Dean EP5 TGE Edge Pro 5-String Bass Guitar, Tiger Eye

I have been playing bass for 40 years, used to work in a "pro shop" modding and building guitars and bassesin the 1980's. I have worked on nearly everything out there and owned many fine instruments (Rics MusicManKubicki Ex Factors, Fenders from the 60's) I was looking for a cost effective 5 string with a 35 inch scale.This bass really hits the marks! EMG passive pickups with a 3 band EQ/preamp, basswood body (light)neckthrough body construction, decent hardware. I am a fanatic about neck integrity and playability - even thoughI don't set my action absurdly low, I want the bass to be able accommodate that. The action intonationfretwork are all solid. The only things that keep this bass from being worth in four figures are minor -The frets should have been cut a wee bit shorter so they wouldn't push out the edges in low humidity,The flame maple veneer matching and staining is good but not great, The hardware (bridge) could behigher quality but it's not shabby as is. It's this or the Ibanez BTB575 unless you want to spend twice asmuch. Truth be known the CNC manufacturing and level of quality control in Korea mean you can getconsistency, quality, and tone for very fair price. The diminishing returns price point starts at agrand in my opinion. Not that $3000 basses are not worth it, it just becomes more subjective as the priceclimbs. I have played some Alembics that I would not pay four figures for, and some I would! Do not letbasswood scare you, I own three basswood body basses now, in addition to ones with alder ash andmaple bodies (Ric) and they all sing! A poor neck/pickups will sink a choice swamp ash body bass as much asa choice neck/pickups can make a basswood bass thunder.

This bass was a warehouse deal. It arrived in a tatty box with an orange sticker on it, but the bass inside was undamaged. It was just a litle dirty. Before I played it, I adjusted the truss rod and bridge height which were totally wrong (keys provided). This bass has a big body and great sustain. The pickups are NOT passive EMG HZ they are some type of active pickup just marked EMG. This is the best bass guitar I have ever played. The fat C painted neck will take a while to get used to. The strings are 35 inch scale, 18mm apart. Thomann seem to think the strings should be 45,65,80,100,130 but the fitted strings have red silk on the ends and the B string is a 125. Even with that fitted it sounds good. It balances well on the leg for playing sat down. The sound it makes is totally free of noise and fine to record. It is an extremely good bass guitar but if it hadn't been reduced I'm not sure how well it competes with Ibanez, Sandberg, Fender, Warwick etc at full price. It's well made in Korea for Dean USA. I am not an expert but the 35 inch scale seems less of a stretch on this guitar somehow.