NGD - Dean Leslie West

Dude, that's a great score!

I have to admit, I was hoping it was a version with his signature pickup in it, but that's still a really cool guitar! Can't believe it made it through the hands of Goodwill in such fine shape!
 
Well good thing is that there probably not much that could go wrong with the electronics. Hopefully it isn't the pickup itself, as unlikely as that is.
 
Well good thing is that there probably not much that could go wrong with the electronics. Hopefully it isn't the pickup itself, as unlikely as that is.

No problem if it's dead. I got it cheap, and I have ten grand in pickups in the next room.... I'm thinking a Lindy Fralin....
 
Wow. That is a great score. Fixing the electronics is easy. Could be as simple as a wire disconnected from the jack.
 
Well, all the wires were cut in this thing. WTH? Anyway, poked in a new Switchcraft jack, and it's ready to go. The sound is underwhelming to say the least. No drive at all. Clean through the Fender it's not bad, especially with some reverb. In the Marshall, noisy as hell and truly weak suck. Not much sustain, either. That cheapo tailpiece has problems, too. The strings move around on it pretty easily. It's not really intonated either. Probably something with mass would help out.

If anyone else wants to get one, there is another one on Goodwill.com from the same Florida Goodwill. The wires are cut in it, plus it comes with another Dean P-90 and cover, with the wires cut short. Supposed to have a case, too....

Something in the water? I'll have to play it more before I make a decision. But damn, it does look righteous.
 
Maybe a better pickup can rescue it? The cheaper import Deans all suffer from pickups that are, um, a little off (I am trying to be nice as I know several people who work at Dean in Tampa).
 
Maybe a better pickup can rescue it? The cheaper import Deans all suffer from pickups that are, um, a little off (I am trying to be nice as I know several people who work at Dean in Tampa).

If I decide to keep it, I'm thinking a Lindy Fralin humbucking P-90. Awesome sound, and quiet.

I wouldn't call a $900 retail guitar cheap by any means. My Dean Caddy is stock and it sounds fantastic through the Marshall It's the only guitar I own that is bone stock and perfect as is.

Maybe you should introduce me to one of your Dean friends sometime.... I've been a fan since they debuted decades ago, even though they've had many variations.
 
Dean, these days, consists of a small custom shop with a giant warehouse attached. While they still make custom guitars, most people there don't work on them- they just process the instruments coming in off the boat.
 
if its really weak and shows ok on a meter, check to see if the magnets are properly oriented
 
I wouldn't badmouth pups just because they are cheap. I am a real P-90 fan and have tried many really good ones. A couple years ago I bought a set of P-90s on Amazon for about $35. Yes, a set for $35 or $45. Turns out that they are by far the best sounding P-90s I have ever owned or played! Way, way better than any Gibson P-90.
 
Okay, I changed my mind about the Lindy Fralin... I thought I would try a Lace Sensor. Tried to find a P-900.... No go, apparently those are unobtanium. But I found a Lace Aluma V-90 with a cream cover (I need to keep the black one). Anyone tried one of these before? I can't even find a video featuring Aluma V-90's....
 
I wasn't aware LACE even had P90's? But then again their site isn't laid out real well. The SD Custom P90 with A8 magnets it's a real bruiser.
 
Back
Top