Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

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F. Hails Railsologist
HI GUys, how are you!?!?
IM planning to FINISH once and for all my guitar collection(not exactly the way i expected, but even though im happy with it. i would like to have More guitars with mahogany bodies, but i ended up with basswood, a wood i dislike. ).
I currently have 6 guitars. 2 of them are 7 string guitars. but i dont have ANY Les paul style guitars. its not my cup of tea, i had 3 lespauls but i didnt identify myself with the style. I surely enjoyed the bolder and darker classic les paul tone, but the playabillity and other stuffs didnt match me. so i didnt keep them.
BUT Now i think its time to have, at least ONE Model, SO ill grab one. But, since I ALMOST Always WANT to slightly modify everything i get my hands on, ill not get an EXACT les paul copy, but a modded one.
Im in between a Dean Cadillac Select http://www.deanguitars.com/img/cadiseltge.jpg Or, a Fernandes Ravelle elite or deluxe. http://www.mh-friends.com/cgibin/img/FERNANDES RAVELLE DELUXE_01.jpg

I was even considering including a BC RICH Eagle, but that one is a neck thru design, but im already getting my 7th guitar, a Dean Vendetta 4.0 trans BLue, thats neck thru, so i removed the bc rich from the choice.

So, heres my questions : could you guys list the pros and cons of both guitars?
Can you compare them in performancy, playabillity, price and TONE? and most important thing, QUALITY and where are they made in? i think the fernandes are either chinese, or indonesian. not sure. but the deans are korean made .

SO, thank you very much in advance
Q: )
JP
 
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Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I have two Caddie's in that zone

performance: great performers for the price. Very high performance for dollar ratio.
playabillity: Little neck heavy because of the big V headstock. Doesn't bother me. ABle to be set up as good as any TOM guitar.
price: Available for ~ US300-400 all day used and new.
TONE: As good as the Duncans you put in them. CLassic Les Paul Mahogany/Maple/Rosewood.
QUALITY: Fantastic. One of mine had tuning issues - but a bone nut fixed that ($20)
and where are they made in? Korea.

General comments; One of Caddies is my #3 right after and VERY close to my two 70's Gibson LP's. Both have taps for more tonal variety. I have a Pearly gates set in one, and a JB8 in the other. The sound fantastic! Neck access is distincly better than an LP.

Most of the Les PAul mojo, at about 80% of the price. Dean is a stickler for quality on their imports. Been to the factory (here in town), seen them in action doing QA on every guitar that comes in.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

IM not sure if i understood the little neck thing.
are you saying that its a bit HEAVY(in terms of WEIGHT) , because of the headstock??
this guitar isnt that case where you have the BODY lighter THAN the neck. is it?!?!
besides of that.. are the overal tone meaty and crunchy?!?! if so, im in for it.
Ill waiting some more feedback into the Fernandes Ravelle. elite or deluxe. Q: P
thanks ace
jp
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I don't have personal experience with either, but I'd choose the Fernandes Revelle Elite, mainly because it's got a sustainer and a Seymour Duncan pickup. The Deluxe seems more like an oddball LP style with EMGs. The Sustainer is pretty awesome stuff.

I bet that Cadillac would have some headstock heaviness issues, although you could move the strap button a little and fix the problem.
The body isn't lighter than the headstock per se, but the strap is set up as such that the balance point is probably a little off from the strap button. Same with Epi Thunderbirds and EB3s. It's called neck dive, and it's kind of a pain if you use skinny nylon straps for sure. Let go of the neck and WOOSH, the strap slides over your shoulder and the neck hits the floor.

The Cadillac Straight 6 is pretty sexy if it came in a quilt top.

I was is a similar situation, but I like vintagey styles. I was looking at Vox SSCs, Schecter Solos, Fernandes Ravelles and Montereys, the Epiphone Nighthawk and Godin Icons the most. DBZ has some neat single cutaways like the Bolero, though I also like the Imperials that are super-skinny.
 
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Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I think the Dean Caddilac is badass! I want one.

Dean pickups has a line of USA built pups which are on par with Duncan/Dimarzio. I have a DeanCustom 350 and I love the pups in that guitar so I called Dean to ask what they were. They said import versions of their Equalizer (bridge) and Nostalgia (neck). The cool thing about Dean is that they put alot of value in their low price guitars - I believe that the import versions of their pickups are solid design, just built overseas.

I have tried almost every Dimarzio Hum and some Duncans and the Equalizer is like a Hotter Fred or a Full Shred. (Sounds like a pickup Dimarzio would make.) Moderatly hot Alnico V. Lots of presence and harmonics, has the cocked wah mid. The Nostalgia is like a PAF Pro. I'm not going to switch them, the set is really well balanced. I have owned many high-end shred sticks and this is the first guitar I don't feel need to change pickups (they are not muddy ceramic power chord pups like most stockers.)

The Dean Caddilac probably also has import versions of their USA pickups. Call and ask which ones.
 
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Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

Top-L said:
I think the Dean Caddilac is badass! I want one.

