Dean Icon who has one ?

[Paul64]

Hi folks , thinking of buying a Dean Icon in the new year , any body have one ? . Whats your opinion on pick ups action and playability on this model , I aready have a ML so was looking for a double cutaway and something a little different , sevond option was Michael Kelly Patrot decree , string thru body design .
Any help ont these 2 guitars please would be very benificial , thank you .

 

[Aceman]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Same as a Hardtail - solid all around guitar. Don't own one, but I live in Tampa so Deans are pretty available.

Action and playability is as good as you set it up to be. Pretty sure the pickups are DMT's Nostalgias- which are solid all around pickups. Think 59's/PAF style. I assume that we are talking about the imports?

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

The Icon is a recycled name. Around 2000 or early 2000's Dean had a model called the Icon. It was Korean made with some also made in the Czech Republic (Premiums). They were string-thru's with tune-o-matics. Always thought they were strange looking but they look much better in person than in photos. At any rate, those are the original Dean Icon model. I have one.

As Ace mentions, the newer ones are closer to the Hardtails which, I think, were discontinued due to PRS putting legal pressure on Dean. I own two Korean made Hardtails. My personal opinion is that they were among the best built Deans coming out of Korea. I also had a USA Hardtail. I sold it. Probably not typical but my purple Korean Hardtail was better. At any rate, if the new Icons hold to the Hardtail standards, then they should be good guitars.

 

[Paul64]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

The Icon is a recycled name. Around 2000 or early 2000's Dean had a model called the Icon. It was Korean made with some also made in the Czech Republic (Premiums). They were string-thru's with tune-o-matics. Always thought they were strange looking but they look much better in person than in photos. At any rate, those are the original Dean Icon model. I have one.

As Ace mentions, the newer ones are closer to the Hardtails which, I think, were discontinued due to PRS putting legal pressure on Dean. I own two Korean made Hardtails. My personal opinion is that they were among the best built Deans coming out of Korea. I also had a USA Hardtail. I sold it. Probably not typical but my purple Korean Hardtail was better. At any rate, if the new Icons hold to the Hardtail standards, then they should be good guitars.

Thanks for your reply , the korean one is the one Im after and still available , it does look very well made and very nice in faded blue
Probably last of the stock now , dont seem as popular as Mls and razorbacks , which to me is all the better , as I do like the look of it .
Yes headstock is reminescent of PRS .
And the doble cutaway maybe a slight leaning towards Prs , no wonder they got twitchy ha .Dont like Prs too much going on for me .

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Thanks for your reply , the korean one is the one Im after and still available , it does look very well made and very nice in faded blue
Probably last of the stock now , dont seem as popular as Mls and razorbacks , which to me is all the better , as I do like the look of it .
Yes headstock is reminescent of PRS .
And the doble cutaway maybe a slight leaning towards Prs , no wonder they got twitchy ha .Dont like Prs too much going on for me .

To be clear, I was talking about PRS having problems with the older Dean Hardtail model. I haven't heard of PRS having any issues with the Icon and I cant see any reason why they would.

Here is a Dean Hardtail Model ...

And the current Icon model ...

And an original Dean Icon (Select) ...

 

[Hot Octopus]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

I had an old guitar teacher who was somehow sponsored by dean. He was a hell of a player but a pretty awful teacher. That aside, I like Dean guitars. Their imports are good quality and their USA stuff is totally killer and underrated. I had a USA Solotero a few wears back. I hated the V neck carve but the guitar oozed tone and was better than a similarly spec'd Gibson. They make some good stuff.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

GAS - massive massive amount of gas....

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Not sure about the neck shape on the Icon, but most Dean necks are pretty comfy.. And most of the imports are very well made.
I have an import Soltero and its awesome! I also have a Michael Kelly Patriot custom and it is also a very nice guitar. IMO, the Michael Kellys are amazing for the price point.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

GAS - massive massive amount of gas....

Right! That is gorgeous!

 

[Paul64]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Not sure about the neck shape on the Icon, but most Dean necks are pretty comfy.. And most of the imports are very well made.
I have an import Soltero and its awesome! I also have a Michael Kelly Patriot custom and it is also a very nice guitar. IMO, the Michael Kellys are amazing for the price point.

Also have thr Patriot Custom and A Gretsch hollowbody too , the Patriot is awesome .

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

The new (USA model at least) Icon is Deans answer for replacing the USA Hardtail, of which I currently own 4 and one import. I don't think the US Hardtail disappeared because of PRS, I think it had to do more with Dean Z leaving the company again, but I've read several different stories.

Regardless, both the USA and import Hardtails have great feeling necks and the imports are built surprisingly well. My import plays and sounds great. I have no doubt that both models of the Icon are fine instruments. Dean has the skill and ability to make fantastic quality instruments when they aren't building those crazy metal designs.

In addition to their classic Cadillac's, V's and ML's, the Hardtail is one of the finest USA made guitars from the early 2000's, IMHO. I think they are THE best, but opinions are subjective.

Cheers.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

You have 4 Hardtail??????

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

You have 4 Hardtail??????

Si mi amigo. I have a blue sunburst I need to get around to selling. The neck is too big for my hands (which is surprising for a Hardtail) and it has a ding on the top I can't live with. It's only a $100-$150 repair, but since I don't like the neck it doesn't make sense to me. I have one collectors edition that is quilted with an amberburst finish (10/150) signed by Dean Z, a spalted maple Exotic that is spectacular and a vintage cherry sunburst that is the most beautiful and special guitar in the entire world, to me. My having it is an amazing story for another time. The keepers are an 02' for the VCB, an 03' is the Collectors and the spalted is an 04'. That means that at least the 02' and 03' should be Honduran mahogany if the rumors are true. Regardless, all 3 look and feel spectacular.

Oh.... if you count my import Hardtail.....I have 5 Hardtails currently.




And the blue one I don't like. Strangely, I have no pics of the spalted. I'll have to fix that.

(this is not my pic, but the orig sellers pic)

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Damn, those hardtails are beautiful guitars

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[Aceman]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Ummm - Blue Hard Tail...call me.

 

[MoBu]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?



Great Guitars, more alive sounding than most PRS style guitars

 

[DScott]

Re: Dean Icon who has one ?

Hello everyone, I was looking for info on older Dean Icons and stumbled on this thread. Maybe someone here can help but either way check out the Dean Icon I acquired. I discovered it's a transition piece circa 1997. It needs some work and I'm trying to figure out the correct wiring. It has a piezo pickup and what I'm guessing is an onboard preamp.