Dean Guitars Z Select

All mahogany, rosewood fret board, 22 jumbo frets, MOP inlays, medum neck 3 way switch. Very comfortable to play and really sings. ZZ TOP, ACDC, Aerosmith, Alice in Chains, Green Day. Does it all for me!

I have numerous Deans and my favorite player for gigs is the Z select. Made in Korea, the baod as a tad thicker than the 79 RI series. Neck is rosewood, trans red top and matching Head stock. Gold hardware, grovers etc. Mine came with a set of BIll Lawrence 500 XL installed. This is a real player. This Z sounds like a $2,000 fiddle!

I have 2 Gibson, several Epiphone modified with Duncans, 7 recent Dean korean imports including 2 of the DOA series. The workmanship is really executed well. The biggest difference between the Deans and other imports has to do with the big V headstocks. They help sustain and the frets are polished very well.The only isues I have ever had with the Deans is the nut. I prefer a bone or brass nut. Sometime I have to file the rough edges a little. Probably just me but I think a magnifying glass and a set of files are introdueced to all of my guitars at some point. EVERY Gibson Ihave nad required filing the nut!

This is a gigging guitar. The gold hardware is better on this one that my other import Deans that have Gold HW. This is a 98 model and the hardware looks new. The bridge on a newer Dean import discolored quickly but they sent me a new one right away. I play this one a lot and it is bullet proof!

Cannot be matched! Dean Zelinsky has personally emailed me and Scott CALLED ME the same day regarding the discolored bridge I mentioned earlier! Can I give an 11?

I have been playing for 5 years. Prior to having a family I played professionally for about 6 years then hung it up. NOw I'm back and loving it! I have too many guitars (more that 2 dozen currently) so I do have obsessive qualities. I would be very pissed if this guitar came up missing or damaged.I would seek out another Z select ASAP and do the same pickup mods. The stock pickups are decent ( same as Epipone Alnico) but the Bill Lawrence give this guitar great mojo. Looks like a million bucks too! I like this better than the 79 series however the DOA special run guitars ( they make 50 improts every year Check out www.deanguitars.com/forum/DOA) are equiped with custom wound Kent Armstrong pickups and they are pretty nice!!

Brand New Dean Z Select.Made in Korea,not cheap, a very well made instrument.killer flamed maple top,rates up near $3000 PRS tops.Braziliaburst,the best finish Dean makes.cream binding on the neck and body.cream tipped toggle selector.2 dean zebra humbuckers with cream pickup rings.cream jack plate.real grover tuners.dean split headstock.set neck with molded heel, mahogany neck and body.tuna-matic bridge with strings through body,my favorite bridge combo.rosewood board.2 volume knobs and 1 master tone knob,all three knobs are gold speed knobs. very classy guitar.

Using it through a Peavey Backstage 30 and a BOSS MT-2 Metal Zone distortion pedal, it's a monster.The EQ on the amp and the EQ on the pedal make this guitar go from the Rolling Stones to Slayer.It's a rocker.Very good metal machine also. However it sounds very nice clean also.The pickups are brighter than a lot of humbuckers. They aren't Tele twang,just a nice single coil like touch to a humbucker's fatness.These pickups rule.The only time it muds at all is if both pickups are on and you roll the tone back.

The guitar came set up perfect.The medium thickness neck and flat board make it a fast player.The finish is very nice and the binding is a very nice touch.The best Korean guitar made.Ranks with the U.S.A made Deans and is a lot cheaper.

This guitar will withstand live playing, but watch out for all of the edges and especially the big headstock, but the headstock still rules and i think adds sustain.I put black schaller straplocks on and they look awesome.The guitar is never going to fall with those on it.

Never had to talk to them.

This is my favorite guitar. I am a true Explorer man now.Some people say theirs weighs a ton ,but mine weighs less a little more than 7 pounds and is the lightest guitar I own,I also have a strat,tele,and my dad has some Les Paul Juniors and SG's.Only his SG Special is lighter,but that is a very thin guitar.This is solid mahogany with a maple cap.I know because I have seen inside the pickup cavity and the jackplate hole.An incredible buy.

Mahogany body, set neck, beautiful flame maple top tobacco burst.
Made in Korea with amazing precision. Three way toggle no bleeding through in any position. Two Dean Zebra humbuckers. Z-Explorer body style tune-o-matic bridge string through body Grover tuners. My guitar included a Dean hard shell Z case.

