Dean Acoustic Bass

Dean Zalinsky was only 19 years old in 1976 when he founded Dean Guitars, but he already had the talent and drive of a seasoned luthier. That makes Dean a younger company than a lot of other guitar and bass makers, but their relentless emphasis on quality has earned them the reputation to go toe-to-toe with the industry's revered veteran builders. Since 1997, Dean has been helmed by Elliot Dean Robinson, a touring bassist with the Michael Schenker Group and Uli Jon Roth. Having an active bass player at the reins certainly explains why some of Dean's foremost instruments are acoustic basses. Dean bass guitars are used by headlining musicians all over the world - Dave Mustaine, for example, has lent his name to a signature acoustic bass: the Dave Mustaine Mako Glory. It's a spruce-topped, mahogany-backed bass with a slim D neck, ebony fingerboard and distinctive shark gill soundhole. A few of Dave's personal contributions to the Mako are its Mustaine pearl inlays and black hardware. This bass is an acoustic-electric model, with a B-band A3T active preamp and 4-band EQ.

In fact, most acoustic basses have built-in pickups and preamps like the Mako, including Dean's other models such as the EAB, EABC and Exhibition. While the acoustic design gives you the freedom to play un-amplified, if you're lining up for a gig you're likely to wind up plugging in. That's the real beauty of an acoustic-electric bass: you don't need to be plugged-in to play it, but when you need that amplified boost, the option is there for you.

If you're new to the acoustic bass, you might appreciate the simple, easy-to-play EAB - or, for more advanced players, the fretless version. Those full-bodied basses are not to be confused with the EABC, which adds a cutaway to give you total access to every fret and comes in a 5-string extended-range model as well. You can also take things to the next level with advanced basses like the Exotica and Exhibition.

The right bass for you is a matter of preference, but the bottom line is that any Dean acoustic bass is a worthy choice when you want the option of pulling the plug from time to time. Living up to their excellent reputation, Dean builds great instruments that look and sound great for bassists of all skill levels and walks of life.