BTMN

After all the Hamers are built that are ordered of course! Last time I talked with Elliott Rubinson from Dean in February I told him he should buy the brand.

You guys should move to Tampa Bay and come build guitars at Dean.

Think he means the guy doing the work not the guitar's owner.

Quantity is why it is cheaper and perhaps use of processes that are more expensive, read more environmentally regulated, here than there would be my take but I have no knowledge of that.

Custom import runs, the Straight Six line, the 35th Anniversary, and the Chicago Series are good for the dollars. Used 79 Series Korean imports can run like that. You want to try it if you can. They will all need a setup to your personal tastes. EVERY Dean I bring in gets a pickup height adjustment as soon as it is in the door no matter USA or import. I have had good experiences with 79 Series guitars. I have 5 79 Series guitars currently, 3 Zs, 1 V, and 1 ML. I also have Z and V Basses that are custom runs with basically 79 Series bodies on them. I tried to get a certain number 35th Z but passed when it did not work out. Cool guitars that feel a little like 1978 Deans. Kind of done with new imports and it has to be a really good deal/guitar to want to buy it used. I would rather hunt up a nice '96 USA or newer USA. Great stuff coming out of the Tampa shop. The USA 1000 Series are USA cut, routed, built, fretted, shipped to Korea and back after finished, and then completed. USA guitars but finished in Korea. Those are going New $900- $1200 depending on dealer/deal. Might consider one of them. I have played a few that were great but only available in opaque colors so kind of not me.

MMMMMMMM!!!!!

Didn't think that was there. However, I am getting older and that was a very fast paced "moment" filled couple of days. Trusted Bubs word and thought I just did not get a shot.

I spent like 3-4 hours at that exhibit and could have spent another 4 easily and shot a 100 photos. As it was I did not get one of the sax guitar. Here is a link to the thread with the shots I did get. http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/56807-a-trip-to-illinois/

Took this at Rick's Picks exhibit....

I'm the opposite on that. I can dig the combo. I own 1 Caddy and 1 ML. Don't get excited enough to own multiples of those body styles though. It's the Zs and Vs for me. Oh, I do have a nice Korean made EVO, LP copyish in Bass Boat Sparkle Goldtop with P90s.

Ahoy Mates, I'm BTMN and I sail the Seven Zs.

It was sounding great in Chicago last Fall. http://www.hamerfanclub.com/forums/topic/56807-a-trip-to-illinois/page-2

It is still on there. Never left the page.

Scroll about halfway down.... http://hamerworkshop.wordpress.com/

I saw what you did there.

Chandler and Samick made Deans sporadically in the early 90's for Tropical Music, a company out of Miami and the Tampa Bay area. In early 1996 Tropical started a build shop east of Tampa in Plant City with Pat Baker, Ben Chafin, and Jon Hill after a bit. That shop was continued for a short time after Elliott bought the name in late 1996 or early 1997 IIRC. No USAs I know of other than one offs and customs until 2000. I could be mistaken on that aspect but I can ask about it. Samick or the parent company has made Dean imports over the years until recently too. Aren't they Unsung or are they World Guitar? World currently builds PRS SEs and Unsung is building the new import Chicago Series Deans. I have 4 1996 USA Deans and they are real tasty. I have a Korina Z and a Korina Caddy. The other two are a Black V and a Trans Cherry Red V. The Caddy and the Red V are sequential numbered guitars from October 1996. Bought 18 months and 1200 miles apart.

The last 5 years the USA guitars have been made here in Tampa. Knowing many of the guys in the USA shop for a while now I can say that the stuff coming from them has been made with skill. Alll enjoy the work and at least 5 of them have been there for all 5 of those years and before. Even the US Masters stuff made from 2000-2008 was real good too. Pat Baker who heads up the custom shop and the pickup shop in Tampa really has a good group of builders and finishers under him. CEO Elliott Rubinson and the marketing/sales side have brought the Dean name back to being a strong brand. The import lines, in my opinion, can get hairy in the entry and beginner levels but most of the upper level imports are fair guitars. Especially many of the Korean lines. http://www.deanguitars.com/electrics.php

Ben put the pickups in my Amber V above. I have these two Czech Vs and 2 of the Czech made Korina Zs. Turdus posted a picture a longtime ago of a Korina Z and a Korina Caddy and that drove me to get my first Dean in 2003. That would be the Clear Gloss V above. I had eyeballed Deans and strummed them in guitar shops since 1978 but never popped for one until 2003. I actually was not a fan of the V headstock but after I owned one I realized it just added to it rather than detracted. As far as I know all the Czech guitars are three piece neck construction. The Czech EVOs are sweet!!

Man has to work and pay for them guitars! PM sent. I can answer more in a 5 minute conversation than I can type. Edited to add: 1997-2000 era Czech made cuties Tatiana and Tanya, Korina Vs had for half the price of a Hamer Korina Vector. Not Hamer quality but very good stuff. The Amber one sports Duncan Antiquities procured from the Murkat man himself and that one RIPS!!!

The Limba/Korina guitars you guys have made, GAWD, I love them.

Looks a lil 1979 to me. Knowing some of DavidB's past orders I know this will be Super Fine!

Big Happy one to ya!!