I have had this guitar for about three weeks and have played it about 5 hours. The pick ups are not as hot as the Dean covered high outputs but they are as good as gibson's. I play through a small crate and a Behringer twin. I find the bridge pickup to lack brightness but it will growl when pushed.

The craftmanship is first class I don't care where it was manufactured. ( Korea) The fit & finsh are absolutely first class.
The set up and action are good. I am going to adjust the bridge a hair lower to loosen up the bend-ability a littel. I have it strung with Ernie bal extra slinkys. The flame is awesome the back of the guitar is also of beautiful. The neck really does play like butter,
the binding is great and the block inlays and frets are also excellent.

I have replaced the strap buttons with locking buttons. The originals
did not grab the strap enough. I do not play live but I cannot imagine this guitar not being up to it. I think all the hardware is first rate and will last.

No experience here.

I have been playing for @ 25 years. I am strictly a basement hobbiest.
I take it seriously enough to be critical . I also own a Dean Platinum flying V, GIbson Les Paul, Fender Strat, Jay Turser semi hollow body. If it was lost or stolen I would try to replace it But they are not being manufactured anymore.
I could look at this guitar all day the Flame is outstanding the gold hardware perfectly complimentary to the Brazillia Brown burst finish . I play this over the older Les Paul because I lkike it better.

There's no sense in repeating most of what has been mentioned already. I"m told that the top is solid maple, but it's hard to believe that at this price point. If so, these are being "given" away. This one is a transparent blue stained flame top, but it's too bad that the stain is dark enough to make the wood grain difficult to see except in certain light conditions. Even so, the finish is flawless. I purchased this without the case, but since it's a "keeper" I'll be getting a case soon.

The sound and tone of this guitar is amazing for what it is. It's a relatively inexpensive Asian import, but comparing it to my vintage Explorer is easy because it really sounds better. Not muddy at all when played through my Brown Deluxe, and incredible through one of my higher powered Fender amps. If you know what an Explorer sounds like, it's basically the same but better. Not a very good description, I know but it's hard to put into words subjective things like tone.

The fit and finish of this guitar is, with two exceptions, as good or better than many guitars costing much more. The problem I had was with the neck in which the frets required dressing on the ends. I've heard that this is not uncommon with these guitars. Also, the position markers were not routed perfectly so there's a bit of filler around them. However, given the price point of this guitar, it's not fair to expect perfection. I've lowered the rating in this category because of the fret sprout which needed to be addressed to make this a comfortable to play guitar.

As far as action goes, I never expect *any* guitar to come from the factory with a perfect setup. A little tweaking here and there and the action is low and fast.

I see no reason that this guitar couldn't withstand live playing. It's incredibly solid, and would probably stand any reasonable abuse with ease. It has a poly finish which will also stand up to almost anything.

I've not had it long enough to cause it any grief or give it time to fail in any way, but a question regarding another Dean I have was placed on the Dean Forum and I received an answer within an hour from Dean Z himself. How much better can it get?

Been playing since the early 60's, on and off. I own a number of guitars from other manufacturers. I have no qualms about recommending this guitar and based on the price I got it for, it's one of the best bargains I've ever had. If it hadn't had the fret sprout I would consider it to be among the best guitars I have, but that was easily taken care of. Recommended highly.

EXPLORER BODY,FLAME MAPLE TOP(DARK BLUE)BEAUTIFULL!! 22 JUMBO FRETS,BLOCK INLAYS,GOLD HARDWARE,3-WAY PICKUP SELECTOR,1 VOL.2 TONE,SET NECK,TUNE-O-MATIC BRIDGE,2 ZEBBRA HUMBUCKERS,GROVER TUNERS,STRING -THROUGH BODY,THIN NECK,GREAT ACTION.TRIPLE PLY CREME BINDING ON FRET BOARD & HEAD-STOCK,BODY.MADE IN KOREA

