Dean Guitars Cadillac Select

Quilt Amber-burst, mahogany body and neck, maple top. Standard Les Paul configuration (2 zebra humbuckers, 2 volume and 2 tone controls.) The tone controls house push-pull switches for single coil mode. The body is slightly lighter in weight than a Les Paul Standard.

I've been playing guitar (all styles) for 31 years. I use pro equipment. (Fender Amps, Roland GX700 processor, etc.)

I've owned 5 Deans so I knew what to expect from these guitars. As expected, the stock pickups on this are extremely powerful, and excellent for metal, thrash or any distorted sound. But they lack the tonal qualities which make a good, versatile guitar pickup capable of covering jazz and blues sounds as well as rock. However, I must say that the bridge pickup on this guitar is better than the Seymour Duncan JB and the Duncan Distortion simply because it has the bite of a JB and more power than the Duncan Distortion. (Disclaimer: I've never been totally satisfied with any bridge humbucker.)

Anyway, when I buy a new Dean I usually replace the humbuckers with Duncans, but this time I did something different. I was so overwhelmed by the beautiful amber-burst finish on the guitar that I had to see what it looked liked with gold pickup covers. I installed gold pickup covers and to my surprise the covers coupled with mahogany body and the maple top was just enough to mellow out the tone. It's more Les Paulish than before, but not muddy. In single coil mode, I can do stuff that I thought only may strat was capable of. I'm not totally convinced that pickup covers over the stock pickups are the answer, but I'm going to put it through some serious tests before I go and spend $160 on a set of Duncans.

The action was very low when it came from the factory, I was able to get it lower. The strings sucked, I had to change them immediately.
Otherwise I found this guitar to be practically flawless.

Even though the quilt finish is a venier, this guitar is one of the must beautiful guitars I've ever owned. Korean or not, this guitar is also one of the best made guitars I've ever owned. I can't find anything wrong with it! I can't say that about my Les Paul Standard or my Mexican Strat.

I changed the strap buttons to Dunlop Strap Locks simply because the positioning of the strap button on the neck heal is an ancident waiting to happen. Otherwise this is a very solid guitar, as is all my other Dean Guitars. Of course any good musician needs a backup.

5 Year limited warranty. No contact with customer support so far.

I hate to give a guitar such a high rating (since Dean isn't paying me.) but this guitar deserves it. If you just gotta pay $1800+ for a Les Paul and look like everyone else on stage, go for it. But you can spend $400, plus another $160 for pickups and come out with a better guitar for much less money. If you can deal with people complimenting the guitar more than they do you or your playing ability, this is the guitar.

2002 Korean Made Dean Caddy select,22 fret set neck with Mahogany body and Flame Maple top.Dean zebra Humbucker pickup's.Grover tuners,stop tailpiece.Gold hardware.2 Vol,2 tone with 3way switch.Body style is like a Hot Rodded Les Paul.Price includes OHSC case.

I actually found the Dean Pickups to be quiet good.Although there is some room for improvment.A set of Duncans or DiMarzios would complete this Guitar.I use Marshall & vox tube Amps so the tone is based on these Amps.I play Blues & Rock and this guitar fits these two styles very well.But overall for the price paid these are decent usable pickups.

The Cherry Sunburst finish on this Guitar is amazing.Perfectly blended red and yellow.And the Flame maple top blew me away.I have never seen a top this nice at this price level.Most Guitar companies would call this a AAA Top.Very nice Body and Neck Binding as well.The Dealer set-up the Guitar with GHS 10's so it played very nice when purchased.The feel of the Guitar reminds me of my Historic Gibson 54 Les Paul with a slimmer neck.

I bought this Guitar to take to Gigs, Jams ,rehersal etc.So I wouldnt have to worry about my Les paul getting ripped off.I started looking for a Inexpensive main Guitar back in January at the NAMM show.So I spent a good 9 months making sure I bought the right Guitar.The Dean Caddy was the right chioce for me.It looks like it was built very Rock solid."This ain't your Daddy's Korean Guitar".

I haven't had to use Customer support although I did by a T-shirt from them and they were very nice.The Dean web site is cool too.And I was able to register and activate the warranty online.They have a very good online fourm as well.

As stated before I spent a good 9 months playing a lot of Guitars in the $600.00-800.00 dollar range.And I felt this was by far the best playing & looking Guitar for this price range.The quality of this Korean Guitar is superb far better than any other I could Find. I play mostly Blues and was looking for something different I have gotten tired of hearing and seeing the same Guitars Strats, Teles and Pauls. It is my main Axe and Have played it without a backup with great results.It plays and feels like my Historic Les paul at less than 4X the cost.All I can say is check it out yourself and see if is right for you.

New 2001 Model made in Korea. 22 frets, quilted maple top (7 or 8 out of 10), Nice burst finish, 2 Volume, 2 Tones, 3 way selector, 2 Passive Dean(?) Humbuckers, Mahogany Body and set neck, Non-locking Grover tuners, Thin neck (similar to double cut away les paul). For body style think pointy les-paul.

