Just got a Dean Vendetta XM

[wolf]

Actually, I got this a few weeks ago but I figured if I posted too quickly I would have violated the no "beaming" rule:

"Not only does this guitar make you sound like Jimi Hendrix, it is the cure for global warming, it will stop the terrorist menace and it can make mounds and mounds of mouth-watering coleslaw for just pennies !!!"

While all of that is undisputed truth, I'll continue with my review.
I bought this from Musician's Friend for $100 (and free shipping). Yes, I know I might have been extravagant in my spending ways but heck, you can't let price get in the way when you want quality. ;D

A link to a bigger picture:
www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&base_pid=512150&index=0
(Yes I could have posted the picture here but don't you hate it when someone posts a huge graphic whereby you have to keep scrolling back and forth ? Me too.)

Anyway, this guitar is great. I still haven't adjusted anything (intonation, bridge height, truss rod, etc) even though the action is a little high. Other than that, I like this guitar a lot. Those Chinese are getting really good at building things and I'm sure they used only a moderate amount of lead paint.
The pickups are surprisingly good and I'm not going to replace them. Because the coils are exposed, you can bring out all 4 wires - and I did. I would say the output of the pickups is about average for humbuckers. They are not too muddy and you can still get some good treble sounds particularly from the bridge pickup.
I recently finished that 6 SPDT switching arrangement which I discovered on my own but was also discovered independently by ChrisK and UnklMickey. Wow what a clever bunch we have on this message board.
Anyway, that switching really adds to the versatility of this guitar.

The neck of this guitar feels very nice and different from any other guitar neck I have played. I think this is the style of guitar neck used on all Dean Guitars but I could be wrong. (When you visit the Dean website, about 99% of it is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell).

Anyway, that is my review so far. I'd like to hear your comments.

[sumgai]

Actually, I got this a few weeks ago but I figured if I posted too quickly I would have violated the no "beaming" rule:

"Not only does this guitar make you sound like Jimi Hendrix, it is the cure for global warming, it will stop the terrorist menace and it can make mounds and mounds of mouth-watering coleslaw for just pennies !!!"

What? No Ginzu knives?!

;D


And for about the price of a Squier (!!!), one procurs a much higher quality axe, eh? Well, I wonder what would happen if I dropped in a Callaham vammy bar.........

Good find. Post pictures of your upgraded switching to our Gallery, OK?


sumgai

[kuzi16]

i hate coleslaw...



i almost bought that guitar as well. I decided against it. maybe that was the wrong decision.
there are a few things that i liked a lot about that guitar.
1) its a dean. I already have a dean bass and i love it.
2) the color of the wood. the picture given doesnt do it justice. the one i had in my hands seemed richer and maybe a bit redder.
3) string through body.
4) 24 frets. good stuff.

and for a side note i think for the build (talked about in "tune-o-stratic") that should be the type of bridge i want to use.

BTW, that guitar looks so much better in the wood rather than the black.

[wolf]

kuzi16
Yes, I got that in the natural wood color. I always like to buy a guitar that shows wood grain and therefore, no white or black guitars for me.
I have discovered just one small problem with the guitar. The strings aren't grounded, mainly because the bridge is covered with a thick coat of paint, which, luckily, seems to have no effect on the sound. Anyway, I have a few ideas on how string grounding could be done. I was just wondering what you folks would do for a possible solution.

******************** The Next Day *****************
Well, okay, I decided to stop being lazy and I removed the bridge from the guitar. Wow, that paint is insulating every possible part of the bridge (bridge threading, the height nut and bolt, the bridge itself, the place where the strings meet the bridge).
Well, guess I have some paint scraping to do. I hope it doesn't have too much lead in it.

[quarry]

Hey Wolf, not to hijack your thread, but last March, when I turned 50, my wife bought me these two guitars (actually, I bought them for my wife to give to me! I love my wife!) from Rondo Music, for a grand total of $305.



The guitar (which is a little like your Dean) is a "Douglas", and the bass is an "SX".

The Douglas is absolutly flawless! I had to adjust the Floyd, but that's it. Plays great, sounds great... I love it!

The bass needs some more adjustments... the action is quite high, but still very playable. Sounds good!

What's my point? You're right - those Chinese are starting to crank out some decent instruments! ;D


PS - anyone want some 'slaw??? I've got mounds and mounds...

[wolf]

Quarry
Those guitars from Rondo music look great. I bought an Agile guitar from them and it is fantastic. It's amazing how great guitars are being manufactured for such ridiculously low prices. Speaking of which .....

The Dean Vendetta XM is fantastic. I took a lot of time rewiring it. (Yes, I used what I call the Super Seven Switching). Also, I lowered the bridge very slightly and the action is tremendous. To finish things off, I oiled the fretboard with mineral oil. This guitar is amazing. I like the paulownia wood that's used for the guitar body. It makes it look amazing. (One small drawback is that screws can strip the wood very easily. That wood is so soft you can actually turn screws into it by hand.) In spite of that, it gives the guitar a very nice sound.

I happen to own a Squier Bullet (also purchased new for $100) and the Dean Vendetta XM is superior to it in every way. Okay, that's enough "beaming" for now.