jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
If you would like to read another one of my long winded stories, please do. If not, skip down to the pics.
It's a keeper, but almost wasnt.
I had been looking for a few years at best bang for the buck flying v style guitars. It came down to the Epiphone - much more Gibson styling, but they all have the slim taper neck profile. Not quite a deal killer for me, but I'd much prefer a deeper profile.
So, the other candidate has been the Dean V79. I dont love the headstock shape, but again, not a deal killer.
I didnt come across a good deal on a used one, so I let it ride.
In the meantime, I found the Firefly FFLV (at @ $280 shipped), and I love it, confirming I dig the V.
Since Gibson won the recent lawsuit and Dean has ceased making these (and others), I asked my wife if she would like to buy me a guitar for our 30th. wedding anniversary (coming in October). She surprisingly was enthusiastic in her support, so I went for it.
Shipped undamaged, one little finish ding on the side of the headstock. The nut was cut high and awful. I mean sounded horrible awful.
I couldn't get the G string to intonate either (I didnt realize it was because the nut slot was so high. Anyway, I broke the saddle screw reverse star type retaining washer turning the saddle around. I could intonate it (so I knew I had the range), but the saddle slides forward - exacerbated by the steep angle into the body. The washer was really brittle.
The bridge vol pot has a dead spot just below 10. The fret work is pretty good, smooth edges but a few high / low spots - typical.
Everything else is really nice, oh the jack was loose too - quality control for budget guitars.
I was going to send it back.
I contacted the Reverb seller, listed my grievances and asked for a discount for the finish damage, and if they could get Dean to send me the vol pot and a few of those pesky washers, I would be satisfied.
(I know I broke the bridge, but you should be able to reverse the saddle if it can be disassembled)
After a few messages, they cut me a small refund, and Dean sent me the pot, and a whole bridge.
It looks like someone at Dean soldered up the replacement pot to verify it, or it was a pull, I dont care.
Deoxit fader lube reduced the dead spot to a tiny spot, but it is still there. I havent changed it out yet.
They are all full size 250k B / Linear pots, work just fine taper wise. I still dont really understand them.
The pickups do not sound dark, plenty of treble on tap.
The Blemish, since touched up with a Sharpie. (the other red mark is glare):
It's a keeper, but almost wasnt.
I had been looking for a few years at best bang for the buck flying v style guitars. It came down to the Epiphone - much more Gibson styling, but they all have the slim taper neck profile. Not quite a deal killer for me, but I'd much prefer a deeper profile.
So, the other candidate has been the Dean V79. I dont love the headstock shape, but again, not a deal killer.
I didnt come across a good deal on a used one, so I let it ride.
In the meantime, I found the Firefly FFLV (at @ $280 shipped), and I love it, confirming I dig the V.
Since Gibson won the recent lawsuit and Dean has ceased making these (and others), I asked my wife if she would like to buy me a guitar for our 30th. wedding anniversary (coming in October). She surprisingly was enthusiastic in her support, so I went for it.
Shipped undamaged, one little finish ding on the side of the headstock. The nut was cut high and awful. I mean sounded horrible awful.
I couldn't get the G string to intonate either (I didnt realize it was because the nut slot was so high. Anyway, I broke the saddle screw reverse star type retaining washer turning the saddle around. I could intonate it (so I knew I had the range), but the saddle slides forward - exacerbated by the steep angle into the body. The washer was really brittle.
The bridge vol pot has a dead spot just below 10. The fret work is pretty good, smooth edges but a few high / low spots - typical.
Everything else is really nice, oh the jack was loose too - quality control for budget guitars.
I was going to send it back.
I contacted the Reverb seller, listed my grievances and asked for a discount for the finish damage, and if they could get Dean to send me the vol pot and a few of those pesky washers, I would be satisfied.
(I know I broke the bridge, but you should be able to reverse the saddle if it can be disassembled)
After a few messages, they cut me a small refund, and Dean sent me the pot, and a whole bridge.
It looks like someone at Dean soldered up the replacement pot to verify it, or it was a pull, I dont care.
Deoxit fader lube reduced the dead spot to a tiny spot, but it is still there. I havent changed it out yet.
They are all full size 250k B / Linear pots, work just fine taper wise. I still dont really understand them.
The pickups do not sound dark, plenty of treble on tap.
The Blemish, since touched up with a Sharpie. (the other red mark is glare):