I PLAY THROUGH A MARSHALL MG15 MICRO-STACK W/A TUBE WORKS-TUBE DRIVER PEDAL(YOU GOTTA GET ONE OF THESE PEDALS)...NO EFFECTS.I ALSO PLAY A JACKSON DK2 W/EMG 81/SA/SA/ THROUGH MY PRACTICE AMP AND IT SOUNDS GREAT!!!.THE SOUND FROM THE DEAN IS FAR DIFFERENT.THESE PICKUPS HAD TO BE MADE IN KOREA,THEY SOUND KINDA MUDDY,EXCEPT WHEN I PLAYED THROUGH A LINE 6 AMP AT GUITAR CENTER,SOUNDED VERY RICH,AND HEAVY.I PLAY MOSTLY HEAVY ROCK,METAL,BLUES,PICK-UPS ARE VERY QUIET,NO HUM AT ALL.NOT BRIGHT AT ALL,WHICH IS FINE FOR ME.I DO PLAN ON REPLACING THE PICKUPS W/DUNCAN DISTORTION & PAF PRO.

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH THE SETUP,I DID HAVE TO LOWER THE BRIDGE A LITTLE(I LIKE LOW ACTION).AND I DID HAVE TO RAISE THE PICKUPS,OTHER THANTHAT,THIS GUITAR IS CLOSE TO PERFECT,NO FLAWS AT ALL VERY WELL CONSTRUCTED!!!NICE LAQUER FINISH...SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!WELL WORTH THE $499 I PAID FOR IT!AND THEN SOME!

I'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR OVER 15 YEARS,AS A HOBBY.I WAS CONSIDERING A EPIPHONE LES PAUL CLASSIC FLAME TOP,BUT WHEN I SEEN THIS ONE HANGING ON THE WALL,I HAD TO HAVE IT,IT IS DEFINATELY A BETTER VALUE THAN THE EPIPHONE!THIS AXE IS MUCH BETTER CONSTRUCTED THAN LES PAUL.PLAYS BETTER,FEELS BETTER,LOOKS BETTER!I DO WISH IT HAD DIMARZIO'S OR DUNCANS,EMG'S,BUT I CAN REMEDY THAT ON MY OWN.THIS IS A DEFINATE QUALITY AXE!!!BAR NONE!!!

1998 Made in Korea. Explorer-style guitar, mahogany body and set neck, flame maple cap, triple-bound (creme), two zebra humbucker pickups, Tune-O-Matic bridge, string-through-body, Grover tuners, 22 jumbo frets, rosewood board with pearloid inlay. Transparent red finish with gold hardware. Came with nothing (and bags and cases for Z's are hard to find and expensive).

Sounds great, like a Gibson but a little less muddy. Designed for rock n' roll, hard rock and metal, does a great job. The Explorer type guitars do a great job with both rhythm and leads. No noise. Only problem is the middle position on the selector sounds pretty indistinct from the bridge pickup alone (whereas on my Les Paul the middle is quite different from either end). For AC/DC, Def Leppard, and that kind of stuff, perfect. Pink Floyd sounds bad, but who would play Floyd on a bright red and gold Dean Z? Playing through a Metal Zone and/or DOD250 into a POD into a Roland solid state amp set to clean. Mostly use the Soldano and Marshall models. Of course. It gets a 10 for hard rock, a 9 for metal, and a 5 for general purposes. All in all an 8.

Excellent set-up, everything's basically perfect. The flame in the maple isn't perfect. Mechanical work is all perfect. Very nice strap buttons (I've got Schallers but haven't put 'em on yet). Only complaint of any kind is that the pickup selector bleeds a little at high gain -- turn neck volume to 0, bridge volume up, tone above 5, switch to the neck and strum. With a Metal Zone or DOD250 you get a low-power strum coming through. Means nothing practical unless you like the Ace Frehley on-off-on-off-on-off trick during your solos at Madison Square Garden. Overall, really stunning for the price (just more evidence of late 90s Korean quality).

Seems very solid. Two weeks is too soon to tell. I'll probably ding the wing, but that's what you get with BIG POINTY guitars.

Sent one email. Got an answer in about 6 hours.

Would probably buy again -- definitely at this price, which was a one-time-only blowout (regular price is $699-799 I think). Wished it came with a hardshell or a Dean Big Gig bag. Compared to my Strats and Epiphones, occupies a certain niche neither of them do -- not muddy chunky, not shrill and bell-like, just perfect for playing 70s-80s rock and blues-influenced rock. Skynyrd and Tull (especially with a capo, believe it or not) sound perfect, for example.