Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

[panamang]

Am going to be updating my kids cheapo Epiphone Special with a new guitar. Not too much money to be spent. He likes the Les Paul style body and we checked out a Epi Goth Les Paul Studio that runs around $300.00. Today I went over to Guitar Legends here in Tampa and saw a nice Dean Evo Tevo that was cheaper and looked great. Grovers, beautiful set neck with easy access to lower frets and a nice natural mahogany body. The luthier over there is a guy named Ben who worked at Dean for years and designed this guitar.

Anyone have experience with the Dean Evo Series? How would it compare to a Epi Les Paul studio? Any input would be appreciated.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

My hardtail select (MIK) feels great, though it needed a fret dress because 2 frets buzzed. Other than that with duncans is sounds brilliant and plays like a dream. I dunno what level up in the quality ladder the Evo tevo is but if its at least at the level of my hardtail it would be better than an Epi LP studio IMO

 

[ErikH]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

Real nice guitars. For about a week I went in to a local shop and played this Evo Special Select in what they call the Tiger Eye paint job. Played great, sounded nice and full, well balanced weight-wise. Heck, I wanted to buy it right there but I had already gotten my Standard Plus a few months before.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

No experience with the EVOs, but the import Deans are def some good bang for the buck! Love my ML79 :bigthumb:

 

[panamang]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

Sounds more and more favorable towards the Dean Evo although my kid thinks the goth epi looks cooler. But what the heck, he thought a BC Rich Bronze Warlock looked cool a while ago until he found out they were junk

 

[ErikH]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

Don't let him get the Goth Epi. I like many Epiphones and own one myself. But I would not get the Goth LP. Every one I played was so-so in playability and sound. The Dean Evo was right on every time.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

I'd go Dean. And if he's partial to the black goth look, Dean offers EVO Noir models which looks similar to the goth stuff.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

The Goth LP is also thinner than standard LPs, much lighter too. The Evo will be much heavier, that also might be a consideration.

 

[panamang]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

The Goth LP is also thinner than standard LPs, much lighter too. The Evo will be much heavier, that also might be a consideration.

That is a consideration. Although both are mahogany bodies, the heavier body would be preferred. The neck on the Dean also seems much faster. I suppose if we stepped up just one notch on the Epiphone ladder we could get a better guitar. But for the money, the Dean appears superior. Like Gamera says, we can go for the Noir (black) version if he is stuck on the goth look.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

I have owned two Dean EVOs.

The Dragster and 60.

Dragster was 350 and came in a flame finish and had humbuckers, the 60 was an LP goldtop copy with P90s.

Both were great and stomped any Epiphone out there.

The Dragster would have been great if I had replaced the pickups with new ones.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Dean Evo Series - Need your opinions

Die hard EVO fan (and player) here.

I have NEVER found an Epiphone that even came close in terms of sound/wood/contruction to any Evo I've played.

But that's just my completely biased opinion