Dean pickups has a line of USA built pups which are on par with Duncan/Dimarzio. I have a DeanCustom 350 and I love the pups in that guitar so I called Dean to ask what they were. They said import versions of their Equalizer (bridge) and Nostalgia (neck). The cool thing about Dean is that they put alot of value in their low price guitars - I believe that the import versions of their pickups are solid design, just built overseas.

I have tried almost every Dimarzio Hum and some Duncans and the Equalizer is like a Hotter Fred or a Full Shred. (Sounds like a pickup Dimarzio would make.) Moderatly hot Alnico V. Lots of presence and harmonics, has the cocked wah mid. The Nostalgia is like a PAF Pro. I'm not going to switch them, the set is really well balanced. I have owned many high-end shred sticks and this is the first guitar I don't feel need to change pickups (they are not muddy ceramic power chord pups like most stockers.)

The Dean Caddilac probably also has import versions of their USA pickups. Call and ask which ones.
Click to expand...

Aceman has brought up the quality of low-end Deans before. You can't argue with the high level of quality out of mid-grade cost.
Plus, Cadillacs look better than the Ravelle IMO....but that Sustainer is friggin awesome.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

jon the art guy said:
I don't have personal experience with either, but I'd choose the Fernandes Revelle Elite, mainly because it's got a sustainer and a Seymour Duncan pickup. The Deluxe seems more like an oddball LP style with EMGs. The Sustainer is pretty awesome stuff.

I bet that Cadillac would have some headstock heaviness issues, although you could move the strap button a little and fix the problem.
The body isn't lighter than the headstock per se, but the strap is set up as such that the balance point is probably a little off from the strap button. Same with Epi Thunderbirds and EB3s. It's called neck dive, and it's kind of a pain if you use skinny nylon straps for sure. Let go of the neck and WOOSH, the strap slides over your shoulder and the neck hits the floor.

The Cadillac Straight 6 is pretty sexy if it came in a quilt top.

I was is a similar situation, but I like vintagey styles. I was looking at Vox SSCs, Schecter Solos, Fernandes Ravelles and Montereys, the Epiphone Nighthawk and Godin Icons the most. DBZ has some neat single cutaways like the Bolero, though I also like the Imperials that are super-skinny.
Click to expand...


I liked the Schecter 006;
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I liked the Ravelles body design and headstock better. im avoiding departing too much from the slightly mods from original les paul body. the cadillacs departs a bit too much maybe. with the horns headstock and the lower pointy horn. thing. I like it, but i think it may be too agressive. AHAHAHAHAHA Im not getting softer, its that the agressiveness is coming from inside, and not from outside.
its maybe too weird to explain. ahahaha
ANyways... ill put some pics of my guitars right now in the guitar section.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I prefer the Ferdandes, it just has more style rather than looking like 2 guitars were blatantly slapped together
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I had that same Ravelle, only in Goldtop. JB/Jazz combo and it just screamed. It had a feel and sound very similar to a Les Paul, the action was super easy, and the only thing I wasn't crazy about was the shared volume and tone, but that can be worked around. I can't offer an opinion on the Dean because I've never even seen one in person, but the Ravelle imo was a monster.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

where are these ravelles mande in? i mean the ravelles : steeler, deluxe and ELite?!
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I'd go for the Cadillac. The Fernandes looks too fugly to me, like someone tried to redo a LP in the 80's for the shred crowd. The Cadillac still retains the class of a nice LP (especially in Ebony IMO) but modernizes the classic design in a manner befitting the lower bout. It doesn't clash as much IMO compared to the Fernandes.

I really hate the look of the Fernandes though. And Sustainers are overrated - yeah the function is awesome but they're anemic with the sustain circuit off.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

He isn't talking about one of these pieces of Korean aweasome with DMT pups:



He is talking about one of these, except Caddy style. They are Chinese mystery pickup junk:

 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I just kept researching and got some emails answered and ill go with the fernandes Ravelle. but i can change my mind. but, anyways, i would like to thank all of you guys that helped me with the thoughts and infos
Thanks
Q: )
JP
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I have one of the older Ravelle Deluxes. Duncan Jazz/JB combo. the tone pot is also a coil tap.

RavelleDeluxe.jpg

Great guitar. Sounds, plays, and feels excellent.
Mine is MIC.
Fernandes has gone back and forth between MIC and MIK. I personally felt my MIC was better built than the MIKs that came after.

The regular Elites are MIK
The newer Elite JP are MIJ.

Fernandes webstore has a few Korean Elites on sale for $599.
http://www.fernandesguitarshop.com/33-ravelle
 
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Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

HI man, thanks for the INPUT. do you play metal? do you have any bedroom soundclips with your guitar?!?!
i would like to see/hear it Q: )
BTW, ill have to buy one here in brazil. if not, ill pick it myself next year. IN USA.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

The Ravelle is probably on par with my Korean Caddy.
 
Re: Dean Cadillac X Fernandes Ravelle - Opinions,feedback, infos

I JUST Got the DEAN VENDETTA 4.0. Its very confortable but i cant say anything yet cause its highly in need of a setup.
 
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