So far I like the sounds of the stock pick-ups but I will probably replace with Duncan's at some point. Both pickups are humbuckers so they're not noisy and so far not microphonic either. The pickups seem to have pretty high output and I like that.

It was set-up pretty well actually. It will need minor (very minor) tweeks. The strings were good and low (maybe too low). It came with 9's and I'll probably replace those with 10's. The 9's feel too slinky for this guitar. The top and finish are great...beautiful. This was by far the prettiest guitar in the store. I found one minor flaw in the finish which was just a small speck.

I have not had it long enough to tell so far. It seems to be made well though. It does have gold hardware so it will probably tarnish after some playing but that's OK.

Don't know anything about this yet. Hopefully I won't.

I have been playing for about 14 years and I also own a couple of Gibson Les-Pauls and a Washburn Dimebag 333, as well as a few not worth mentioning. I was amazed at the price that I purchased this instrument. Actually, I was more like stunned. I had no idea a person could purchase such a high quality guitar at such a low price. I'm ashamed that I payed $1400 for a Gibson Les-Paul. This guitar has EVERYTHING the Les-Paul has. The only thing the Les-Paul has over the Dean is the pick-ups and that alone doesn't justify the price difference. I will NEVER buy another Gibson now that I've found Dean. I just really can't say enough good stuff about this instrument. Just go find one and play it. Pictures don't them justice.

Korean made 2001 fresh from the boat.Quilt top 8 on a 10 scale.maple top& mahogany every alse.Gold hardware nice grover tuners, two humbuckers,and a wide thin korean spliced neck,not that theres any thing wrong with that.Came with canadain made dean case, nice but not cheap.Kind of a Les Paul shaped but lighter,with a large V headstock.

Just got it but at first try I think the pickups might just work for me. Blues & rock run thru a LINE 6 flextone &floorboard gives a gibson sound and thats not bad.

Got it from ed roman, just as a shipment arrived .Came with 9s got to have 10s. the guitar came well packed and in perfect condition,excellant korean workmanship but thats not unusual in the higher end models but you have to be lucky or careful toget a good one.That can also be said for USA guitars!I got a good one from ed,and its nice and quiet.

Pretty well built,but not the biggest guitar in the pack.Gold always wears off but only when you use them. I would never gig with one axe.Seems to have a nice amber burst finish,that should hold up.Its a cute guitar.

Ed says he'll make me happy ,I hope I don't have to find out.

Been playing 30 years,and I have owned many Fender & Gibsons some nice some not so nice.I own 4 epi's,sheradon,trans.LesPaul,S G custom& A korina V.Great Guitars for the cash Just replace The pickup you us the most,and your in busines.Love the look & Iwould replace the caddy if ripped.Going to get a dano hodad next,I cant get enuff of those Korean guitars!!

1999 DEAN made in Korea for Dean by Samick. 22 Frets, Quilted maple top in amber burst, 2-volume, 2-Tone, 2-humbuckers passive type Brand?, mahogany body-Maple top gloos finish, mahogany neck set construction. Gold plated hardware tune-o-matic and stop bar tailpiece, grover tuners nonlocking type, nice hardwood case tolex covered made in Canada.

BOdy seems to be made of nice tone wood exceptional for the price paid. Pickups are dime store variety but not micro phonic or any problems. I will be installing Dimarzio PAF PRO's in the near future. Dont sound bad considering the pickups. Playing through a Peavey 50 watt tweed classic, marshall 4/12, Quadraverb, 1969 vintage CRY BABY, sometimes use an old Boss OD unit for extra push. will probably score much higher once I install my favorite pickups.

Needed slight bridge adjustment for the action, intonation very good, but I always do my own set-up on new guitars (20 years experience. Beutifull quilted top nice five layer binding, nice even and very transparent clear coat, neck releif was perfect, nut fit and cut very well. I was very impressed, I ordered this guitar from ed roman and it exceeded my expectations.

To early to tell but appears to be very well constructed, will take it out often. But I never gig with out a back-up no matter if primary axe is a Gibson, Fender or what.

Don't really know I havent needed any, but I think Ed Roman is probably very good at standing behind his sales.

I have been playing for 25 + years, I researched price and back ground on this model, I consider this a very good by, I found some stores selling this model with quilt top for as much as 600.00 to 700.00 dollars, so I found Ed Roman to be the best place to buy. I had never done busines with him before but I found his word to be good! I would recomend this guitar to anyone! I would also suggest to everyone to check out his web site alot of good info, not just sales propaganda. I would definetly would want it back if stolen, My only complaint is the pickups but I would not be satisfied with any Mahogany body guitar until I installed my favorite pickups (PAF PRO. Therefore I tend to rate overall a little bit lower.