responded.

I've been a bass player since 1976. I own several other basses including a Modulus Quantum 5, Samick YB530FL Fretless, a Fender Jazz Bass and a couple other pieces. This thing plays just as good as any of the above in mu oppinion and has way more mojo than anything else I have. It is also a unique looking axe that probably doesn't fit my image-I'm a public school band director and a church minister of music for god sake but I really love the look. If it were stolen, I probably couldn't find another unless Dean makes a reissue of it. Can't say that I don't like too much about it. Maybe the interference fit between the strings and pickups when playing thumb/pluck styles but I don't play that style too often. Dean started out making flashy, inexpensive guitars back in the 80's that anyone could afford and get good performance from. I think all working-class musicians can appreciate that. It has it's own unique charecter to it and it just gets the job done. That's all I can ask. The rest is all up to my mind and fingers. Together, we get the job done. : )

Made in 1999 in U.S.A. (?), 24 frets, basswood body, 34" scale with 1.5" nut, chrome hardware, passive Dean p/u's - one J and one P, bolt on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, 2 volumes, 1 tone, gloss black finish, kind of an explorer body style, pretty basic yet excellent set up.

Sounds wonderful! Nice sustain and growl, pretty much what you would expect from a P/J combination. Is fairly quiet unless the P p/u's are turned down all the way. The shape is wonderful and it probably suits the stage better than the studio but don't get me wrong, it sounds great.

Doesn't do much good to have the action too low because you'll have a lot of fret noise. The Z was made more for use with picks and fingers and not for slapping and popping. Definately a bass for rock and metal. You can't go wrong with a gloss black finish and after 3 years the neck is still pretty straight although it's due for a check-up.

It will withstand any kind of playing you plan on doing. Everything is bolted together very well and I can't see anything coming apart a few years down the road. Like I said before, it's due in for a check-up but everything has held it's own great. I would never gig without a backup however just because the first time you do is the time something happens like you break a string or the neck falls off for some odd reason.

Excellent customer support department. Dean and Washburn are possibly the only two large scale American manufacturers of instruments that don't try to rip you off every time you need something. I needed a bridge from Washburn and they sent me one cheap and quick, and Dean always replies to my e-mails within 3 or 4 days. Excellent!

Guitarists don't always have to have all the cool looking instruments! If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us. Cool body shape, excellent sound and quality, and in anybody's price range.