DBraz Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 After my tour of the Tampa factory in May I have had GAS for a USA Custom Shop Dean. This ML popped up the other day and I picked it up yesterday afternoon. The previous owner bought it new in 2012. It has some nice options including a Brazilian Rosewood board, an Original Floyd Rose and a Bill Lawrence bridge pickup. A big plus was that the previous owner bought it at a time he was transitioning to 7 and 8 string guitars and as such it has hung on the wall. It has its original factory strings and all of the protective plastic is still on the cavity covers and TRC. The case contained all of the candy - including inspection sign-off and the order spec sheet. The build quality is high - as I expected after my tour. Hamer Virtuoso high? No, but pretty good never the less. Material choice is good and the sound quality and feel is right up there. Sound wise it is beefy - there's a lot of mahogany! It has a bit of a bark like a Les Paul and you can roll off the volume, which I do a lot, to get less gain whilst still retaining clarity. The jury is out on the neck pickup for me but we're still getting to know each other. The speed knobs - will soldered holes to create a tactile feel look awful but are very usable. I quite like the V carve neck. I have never owned a V carve neck before and could see myself opting for another. The neck is big but the V carve disguises some of that. The finish quality is high with a lovely Trans Brazilia Burst over the maple cap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Haynie Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 It would be nice to have another ML one day. Yours looks perfect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablo175 Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Gorgeous guitar, David! An amazing score! I'd be channeling my inner Dimebag Abbott through that beauty! Perhaps a KISS decal is in the works? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 That is a beauty. I love MLs. They’re like strapping on an aircraft carrier, but they balance well and the V-necks are killer. I brought this home from Chicago in ‘96 when I moved back to the west coast. It’s an ‘83, built in the Ravenswood Ave plant. Sold it ca. 2000, and it currently resides at www.jayrosen.com. I kinda want to get it back, but not for $3k! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBraz Posted July 24, 2018 Author Share Posted July 24, 2018 The V carve neck was my biggest concern as I had no experience of owning one. I have played one but not regularly enough to comment with authority. Its been a pleasant surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBraz Posted July 24, 2018 Author Share Posted July 24, 2018 59 minutes ago, diablo175 said: Gorgeous guitar, David! An amazing score! I'd be channeling my inner Dimebag Abbott through that beauty! Perhaps a KISS decal is in the works? I know it's sacrilege but I am not a big Pantera fan despite seeing them when they backed Priest on the Painkiller tour and also when they toured the follow up to Cowboys. I love the ML shape though. One of my guitar hero's Adrian Smith had a "baby" ML in the early 80's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HAMERMAN Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 Sweet - looks like it was very well taken care of too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveL Posted July 24, 2018 Share Posted July 24, 2018 wow, that's very nice, dig the Dean Custom Shop stuff, although some of their import stuff is cool too. They seem to have a better marketing touch with their imports than Hamer did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BTMN Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Nice score there David. Glad you are in a Honeymoon phase with it and I hope that continues. ML actually hangs nice on a strap too. I should have let you play my Dean Z Pro when you were here. It has that V carve. I like it a ton. Love my lil import ML from the 2004 Dean open house. E3 #28/50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chromium Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 Beautiful - congrats! I came close to getting a time capsule V recently, but ended up finding the Momose V instead. I like the Zs and MLs too. Someday maybe... I have an '82 ML bass with the V carve neck. That was a local CL deal, and so I had the chance to opt out... but I liked it the moment I laid hands on it. Killer bass, although it's almost big enough to play me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasein Posted July 25, 2018 Share Posted July 25, 2018 That's the first time I realized those guitars were based on a flying V with an extra nub and a pointy bit attached... I kind of get it now.... always wondered what the appeal was but I see where it comes from now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armitage Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Lovely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasteddie Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 On 7/25/2018 at 4:30 AM, Dasein said: That's the first time I realized those guitars were based on a flying V with an extra nub and a pointy bit attached... I kind of get it now.... always wondered what the appeal was but I see where it comes from now. I have a BC Rich ST111 USA, solid mahogany, Dimarzio loaded, it is a lovely deep meaty sounding guitar, David's new Dean makes my guitar sound like a children's mandolin, why, 'cause it has about twice the mahogany so the shape is not just for looks but a clever way the manufacturer can get their guitars to get an even better sound while still looking good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devnor Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Nice ML, congrats. I still have mine, 2005 from US Masters era. The Z is long gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 Two nice examples. I had a couple of the U.S. Masters TC Vs. Really well-made transition models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBraz Posted July 26, 2018 Author Share Posted July 26, 2018 13 hours ago, fasteddie said: I have a BC Rich ST111 USA, solid mahogany, Dimarzio loaded, it is a lovely deep meaty sounding guitar, David's new Dean makes my guitar sound like a children's mandolin, why, 'cause it has about twice the mahogany so the shape is not just for looks but a clever way the manufacturer can get their guitars to get an even better sound while still looking good. You were having a ball playing it that’s for sure. Fast Eddie in action! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasteddie Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 14 hours ago, DBraz said: You were having a ball playing it that’s for sure. Fast Eddie in action! OMG, I can't believe you posted that picture of me while I was doing an E flat minor 6th pentatonic, with a suspended triode, when I specifically asked that you wait till I riff in G# major. If you get the first round at Maiden, we'll call it even Dbraz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBraz Posted July 27, 2018 Author Share Posted July 27, 2018 28 minutes ago, fasteddie said: OMG, I can't believe you posted that picture of me while I was doing an E flat minor 6th pentatonic, with a suspended triode, when I specifically asked that you wait till I riff in G# major. If you get the first round at Maiden, we'll call it even Dbraz. Done. It's free at the VIP bar isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasteddie Posted July 27, 2018 Share Posted July 27, 2018 1 hour ago, DBraz said: Done. It's free at the VIP bar isn't it? Blast, I knew I let you off too lightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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