M
metallixro
New member
Heya forum dwellers,
Got a new guitar and decided to post some details for other people that are searching like I did for info prior to buying one of these.
It's made at WMI Korea and its build quality is exactly what you would expect from them. It's the third guitar in this price range that I have/had - the other two where an LTD EC 401FM (that I sold to buy the other one, this was a lot more expensive than the 401 that LTD currently build in Indonesia) and an LTD Iron Cross (which is an LTD EC 1000 with a different finish). I couldn't observe a difference between the two LTDs even if they were a bit different price range, and you can tell the Dean comes from the same maker even is its a different brand and a different shape. They are just flawless as far as woodwork and finish goes.
The flame maple is kinda weird, it looks matched or not depending on the viewing angle... I don't remember this being an issue with the LTD FM, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm a bedroom player and haven't seen/played that many guitars.
I've also found two problems - the tone pot is scratchy going towards zero, and it completely cuts the volume on both pickups when it reaches zero. The other is the Floyd needs a setup and that means I'll have to spend more money to have it done. The guitar is either randomly out of tune or tuned to something weird Dimebag used and I don't recognize.. it does however hold that tuning after some light abuse [IMG] The action needs fixing, there's buzz on the low E (make that D-ish that it came with) and the high E is buzz free but the Floyd on that side is quite lowered into the body might be normal to achieve low action but looks weird.. but then again I don't know much about Floyds. Bottom line both these issues are fixable and gonna cost me extra.. that's never a good thing but I did expect it.
Oh and almost forgot: THE NECK IS NOT A V SHAPE as stated on Dean site... not even slightly. no seriously its probably a D shape. Not that chunky also but bigger than the LTD neck. I'm not upset about it, didn't play a V neck and I'm ok with any shape anyway. The ebony fretboard its dark and I wonder if it was painted... it is the same color on all its surface so I'm not sure what to use to condition it. The diamond inlays have some filler at the ends, expected for the very thin edges. The razor inlay is flawless, same for the fret job.
The guitar is lighter than I expected, it has a light body. Id say it feels a bit like and SG as far as sitting posture goes (I don't play it like a V), there is some neck dive standing but not something that can't be fixed with a proper strap.
TLDR: I already love this guitar. Looks great - obviously that's subjective - and feels great despite needing a setup. There are many other players out there looking at these Dime models but are discouraged by the bashing Dean guitars usually get on forums, probably by people that haven't even seen one. At least this korean line as as good as it supposed to be!
Got a new guitar and decided to post some details for other people that are searching like I did for info prior to buying one of these.
It's made at WMI Korea and its build quality is exactly what you would expect from them. It's the third guitar in this price range that I have/had - the other two where an LTD EC 401FM (that I sold to buy the other one, this was a lot more expensive than the 401 that LTD currently build in Indonesia) and an LTD Iron Cross (which is an LTD EC 1000 with a different finish). I couldn't observe a difference between the two LTDs even if they were a bit different price range, and you can tell the Dean comes from the same maker even is its a different brand and a different shape. They are just flawless as far as woodwork and finish goes.
The flame maple is kinda weird, it looks matched or not depending on the viewing angle... I don't remember this being an issue with the LTD FM, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm a bedroom player and haven't seen/played that many guitars.
I've also found two problems - the tone pot is scratchy going towards zero, and it completely cuts the volume on both pickups when it reaches zero. The other is the Floyd needs a setup and that means I'll have to spend more money to have it done. The guitar is either randomly out of tune or tuned to something weird Dimebag used and I don't recognize.. it does however hold that tuning after some light abuse [IMG] The action needs fixing, there's buzz on the low E (make that D-ish that it came with) and the high E is buzz free but the Floyd on that side is quite lowered into the body might be normal to achieve low action but looks weird.. but then again I don't know much about Floyds. Bottom line both these issues are fixable and gonna cost me extra.. that's never a good thing but I did expect it.
Oh and almost forgot: THE NECK IS NOT A V SHAPE as stated on Dean site... not even slightly. no seriously its probably a D shape. Not that chunky also but bigger than the LTD neck. I'm not upset about it, didn't play a V neck and I'm ok with any shape anyway. The ebony fretboard its dark and I wonder if it was painted... it is the same color on all its surface so I'm not sure what to use to condition it. The diamond inlays have some filler at the ends, expected for the very thin edges. The razor inlay is flawless, same for the fret job.
The guitar is lighter than I expected, it has a light body. Id say it feels a bit like and SG as far as sitting posture goes (I don't play it like a V), there is some neck dive standing but not something that can't be fixed with a proper strap.
TLDR: I already love this guitar. Looks great - obviously that's subjective - and feels great despite needing a setup. There are many other players out there looking at these Dime models but are discouraged by the bashing Dean guitars usually get on forums, probably by people that haven't even seen one. At least this korean line as as good as it supposed to be!
